Explore every episode of the podcast BIOptimizers - Awesome Health Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301: The Menopause Gut Connection - with Cynthia Thurlow | 22 Jan 2026 | 00:57:28 | |
The conversation around menopause is evolving toward a more holistic understanding of this transition. One crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect is the profound connection between menopause and gut health. Nurse practitioner Cynthia Thurlow is shedding light on what she terms the "menopause gut" to help women navigate this stage with vitality. The Gut-Hormone Connection Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause have a direct and significant impact on the gut microbiome. This complex ecosystem of trillions of microbes is intricately linked to nearly every system in our body. As Thurlow explains, the gut intersects with every organ system, including the lungs, skin, and ovaries. Impact of Declining Estrogen As estrogen levels decline, the diversity of the gut microbiome begins to change. This often leads to an increase in inflammatory bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, a state known as dysbiosis. This imbalance can lead to a reduction in short-chain fatty acids, which are crucial for reducing inflammation and regulating blood sugar. Understanding the Gut-Brain Axis The gut and brain are closely connected through the gut-brain axis. Because the bulk of our neurotransmitters are produced in the gut, an unhealthy microbiome directly impacts mood and cognitive function. This connection often contributes to the anxiety, depression, and brain fog many women experience. Symptoms of Menopause Dysbiosis Common indicators of a "menopause gut" include bloating, digestive discomfort, and weight loss resistance. Changes in the microbiome affect metabolism and insulin sensitivity, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight. Women may also experience fatigue and joint pain caused by systemic inflammation originating in the gut. Actionable Strategies for Health The gut microbiome is incredibly resilient, meaning women can take proactive steps to support their health. Thurlow recommends prioritizing sleep and managing stress to prevent "leaky gut" and elevated stress hormones. Additionally, focusing on a nutrient-dense diet rich in protein and fiber can fuel beneficial bacteria and support muscle mass. In this podcast you'll discover...
EPISODE RESOURCES: Pre-order The Menopause Gut book HERE | |||
| 300: Roadmap to Tinnitus Relief - with Ben Thompson | 15 Jan 2026 | 00:38:12 | |
While many perceive tinnitus as a problem solely with the ears, it is actually a neurological condition occurring in the auditory brain. Because the brain possesses neuroplasticity—the ability to adapt and change—this "brain buzz" is not necessarily a permanent condition.In a deep dive into the subject, Dr. Ben Thompson, an audiologist and tinnitus expert, reveals that Tinnitus is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying issue within the auditory system. The Impact of StressA healthy brain typically utilizes a filter mechanism to tune out background neural noise. However, during periods of significant stress, grief, or health anxiety, this filter weakens. This leads to a state of hypervigilance or a "startle response," causing the brain to perceive tinnitus sounds as much louder and more threatening than they truly are. Clinical Pathways to RecoveryRecovery begins with sound therapy to avoid total silence, utilizing soft white noise to create a soothing environment, and maintaining proper sleep hygiene to regulate the nervous system. For persistent cases, specialized interventions such as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and bimodal stimulation can help the brain habituate to the noise. The outlook is highly positive: with a structured protocol, 80% of patients experience a significant reduction in symptoms within six months. In this podcast you will learn:
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| 291: Master Your Marriage, Health, Business - with Keith Yackey | 13 Nov 2025 | 01:02:33 | |
Keith Yackey is a 20-year veteran of high-performance philosophy and the founder of Married Game. His journey was forged in failure. "Jesse left 8 years ago. I messed up this relationship. I was selfish." When Yackey met his wife, he was "185 pounds of tiger meat wrapped in barbed wire." Five years later, he was 250 pounds. The man she married was gone. Only after doing the hard work did other high-performers start noticing his "code." What is that code? Your marriage, health, and business reflect your personal standard. The Health and Marriage ConnectionWhy do successful men fail at home? They treat health, business, and marriage as separate buckets. Yackey argues they are linked. According to Yackey, "87% of dudes are not happy with the quantity or quality of love, intimacy, and sex in their marriage." Most guys think providing and protecting entitle them to love. They are wrong. The 3 Principles of the Top DogYackey's philosophy has three core principles. "I am the problem. I am the solution." Radical ownership. If you push her away, you can attract her back. "Become the most attractive version of me for me." Build yourself into a man you respect. Attraction is a byproduct. "Her response does not dictate my standard." "If I invite her on a date and she doesn't want to go, I'm still going," he says. Be an immovable leader. The 5 Dials Report CardYackey gives men a report card based on 5 Dials. 99% score 80 or below—a C-level husband. "If you are an A-plus husband, you're gonna get an A-plus wife." The five dials: Parenting (are you present?), Partner (still her best friend?), Producer (marketplace value), Player (is life fun?), and Power (your word). "When trust goes down, lust goes down." Enthusiasm Beats EntitlementOne core reason for failure: entitlement. "You have enthusiasm on one side, entitlement on the other. When you were dating her, high enthusiasm. As soon as you start getting entitled, it's fucking done." Yackey runs a brotherhood called "The Supremely Valuable Man." Men have become isolated. "If you are a man not hanging around other men, you're learning how to be a man from a woman." "We're the only species that thinks they're entitled to mate. The top dog gets the top dog reward. If you want to be desired, you have to be desirable." It's not about "fixing" your wife. It's about fixing you. "This prison you're in—once you realize you actually hold the key? That's true 100% of the time." In this podcast you'll learn…
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| 200: The Promising Future of Farming - with Jared Pickard | 29 Sep 2022 | 01:05:12 | |
Jared Pickard and his wife Velisa are the founders of Be Here Farm + Nature, a 300 acre Nature Sanctuary and Biodynamic farm in Sonoma County CA where they grow and make a collection of very unique self care products, entirely made by hand, and all on their family farm. Jared and Valisa became interested in farming after they realized that they wanted to farm in a beyond-organic way. They had an exposure to Biodynamic Farm, and after two years of farming in Georgia and an apprenticeship at Blackberry Farm, they were prepared to start their own project. They now have their own 300 acres farm where they grow and make a collection of unique hand-made self care products. Be Here Farm produces a variety of unique, hand-made self-care products that use all-natural ingredients. Their products include spot treatments, body oils, and scrubs that are designed to nourish and revitalize the skin. In this podcast you will learn about:
The difference between Monoculture and Polyculture A monoculture is a crop that is grown in large quantities, usually for commercial purposes. The term can also refer to the practice of growing one type of crop in a field, or to the culture that results from it. Monocultures are often criticized for being environmentally unsound, as they can lead to soil depletion and water pollution. They can also be more susceptible to pests and diseases than other types of crops. A polyculture is an alternative farming system in which multiple crops are grown together. This can be anything from a few different vegetables in the same garden bed to a large-scale farm with a diverse mix of crops and animals. There are many benefits to polyculture farming:
The Future of Farming Jared also shared his view on the future of the farming industry: "The future of farming looks bright, with more and more people interested in learning about and participating in regenerative agriculture. This type of farming is not only environmentally sustainable but also has the potential to provide nutritious food for communities on a local level. "In order to make this happen on a global scale, however, we need to continue to educate people about the benefits of regenerative agriculture and support those who are already practicing it." We invite you to listen to this amazing episode of the Awesome Health Podcast. EPISODE RESOURCES: 10% discount code wadelove at sunpotion.com on the summer solstice serum | |||
| 199: Natural Medicine And Detoxing - with Sara Banta | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:49:57 | |
Have you ever felt like Western Medicine isn't working for you? Natural medicine has become more and more prevalent in today's society. And detoxifying your body is more important than ever as it can
Sara Banta is the owner of Accelerated Health Products and the host of Accelerated Health Radio and TV. She helps her clients and listeners reach their optimal state of health through proper frequency, enhanced detox supplements, cutting edge technologies, and modalities. However, her journey hit rock bottom about 15 years ago when she suffered from Crohn's disease, hormonal issues, PCOS and heavy metal toxicity. After Western medicine couldn't give her answers or solutions, she was able to discover all natural solutions that actually worked. As she was on her journey, she was hit with her 9 year old son's diagnosis of leukemia. It was that moment that she knew she had a bigger calling in life: to open people's eyes to the world of natural healing. Fast forward to today where she serves her clients and listeners with cutting edge protocols that combine Scalar frequency-based supplements, Chinese medicine, healing devices, and much more to detox, reset and rebuild their body, mind and spirit. In this podcast you will learn:
And so much more. What is the importance of iodine? Iodine is a key element in the human body, and its importance cannot be understated. It is estimated that 96% of the US population is iodine deficient. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Iodine deficiency can lead to a host of problems, including decreased IQ, muscle weakness, and sensitivity to cold. Iodine is essential for proper thyroid function, and thus proper hormone production and regulation throughout the body. A lack of iodine can also lead to an increased risk of certain cancers. What are Ketone Salts? Ketone salts are a type of supplement that can help you detoxify your body at a cellular level. They are made up of ketones, which are molecules that your body produces when it breaks down fat for energy, and salt. The ketones in the salt help to increase the digestive fire, which helps to break down fats and toxins more easily. The co-factors in the ketone salts also help to increase the digestive fire and help to turn saturated fats into unsaturated fats, which can be burned more easily by your body. How to Maximize Mitochondrial Function to Detoxify the body? Sarah states that: "First, make sure you're getting enough iodine. Iodine is essential for proper thyroid function, and it also helps to support detoxification. You can get iodine from food sources like seaweed or supplementing with a quality iodine supplement". "Second, make sure you're supporting your liver. The liver is responsible for filtering toxins out of the blood and breaking them down so they can be eliminated from the body. Eating foods that support liver health, such as cruciferous vegetables, will help to keep your liver functioning optimally. You can also take supplements like milk thistle or dandelion root to help support liver function". Finally, she states that: "Make sure you're sweating regularly. Sweating helps to eliminate toxins through the skin and is a great way to boost overall detoxification. If you don't sweat regularly, try doing". SOC MEDIA: acceleratedproducts.com | |||
| 198: The secret power of oxygen to eliminate pain and strengthen forgotten muscles - with Eileen Durfee | 15 Sep 2022 | 00:50:12 | |
We are constantly bombarded by toxins, whether it's the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink. Exposure to toxins can lead to a variety of health problems. This includes chronic pain, allergies, hypothyroidism and fatigue. We are constantly bombarded by toxins, whether it's the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink. Our bodies are constantly working to eliminate these toxins, but sometimes they can build up to dangerous levels, which is why… Exposure to toxins can lead to a variety of health problems This includes chronic pain, allergies, hypothyroidism and fatigue. The good news is that the solution may be more simple than what you imagine because it relies on an abundant natural element for all human beings: oxygen. Oxygen is very important for our bodies, yet we often don't think about it much. That's why in this episode of the Awesome Health Podcast we interviewed Eileen Durfee. Eileen is a health pioneer, businesswoman and innovator who has reinvented a way to distribute natural healing products to protect others from toxicity. She is a former nuclear power plant engineer who became sick due to chemical exposure, suffered from chronic pain, allergies, hypothyroidism, lack of energy, among other health challenges. In this podcast we discuss with her:
The benefits of oxygen and ozone therapy Oxygen is a powerful detoxifier that can help break down toxins in our bodies. It can also help to reduce pain and inflammation, and speed up healing. So, how do you get more out of it? with ozone therapy, which is one of the best ways to get more oxygen into your system. Ozone is a form of oxygen that is highly reactive and is effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. It can also help to break down heavy metals and other toxins in our bodies. Durfee explains that: "ozone is effective against a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi". Ozone can help to remove heavy metals and other contaminants from water, that's why I recommend drinking eight ounces of ozone-treated water each day, and cleaning all food with it." Why do people with health issues continue to go the medical route? According to Eileen Durfee: "It's interesting that so many people continue to go down the medical route, pill after pill, and surgery after surgery, when there are other options available. I think part of it is that people don't realize that they have other options, and also that the medical route is seen as the 'safe' option." "The reality is that the medical industry is not in the business of providing health care. They're in the business of managing symptoms..." If you are struggling with some health issue and/or would like to learn more about the benefits of Ozone therapy, don't miss the next episode of the Awesome Health Podcast. EPISODE RESOURCES: www.CreatrixSolutions.com
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| 197: Kid's Nutrition - with Serenity and Joe Carr | 07 Sep 2022 | 00:42:01 | |
When it comes to the kid's nutrition, there are a lot of present-day challenges that parents face. These challenges can include:
Serenity and Joe Carr set out to change this parental uncertainty: they wanted their baby girl, Della, to grow up healthy and strong. That's when they decided to start their company, Serenity Kids. Serenity Kids creates baby foods that are designed to mimic the nutrients present in breast milk. The baby food is made from pasture-raised meats, organic vegetables, and oils. Serenity has been eating a paleo-style diet for four years and credits it with helping her become healthier. In this podcast, we cover:
And so much more. How might a baby's health be affected by a diet high in sugar and low in fat? Serenity explains that a baby's health can be affected by a diet high in sugar and low in fat in several ways: "It's pretty scary what you'll find in baby food these days. With all the processed junk that's out there,"
If you are struggling to find the right formula for your child or want to give your child the best nutrition out there, this is the perfect podcast for you to listen to. Episode Resources: www.myserenitykids.com
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| 196: How to Optimize Healing After Surgery - with Daniel Barrett | 18 Aug 2022 | 01:05:06 | |
In today's world, several options are available to help optimize the healing process after surgery. Something truly works for everyone, from traditional Western medicine to more holistic approaches. However, there is only one thing at the core of optimizing recovery after surgery: proper nutrition. Dr. Daniel Barrett is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. His passion is providing natural results with minimal downtime, utilizing holistic approaches. And he has seen firsthand how vital nutrition is for a healthy healing process after surgery. Dr. Barrett has observed that patients who are well-nourished before surgery tend to heal better and have fewer complications than those who aren't. This led him to develop detailed protocols for the patients that focus on optimizing their nutrition before and after surgery. In this podcast, we cover:
And so much more. How does nutrition affect surgical outcomes? Patients who are well-nourished before surgery tend to have less bleeding, less pain, and a quicker recovery. Dr. Barrett tells his patients that they need, "at least 20% more calories to heal after surgery".. Nutrition is essential for giving your body the extra energy it needs to heal after surgery. One simple way to improve post-surgical outcomes is to ensure that patients get enough magnesium. Magnesium helps with muscle spasms, pain, and sleep. Intermittent fasting and gut health Dr. Barrett is also passionate about intermittent fasting and gut health. He believes that more people should be aware of the benefits of these practices, as they can help with weight loss, anti-aging, and retaining beauty. Barrett himself actually began practicing intermittent fasting and taking probiotics after struggling with his own food sensitivities. He noticed a dramatic improvement in his allergies and has only two moderate sensitivities remaining. Episode Resources: Website | |||
| 195: The Fascinating Benefits Of Ketones - with Dr. Latt Mansor | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:52:31 | |
You might have been skeptical if you had heard about ketones and their benefits a few years ago. After all, ketones are a by-product of fat metabolism, and who wants to think about fat when trying to lose weight? However, we're continuing to learn more and more about ketones, and it is becoming clear that they offer several benefits for athletes and people looking to improve their health. Dr. Latt Mansor is a world expert in physiology and metabolism and has spent many years studying the role of ketones in human health. He has consulted with elite sports military clinical and research organizations worldwide. And he is passionate about helping people understand the role that ketones can play in preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One of the things that Dr. Mansor has found is that ketones can be incredibly beneficial for weight loss. In fact, he has seen average weight losses of 20 pounds in his patients using ketone supplements such as Ketone IQ. He has also found that ketones can help suppress appetite, making losing weight easier. In this podcast, we cover:
And so much more. What is the difference between exogenous and endogenous ketones? Endogenous ketones are produced by the body, while exogenous ketones are those that come from an external source. Exogenous ketones have become popular lately because they can help people lose weight and improve their athletic performance. How ketones help the brain in a low oxygen environment (hypoxia) In our talk with Dr Latt he said, "The original rationale for ketones was that they could be used as an energy source by the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. And what we know of ketone metabolism is that it produces ATP, which is the energy our cells need to function. We wanted to see if ketones could help mitigate cognitive decline in low-oxygen environments. And what we found was that in a group of people given ketones, there was a flattening of the cognitive decline typically seen in hypoxia. This was promising enough for us to run a bigger study looking at different tasks and populations. And while we're still learning more about how ketones affect cognition and oxygen metabolism, so far the results are promising and suggest that ketones could be a valuable tool in protecting cognitive function in low-oxygen environments." This podcast will help you understand more about ketones and their potential to help people in low oxygen environments and their overall benefit on metabolism, aging, cognition and more. Dr Latt's cutting-edge work on ketones is very exciting. You don't want to miss this. Episode Resources: Hvmn.com - use our custom code AHP for 10% off | |||
| 194: Optimizing Balance And Preventing Falls - with Chris Wilson | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:53:51 | |
Have you ever realized how much of your balance relies on your feet? This is because of something known as the brain balance connection. The brain balance connection refers to the relationship between the balance nerve in your foot and preventing falls in older adults. This connection is based on neuro balance therapy, which is a new approach to improving balance and preventing falls. This week I am joined by lifelong fitness and health advocate, Chris Wilson. With nearly 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Chris has worked with some of the biggest names in the fitness industry, including Charles Poliquin, Ben Prentice, Lloyd Weinstein, Jay Cutler, Aaron Reed, and John Hansen. Chris is a strength coach and VP of Content at Critical Bench Publishing. He is also a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), Specialist in Sports Nutrition (ISSA), Certified Balance and Stability Instructor (ASFA) and a Certified Kettlebell Instructor (RKC). In this podcast, Chris Wilson will cover topics related to fitness, health, and aging and how he got into the fitness industry and found his passion for helping others. He talks about how he started working with people who were post-stroke or had paralysis and how he wanted to help them live better. In this podcast, we cover:
The Deep Peroneal Nerve Did you know that people over the age of 50 are at a greater risk for falls and injuries? One way to help prevent these falls is by improving the number one balance nerve in your foot. The Deep Peroneal Nerve starts outside the knee area and goes down to the end between your big toe and second toe. This particular nerve is often associated with something called "foot drop." Foot drop happens when an individual has difficulty lifting their foot due to weakness or paralysis. As a result, they may drag their toes or catch their foot when walking, leading to slips and trips. Improving nerve function in your feet can help improve balance and thus prevent falls. Daily Movement Prevents Cognitive Decline And Physical Deterioration. Chris believes that maintaining daily movement is the key to preventing cognitive decline and physical deterioration as we age. He also talks about how a sedentary lifestyle can lead to balance problems and falls in older adults. He recommends finding ways to stay active throughout the day to keep your brain-body connection strong. Episode Resources: neurobalancetherapy.org | |||
| 193: Better Health Through Stem Cells - with Joy Kong | 28 Jul 2022 | 01:22:19 | |
Joy Kong has worked to bring an integration of the precision of Western medicine, and the way Chinese medicine works based on the principle of looking at the body as a whole universe. With stem cell research and therapy, she has found there is no need to go to extremes on one side of the medicine or the other but that there is room to respect all fields. In this episode you will learn:
The Intelligence of Optimized Health Joy says, "We are made from stem cells. All our cells carry the same genetic material as that first stem cell, with all the DNA that has the ability to form an entire organism that knows how to orchestrate this whole three dimensional structure and function. That's the kind of intelligence that we're tapping into." We don't need to stay in a state where instead of healing we're just being managed. A holistic approach optimizes health because everything affects our brains and bodies. And stem cells know what to do to heal ourselves. "When you're stuck in an inflammatory stage, you're not really healing, you're just inflamed. If you don't give the body the right signals, then they're stuck there. So it's almost like we're speaking the language to the body, that's how the cells work." Respecting Life Joy says she gets excited that we are able to improve our life by better understanding how our life is built on a cellular level. "There's respect for the life force that's inside of me, and that kind of stubbornness that whatever is thrown in front of you, you're not gonna let that life force die. You're gonna nurture that flame, and that's in all of us." Join Wade and Joy as they affirm that "Everything counts in a healthy lifestyle." Episode Resources: www.uplyftcenter.com Get stem cell health products: | |||
| 192: EMF Stressors and Nerve Health - with Justin Frandson | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:34:07 | |
Can your cell phone, laptop, and WiFi router possibly lead to cancer, brain tumors, fertility issues, anxiety, and depression? The answer is yes, and this is because of EMFs. Have you ever heard of EMFs? EMFs, or electromagnetic fields, are one directional waveforms that disrupt the natural communication of the human body. Different forms of EMFs can be harmful to human health. Some of the most common types of EMFs include:
A variety of symptoms that are associated with negative EMF exposure include fatigue, anxiety, cognitive challenges, and fertility issues. Justin Frandson is an Athleticism Performance Coach, author and founder of Athleticism.com and EMFRocks.com. In the late 1990s, Justin Frandson began working with some of the world's best athletes, noticing that they were breaking down from exposure to man-made EMF radiation. In order to help these athletes recover, Frandson looked to nature and developed a line of products designed to reduce EMF exposure and improve nerve health. Today, Frandson's EMF Rocks Grounding Bags are some of the most sought-after natural protection of hand-minded crystals on the market. They're designed to help with sleep, grounding, and recharging us from man-made EMF. Frandson has also curated a range of health and performance products on athleticism.com to help people improve their overall health and well-being. In this podcast, we cover:
Apps that emit EMFs are the most disruptive Apps affecting people's health and vitality Justin Frandson said, "EMFs are a type of radiation that is emitted by electronic devices and can be harmful to the human body. Some of the most common devices that emit EMFs are cell phones, laptops, tablets, and WiFi routers. EMFs have been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, brain tumors, fertility issues, anxiety, and depression." "There are a few simple things that people can do to reduce their exposure to EMFs. First, they can limit their use of electronic devices. Second, they can make sure that their devices are not emitting high levels of EMF by using an EMF meter. Finally, they can invest in EMF protection products like shielding cases or covers for their devices." "EMF rocks are a great way to reduce EMF exposure and improve your health" "They are made of natural crystals that have been hand-mined in the western US, and they have unique magnetic and moisture properties that make them very effective at converting EMF waves into a more harmless form." In conclusion, man-made EMFs are disrupting our health and vitality, but there are things we can do to mitigate the effects. Get grounded, by nature, and understand what the stressors are in your environment. RESOURCES: EMFRocks.com | |||
| 191: The Power of Your Breath - with Robbie Bent | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:53:02 | |
Robbie Bent, who is building Othership to create connection in response to addiction, is here to let us know that in 5 minutes with breath, you can change your physiological and emotional state. In this episode you will learn:
A System for Change Robbie is committed to helping everyone create room for daily space where they can make time for fun and have stimulating experiences. This creates a healthy influence and support system. As he says, "Environment is stronger than will." And we can create the environment we want within us. "Everything we've built is built around changing your nervous system state to process emotions, to teach you how to gain more control and mastery." Search for Transformation, Not Just an Escape Everyone wants healing and to feel good. Othership is working to transform people through community and breathwork. The way you practice your breath not only makes you feel better, but inspires you to continue feeling better. Your experience is what builds your tapestry that you can draw from. "We are creating a space where you're bringing out the activation of childlike curiosity in a curated way that can create transformation," says Robbie. "There will be steps forward, steps back, that's part of life. And even now after 10 years of personal development work there's still hard days and that's okay, it's just committing and knowing I have these practices that as I find a community, in under 5 minutes there's the ability to start changing your state." Robbie and Wade want you to know that if nothing you have tried has helped in regulating your emotions, there's hope. "We're in the world of transformation, because that's what humanity is all about." Episode Resources: Follow on Social Media: Other resources Robbie mentioned: | |||
| 290: How Wholeness Leads To Healing - with Udo Erasmus | 14 Aug 2025 | 01:18:56 | |
The Quest for Harmony Born amid the chaos of World War II, Udo Erasmus's journey began with trauma and survival. Fleeing Poland as a child, dodging bullets and bombs, he experienced fear, hunger, and deep mistrust in the world. By age six, he was already wondering, "There must be a way people can live in harmony." That question became the compass of his life. As Erasmus grew, so did his search for answers. He studied science, biology, psychology, and medicine, only to find these disciplines offered fragmented insights—not the holistic understanding he craved. Psychology taught thoughts and emotions but never soul. Medicine spoke endlessly about disease, but ignored health. The deeper questions remained: What is life? What is health? What is our nature? The Forgotten Inner FoundationUdo argues that every human being carries within them a core of peace, love, and wisdom—an unchanging, ever-present essence often buried under layers of distraction, trauma, and disconnection. He compares the human experience to our time in the womb, where we were suspended in pure being: no stress, no external demands, only awareness and peace. As we grow and adapt to the world, we often lose touch with this foundational state, leading to what Erasmus calls the universal ache of disconnection: heartache. Heartache is not a weakness or failure, but a signal—a call to return to ourselves. Much like thirst points us to water, heartache points us back to the source of our own being. Energy First, Matter SecondA central idea in Erasmus's philosophy is that energy—not matter—is the origin and master of life. From the Big Bang to a blossoming flower, from the light in our cells to the love in our hearts, all life is governed by the flow of energy. While science seeks to understand the body through external observation, it often misses the experiential truth that life is already managing countless functions within us without our conscious control. He points to the sun as the ultimate source: it fuels plants, feeds animals, and animates human beings. From Self to ServiceFor over 50 years, Erasmus has engaged in a daily practice to reconnect with the inner foundation of peace. Triggered by an early psychedelic experience and catalyzed by a mystical vision, he found that the answers he was chasing through intellectual study were already inside him. This practice is not religious nor scientific—it is experiential. It begins with recognizing heartache and using it as a portal inward. Once grounded in inner peace and health, Erasmus believes we naturally shift our focus from self-preservation to service. "When I feel cared for by life itself, I can ask: Where can I help?" This is the foundation for total global health—each person becoming whole, and from that wholeness, contributing to the healing of others and the planet. Erasmus's vision is not utopian fantasy. It is grounded in biology, physics, and firsthand experience. We already have the tools: sunlight, breath, food, rest, love, and awareness. By turning inward and honoring both nature and human nature, we reclaim our wholeness and can build a world rooted in health and harmony. In this podcast you'll learn...
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| 190: Optimizing Vitality - with Owen McKibben | 07 Jul 2022 | 00:30:45 | |
Owen McKibben is the number 1 Men's Health cover model in world history having been on the cover 17 times, but he doesn't just live to look good, he lives to feel good and help others feel good, too. In this episode you will learn:
The Work of Being in Shape "Being in shape takes no amount of skill. It just takes hard work. And I'm all about hard work," says Owen. The parts of hard work that he focuses on a daily basis include, waking up early, doing at least 5 things that are physically challenging, mix resistance with cardio in short bursts, learning about what your brain and body need in order to fuel them appropriately, and all around showing up. "It's about doing what other people don't want to do, and doing it consistently. Push yourself harder, and it makes success easier." On Pain and Winning "Pain can be overcome with the mind. You don't need expensive equipment, you don't need to eat all of the time, and you just gotta put some hard work in and do it consistently over and over again and build yourself up." Owen talks about the difference he sees in the way he trains now compared to when he was in his 30s. He said that training then was about going all in and doing it all day. Training now is about efficiency and compound movements, eating less and having a better relationship with food. It's about knowing how to win the first 5 minutes of the day and giving your brain and body what it needs to perform at a super high level so you can defy the odds that pain often brings. Listen as Wade and Owen talk about how the body building industry has changed to be more about the way you build, and how you can build a more vital way of life. As Owen says, "If your brain feels good, your body's gonna follow." Episode Resources: Get Owen's book here www.kidsinthehouse.com/expert/parenting-advice-from-owen-mckibbin | |||
| 189: Optimizing Your Brain with Nootropics - with Greg Gostincar | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:43:22 | |
Nootropics are any natural or synthetic substance that may have a positive impact on mental skills. Greg Gostincar, a certified brain health professional, has devoted his life to helping health-conscious professionals achieve peak brain and mental performance by using effective science-based techniques combined with the power of nature. Everyone can benefit from nootropics, though everyone responds to them in different ways – it's not a one-formula fits-all scenario. Things you'll learn in this episode:
Brain Habits Our habits in our daily life determine how our brain functions. Greg said, "It was my lifestyle that made things problematic." But it's always possible to improve both our habits and our brain optimization. "Those simple, simple hacks had the biggest impact on me." Some of these simple hacks work hand in hand with the supplements that Greg researches and works with. Optimizing sleep, light, nutrition, exercise, and brain games are enhanced by the nootropics stack that can be applied to individuals. "I noticed people mainly search for shortcuts and pills. That's true for the majority of people. But you know how important it is to optimize your lifestyle, not just take the right supplements. I think both those things go hand in had, so the idea is to have this system in place and then give those personalized plans with specific hacks that can optimize different brain regions or can help people optimize if they have any kind of problems. We really wanted to understand to get the whole picture before we give any recommendations." Prevention of cognitive decline is something you can do now, and we can motivate that change before it's too late. As you listen to Wade and Greg, be open, and you might find you can unlock even more potential within your brain. Episode Resources: Brain assessment
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| 188: The Power of Your Blood Sugar - with Danielle Hamilton | 24 Jun 2022 | 00:52:47 | |
What is your hunger telling you? How do you feel after you eat certain foods? These questions are central to the discussion Danielle brings to the table to better help us understand our bodies. Danielle Hamilton is a functional nutritional therapy practitioner and restorative wellness practitioner who specializes in blood sugar regulation and digestion. She became interested in blood sugar issues when she learned that insulin resistance was at the root of her PCOS. Her mission has become to help others uncover their blood sugar and insulin issues in order to improve health, and reject the feeling that your body hates you. "I never wanted anyone to feel like there's no hope. There's hope for these problems. You can get better, no matter how hard it is. We shouldn't be forcing treatments down someone's throat. This gave me the motivation to find a way to reverse the problems on my own." Blood sugar frustrations Diabetes is one of the leading causes of early death. Insulin doesn't fix this problem, it manages this problem. Insulin is a hormone that tells the body to store sugar, and it blocks fat burning, so it blocks you from accessing metabolic flexibility and tapping into stored sugar. When this happens, the emergency light comes on and it feels like we're running out of energy, which signals hunger to our body. But it's not always a healthy hunger. PCOS is the diabetes of the ovaries, and as you look at how your body reacts to the food we eat, we see that blood sugar is at the heart of every hormone issue. "Insulin resistance is a state of carbohydrate intolerance. So if you're having too much for your body, then it's not good for your body, even if it's healthy carbs." Blood sugar empowerment The body runs on nutrients, not on calories or sunshine, so we need to extract the nutrients from our food. Every person who has had a successful dietary change has done so because they didn't create an unhealthy relationship with food. It feels like a choice, not a shameful event. "What shifted for me," says Danielle, "is that I want to feel good. So I eat in a way that makes me feel good. It feels very empowering. We're making these choices because we are dialed into knowing how these foods make us feel." Danielle assures that these changes aren't a pathway to never enjoying food or life. You can find flexibility in knowing what works for your body and what doesn't feel good for your body, to remove the rigidity of restriction and scarcity in what we eat. She notes, "It becomes a sustainable lifestyle when you have those cycles and those seasons for things." Join Wade and Danielle's discussion to have a better idea about the power your blood sugar has over the way you live. Come be assured that there is a path forward, as Wade says, to add years to your life, and life to your years. Episode Resources: Find out more about Danielle's program, Blood Sugar Mastery at: | |||
| 187: How to Manage Your Pace to Control Your Race - with Jeff Gaudette | 22 Apr 2022 | 01:00:32 | |
Jeff Gaudette has been running for around 20 years, at all levels of the sport. Under his tutelage, hundreds of runners have finished their first marathon and he's helped countless runners qualify for the Boston marathon. In this episode you will learn:
The journey of running Jeff reassures us that, "All runners can relate to each other, because no matter what kind of goals you're going after, different speeds, it feels the same as everybody else...the only difference is that the accomplishments happen to happen at a higher, more competitive level." The journey of running is the same arc for everyone. The first wall that everyone needs to break through is that running is hard, it hurts, and it sucks. But once you get through that barrier, it becomes one of the most amazing things you can do. As you keep going, it gets easier and easier, and can turn into a time for daydreaming, meditating, and thinking about your goals. "It's not always going to suck – everyone goes through that process, but give it time and you'll get to the point it's enjoyable and you'll be amazed." Casual to competitive Going from being a casual runner to serious and competitive isn't about your body, it's about your mindset. "The big word I would use for that," says Jeff, "is sacrifice. The better you want to be, the more you have to sacrifice." Sacrifice means letting go of things that other people may find important, and removing things from your life that aren't helpful or aiding you toward your goal. Everyone's sacrifice looks different, and progress happens at different paces. The common thread that everyone can look forward to is enjoying the journey. You don't want to suffer through your race. "Never compare your point now to somebody else's. Focus on you and the progress that you're making." Jeff and Wade walk us through the timelines and work needed to get from couch to marathon, and will prepare you for any training you choose to pursue. Listen to this episode to get off on the right foot when you start running at any level. Episode Resources: Follow along on social media: Find a pace calculator and other helpful links at https://linktr.ee/runnersconnect | |||
| 186: A Body of Light - with Matt Maruca | 14 Apr 2022 | 01:16:16 | |
This episode will expand your appreciation of light beyond a mere tool of vision. Matt Maruca is the founder and CEO of Ra Optics, which teaches people about the important roles that light plays in health, and develops the most advanced light therapy-based products for transforming health. Learning the biology of light led Matt to the discovery that we are beings of light which helped him learn to let go of being sick as an aspect of his identity, and propelled him on a spiritual journey to realize the unlimited nature of our human experience. In this episode you will learn:
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| 185: How to Rebound your Brain and Body through Movement - with Aly Giampolo & Colette Dong | 07 Apr 2022 | 00:47:22 | |
Does your fitness routine give you the opportunity to consciously express yourself and your emotions? Aly Giampolo and Colette Dong are here to talk about how using a trampoline with the influence of dance can help you get out of the stagnation of the executive dealings with your days. Through their professional dance career, they discovered the trampoline is a satisfying high intensity, low impact option for fitness. As they experienced the positive impact this had on their personal bodies and minds, they have created a method that shares the lasting benefits of rebounding with their community. In this episode you will learn:
It's not about monotony Colette says, "Fitness can include all of the different states of being that your body takes on and the different moods that you enter." This program recognizes that your body doesn't always have the same need or the same workout, and so a variety of movements are used to help ground yourself in your state for that day. When you workout you also want to have mental engagement along with your physical engagement. Trampolines may be a small surface, but they allow you to be so dynamic even in a low impact, high intensity space. "You're getting this big dynamic movement that encompasses every piece of you," says Aly. Taking the time to tune into your body and achieve clarity through movement while disconnecting from distractions brings euphoric moments. A Valuable Pathway of Life Movement is inherent to all human beings. When you're doing this work, your body is there for you so there's nothing to fear when you work on remaining connected to your body. You can boost your mood and find an engaging way to make progress and celebrate your accomplishments. And you can do it in community. "We want them to know that it's not an easy thing to do on your own. We understand that it's vulnerable. We see and we hear you. And all those components are pushing people to find this happiness, find this joy, and it just enlightens them." The act of rebounding on the trampoline echos the ability of our body to rebound from strain, and our brain's ability to rebound from struggle. When you realize your body is experiencing something different, it's exciting and important. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, this episode will energize and inspire you to move wherever you are, to a better method of health. Episode Resources: https://www.thenessnyc.com - USE DISCOUNT CODE "BIOPTIMIZERS10" Connect with Aly and Colette: https://www.instagram.com/thenessdigital.com | |||
| 184: Dress Up Your Health with Functional Diagnostic Nutrition - with Reed Davis | 01 Apr 2022 | 01:24:26 | |
Have you ever been frustrated that a medical diagnosis didn't do anything to fix the problem? Reed Davis talks about how this frustration led him to learning more about how to see and improve the health of the whole person through holistic lifestyle medicine. In this episode you will learn:
Unique Constellations Reed's dad taught him the benefits of "early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise." He has seen how the most effective advertising is the healthy person you helped. "We have a credibility problem in our medical institutions," says Reed. There are external forces that created the compartmentalization of diagnosis into tiny boxes of specializations that only took 2 dots of information to encompass everyone within broad, "normal" parameters. The holistic approach is to look at the whole person, look at the whole constellation for each unique individual in order to step away from a reductionist mindset and into a program that doesn't only see one fix for one problem of one part of their lives. "You don't deserve to be pigeon-holed." Healing Opportunities Voltaire said, "The art of medicine is distracting the patient long enough for the body to heal itself." Functional Diagnostics is about identifying healing opportunities so the individual can lift themselves out of the problem with support. You can't get through your metabolic chaos alone, and you shouldn't feel like you have to. Some acronym tools that help Reed in his work include: H.I.D.D.E.N. (Hormone, Immune system, Digestion, Detoxification, Energy production, and Nervous system) and D.R.E.S.S. (Diet, Rest, Exercise Stress-reduction, and Supplementation). These tools help you to look at your life through a high resolution lens, and identify the factors that reduce or heighten your longevity potential."You have to have a program that has an effect on every cell, tissue, and organ in the person." This is the purpose of a holistic program. As we know, "you can't empty a bathtub with the water still running." Reed and Wade will talk you through the process of zooming out in order to see the whole, holistic health potential of a person, with some humor along the way. Come D.R.E.S.S. your health for success! Episode Resources: Get the free D.R.E.S.S. for Health Success Guidebook Follow Reed's work: https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalDiagnosticNutrition https://www.instagram.com/fdntraining Books recommended by Reed:
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| 183: Primal Uprising: A Revolution of Critical Thinkers! With Michelle and Keith Norris | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:51:29 | |
Time to regain control of your mind, body, and health. We have an exciting show today! Michelle Norris and Keith Norris, co-founders and CEOs of Paleoƒ(x)™, join Wade Lightheart on the podcast. Their idea for Paleoƒ(x)™ originated in August of 2011 while on a flight home from a health symposium and it now ranks as the largest Paleo platform and event in the world. Paleoƒ(x)™ has been featured in the New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Men's Health. And Michelle has appeared on Good Morning San Diego and Good Morning Austin, as well as a guest chef on Paleo Kitchen TV. Keith, a military veteran, became a serial entrepreneur in the health and wellness world with 40-plus years of real-world experience. He's also an expert on changing habits as well as an elite strength and conditioning specialist. Both Michelle and Keith take a multidimensional, holistic approach to health and wellness. "Our main thing is really about the lifestyle and all that it encompasses," Michelle said. "Honestly, Paleoƒ(x)™ has encompassed this from the beginning, embracing the seven pillars of health, which we talk about in our new book Primal Uprising [poised to debut on April 29th at Paleoƒ(x) 2022]. So, for us it's about being a fully optimized human." Prepare to get a sneak peek inside the paleo path to wellness. One that goes way beyond the "caveman" diet. In this podcast, we cover:
The Paleoƒ(x) 2022 event is going live "It is our 10th anniversary and we're super excited, and our book, Primal Uprising, is launching at Paleoƒ(x) 2022. We're super excited about that. It's April 29 through May 1st, and it's going to be an amazing show." In 2020, they were ahead of schedule and on track to hit 10,000 attendees. Then Covid hit, canceling all in-person gatherings. It's now been three years since their last live event. "I'm super excited to finally be back in-person again and back live and with no restrictions," Michelle said, "which it was like when we first got dates." Wade agreed, "We've gotten into the habit of being isolated and living our life through his screen. And I'm encouraging everybody and anybody to make the effort to come down to the event, because there's something magical when you get people in a room together." Michelle added that Wade will be one of their amazing cast of speakers. "And we're really happy about that!" Michelle highlights the uplifting message Paleoƒ(x)™ offers to the world "The main thing is really about the lifestyle... being in process or in flow, not in balance, because we don't believe that that exists. "It's the seven pillars of health: physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, spiritual, and tribal. All of these pillars really need to be in play for somebody to be fully optimized to be able to truly be a happy, productive human. Paleoƒ(x) encompasses all of those." "Our education system used to be teaching us how to think and how to ask questions and become critical thinkers. Paleoƒ(x) is all about critical thought. What we are not is an echo chamber, because we believe the only way forward... the only way for progression to happen... is for there to be dissension. "The absolute truth right now is that our system is actually geared to keep us sick, to keep us enslaved, and keep us as profit centers... programmed from the day we were born. "A couple of years back, one of our themes was challenge authority, defy dogma, and demand different. We were shocked to find so many people angry with us for questioning the government and questioning the CDC and questioning what was coming out of Washington. "But that's what challenge authority means. That's what defy dogma means. That what demand different means. Paleoƒ(x) is not going to change. In fact, we're going to double down on that. Wade added, "We've been in this indoctrination program for much longer than we think. A look inside the book Primal Uprising Wade asks, "Let's get to the next piece. We've got Paleoƒ(x), an excited group of critical thinkers. Some willing to challenge authority. Some willing to defy whatever gets projected on to them. And now you're bringing forth this idea in your new book called, Primal Uprising... very manifesto-ish. Where did it come from and what is it about?" "It's kind of hysterical because this book was five years in the making. In the proposal we sent out, the title was 'Escaping the Human Zoo', which is the premise that we are all in a zoo of our own making. We are both zoo animal and zookeeper. They loved the premise but by the time we got the contract, George Floyd had passed, and they were concerned about the name of the book. So, we started looking for alternative names [and it became Primal Uprising]." "In the book, we're really talking about how do we revolutionize the way we do things in this country? "How do we create all the new stuff that we want? How do we create the true health care system? How do we create a true education system where people teach people how to think and how to ask critical questions? And how to be a free and sovereign being in this world? "It just takes each individual doing their own part and doing their own work and creating their own thing in their community. It's us coming together and having the conversations that are difficult and hard. "We are not averse to controversy. We are not averse to having conversations around the controversy and having discussions to create the opportunity for us to make changes and to find the answers." When you listen to this spirited and inspired session, you'll be at times entertained, at times shocked, and most assuredly challenged as you discover just what Paleoƒ(x) brings to the table. You'll not only be prompted to recognize, address, and shed the programming we all are subject to, but you'll also be inspired to attend Paleoƒ(x) 2022 in Austin, Texas on April 29th to May 1st. Here's how Michelle sums it up. "We are programmed to find the thing we are opposed to and fight it. Instead, we must find the thing that we are opposed to and find out how it exists within us. Then, we can integrate it and create a better world. That is what Paleoƒ(x)™ is about, always has been, and always will be." Resources: | |||
| 182: Learning How to Sleep with Mollie McGlocklin | 17 Mar 2022 | 01:02:58 | |
Feeling dis-empowered or anxious about the quality of our sleep doesn't have to be a day-to-day struggle. We can learn how to train our circadian rhythm to work for us. After navigating insomnia while traveling internationally and experiencing other symptoms of poor health, Mollie created what she couldn't find – a place to learn the skill set of sleep. Sleep Is A Skill is a company that optimizes people's sleep through a unique blend of technology, accountability, and behavioral change. She walks us through the benefits of this essential set of skills while inviting us to try on this concept that sleep is a skill so we can bring a clean slate to the thing that we do every single night. "That can empower both certainly our nighttime sleep results, but also the results of our life." In this episode you will learn:
Why does our identity with our sleep matter? Do you call yourself a night owl, an easy sleeper, or a short sleeper? Mollie explains that how we identify ourselves with our sleep can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Being aware of our language and what our current sleep baseline is is the first step to getting better sleep. "You get to examine those thoughts and come back and know that there are so many things that we can do to make a difference with that sleep. That the body wants great sleep and it's pulling for that, it's doing everything possible for that, and often we're the ones getting in the way." As we become a student of sleep, we can turn our current reality into metrics that then empower us to make behavioral changes. "We can see the before and point to an objective space what something was at before they actually made changes in their health, which brings us back into the driver's seat of our sleep versus just sort of being at the effect of or hoping, wishing, all of that." How does our focus help us improve our sleep? "We shift to the first thing that they do in the morning, Taking the paradigm shift from outside of the bedroom to how we're living our lives and how that impacts the quality of our sleep. When we're working with people from that perspective, their life and their health is improving in general, which improves the quality of sleep." Mollie and Wade discuss how to increase the things that have a positive impact, and reduce the things that have a negative impact on our sleep. Mollie warns that our sleep trackers aren't always accurate or don't always highlight the most important factors to your sleep. They're just the start of the conversation. Listen to this episode to help get clear about your intentions you have for your sleep, and decide why improving your sleep is important to you. As you will learn, "By improving the quality of your sleep you're actually improving your life." You won't want to sleep through this one. Listen to the full episode to learn more. Episode Resources: Free PDF at www.sleepisaskill.com | |||
| 181: Dr. Alan J. Bauman: Voted "#1 Top Hair Restoration Surgeon" in North America | 10 Mar 2022 | 01:00:52 | |
Our guest, Dr. Alan J. Bauman, takes a deep dive into the causes of hair loss in men and women and describes a number of treatment options. Dr. Bauman is a full-time board-certified hair restoration physician who has treated over 30,000 patients and performed more than 10,000 hair transplant procedures since starting his practice at Bauman Medical, located in Boca Raton, FL in 1997. Recognized by Forbes as one of "10 CEOs Transforming Healthcare in America," Dr. Bauman is known for pioneering numerous technologies in the field of hair restoration including minimally-invasive FUE Follicular Unit Extraction, VIP|FUE™ No-Shave Hair Transplant, Low-Level Laser Therapy, PRP Platelet Rich Plasma, PDOgro™, Eyelash Transplants and others. He is a frequently invited faculty member and guest expert at numerous international scientific meetings and live surgery workshops and has been featured in hundreds of news stories in the media. You may have seen him on NBC Today, CBS Early Show, ABC Good Morning America, CNN, The Doctors, Spencer Kobren's The Bald Truth, Bulletproof Radio with Dave Asprey or featured in Men's Health, GQ, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, Oprah Magazine and many more. In this podcast we cover:
Watching this podcast, you'll be quickly taken in by Dr. Bauman's charisma, knowledge and talent. He inspires us all to "feel great every day" and offers life-changing procedures he's perfected over 25 years for those who want to roll back hair loss and capture the vitality of their younger days. A healthy head of hair doesn't always require medical interventions. Dr. Bauman also highlights the importance of stress reduction techniques, good sleep, healthy dieting and keeping the body optimized to improve hair quality. As is so often the case in life, a random discussion (with a hair transplant patient) transformed Dr. Bauman from a general surgeon to a medical hair restoration physician. As Dr. Bauman tells it, "The one thing that really stuck with me from that first conversation was how it changed his life and I'll never forget his description of how he changed personally and professionally." Hair loss, what's the big deal? "It's a sensitive topic for a lot of people. They're embarrassed about it, they want to talk about it, there's a vanity issue and there's all these different things about it." "Appearance wise, they want to look good and feel great. That's the fun part about having a practice like mine. I've been enjoying it like that, you know for 25 years." "They see it [hair loss] as a sign of their youth slipping away." What can I expect if I choose treatment? Diagnosis, treatment and post-care are the cornerstones of the service provided at Bauman Medical and are tailored to each client's specific condition and expectations. "And so we have to have the first, most important thing, which is a good plan." "The first thing we talk about always, what are the appropriate expectations for what the procedure can provide?" "The most common risk is that a person has a procedure, but they don't continue on with medical therapy or they fall off the wagon." "That they must continue, whether it be a topical medication, oral medication, nutritional, nutraceutical or using the laser that they invested in. And that's really been the secret to our success with our patients is that consistent follow up and that kind of team approach." How goes Wade's consult? Dr. Bauman typically does consults in the office or via Zoom. Patients are required to complete a lengthy questionnaire regarding lifestyle, health conditions and expectations. Further, genetic testing is recommended to provide an optimized treatment plan—personalized, precision medicine. Following are excerpts from a 20-minute "consult" without the detailed background information in which Wade seeks advice for his thinning hair. DR: "Tell me a little bit about your hair loss situation and maybe what you're seeing in the mirror and how it looks to you when you look at your hair and when you first became aware of some hair changes? WL: "Maybe in my late 20s I just started to notice like over here on the sides, particularly. It would just start to go back a little bit more. Nothing that was alarming, but something I do recall noticing it's kind of like when you get your first wrinkle. A percentage of loss is happening, each year, and now I have very fine hair, as well as existing blonde and very light." WL: "So that also amplifies it in certain lighting when I'm on lights and things like that, so you know that that light shines right through my hair. I'd like it to be a little thicker so I don't go full Kojak too soon. DR: "Sure, and as mentioned before you do have some family hair loss on your dad's side. So we know hair loss that is genetic male pattern baldness does come from the families, mom-side or dad-side or both and it can skip generations and siblings." DR: "The good news about that crown area is that we can definitely protect and restore that area, probably with non-invasive therapies. But if you're looking to change the way your hairline looks then obviously we would need to do something more aggressive." WL: "Well, I think, if I had a magic wand, I would just kind of return it back to maybe where it was when I was in my early 20s. I'd have no receding parts here." DR: "Teenager hairline is not going to look normal and natural as you continue to age, and so we need to talk about an age appropriate hairline, which is going to have a little bit of a recession to it." DR: "But the cool thing about this kind of technology is that even at four days out from the procedure you can do tennis and golf and lift weights, you can be at the gym sweating sauna. It takes about four to five months for those hairs to start to kick in and grow." Stay tuned for more news about Wade's detailed treatment plan. As Wade notes, everybody in the biohacking community is talking about health and vibrancy and living long and living strong. But there's also a cosmetic side. We typically start each day looking in the mirror. "Why have a Ferrari, with a bad paint job when you can have it with a nice shiny clear coat? I think hair is one of those things that really makes someone look vibrant, young and vital." "I want to look as good as I feel. I've been taking care of myself… I'm doing the biohacking thing… I'm on the journey… I'm in the tribe." More references: Bauman Medical URL
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| 289: Reclaiming Your Power In Perimenopause - with Chemaine Linnie | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:47:35 | |
Perimenopause is a significant transition for many women, bringing with it a series of hormonal and physical challenges, including often-unexplained weight gain, particularly around the midsection. Health expert Chemaine Linnie, a certified hormone specialist and fitness coach, offers valuable insights from her own 165-pound weight loss journey and years of guiding women through this hormonal shift. Rock Bottom to TransformationChemaine's personal journey began at her lowest point as a teenage mother in Dublin, weighing 280 pounds. A pivotal moment—her sister cutting her out of a dress—ignited her resolve: "That was my rock bottom. That's when I promised myself I would never go back". Through discipline, education, and a new passion for fitness, she transformed her life, eventually moving to Canada and becoming a respected wellness figure. However, as she and her clients aged, new obstacles emerged. The Real CulpritContrary to popular belief, Chemaine emphasizes that perimenopausal weight gain isn't solely due to estrogen or a slowing metabolism. Instead, she points to adrenaline dominance and blood sugar imbalances as the primary culprits. Symptoms like irritability, sleep disturbances, rage, low libido, hot flashes, and night sweats are often indicators of high adrenaline and low progesterone, not just estrogen. The demanding modern lifestyle, especially in places like Canada, exacerbates these issues, with women juggling numerous responsibilities and feeling guilty about managing stress. Sleep: Your Secret WeaponBefore diving into complicated protocols, Chemaine always starts with one thing: sleep. Not just any sleep, but deep, restorative sleep that allows your hormones to reset. Her approach is surprisingly simple. Screens off before bed. Magnesium supplementation. High-dose GABA – 1,500 mg or more. Create a quiet wind-down ritual that signals to your nervous system that it's safe to rest. When you sleep better, everything else falls into place. You make better food choices. You have energy to move your body. You feel more in control instead of constantly reacting. The next step is hormone balance. Bioidentical progesterone – what Chemaine calls "the hormone of vitality and sanity" – often plummets before estrogen does. When it's restored, you get better sleep, fewer cravings, stable moods, and even restored libido. Small Wins, Big ResultsWeight gain during perimenopause isn't your body betraying you. It's your body sending up flares, asking for support. The solution isn't another restrictive diet or punishing workout routine. It's about understanding what your body actually needs. Chemaine's philosophy is refreshingly realistic. Forget dramatic transformations and all-or-nothing approaches. Focus on small wins: improving one meal at a time, adding a 30-minute walk, aiming for just one pound per week. It's not flashy, but it's sustainable. As Chemaine puts it: "We deserve to live again." Your forties and fifties aren't about accepting decline – they're about reclaiming your vitality with wisdom you didn't have in your twenties. In this podcast you'll learn...
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| 180: The Power of Yoga Nidra with Nadine Kenney Johnstone | 03 Mar 2022 | 01:02:15 | |
As a business owner, wife, mother, and professor, Nadine Kenney Johnstone was busy! She thought she was doing everything right for her health until she found the power of yoga nidra. Before discovering this type of meditation, she ate nourishing, healthy foods, got good sleep, and exercised. But, she still felt she wasn't at her best and she saw her relationships weren't at their optimum, either. She felt distracted and like she wasn't fully present with the two people she loves most in the world: her husband and her son. She wanted to change that, she wanted to embrace each moment of life fully for How Nadine found yoga nidra and deep rest: That was when she found yoga nidra. Yoga nidra is a Sanskrit term that refers to a meditation practice which induces deep, conscious relaxation. It's been scientifically proven that one hour of yoga nidra is the equivalent of several hours of sleep! It profoundly impacted Nadine. Soon she was prioritizing rest, which led her to actually being more productive and creative in her work. In fact, yoga nidra was so helpful for her that she wanted to share the message with others and she became a certified yoga nidra instructor. She practices it with all of her clients, whether virtually or in person at her writing retreats. How Nadine supports women writers: Nadine talks more about what it's been like to host retreats since the pandemic and what she includes in her retreats. She holds an MFA in Fine Arts, has taught English and creative writing at the university level, "I love talking about journaling so I'm a writer and a writing coach; I help women, develop and publish their books." More About Nadine's writing retreats: This also led her to create writing retreats. Although they were held virtually in the initial stages of the pandemic, they are back in person now and she notices some similarities in the women who attend. "We had an in person retreat in November and the women who came to it were working women who just felt like they couldn't juggle it at all, and they couldn't handle it all. Not because they're not completely competent, but because we can only hold so much." "They were coming in feeling very overwhelmed and completely exhausted mentally - the pandemic lead to great decision fatigue. Every decision felt like life or death, so they were just completely decision- Nadine goes on to explain how women ultimately change their lives at the end of her retreats: "By the end it's this real game changer where the women feel so good that they go, I have to live my life, a different way." In this podcast, we cover: - What brain wave state is the "super power of yoga"?One trick to remind yourself you don't always have to be productive. She also explains the need for rest and why we often have no problem running for 25 minutes on a treadmill, but it's much more of a challenge for us to spend 25 minutes in a meditative practice like yoga nidra. Finally, Nadine walks us through the stages of yoga nidra, and we dive deep into the topics of surrender and being deeply rested (and why it's more than just getting adequate sleep). Tune in to hear her powerful experiences and wisdom on this edition of Awesome Health. Resources:
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| 179: Sacred Birth/Sacred Death: Holistic Fertility & Hospice Care with Dr. Nathan Riley | 24 Feb 2022 | 01:14:00 | |
How we enter this world and leave this world makes a huge difference. For most of the western world, we all experience a similar allopathic birth protocol in a sterile environment we call the hospital. Likewise, when we die, we often leave this world in an allopathic environment, like a hospital. Or an allopathic arrangement we call "hospice." Unfortunately, there are many shortcomings and mistakes to be found in both the westernized practice of birthing babies and caring for people with terminal illnesses. Do you know what these shortcomings are? Many do not - as our western hospital system, and Big Pharma dominate the landscape so profoundly that most of us do not realize there are other ways to go about birthing and dying. Meet our guest today - Dr. Nathan Riley - a medical doctor specializing in OBGYN and hospice medicine. Dr. Nathan is also a holistic health practitioner with extensive training, including the Chek Institute. Through his holistic OBGYN practice - Beloved Holistics - Dr. Nathan offers a path of collaboration between himself, midwives, and health coaches. Dr. Nathan's generous heart thrives as a holistic OBGYN who brings to the table not only allopathic medicine but also functional medicine, Chinese medicine, herbalism, and Ayurveda. Based in Louisville, Kentucky - Dr. Nathan meets with patients locally and remotely to care for common OBGYN issues like pelvic pain, fertility issues, and abnormal periods. He is one of the most diverse, exciting guests to ever appear on the Awesome Health Podcast. His fascinating spiritual approach to death is worth a listen alone. However, you will be blown away by his OBGYN insights as well. But sure to hit that play button! In this podcast, we cover:
How we face (or not face) mortality in our modern age: At one point in the conversation, Dr. Nathan shared this about his father: "If you've lost anybody close to you, you realize that there's this transition - this transformation of spirit. Getting older and having to face our mortality is something that we all have to do." "If we treat death as a medical process - that's a failure of the modern medical model because we're not forced to contemplate our death." "What happens is we're not forced to face mortality because we have this presumption that somebody's going to save us from this necessary transformation that happens at the end." "For example, my dad - who died when I was in medical school from something called multiple myeloma - he was one of those rough and tough guys that didn't want to talk about emotions. He wasn't open to telling people he loved them…it was that generation of men that is emotionally unavailable." "I worked with a palliative care group and he joined a palliative care group in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they got him to open up about things and to really kind of reconcile like hey - this is something that's going to happen, and it's not something to be afraid of." "And so the sacred nature of death started to emerge, for me, and then I ended up in medical school and then into residency experiencing birth and realizing - wow - there's something magical here." 1000 Births & 1000 Deaths Dr. Nathan says he has experienced at least one thousand births and one thousand deaths through his medical practice. Here is one big takeaway Dr. Nathan has found from this: "I've been to so many births and deaths - 1000 of each is what I tell people at least. I came to realize there's a spiritual component to this, and what a person needs from you during these scary times that are sacred rites of passage." "These times can be blissful depending on how you approach it. As a doctor, what they need from you is somebody to see them and witness them. And then to acknowledge that we don't have a way of fixing this." "We can't fix your pregnancy or your birth. Your birth is going to unfold whether you like it or not. And your death is going to unfold, whether you like it or not." "So what I'm trying to illustrate is that [birth and death] are two sides of the same coin. [Birth and death] are both equally transformative in spirit." Dr. Nathan's unconventional medical practice is making waves in a good way. His unique perspective bringing birth (OBGYN) and death (hospice) together into one holistic medical approach offers many insights you rarely find in the specialist-obsessed allopathic healthcare model. Hit that play button and check out this dynamic doctor who offers spirituality and a refreshing level of respect to his patients. Episode Resources: Get 10% off of a consultation package of 10 hours or more using promo code WADE10 HERE Check out more about Dr. Nathan Riley at Beloved Holistics Nathan Riley OBGYN on Instagram | |||
| 178: Sun Potion Rising: Feel the Goodness with Scott Linde | 10 Feb 2022 | 01:01:27 | |
Discover the power of 'Tonic Herbs' Our guest Scott Linde, Founder of Sun Potion Transformational Foods, boils down his entrepreneurial motivations to this simple fact: he enjoys feeling real good. And he wants to share his health and wellness discoveries with others. Growing up close to nature in Minnesota, Scott has a passion for tonic herbs that may be unrivaled. Passion is why Sun Potion continues to grow in size, scope, and sales. So what are 'tonic herbs'? Why does Scott focus his business on tonic herbs and algae, greens, and mushrooms from all over the globe? And why does he refuse to cut corners with the Sun Potion product line - using stringent quality standards and purely organic ingredients? After five minutes of tuning in, you will notice Scott's radiant positive energy and sharp mind. Like that lady in the movie When Harry Met Sally, you will say to yourself: "I'll have what he's having." By listening to this conversation between two health and wellness entrepreneurs, you can discover some new ways to shift your health in a positive direction. Tapping into these transformational foods is a key to radiant health. In this podcast, we cover:
What got Scott interested in tonic herbs and starting a business: In his own words, here is how Scott describes to Wade his "why" to start Sun Potion: "What got me interested initially is I love feeling good. There's an aspect to this that is purely selfish. I enjoy feeling good." "When I was a young person, I did a lot of extreme endurance sports that provide a lot of endorphins. Once I reached my 20s, I began learning through meditation teachers about tonic herbs." "I started trying them out for myself, and it just turned on a light in my body. I was like, 'oh, I love this. I'm into this. It's so cool." "It was like being in high school and blacking out at the finish line of every cross country race to go into that complete bliss, like straight to the godhead. An ecstatic, full sensory feeling." "That kind of contagious feeling - when you feel so good in your body - I began on my own looking around the industry and not finding what I was looking for. So I eventually realized this could be a project where I get to have fun and play with substances and aspects of nature that I enjoy. "I can make these things available to other people if they're interested. In the meantime, this project is fun for me. I'll put my attention and my service into growing a nice, positive gift to share with people." Why does Scott buy health products from other companies? Here's an interesting excerpt of something Scott tells Wade: "I love buying other people's products and have them around." "I'll be honest; I don't necessarily always take them. But it's nice to get the vibe off of the products and feel them, and have them around." "People come to my house - like, when women visit my home, they go into the bathroom, and they come out saying, "you have lots of natural products and body care things that are pretty impressive. I want to spend a couple of hours in your bathroom. LOL" "It's fun. Like a person who loves restoring cars, they will have a bunch of car things in their home. It's their passion." "I have fun with wellness products." Scott goes into detail on his favorite tonic herbs. He also shows off his mushroom expertise - firing off a string of different fungi and their unique health properties. Scott is a gracious guest who gives away so much in this episode - including a surprise gift for Awesome Health Podcast listeners. You must check out this episode - a whole new world of tonics awaits you! Episode Resources: Get 15% off your Sun Potion order using promo code BIOPTIMIZERS HERE Check out more about Scott Linde & Sun Potion Sun Potion on Facebook Sun Potion on Instagram Sun Potion on YouTube | |||
| 177: Slay Your Demons & Reinvent Yourself with Doug Bopst | 03 Feb 2022 | 01:06:19 | |
For those haunted by a dark past - here's proof you can turn your life around - starting today! One of the biggest takeaways from our guest's story is this: whatever secrets are in your past do not dictate your future (unless you allow it.) Doug Bopst is a good example. He went from being a drug addict, drug dealer, and convicted felon to one of America's top fitness trainers. He entered prison obese and unable to do one push-up. He left prison with a passion for exercise, and this positive focus proved to be a crucial turning point. But how did Doug do this? So many other drug dealers end up dead or in prison for life. Or, they get out but return to crime, never reaching their full potential. Why did Doug's story turn out differently? How did he end up writing three books, becoming a public speaker and a fitness guru? This former junkie, dope dealer, and out-of-shape fast-food addict became a clean, fit, upstanding citizen through a remarkable journey you will have to hear to believe. Be sure to tune in to this episode as Doug pours his heart out, hoping that one person out there will find hope and strength through his story. Doug is indeed an award-winning personal trainer, author, and host of the Adversity Advantage Podcast - a show that's on a crusade to inspire others to overcome adversity and become the best version of themselves. He's a great communicator in front of the camera, with appearances on NBC's 'Today Show,' Men's Health, Forbes, Rich Roll's podcast, Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, The Skinny Confidential Him and Her podcast, Bulletproof Radio with Dave Asprey, The Be Well by Kelly podcast with Kelly LeVeque, The Blonde Files podcast with Arielle Lorre and more. A short documentary covering his story called 'From Felony to Fitness to Free' has been screened at The Reel Recovery Film Festival in Los Angeles and New York City. In this podcast, we cover:
How Jail Saved Doug's Life Doug shares his complete story - why he got arrested, what happened when he stood before the Judge and his experiences inside the prison. Doug says, "When I walked through the gates of the jail, I cried because I didn't want to go in, and when I left, I cried because I didn't want to leave." "Crazy, right?" "On top of all that panic, fear, anger, uncertainty, and depression - all these emotions, I had a horrific opiate addiction going into jail. So my first few weeks behind bars, I detoxed cold turkey from oxycontin." Yikes. Doug and Wade talk more about how rough it is for someone to detox cold turkey off of hard narcotics. "Sitting in discomfort" - how Doug's growing comfort level with pain was critical to his transformation: Doug tells Wade at one point: "I think for many other people struggling with addiction and me, we use substances to numb pain. We use substances to get rid of any feelings of discomfort we're feeling at that moment. Like when someone feels stressed out from work, and they go home and drink a bottle of wine that night to forget about that day." "I was that guy who was completely uncomfortable feeling any kind of discomfort, so fitness gave me a positive outlet to take that discomfort I was feeling and change my state of mind - get out of my head and turn it into something positive." "When I was in jail, I would go for a walk. Then, I could process my thoughts." "Use fitness to change your state of mind." What an inspiring episode! Many people die of shame after making some poor decisions in their life. Doug Bopst proves you don't have to stay stuck in the past, wallowing in guilt. Instead of replaying your past over and over again, discover how fitness and spirituality can pull anyone up out of the mud, clean them up, and set them on a new life path of success. Check out this episode - tune in and turn your tragedy into triumph! Episode Resources: Check out more on Doug Bopst Doug Bopst Amazon Author Page Doug Bopst on Facebook Doug Bopst on LinkedIn Doug Bopst on Instagram Doug Bopst on Twitter | |||
| 176: Unleash the Power of Womanhood with Dr. Sonya Jensen | 20 Jan 2022 | 00:53:53 | |
Our guest this episode is helping women find their Yin & Yang balance to live more joyous, satisfying lives. If you are a woman who feels like you can never measure up to how society defines what being a woman looks like - take heart! Dr. Sonya Jensen knows how you feel. As a mother herself, a wife, and a "career woman" who runs her medical practice, she understands the modern stressors facing women today. Ladies want to be happy in their marriage and feel good about their daily interactions with their children - yet they struggle with hormones, too much on their plate, low self-confidence, and our distorted digital distractions (smartphones, etc.) So many women are out of balance with the yin-yang between the masculine and the feminine. Sounding at times like a family therapist - Dr. Sonya shares how she helps women improve and elevate their marriage and home life. The key is learning how to tap into their natural nurturing yin while shifting out of the more masculine yang - the warrior woman, as she calls it - to finding a balance that works much better in the 21st century. Dr. Sonya brings a holistic approach to her patients as a Naturopathic Physician with a background in cell biology combined with her lived experience with Ayurvedic Medicine. Together, this has given Dr. Sonya insights into the human body, providing excellent wellness strategies for women and families. She co-founded Divine Elements Health Center, The Longevity Lab, and The Health Ignited Academy with her husband, Dr. Nicholas Jensen. Men listeners will be fascinated, as host Wade Lightheart certainly was during the conversation. As all men know, women are complex and mysterious. This podcast will help you better understand the women in your life! In this podcast, we cover:
How women can embrace their menstrual cycle to their advantage Here is a snippet of something Sonya told Wade: "I'll lay it out for a woman's cycle first - understanding that hormonal peace and understanding that. Your cells respond to your environment, and that's where all the communication is happening. So the receptors on your cells are going to be activated according to its environment so, for example, for women, if our progesterone is doing what it needs to do, it will activate the GABA receptors, and we will feel calm." "So, for example, in the first half of our cycle, understand that after we bleed, we can move more, we can be more action-oriented, we can be more in the Yang state, we can be more outwardly in the world, and we can fast more. We can do Keto knowing that's what I can do at that time." "This is going to help us make decisions and do the things necessary to serve our body, then, and then come oscillation things shift a little bit. Testosterone goes up a little bit, so your libido is going to be a little bit higher." Parenting Insights: Unleash the Nurturer Dr. Sonya talked a lot about being a mom, a nurturer, and shifting into this mode when a woman is home, away from "the office." At this point, she dives into modern-day parenting of video games and gadgets: "As parents, we have a responsibility to understand the impact that technology is having on us." "We need to have open conversations with them. That's what we started doing with our children with our Sunday night meetings. This is where we talk about all the various things going on and the challenges we face as a family." "We talk about technology a lot, as I recently bought my kids their first game console this past Christmas - the Nintendo Switch. We chose that one because you can play active games on it."
"Luckily, my children like to go outside. We openly discuss how technology affects us - all of it. And often, we think our children don't understand. But I do think they understand. We have to keep planting seeds and talk to them like they're in the know. Like, this is what technology does." "At the end of the day, it's going to be your choice because we can only control so much." These few highlights only cover a fraction of this compelling episode. It would be best to tune in and discover the full vision for women's health. Dr. Sonya can teach women how to live in the freedom of their creative energy while overcoming the baggage they carry imprinted on their minds from today's environment. Men listeners can strengthen their relationships with women if they listen closely. Check out this episode - time to unleash the power of womanhood! Episode Resources: Check out more about Dr. Sonya Jensen Naturopathic Doctor Check out Dr. Sonya Jensen's Wellness Resources Check out the Woman Unleashed Community Woman Unleashed Book Dr. Sonya Jensen on Instagram Dr. Sonya Jensen on Facebook
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| 175: Take a TRIPP to Digital Psychedelic Wellness with Nanea Reeves | 18 Jan 2022 | 01:34:48 | |
"Let's stop calling it 'mental health' and just call it 'health'" Our guest on the show, Nanea Reeves, has the credentials to speak on the future marriage of VR and mental healthcare with her 15-year resume in digital distribution, video game technologies, and mobile application development. She was also an early investor in Oculus. But that's not all! - Nanea is also the CEO and Co-Founder of TRIPP. This award-winning wellness platform that uses scientifically based, researched technology applications that address mental health issues with non-chemical digital alternatives. | |||
| 174: Time to Look Younger: When Biohacking & Skincare Collide - with Rachel Varga and Katie Moore | 13 Jan 2022 | 01:05:31 | |
A beauty, a biohacker, and a beast walk into a podcast… No joke - what do you get when Wade T. Lightheart invites a dynamic duo like Rachel Varga and Katie Moore onto the show? You get a beauty (Rachel) with clinical skincare experience, a hardcore wellness and longevity expert that tests every biohacking tool on the market (Katie), and a beast (Wade) whose ignorance about skincare might make you spontaneously combust! Seriously, listeners who tune into this episode are in for a lot of fun as these two high-powered female entrepreneurs bring a whole lot of energy and knowledge on healthy, youthful skin to the AHP audience. Be sure to hit "Play": it's not often you find free biohacking skincare tips that can lead to a younger-looking YOU (in just a couple of months.) What do these ladies bring to the show table? Rachel is a Board Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (since 2011) who has worked with thousands of patients and performed about 20,000 rejuvenation procedures. She is incredibly passionate about helping other people look and feel better using proven therapies on the biggest organ of your body (skin.) Katie is a biohacker on a mission to help you achieve success without sacrificing health and happiness. She specializes in sleep and also covers a plethora of additional health topics and gadgets. Her YouTube channel is quickly growing into a "must-watch" destination for those interested in wellness, performance, and longevity. In this podcast, we cover:
What is the skin perspective from the biohacking community? Early in the show, Wade asks Katie to describe how the biohacking community looks at skincare - something that many other biohackers out there don't spend much time on. Katie said this: "As I see it - you take care of your inner self and take care of your nourishment, making sure you are properly hydrated, eating the right foods. Your skin is a literal reflection of what's going on inside of you." "I find that when I'm eating the healthiest, getting the right amount of sunlight… granted, I do live in Hawaii where there is plenty of sunlight all the time, but I also realize that too much of anything - even anything good - like too much sleep is going to be harmful on your body, mind, spirit, and your skin." "So, I always look at what's going on inside of you before I even add any external products." "That's my indication that someone is healthy when they have naturally glowing skin. It's a good sign." What's the difference between the skin on the body vs. skin on the face? Wade asks Rachel why his body skin looks more youthful than his facial skin. Here is a snippet of her response: "There are different skin cell receptors on the face versus the neck, chest, hands, and the rest of the body. When I'm working with clients, I work with a lot of male celebrities." "Because guys want to look good, too. They want to make sure that they look as hot as their counterparts and all of that. It's great." "When couples can share products - I encourage that with my clients, even though the skin cell receptors are different on the face, neck, chest, etc." She then segues into dermal rolling. What is dermal rolling? Something you need to know if you're unhappy with your skin and want to look younger. Women are more comfortable talking about skincare secrets than men tend to be. Let's put it this way - Guys! Do you want to look like Tom Cruise? (Tom is 59 years old, btw.) Then don't be scared - jump into your youthful skin that's waiting under your aging skin with Rachel and Katie! Don't skip this episode! Check out this podcast - these two experts are more than skin deep. Episode Resources: Get 15% off your One on One Skin and Rejuvenation Optimization Consultation with Rachel Varga using promo code AwesomeHealth15 HERE Learn more about Rachel Varga The Rachel Varga Podcast Rachel Varga on Facebook Rachel Varga on YouTube Rachel Varga on Instagram Rachel Varga on Twitter Learn more about Katie Moore Katie Type A on YouTube Katie Type A on Facebook Kaite Type A on Instagram Katie Type A on Twitter Learn More about Rachel & Katie's Beauty & the Biohacker Beauty & the Biohacker Podcast | |||
| 173: GMOs, Glyphosate, & the Brink of Global Disaster - with Jeffrey Smith | 16 Dec 2021 | 01:24:55 | |
In this interview with leading GMO spokesperson Jeffrey Smith, you will walk away empowered with knowledge that equips you to make positive changes for your health while also opening your eyes to the battle at hand between Big Agro and consumers. Jeffrey Smith keeps issuing his clarion call to consumers to take action -for the sake of humanity - by avoiding GMOs and glyphosate in their food. It's time to take your passion for organic food to a higher level. In this podcast, we cover:
Tune in to become a food advocate and wise consumer, who does better for both themselves and the environment! | |||
| #172 - Liquid Energy: This Special Water Holds Magical Powers Gerald Pollack | 14 Dec 2021 | 01:26:43 | |
The special H2O covered on this show is The Fourth Phase of Water - also known as EZ (Exclusion Zone) water. Our guest today is the scientist who discovered E.Z water: University of Washington Professor Dr. Gerald Pollack. In this podcast, we cover:
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| #171 - Metabolic Secrets of the Slim and Healthy - with Dr. Philip Ovadia | 02 Dec 2021 | 00:51:45 | |
We uncover the untold "secrets" to metabolic health in this episode - straight from a heart surgeon. However, Dr. Philip Ovadia is not your typical allopathic cardiologist dishing out drugs and selling surgery as the only solution to heart issues. Dr. Philip is on a mission to keep people OFF his operating table. In this episode, Wade and Dr. Philip zero in on something called metabolic health - an approach to wellness that focuses on five simple health factors that you are probably already familiar with (blood pressure and blood sugar being two factors.) Dr. Philip explains how these five health indicators provide a gauge that directly relates to a person's risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Considering only twelve percent of Americans are metabolically healthy, you will probably benefit by tuning in. Dr. Philip knows what it is like to be morbidly obese, staring at a future filled with many negative health issues. You will learn how our guest took ownership of his health and is now in that metabolically healthy twelve percent. Dr. Philip Ovadia is a board-certified Cardiac Surgeon and Founder of the Ovadia Heart Health clinic. He is also the author of the book Stay Off My Operating Table: A Heart Surgeon's Metabolic Health Guide to Lose Weight, Prevent Disease, and Feel Your Best Every Day. When you hit "Play," here's the juicy nuggets of knowledge you receive:
Dr. Philip is a breath of fresh air in a time of eroding customer service happening in healthcare these days. He is motivated to keep people healthy - not manage symptoms of the disease. Following Dr. Philip's five-point guide to metabolic health is a great place to begin your health transformation. This episode is straightforward and easy to follow - but you must tune in to reap the rewards.
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| 288: Heal Fascia, Recharge Your Energy - with Cathy Goldstein | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:53:13 | |
In the wellness world, many chase surface-level fixes, like creams, cleanses, and crash diets, while ignoring the internal systems that actually drive energy, detoxification, and glow. Cathy Goldstein, a holistic practitioner with over 40 years of experience, sees the body differently. She believes the real fix lies in supporting two overlooked systems: fascia and lymph. Cathy describes most people as walking around with a "traffic jam of toxins." This buildup in the fascia and lymphatic system can lead to puffiness, swelling, fatigue, dull skin, and even emotional heaviness. Fascia is more than connective tissue—it's a collagen-producing communication network that sends energetic and structural signals faster than the nervous system. The lymphatic system flows through it, clearing toxins and nourishing cells. Trauma, pollution, poor posture, or emotional baggage can block this flow. When that happens, not only does your body hold onto physical toxins, but emotional ones too. Fascia, Emotions & Self-HealingCathy often says, "The issues are in the tissues." She connects stuck emotions and trauma to disruptions in the fascia. By using energetic tools and neuro-emotional techniques, she helps the body rewire these patterns and release stored pain—both physical and emotional. Her approach is about restoration, not force. Treatments aim to retrain the nervous system, restore vibrational balance, and activate the body's own self-healing mechanisms. A New Kind of SkincareInstead of applying collagen to the skin, Cathy developed a skincare line that teaches your cells to regenerate it. Her frequency-imprinted body lotion uses oleosome technology to deliver nutrients deep into the skin. Each green bead inside contains thousands of energetic signatures and bioadaptive ingredients that encourage skin to rebuild from the inside out. This is skincare that talks to your cells—helping them remember how to function at their best. Body Sculpting with PurposeForget bruising Gua Sha tools. Cathy's True Energy Body Sculpting Stone is ergonomically designed and infused with healing frequencies. Used just 5–6 minutes daily—especially after a shower or sauna—it opens lymphatic channels, clears fascia adhesions, and sculpts areas like thighs, belly, and underarms. Users report visible results in days:
It even stimulates the brain's glymphatic system to support detox while you sleep. In this podcast you'll learn...
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| #170 - UFC Legend Throws Storytelling Jabs & Personal Branding Trips - with Chael Sonnen | 30 Nov 2021 | 00:59:45 | |
He's a master at self-promotion, marketing, trash-talking, and using fear to his advantage. In this episode, one of the most popular and inspiring MMA fighters to ever compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship - Chael Sonnen - sits down with two of his biggest fans: podcast host Wade T. Lightheart and his biOptimizers cofounder Matt Gallant. In this podcast, we cover:
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| 169: How This Doctor Reversed Her MS and Recovered - with Dr. Terry Wahls | 23 Nov 2021 | 01:07:34 | |
What a remarkable story. Twenty years ago, our guest took a walk with her wife when her left leg suddenly stopped working correctly. The leg inexplicably lost most of its strength, causing Dr. Terry to hobble home confused. The next day, our guest was in a neurologist's office and heard these life-changing words: "Terry, this could be bad. Or, really, really bad." Over the next two weeks, Dr. Terry went through a battery of tests. During those two long weeks, she kept thinking about what her neurologist said - and prayed for a fatal diagnosis to avoid a life of disability. Finally, the diagnosis came in: multiple sclerosis. Within three years, Dr. Terry found herself in a tilt-recline wheelchair, unable to sit up at her desk. This rapid deterioration occurred despite seeing the best specialists and taking the newest, cutting-edge medications. Whether listening or watching on YoutTube, Dr. Terry's story on what happens next is jaw-dropping. Listen to get inspired. If you know someone with MS, please share this interview with them. Because everything Dr. Terry shares is science-based. Fortunately for her (and ultimately for all of us), being a doctor with MS was a blessing in disguise. This enabled her to begin using the research skills she developed in her medical career to explore multiple sclerosis and search for possibilities. During her journey, Dr. Terry became a functional doctor through the Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner program. She is also a longtime clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa, conducting clinical trials. In 2018, Dr. Terry won the Institute for Functional Medicine's Linus Pauling Award for her research, clinical care, and patient care. She is also the author of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles, and The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life. How did Dr. Terry go from being in a wheelchair to riding her bike to work each day? How did she overcome MS and restore her health? Tune in and find out! In this podcast, we cover:
A Funny Moment that Shocked Her Doctors For a long time during her illness with MS, Dr. Terry saw her neurologist every six months. As her condition turned around and she found herself in a much better place, Dr. Terry called her neurologist's office. "There's been a big change! I should really see a physician." Wanting to see her that day, Dr. Terry said, no, I want to come on Friday. Despite their protests, she waited till Friday. "So I walk in, and I'm not in my tilt recline wheelchair. I'm in the waiting area, and the nurse comes out. She's got a chart, and she's looking around, and I realized she is looking for me." "So I stand up and go, 'Hey, Cindy! Over here!' She is like, 'Oh my God, you're walking!" My physician is thrilled, and he says the same thing, 'Oh my God! You're walking!'" Those Who Disrupt the Status Quo Face Ridicule and Criticism Over the time since she defied her prognosis and went on to clinically test her theories and positively change the lives of others suffering from MS, plenty of tomatoes get hurled at Dr. Terry. Here is a snippet of what Dr. Terry said about her critics: "Anyone who is truly innovative is going to draw ire because it's very uncomfortable to have to abandon constructs of how you understand the world." "I don't want to do that. You don't want to do that. None of us do. So I don't think it's possible to have innovation without facing ridicule and rejection at first." "And then your new ideas either pan out or are suppressed. So you keep doing the experiments." One of the most profound episodes of the Awesome Health Podcast, Dr. Terry's personal story from an MS diagnosis back to feeling good again, is truly astonishing. But what makes this even more startling is the fact that this happened to a medical doctor, a clinical professor, who has gone on to show the medical community a whole new way of looking at MS. Many people get results through Dr. Terry's breakthrough work and will continue to do so as she continues her research at the University of Iowa. Check out this episode - discover a groundbreaking approach to multiple sclerosis. Episode Resources:Check out more about Terry Wahls, MD FREE GIFT: Pick up a one-page handout for the Wahl's Diet Clinical Trial in Sage Journals Terry Wahls M.D. on YouTube Dr. Terry Wahls on Instagram Terry Wahls MD on Facebook Dr. Terry Wahls on Twitter Read The Episode Transcript:1 00:01:24.930 --> 00:01:25.140 Oh. 2 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:44.700 Wade Lightheart: hi Terry how are you doing. 3 00:03:45.150 --> 00:03:46.320 Terry Wahls: Excellent how are you. 4 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:52.530 Wade Lightheart: Excellent i'm so excited to have you here today it's so great, for you, James Where are you calling in from. 5 00:03:53.370 --> 00:03:55.170 Terry Wahls: A client from iowa city iowa. 6 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:59.040 Wade Lightheart: Okay okay so great, where the papers have been published. 7 00:04:01.260 --> 00:04:17.310 Wade Lightheart: But I had the pleasure of reviewing beforehand before we get started, I just want to go through a couple of quick things is there any particular areas that you'd like to talk about today, or is important to kind of cue you up to mention. 8 00:04:18.210 --> 00:04:20.730 Terry Wahls: US remind me who your audiences. 9 00:04:21.030 --> 00:04:24.900 Wade Lightheart: So our audience is people who are looking at. 10 00:04:26.190 --> 00:04:35.640 Wade Lightheart: We call biological optimization they're leveraging technology and nutritional supplementation exercise fitness all that sort of stuff to address. 11 00:04:36.150 --> 00:04:42.720 Wade Lightheart: How do they improve their health, how do they you know live a healthier life, a better life that sort of stuff and we bring different people from. 12 00:04:43.350 --> 00:04:50.820 Wade Lightheart: Every possible background to address the importance of diet, nutrition and how they can improve the quality of their life or their family members. 13 00:04:51.420 --> 00:05:15.510 Terry Wahls: Okay, so our recent research will be launching another study here shortly we're very close to having that approved in, then I have a seminar next year and so it's a four part series and get the whole seminar or they could just get the last one, which is all about healthy aging. 14 00:05:16.530 --> 00:05:17.280 Wade Lightheart: Oh wow. 15 00:05:20.910 --> 00:05:21.360 Wade Lightheart: and 16 00:05:23.820 --> 00:05:28.530 Wade Lightheart: will probably going to your story, because I think it's super inspirational and. 17 00:05:28.890 --> 00:05:32.460 Terry Wahls: Oh yeah I should tell my story people yeah so how much time do we have. 18 00:05:32.730 --> 00:05:39.510 Wade Lightheart: Well, the year actually the defining component on it so that was my next question is, do you have any hard stops there, and like. 19 00:05:39.900 --> 00:05:46.170 Terry Wahls: I probably do so let me look at my calendar now because my team keeps this going. 20 00:05:47.430 --> 00:05:52.680 Terry Wahls: So it looks like 1230 is absolutely hard stop. 21 00:05:53.430 --> 00:06:00.030 Wade Lightheart: Okay, great well let's get you guys are two hours difference in iowa then over here on the west coast right. 22 00:06:01.350 --> 00:06:03.570 Terry Wahls: yeah, it is now 11. 23 00:06:04.290 --> 00:06:05.220 Terry Wahls: Before four. 24 00:06:05.640 --> 00:06:16.440 Wade Lightheart: Perfect alright, so I will do my little razzle dazzle introduction and then we'll get into we'll get into this as soon as you're ready to go. 25 00:06:17.310 --> 00:06:17.850 Wade Lightheart: Okay. 26 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:19.980 Terry Wahls: I get settled, we are good. 27 00:06:20.700 --> 00:06:21.210 Okay. 28 00:06:22.530 --> 00:06:33.900 Wade Lightheart: Okay, for our recording team, we will start the podcast here in 321. 29 00:06:34.710 --> 00:06:51.810 Wade Lightheart: Good morning, good afternoon and good evening it's way too light heart from by optimizer with another edition of the awesome health podcast and today we have Dr Terry walls joining us, and this is a really exciting and important. 30 00:06:53.400 --> 00:07:09.000 Wade Lightheart: audio recording video recording if you're watching it on YouTube because Dr Terry walls has a very unique story, first of all, she is in the Institute of functional medicine certified practitioner in a clinical professor of medicine at the University of iowa. 31 00:07:09.270 --> 00:07:22.560 Wade Lightheart: where she conducts clinical trials in 2018 she was awarded the Institute for functional medicines Linus Pauling Award for her contributions and research clinical care and patient advocacy. 32 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:29.160 Wade Lightheart: she's also a patient with the secondary progressive multiple sclerosis sclerosis sclerosis sorry. 33 00:07:29.760 --> 00:07:38.250 Wade Lightheart: I have a hard time saying that sometimes we're going to say that again she is also a patient with secondary progressive multiple cirrhosis. 34 00:07:38.640 --> 00:07:47.310 Wade Lightheart: Which couldn't find her to a tilt recline wheelchair for four years walls restored her health. 35 00:07:47.730 --> 00:07:56.790 Wade Lightheart: Using a diet and lifestyle program she designed specifically for her brain and now pedals her bike to work every. 36 00:07:57.210 --> 00:08:09.870 Wade Lightheart: Each day she's the author of the walls protocol a radical new way to treat all chronic autoimmune conditions, using Paleo principles and the cookbook the walls protocol cooking for life. 37 00:08:10.350 --> 00:08:25.050 Wade Lightheart: learn more about her Ms clinical trials at http PS, you know that colon slash slash walls w H l s dot lab diet you I O w a.edu. 38 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:40.680 Wade Lightheart: Forward slash.we will have the links to this, I just had a chance there, Dr Terry to look at that trial and it's extraordinary you have an extraordinary story, I mean you know I had. 39 00:08:41.610 --> 00:08:56.520 Wade Lightheart: Some a relative that suffered from multiple sclerosis, and it is a very progressive in kind of depressing condition of it's in so many people suffer suffer from it. 40 00:08:56.970 --> 00:09:06.450 Wade Lightheart: I was actually Member when I was in elementary school, we did fundraising for multiple sclerosis research, and I remember I. 41 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:15.780 Wade Lightheart: raised a bunch of funds and I got this little green little puppy dog as a prize for my for my work is again, I was very proud of that, because that was the first time I was. 42 00:09:16.170 --> 00:09:31.590 Wade Lightheart: introduced to the importance of research around degenerative conditions, and you have kind of spearheaded not only your own recovery, but also some extraordinary research in this area, can you talk about your journey that led you to this. 43 00:09:31.830 --> 00:09:32.220 sure. 44 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:47.520 Terry Wahls: So when I was 20 years ago i'm out walking with my wife and my left leg gross week on dry unit a humble home next day, I see the neurologist who says, you know Terry this could be bad or really, really bad. 45 00:09:48.240 --> 00:10:01.080 Terry Wahls: So the next two weeks, while i'm thinking going through the workup I think about bad in really, really bad I, and I don't want to be disabled so actually i'm praying for a fatal diagnosis. 46 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:09.630 Terry Wahls: Two weeks later, I hear multiple sclerosis, I see the best people take the no drugs three years later I hear totally fine wheelchair. 47 00:10:10.530 --> 00:10:26.400 Terry Wahls: I take my de Santo infusions than ties IV infusions nothing helps I am too weak to set up at my desk my zingers do the trigeminal neuralgia electoral jolts of pain, are more frequent more severe more difficult to turn off. 48 00:10:27.870 --> 00:10:33.090 Terry Wahls: Fortunately i'm a physician, so I go to the basic science, I began reading. 49 00:10:34.140 --> 00:10:47.910 Terry Wahls: And experiment, the based on what i'm reading I developed theory that mitochondria are a big driver, particularly in the more progressive decline and so At first I work on supplements. 50 00:10:49.200 --> 00:11:01.350 Terry Wahls: speed of my declined slows, then I discovered study using electrical stimulation muscles I convinced my physical therapist so let me try that my test session hurts like hell, but when it's over I feel great. 51 00:11:02.520 --> 00:11:15.450 Terry Wahls: I, and so my therapist lets me add East him to my workouts I discovered the Institute for functional medicine, I take their course on neuro protection, I have more supplements that i'm taking. 52 00:11:16.770 --> 00:11:31.170 Terry Wahls: In, then I have a really big Aha and sort of in retrospect wait i'm like dear God how That takes me so long to think about this i'm like what if I redesign my Paleo diet that i'd been following for last five years. 53 00:11:32.520 --> 00:11:40.350 Terry Wahls: Based on all the science i've been reading the nutrients that i've said, are important if taking supplements, what if I figure out where they are in the food supply. 54 00:11:41.370 --> 00:11:43.020 Terry Wahls: So redesign my Paleo diet. 55 00:11:45.120 --> 00:12:01.440 Terry Wahls: And it's stunning three months later, my zingers of 27 years are gone my fatigue is gone and my physical therapist says Terry you're getting stronger it begins advancing exercise. 56 00:12:03.090 --> 00:12:03.600 Terry Wahls: and 57 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:07.680 Terry Wahls: Three months after that I am walking without a cane. 58 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.560 Terry Wahls: Three months after that. 59 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:15.570 Terry Wahls: I. 60 00:12:17.190 --> 00:12:18.150 Terry Wahls: got on my bike. 61 00:12:19.290 --> 00:12:25.860 Terry Wahls: For the first time in six years with my son zach jogging alongside in the left my daughter's tab on the right. 62 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:29.310 Terry Wahls: And my wife behind. 63 00:12:30.900 --> 00:12:43.140 Terry Wahls: I biked around the block for the first time, you know everyone's crying my kids are crying my wife's crying i'm crying if you could see my face you'd see that i'm crying because that. 64 00:12:45.090 --> 00:12:56.460 Terry Wahls: That was the moment where I understood that the current understanding of multiple sclerosis was incomplete and who knew how much recovery might be possible. 65 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.140 Terry Wahls: and 66 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:02.070 Terry Wahls: You know it's about five months after that. 67 00:13:03.780 --> 00:13:13.170 Terry Wahls: Then I completed an 18.5 mile bike ride with my family and once again roll cry you know my kids are crying my wife's crying i'm crying. 68 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:30.840 Terry Wahls: If this really transforms how I think about disease and health, it will transform the way I practice medicine and it transforms the focus of my research, I and we've done five clinical trials. 69 00:13:32.010 --> 00:13:46.560 Terry Wahls: We hopefully we'll be talking about most recent one we've got a couple more trials that will be getting launched here momentarily I and i've gone from being this. 70 00:13:48.570 --> 00:13:56.070 Terry Wahls: sort of unusual eccentric person that was roundly condemned by many in the Ms community. 71 00:13:57.540 --> 00:14:02.400 Terry Wahls: To be now are respected dietary intervention research. 72 00:14:03.930 --> 00:14:18.720 Terry Wahls: In the Ms community and really changing the whole discussion that diet and lifestyle are in should be an essential part of the care plan for me every Ms patient. 73 00:14:20.190 --> 00:14:28.500 Wade Lightheart: is profound first off your story is incredible and I can see why that would be activating so emotional because you know. 74 00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:39.990 Wade Lightheart: there's two two parts to it, one you're not just someone with a diagnosis you're someone with a medical background, so you understand the progressive degeneration, and what that's going to look like over a period of time. 75 00:14:40.590 --> 00:15:02.070 Wade Lightheart: Based on prior research, you were of all the medications the interactions the contraindications all that sort of stuff and then you go off and kind of do some your own experiments and start reversing what is generally believed to be a and reversible condition is that not. 76 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.140 Terry Wahls: Correct no absolutely and. 77 00:15:04.650 --> 00:15:13.380 Terry Wahls: I want to be clear at the time that I was doing all of this, all of my physicians my primary care doc's all of the various neurologists i've seen. 78 00:15:13.770 --> 00:15:26.490 Terry Wahls: were very clear MS is a progressive disease, the whole point three says Wayne and I was thrilled to take these incredibly toxic compounds that I knew had at a rate of causing. 79 00:15:27.990 --> 00:15:36.150 Terry Wahls: leukemia to percentage time you took it because I was, and I was already seriously disabled I didn't want to become even more disabled so. 80 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:51.450 Terry Wahls: I was happy to take very toxic drugs that may be very l in an effort to slow my decline, because this was all about slowing the decline it as I improve, so my my face pain is gone first time in 27 years. 81 00:15:52.140 --> 00:16:00.090 Terry Wahls: My fatigue is gone first time in seven years i'm walking again around the hospital and then around the block. 82 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:09.930 Terry Wahls: But you know I don't know what it means, and in part of what you you do when you have a progressive neurological disorder. 83 00:16:11.490 --> 00:16:24.090 Terry Wahls: Is you learn to let go of the future right and take each day as an adult and that's a very healthy coping strategies so here I am. 84 00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:36.750 Terry Wahls: i've let go the future I don't know what it means i'm clearly at a different place than I was a month ago, or ios six months earlier but I don't know what it means I don't know. 85 00:16:38.070 --> 00:16:39.330 Terry Wahls: You know I didn't know what it means. 86 00:16:41.370 --> 00:16:42.780 Terry Wahls: until the day I rode my bike. 87 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.310 Wade Lightheart: mm hmm. 88 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:54.510 Terry Wahls: And that's when I understood in my heart and my bones, that the current understanding of Ms was wrong and that. 89 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:03.240 Terry Wahls: I was recovering and who knew how much recovery might be possible. 90 00:17:04.770 --> 00:17:18.150 Terry Wahls: You know i'll to note sort of funny story I in this happened, the month previous pay and seen my neurologist you know access home every six months. 91 00:17:18.630 --> 00:17:33.000 Terry Wahls: And I called the office to say you know there's been a big change I should really see a physician, so they were happy to see me that day as well, oh no, I want to come on Friday so know if there's a big change, we should not wait till Friday Friday i'll be fine. 92 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:40.740 Terry Wahls: So you know I go in I i've walked in so i'm not in my total Klein wheelchair i've seen in the office. 93 00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:54.240 Terry Wahls: In the waiting area and my the nurse comes out and she's got a chart she's looking around and I realized oh I bet she's looking for me and i'm not in the wheelchair, so I stand up go hey. 94 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:57.750 Terry Wahls: Cindy over here, and she goes. 95 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:04.140 Terry Wahls: And I was like oh my God you're walking. 96 00:18:05.730 --> 00:18:09.990 Terry Wahls: And so yeah I see my position is like oh my God you're walking. 97 00:18:11.130 --> 00:18:22.680 Terry Wahls: he's thrilled you're showing what I might East him, you know what i'm doing he still the startup got to get your MRI and see what's going on and. 98 00:18:23.760 --> 00:18:28.830 Terry Wahls: we're both quite surprised there's no change on the MRI and it comes back and says, you know. 99 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:35.880 Terry Wahls: Of course there's no changing them right, these are old lesions they haven't been active in a long time to still that active. 100 00:18:37.080 --> 00:18:42.360 Terry Wahls: But what you clearly have done is you have rewired your brain. 101 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:55.950 Terry Wahls: You are we miley and the MRI can't capture that but your body clearly has rewired in re function your brain and your spinal cord. 102 00:18:56.700 --> 00:19:12.300 Wade Lightheart: Can you explain to our listeners just what multiple sclerosis is so that they understand what it what it what it is what and then this breakthrough that you've. 103 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:14.400 Wade Lightheart: Experienced why that's so profound. 104 00:19:14.850 --> 00:19:31.740 Terry Wahls: So it's a autoimmune process where your immune cells are attacking your spinal cord in your brain first we said it was just the installation the mile and part now realized in fact that they're killing all sorts of parts of your brain astrocytes have been damaged. 105 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:43.290 Terry Wahls: glial cells are being damaged neurons are being damaged axon to being damaged there are these acute inflammation episodes so as a call to relapses that gradually improve. 106 00:19:43.980 --> 00:20:05.520 Terry Wahls: In addition, in the background, this is slow, steady deterioration brain bind spinal cord shrinkage that is lit that is associated with that cognitive decline we're seeing disability that from which people do not recover so and I clearly have a lot of fatigue. 107 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:18.180 Terry Wahls: Had was being to have some cognitive decline in you know, had had severe severe disability, I could not sit up in a regular chair like I am right now, at that point. 108 00:20:20.310 --> 00:20:21.300 Terry Wahls: And so. 109 00:20:23.310 --> 00:20:28.650 Terry Wahls: What what my neurologist said very clearly is I had rewired. 110 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:39.810 Terry Wahls: My brain and my spinal cord we didn't really have the technology that could have measured mile and production. 111 00:20:41.490 --> 00:20:55.530 Terry Wahls: And so unfair, unfortunately, we had not sent me over to the neuro ophthalmologist to get something called flicker fusion if we had the product if they had done that previously and now. 112 00:20:56.040 --> 00:21:07.110 Terry Wahls: They probably would be able to measure the remote island nation there, and my optic nerves, but you know we didn't have it, because there's no reason to think you know it's going to be any modulation occurring. 113 00:21:07.560 --> 00:21:24.300 Wade Lightheart: Right and that's an important distinction, I think, for people to recognize is now that you've you've demonstrated that it's possible well, we can start designing divine developing and designing trials about how to measure this to see which might well. 114 00:21:24.870 --> 00:21:30.870 Terry Wahls: Right and that the end that's what we're doing so, the next trial that we're doing. 115 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:36.840 Terry Wahls: Well, maybe talk about the trial that we just published and then we'll talk about the next one. 116 00:21:36.870 --> 00:21:40.290 Wade Lightheart: yeah let's let's do that let's we're getting ahead of ourselves here because it's so. 117 00:21:40.290 --> 00:21:51.690 Wade Lightheart: exciting I just read through this trial now basically if you want to kind of outline what you've been able to put forth here in this in this discovery or. 118 00:21:52.230 --> 00:21:55.080 Terry Wahls: The sequence of doing research ghost. 119 00:21:55.440 --> 00:22:07.980 Terry Wahls: Typically, like this, an interesting case study, then an interesting case series about a intervention that may be changes it leads to an unexpected outcome. 120 00:22:08.670 --> 00:22:17.730 Terry Wahls: We then did what's called a single arm safety and feasibility study so and that was my chair medicine that got me to do this. 121 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:29.430 Terry Wahls: We wrote up a protocol that outlined what I did for myself and then we enrolled 20 folks with secondary and primary progressive Ms. 122 00:22:29.790 --> 00:22:40.350 Terry Wahls: Sure, expect any of them to get any better, and the fact of all you can do is hold them flat, as a group that would be an amazing home run and anybody improve that would be studying. 123 00:22:41.850 --> 00:22:54.570 Terry Wahls: So we enrolled them we showed that people could implement it if the big the big side effect weight was if you're overweight or obese you lost weight get back to a healthy weight. 124 00:22:56.280 --> 00:23:10.260 Terry Wahls: And I had to file reports every three months about the weight loss that was occurring fatigue reduced quality of life, improved in half of our folks motor function walking function improved. 125 00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:17.730 Terry Wahls: So 50% of the people start to see improvements in motor function function that that's really quite remarkable. 126 00:23:18.210 --> 00:23:23.610 Terry Wahls: cognition improved depression declined anxiety declined. 127 00:23:24.090 --> 00:23:30.870 Wade Lightheart: Now, where was in that trial, where you just measuring dietary changes or Where are you adding the. 128 00:23:30.870 --> 00:23:31.800 Terry Wahls: stimulation well. 129 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.490 Terry Wahls: You know. 130 00:23:33.330 --> 00:23:47.400 Terry Wahls: We, the program was to do could they do everything that I did so there was diet, there was meditation those exercise electro stimulation and supplements very complicated. 131 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.760 Terry Wahls: In severely criticized I might get. 132 00:23:51.750 --> 00:23:53.070 Terry Wahls: Really criticize because. 133 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:56.850 Terry Wahls: Well, if it works, who knows what the mechanism is and i'm like. 134 00:23:57.330 --> 00:24:06.360 Terry Wahls: Who cares cares first, you have to show, can they do it, and do you heard them and does it work, then you could do follow up studies to figure out the mechanisms. 135 00:24:06.840 --> 00:24:25.800 Terry Wahls: Yes, so so get that first study, then we got some again it was a small small study funded by my friends and Canada, the next study again small pilot study now randomized and simplified so it's just a diet. 136 00:24:26.970 --> 00:24:34.320 Terry Wahls: And we did relapsing remitting folks we looked at fatigue, quality of life and motor function so again people could do it. 137 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:43.110 Terry Wahls: Safe and less fatigue higher quality of life better motor function. 138 00:24:44.490 --> 00:24:46.440 Terry Wahls: Then we did a comparison of. 139 00:24:47.910 --> 00:24:55.800 Terry Wahls: The Paleo diet, the ketogenic diet to usual diet and again showing that people could do it, it was safe well tolerated. 140 00:24:57.540 --> 00:25:01.320 Terry Wahls: The next study, which is a study that you read. 141 00:25:02.490 --> 00:25:10.620 Terry Wahls: Looked at the low saturated fat diet, which is a swank diet and that was the only other diet that was out there for. 142 00:25:11.970 --> 00:25:14.730 Terry Wahls: people with MS and the modified Paleo diet. 143 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:32.790 Terry Wahls: We had a 12 week observation phase where we looked at people's all of the measures over that baseline period that run in period to see if they were stable or not, and they were then we randomize them. 144 00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:38.280 Terry Wahls: To either the low saturated fat diet, or the modified Paleo diet. 145 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:48.840 Terry Wahls: They came back at 12 weeks repeated all the measures and came back again in 12 weeks repeated all the measures, so we had 12 and 24 weeks worth of intervention. 146 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:55.500 Terry Wahls: were able to show is both sides were associated with a significant reduction fatigue. 147 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:59.040 Terry Wahls: And improvement in quality of life. 148 00:26:00.270 --> 00:26:15.660 Terry Wahls: was being and they're really pretty cool in at 12 weeks at 24 weeks walls had greater poverty reduction in some measures and higher quality of life than swank and some measures. 149 00:26:17.010 --> 00:26:18.090 Wade Lightheart: Now that's physical abuse. 150 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:20.520 Wade Lightheart: that's the reduced fat the saturated. 151 00:26:20.550 --> 00:26:20.910 Right. 152 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:26.610 Wade Lightheart: And why is it, why is that do you understand why that mechanism is. 153 00:26:26.790 --> 00:26:35.010 Terry Wahls: Well, so let's first think about what the two diets have that similar and what is different. 154 00:26:35.070 --> 00:26:36.330 Wade Lightheart: Uniform I love that pro. 155 00:26:36.390 --> 00:26:40.650 Terry Wahls: Okay, so what's similar we had. 156 00:26:41.790 --> 00:26:55.830 Terry Wahls: Increased fruits and vegetables in both walls had more fruits and vegetables and swag, but we also increase fruits and vegetables, compared to baseline in there was less sugar less hydrogenated fats. 157 00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:01.350 Terry Wahls: So less of those are harmful fats in both that. 158 00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:14.520 Terry Wahls: Now what is different yeah actually you're both walls and sway had a so the swank group had on average about 10 grams of saturated fat. 159 00:27:15.810 --> 00:27:26.130 Terry Wahls: The walls had on average 16 grams of saturated fat so both diets are relatively low in saturated fat swank being a little more so than the walls. 160 00:27:27.570 --> 00:27:47.790 Terry Wahls: The walls group had more fiber had more fermented foods, I had little more structure the vegetables more green green leafy vegetables more sulfur rich vegetables more deeply colored vegetables and probably a greater variety of fruits and vegetables and a greater variety of meats. 161 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:59.010 Terry Wahls: What are the market as well, we were working on a grant that will get submitted tomorrow that's going to look at. 162 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:15.090 Terry Wahls: Changes in the microbiome well between the running face, that is, the observation face in the diet intervention face, so we can see how that changes both the swank died in the walls night we'll get some biomarkers. 163 00:28:16.110 --> 00:28:22.980 Terry Wahls: In terms of the essential fatty acid metabolism and neural filaments a marker of. 164 00:28:24.990 --> 00:28:36.780 Terry Wahls: of brain cell damage in osteopontin a marker of metabolism and of inflammation and actually also. 165 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.300 Terry Wahls: bone metabolism as well. 166 00:28:41.310 --> 00:28:52.650 Terry Wahls: And will correlate changes with dietary changes and changes with clinical outcomes as well, so we'll begin to tease out. 167 00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:05.220 Terry Wahls: what's the mechanism of diet that yo it diet is is a huge driver in changes in the microbiome so so my interpretation is. 168 00:29:07.650 --> 00:29:11.880 Terry Wahls: We ever genetic vulnerability, we have our existing microbiome. 169 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:19.920 Terry Wahls: In the two of them interact to create more inflammation at the higher risk of autoimmunity and accelerated aging. 170 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:28.530 Terry Wahls: You change your diet you fertilize and starve out different populations of the microbiome. 171 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:42.480 Terry Wahls: And so, should I or I path deciding we starve out disease, promoting microbes fertilize health marine microbes who then as they eat up the food that we eat create. 172 00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:51.300 Terry Wahls: The these anti inflammation compounds that get into our bloodstream and have a favorable impact on our physiology. 173 00:29:52.350 --> 00:30:02.970 Wade Lightheart: You know it's interesting that you've discovered that because we've been in digestive health research, we have a partnership with birch University in Croatia and we develop. 174 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:11.970 Wade Lightheart: A variety of probiotic agents in order to elicit the same effects, and we do all kinds of interesting tests we add vitamins to them, we give them. 175 00:30:12.270 --> 00:30:23.370 Wade Lightheart: Different types of food we blast them with EMF waves, sometimes we do we'd all kinds of things to do this research to see and we've come to the same conclusion that if you can. 176 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:30.210 Wade Lightheart: feed the good guys and starve the bad guys we see positive progressive changes. 177 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:38.460 Wade Lightheart: That enhance well being enhanced health or like vitality immune system response these type of things and it's really exciting. 178 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:44.610 Wade Lightheart: That you've done this in a disease state because we're obviously we're in health promotion. 179 00:30:45.540 --> 00:30:54.000 Wade Lightheart: we've got a recent book called from sick to superhuman and our goal is to promote the individuals, the therapies, the research. 180 00:30:54.540 --> 00:31:06.210 Wade Lightheart: That it takes people who might have a diagnosis that says here's what it's going to be it's the end of the line for you it's going to be progressive degenerative you're going to take these toxic chemicals and drugs and whatever and then. 181 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:25.140 Wade Lightheart: you're going to kind of waste away to say hey no, you know what there are other options that you can take and experienced a higher quality of life, at best, or worst and maybe even recover from your condition or or delay it's it's a you know its destructive nature. 182 00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:31.020 Terry Wahls: You know it my clinical practice in our clinical research week we talked a lot about. 183 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:51.300 Terry Wahls: Maintaining your locus of control reflect on are you doing all that you can to have the best life today and in the future, and so I just think that is so important to remind people that you always have choices. 184 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:59.700 Terry Wahls: That you know what i'm eating is a big choice, yet, so I can eat. 185 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:06.660 Terry Wahls: food that is delicious and health, promoting work eat food that is delicious and disease, promoting. 186 00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.880 Wade Lightheart: it's very simple. 187 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:25.080 Wade Lightheart: I want to talk about something that I think is really important, before we get into some more topics and you mentioned meditation and you, you mentioned. 188 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:30.690 Wade Lightheart: kind of letting go of the future, in other words just dealing with things as they come up, which is. 189 00:32:31.110 --> 00:32:45.720 Wade Lightheart: kind of mindful Buddhist almost practice of being in the moment and seeing the moment unfold into that and not getting ahead of yourself or behind yourself What role do you think that played in maybe. 190 00:32:46.950 --> 00:33:03.300 Wade Lightheart: How you approach this discoveries that you made management of kind of you know, negative thinking or you know that sort of like how important was that do you think to your recovery or your your your discoveries. 191 00:33:03.630 --> 00:33:09.570 Terry Wahls: You know what else diagnosed my children are quite small five and eight. 192 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:30.360 Terry Wahls: And at the time that I was diagnosed, I was still athletic still skiing biking and hiking with them, but very quickly, I cannot do that you know, I was having to reimagine parenting and as having to reimagine my life, each year, as more functions were being taken away. 193 00:33:31.410 --> 00:33:31.980 Terry Wahls: I. 194 00:33:32.040 --> 00:33:34.320 Wade Lightheart: Is what was that, like just. 195 00:33:34.470 --> 00:33:36.570 Wade Lightheart: From an emotional and psychological level. 196 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.310 Terry Wahls: well. 197 00:33:40.470 --> 00:33:43.410 Terry Wahls: It was certainly incredibly challenging. 198 00:33:44.550 --> 00:33:45.030 Terry Wahls: i've. 199 00:33:46.110 --> 00:34:07.860 Terry Wahls: All my life I struggled with depression and, as a young person I had made the astute observation that for me if I was athletic my mood was much, much better I and so that drove me to get into biking hiking running. 200 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:16.350 Terry Wahls: martial arts and then, as I was losing that it's like you know that was very, very tough. 201 00:34:17.610 --> 00:34:19.590 Terry Wahls: And thinking about. 202 00:34:23.040 --> 00:34:30.120 Terry Wahls: Is sort of very depressed out looking at okay how bad could this be was I going to be filtered Bob. 203 00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:35.190 Terry Wahls: Was I going to have cognitive issues and then. 204 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:40.140 Terry Wahls: yeah you know within three years, you know, should I was wheelchair bound. 205 00:34:42.270 --> 00:34:46.170 Terry Wahls: In the average it's 15 years, so I was. 206 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:51.090 Terry Wahls: extremely difficult. 207 00:34:52.830 --> 00:34:55.440 Terry Wahls: But I also fortunately. 208 00:34:56.550 --> 00:34:57.690 Terry Wahls: was impressed by. 209 00:34:58.740 --> 00:35:00.300 Terry Wahls: Victor frankel's book that. 210 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:10.110 Terry Wahls: Between every event in your life and your response to it there's a space in that space, you can make a choice and it's the choice that defines your character. 211 00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:22.440 Terry Wahls: And so my choice was Okay, you have two young kids who are watching what you're doing and my choice to give up. 212 00:35:23.580 --> 00:35:31.680 Terry Wahls: And succumb to my depression and the dark thoughts that I had would be modeling on life is tough you you give up. 213 00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:37.170 Terry Wahls: Or, I could make the choice of i'm going to do all that I can. 214 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:47.820 Terry Wahls: In which was, I want to keep working out whatever my limited workout is going to be every day i'll keep going to work in they're going to have to have chores. 215 00:35:49.050 --> 00:36:06.660 Terry Wahls: You know I grew up on a farm I understood that chores were really very beneficial for children and young people growing up, and so my wife right said, your kids will have to have chores and, of course, as I became more disabled like it yep they have chores and they have. 216 00:36:08.640 --> 00:36:13.680 Terry Wahls: It really is real work that needed to happen, I and so. 217 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:22.980 Terry Wahls: that's sort of would chuckle like Okay, I guess, God heard me and I said, my kids need to have chores and saw to it that they were going to have chores. 218 00:36:25.020 --> 00:36:31.260 Wade Lightheart: Viktor frankl has impacted so many people in the book man's search for meaning I think it's. 219 00:36:31.650 --> 00:36:32.700 Terry Wahls: Really striking found. 220 00:36:33.270 --> 00:36:44.340 Wade Lightheart: I want to extend one other piece to this because, to your partner and i'm sure you had plenty of candid discussions inside of that what was like that for you and what was your best. 221 00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.830 Wade Lightheart: Observation of what that. 222 00:36:46.830 --> 00:36:47.940 Wade Lightheart: was her. 223 00:36:49.170 --> 00:36:50.640 Terry Wahls: Well, I remember. 224 00:36:52.710 --> 00:37:11.310 Terry Wahls: She worked really hard at getting me to get to go out and do things so she loves mountain biking and took me in my wheelchair out to the park set set me up under the tree well she what mountain biking so. 225 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:22.860 Terry Wahls: much bigger deal for her, and then it came back and helps me walk down to the water's edge and. 226 00:37:24.090 --> 00:37:25.140 Terry Wahls: got in the water, but. 227 00:37:27.720 --> 00:37:39.000 Terry Wahls: You know, a wonderful commitment just another example, all that she had done for me and then, when she was out mountain biking in the winter. 228 00:37:40.620 --> 00:37:42.690 Terry Wahls: She broke her ankle. 229 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:46.020 Terry Wahls: It would have to have so. 230 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:52.110 Terry Wahls: After our two kids were going off to Sweden. 231 00:37:53.280 --> 00:38:05.310 Terry Wahls: For a week to be with friends, so we sent sent them off we showed them that you know jack and I would be fine jack header surgery to have her ankle set and the pins set. 232 00:38:06.390 --> 00:38:06.990 Terry Wahls: And i'm. 233 00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:11.940 Terry Wahls: taking care of jack getting her her pain pills. 234 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.150 Terry Wahls: And our friends were bringing over. 235 00:38:16.170 --> 00:38:23.040 Terry Wahls: takeout for us so so we could eat and the week that we had planned to have off with each other. 236 00:38:24.210 --> 00:38:30.540 Terry Wahls: While the kids were in Sweden, of course, was quite different was giving her pain pills were watching. 237 00:38:32.010 --> 00:38:33.660 Terry Wahls: netflix movies. 238 00:38:35.100 --> 00:38:39.810 Terry Wahls: And I just felt immensely grateful that I could finally be taking care of her. 239 00:38:41.790 --> 00:38:42.600 Wade Lightheart: You know. 240 00:38:44.190 --> 00:38:57.120 Wade Lightheart: One of the things that i've noticed, I went through a tragedy at an early age, my sister was diagnosed with hodgkin's disease and progressively until she died at age 22 she was four years, my senior and the striking. 241 00:38:59.070 --> 00:39:10.410 Wade Lightheart: component of being subjected to a serious medical condition and all of its dire consequences and everything that kind of disrupts the natural flow of life. 242 00:39:11.040 --> 00:39:27.480 Wade Lightheart: There is this other side of it, where you see the outpouring of love and connection and humanity and kind of the noble aspects that inspire all of us to you know it's. 243 00:39:27.930 --> 00:39:37.860 Wade Lightheart: I call it the sublime or to see that there are other energies or forces beyond our intellect that have that define what it is to be a human. 244 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:47.070 Wade Lightheart: And there's these beautiful little moments, whether that's in the patient rooms, or maybe with a nurse or a doctor. 245 00:39:47.490 --> 00:39:56.460 Wade Lightheart: or a loved one or a friend, where they going above and beyond in the care of either the extended family or with the individual and. 246 00:39:57.420 --> 00:40:16.620 Wade Lightheart: it's if you've been in that situation it's hard to describe it's transcendent because you just see pure kindness and pure love and concern for other people and it's it's inspired me in my own life to continue to advocate you know. 247 00:40:18.030 --> 00:40:26.130 Wade Lightheart: Then commit to helping other people live a healthier and better life, because I saw the impact that well your health isn't a guarantee and your life isn't a guarantee at a very early age. 248 00:40:27.330 --> 00:40:31.500 Wade Lightheart: How has this situation with yourself. 249 00:40:32.520 --> 00:40:35.790 Wade Lightheart: Inspired you your research and what. 250 00:40:35.820 --> 00:40:46.050 Wade Lightheart: We see happen as a way of you know, providing hope and opportunity for more of those moments for other people. 251 00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:56.550 Terry Wahls: You know, when I had my remarkable recovery my chair of medicine at the university called me and told me first to get a case report written up. 252 00:40:57.720 --> 00:41:03.060 Terry Wahls: In like on myself so yeah yeah this is your job, your assignment for the years right I got that done. 253 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:12.360 Terry Wahls: Then, my got that published he called me back and say okay Now I want you to safety and feasibility study testing out this Protocol. 254 00:41:13.590 --> 00:41:24.360 Terry Wahls: You know there's and I said well that's not the research that I do it goes i'll get you the mentors that's your assignment and that's what you'll do so I saluted that Okay, Sir, and. 255 00:41:25.410 --> 00:41:41.550 Terry Wahls: Then, as people at the university some books were intensely critical, but what I was doing I in as I published my research and published my book, and my Ted talk I got all sorts of hate mail immense criticism. 256 00:41:42.810 --> 00:41:46.110 Terry Wahls: And so I do these interviews had say well. 257 00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:58.350 Terry Wahls: You know, obviously, obviously I want you to do what you think is ethically right, but I will tell you that I remember what it's like to be disabled. 258 00:41:59.700 --> 00:42:17.160 Terry Wahls: And that I need to tell people what my story was and the research that i'm doing, and they can decide how comfortable, they are with eating more vegetables meditating exercising asking for physical therapy in work with your medical team. 259 00:42:18.810 --> 00:42:21.300 Terry Wahls: And i'll keep putting that information out there. 260 00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:34.020 Terry Wahls: And so many times, I was you know ripped to shreds called unprofessional in dangerous in worse, and I would just call me set you know. 261 00:42:34.470 --> 00:42:45.930 Terry Wahls: Absolutely do what you think is ethically right, and I am i'll be to do what I think is ethically right absolutely I will disclose my conflicts of interest, I will disclose. 262 00:42:46.650 --> 00:42:59.670 Terry Wahls: Where the researcher that a caution people to work with they're treating physicians and they can decide how dangerous vegetables are how dangerous meditation is it how dangerous exercises for that. 263 00:43:01.290 --> 00:43:11.010 Terry Wahls: I just call me state those things, and then you know people would have their intense reaction like yo ever wonder I just saying like. 264 00:43:11.520 --> 00:43:27.180 Terry Wahls: Well, and how would you feel if I came started saying I could do all these things to treat rheumatoid arthritis and say, well, if that got my rheumatoid arthritis patients eat more vegetables to meditate exercise, I would say hello yeah. 265 00:43:30.330 --> 00:43:33.150 Wade Lightheart: i'm gonna ask I just a big thing because we're living in. 266 00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:46.020 Wade Lightheart: An interesting time right now, and there is a significant condemnation of certain narratives around medical and i've been following. 267 00:43:47.370 --> 00:43:51.810 Wade Lightheart: The weinstein's I don't know if you know who they are their evolutionary biologists. 268 00:43:52.380 --> 00:43:59.310 Wade Lightheart: That were essentially kicked out of evergreen university and ended up starting their own podcast because they were willing to challenge. 269 00:43:59.790 --> 00:44:05.370 Wade Lightheart: Some of the negative criticism that was directed towards the research and and heather and. 270 00:44:06.210 --> 00:44:13.620 Wade Lightheart: And Brett the husband and wife team they go through the science currently with the pandemic that we're dealing with today. 271 00:44:14.070 --> 00:44:24.930 Wade Lightheart: And they take it apart like reasonable rational scientists with skepticism and scientific method night as a non scientist person or I don't have a medical background. 272 00:44:25.260 --> 00:44:38.310 Wade Lightheart: I find it very refreshing to be able to kind of borrow on their intellectual acumen and they're structured thinking to go through this, and they also have received extreme levels of criticism. 273 00:44:38.790 --> 00:44:58.230 Wade Lightheart: And i've interviewed a number of doctors, who have made breakthrough discoveries we've had them on the podcast and variety of conditions and they to get subjected, particularly to very vicious attacks from their peers, why is that do you think is something threatening about it or. 274 00:44:58.950 --> 00:44:59.550 Terry Wahls: Explain. 275 00:44:59.610 --> 00:45:00.750 Terry Wahls: The biology of what. 276 00:45:00.810 --> 00:45:05.880 Terry Wahls: That happens i'm going to invite you to reflect pretty carefully we'll talk about this. 277 00:45:07.560 --> 00:45:09.240 Terry Wahls: sensory input, as it comes up. 278 00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:30.900 Terry Wahls: to buy spinal cord and brain is an overwhelming by him of information so at various points, the amount of information that gets through keeps getting cut down to smaller and smaller amounts so that my vision my hearing my sensory my sense of space. 279 00:45:32.100 --> 00:45:41.040 Terry Wahls: Is a tiny fraction less than half a percent of what's coming in and that and as infants, we learn to do that, so we can. 280 00:45:42.180 --> 00:45:56.880 Terry Wahls: cope, we can feed ourselves interact with the world on on just a tiny amount of information in we learn to do that in our social constructs first in our family unit in our expanded. 281 00:45:57.990 --> 00:46:03.930 Terry Wahls: universe of friends colleagues in our educational life and then in our work life. 282 00:46:05.070 --> 00:46:16.470 Terry Wahls: And so we we learned to interact with a tiny amount of information for my relationship with my my spouse my kids my family. 283 00:46:17.580 --> 00:46:32.670 Terry Wahls: I, and so is information that comes in that doesn't conform to my understanding of the world, it doesn't get to my cortex it doesn't get to my higher and say it's been pruned out and then what apply does get to my cortex I ignore it. 284 00:46:33.960 --> 00:46:36.240 Terry Wahls: Because it doesn't it doesn't match my to save the world. 285 00:46:37.470 --> 00:46:40.380 Terry Wahls: And then I may ridicule it I may push back. 286 00:46:41.490 --> 00:46:50.520 Terry Wahls: And then occasionally there's enough information that I realize maybe I need to change my understanding of the world. 287 00:46:51.990 --> 00:47:03.870 Terry Wahls: And we will do that with minus eight of my best friend my spouse my kids my work environments my professional environment until mindset of the world is somehow shatter. 288 00:47:05.610 --> 00:47:25.950 Terry Wahls: So of course our anyone who is an innovator, who thinks of something really new and different is going to face that kind of resistance, the innovators, in order to be successful, have to be okay with being ridiculed rejected potentially burned at the stake mm hmm. 289 00:47:27.330 --> 00:47:31.110 Terry Wahls: And you know part of the reason that I think i've been successful. 290 00:47:32.130 --> 00:47:54.930 Terry Wahls: And wanting to hang in here with this is that I had this internal moral obligation, because my own experience, the other reason that i'm successful is i'm a lesbian, and so I had to as part of my evolution as a emotional adult is it to let go of societal expectations of May I finally. 291 00:47:56.190 --> 00:48:02.550 Terry Wahls: Let all of that roll off my back and became comfortable with who, I am in my family structure. 292 00:48:03.750 --> 00:48:12.090 Terry Wahls: In being able to eventually get comfortable with that I think has made it easy for me to let the criticism that i've gotten. 293 00:48:12.960 --> 00:48:25.050 Terry Wahls: and probably another thing that's helpful is I am sort of clueless My family has found it far more stressful for the amount of criticism i've gotten over the years that I have because I just. 294 00:48:26.640 --> 00:48:27.690 Terry Wahls: focused on. 295 00:48:27.810 --> 00:48:28.590 My. 296 00:48:30.780 --> 00:48:36.060 Terry Wahls: You know my work my family what i'm doing and i'm oblivious to the world. 297 00:48:38.580 --> 00:48:46.590 Terry Wahls: And so i've i've learned to pay more attention to the world professionally but i'm still more oblivious than many of my colleagues. 298 00:48:49.200 --> 00:48:55.590 Wade Lightheart: it's a very important distinction, I think, for people to understand that. 299 00:48:57.120 --> 00:49:00.180 Wade Lightheart: Much of our world, I think it was. 300 00:49:02.970 --> 00:49:05.070 Wade Lightheart: reminded Maharishi that says. 301 00:49:06.180 --> 00:49:10.170 Wade Lightheart: there's no sense of being upset of the world, because the world he perceived doesn't actually exist. 302 00:49:13.980 --> 00:49:14.280 Wade Lightheart: enough. 303 00:49:14.640 --> 00:49:25.380 Wade Lightheart: That you brought this up is on Sunday, I was at my meditation Center and the monk was giving a discussion about the. 304 00:49:25.890 --> 00:49:30.360 Wade Lightheart: amount of information that's coming into our nervous system and how much is if it's actually filtered out. 305 00:49:30.930 --> 00:49:45.150 Wade Lightheart: And the component of meditation is to increase in open up one's awareness, to increase the opportunity for us to expand our consciousness or awareness into other areas, yet we live in a world today. 306 00:49:46.230 --> 00:49:59.400 Wade Lightheart: Which is fascinating because we've never had more information coming through to us yet specialization has increased as society. 307 00:50:00.300 --> 00:50:10.500 Wade Lightheart: improves and technological innovation so, for example, 100 years ago I needed to know how to chop wood and I needed to know how to farm and I needed to know how to maybe. 308 00:50:11.490 --> 00:50:23.910 Wade Lightheart: Properly hunt or clean animals and how to fix my house and it was a very more rural setting and today, you can have a job in in an urban area let's say as a cashier. 309 00:50:24.570 --> 00:50:30.750 Wade Lightheart: And you literally don't have to know anything other than how to punch numbers into the code and what's up and so. 310 00:50:31.170 --> 00:50:39.210 Wade Lightheart: The the interesting component as we've developed so much technologically we in and we get so much more information there's almost like. 311 00:50:39.630 --> 00:50:57.990 Wade Lightheart: As a response there's a drilling down to narrowness do you think that is something that needs to be identified in the medical community or do you think there's a way that we can cultivate innovation in geniuses in a way that doesn't. 312 00:50:59.130 --> 00:51:03.360 Wade Lightheart: draw the ire of people who are performing functions within that field. 313 00:51:04.590 --> 00:51:05.310 Terry Wahls: I think. 314 00:51:06.510 --> 00:51:17.370 Terry Wahls: Anyone who's truly innovative is going to draw the ire because it's very uncomfortable to have to abandon my constructs of how I understand the world. 315 00:51:18.450 --> 00:51:34.950 Terry Wahls: None of us want to do that I don't want to do that, you don't want to do that, we won't easily do that, so I don't think it's possible to have innovation that without facing ridicule and rejection at first and then either your ideas pan out. 316 00:51:36.240 --> 00:51:37.740 Terry Wahls: Or the suppressed. 317 00:51:39.690 --> 00:51:46.530 Terry Wahls: And so you keep doing the experiments, I have. 318 00:51:48.420 --> 00:52:01.260 Terry Wahls: A unique story, you know it actually the university's sort of commented on this, because most of my research has been funded by philanthropic gifts. 319 00:52:02.730 --> 00:52:05.640 Terry Wahls: From people whose lives, I have touched. 320 00:52:06.660 --> 00:52:14.370 Terry Wahls: Who then afterwards, who happen to have money, and so you know I believe what you're doing a turtle like to support your research. 321 00:52:15.990 --> 00:52:34.260 Terry Wahls: And so here's a gift for your next project, and so the second time that happened, but we got a six figure donation to my research lab the dean of the College called me and I had a meeting I thought your God yo who have I pissed off now. 322 00:52:36.990 --> 00:52:37.380 Wade Lightheart: Of course. 323 00:52:37.410 --> 00:52:38.430 Terry Wahls: And it was like. 324 00:52:39.870 --> 00:52:43.620 Terry Wahls: This has never happened at the University of iowa So what are you doing. 325 00:52:45.030 --> 00:52:59.850 Terry Wahls: And you know we continue to have some remarkable philanthropic support, which is a that has allowed me to invest it to do some really interesting and small projects and now we'll be doing this much larger project. 326 00:53:01.770 --> 00:53:02.730 Terry Wahls: Because. 327 00:53:04.080 --> 00:53:25.110 Terry Wahls: i've made a diff I have a protocol that has had some dramatic impact on people who have resources, then, to come back to me in my lab say you know what we like what you do a talk to us about some ideas and we think we'd like to give you another larger gift. 328 00:53:27.090 --> 00:53:28.050 Terry Wahls: And so. 329 00:53:29.100 --> 00:53:46.470 Terry Wahls: That allows me in some ways to be vastly more innovative than folks who have to write grants that have to convince their peers have a newly innovative idea who can't accept new big innovations, they can accept small incremental. 330 00:53:47.490 --> 00:53:48.630 Terry Wahls: Partial ovations. 331 00:53:49.290 --> 00:53:51.030 Terry Wahls: You know and and what i've done. 332 00:53:51.960 --> 00:54:07.050 Terry Wahls: With my multi multi modal studies was a huge big innovation that was completely utterly rejected by all the NIH folks in 2010 when we're writing those grants. 333 00:54:08.370 --> 00:54:15.960 Terry Wahls: But now you're in 2011 these multimodal studies are being done, and our work has been cited. 334 00:54:17.100 --> 00:54:17.550 Terry Wahls: Beautiful. 335 00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:30.570 Wade Lightheart: I was also listening to Eric weinstein that's brett's brother he runs a podcast called dark horses and advanced physicist a super genius and he was sharing how. 336 00:54:31.200 --> 00:54:45.240 Wade Lightheart: Many of the current research grant organizations are stifling a lot of the development of science and what he felt that there was between him and his brother and a sister they had three. 337 00:54:47.220 --> 00:54:57.330 Wade Lightheart: Human human transformational discoveries that was essentially being suppressed, and he says, well, if you do the math of how many other researchers that could be. 338 00:54:57.690 --> 00:55:04.080 Wade Lightheart: Situated in this, I think a lot of people and, and this is what I love about alternative funding. 339 00:55:04.560 --> 00:55:14.610 Wade Lightheart: That the NIH over the last 30 years I think has given out somewhere around $3 trillion in research grants, but they develop they define what gets. 340 00:55:15.360 --> 00:55:23.940 Wade Lightheart: What gets accepted and what doesn't but now there's these other funding options that you kind of illustrated with yourself that are allowing researchers to maybe go outside of. 341 00:55:24.330 --> 00:55:34.890 Wade Lightheart: The normal parameters using science, but to kind of create exponential growth, do you see that as the future for research that you're doing or expanding teachers in the field. 342 00:55:35.040 --> 00:55:38.190 Terry Wahls: So, so I think that peer review. 343 00:55:39.270 --> 00:55:41.550 Terry Wahls: incremental approach has certainly. 344 00:55:42.780 --> 00:55:48.180 Terry Wahls: hugely deepen understanding of physiology in very wonderful ways. 345 00:55:51.030 --> 00:56:11.820 Terry Wahls: The ability to do what i'm doing his also ultra understanding in really profound ways I in that as been on the basis of this philanthropic gifts because we've made an impact on the lives of people have to have a lot of money. 346 00:56:13.560 --> 00:56:28.710 Terry Wahls: And you know when i'm in these meetings with my other scientific colleagues who are doing dietary research in there right yeah i'm writing grants, along with them and sore they were talking about the issued struggles to get through to peer reviews. 347 00:56:29.940 --> 00:56:33.210 Terry Wahls: To do the innovative work I and. 348 00:56:34.470 --> 00:56:43.680 Terry Wahls: When I reflect on what i'm going to be able to launch into next because i've had i'm so blessed to have this philanthropic support. 349 00:56:46.800 --> 00:56:53.910 Terry Wahls: And I think the bigger breakthroughs will come through from folks who have access to philanthropic support. 350 00:56:54.630 --> 00:56:57.420 Wade Lightheart: know, can you talk about what's coming down the pipe for. 351 00:56:57.450 --> 00:56:57.870 yeah. 352 00:56:59.370 --> 00:57:00.000 Terry Wahls: it's very exciting. 353 00:57:01.200 --> 00:57:12.660 Terry Wahls: So again, this is from a grateful patient who really believes in what we're doing we're going to enroll people. 354 00:57:13.680 --> 00:57:32.370 Terry Wahls: with multiple sclerosis relapse remitting who want to do a dietary approach they'll need to be agreed to be randomized between a ketogenic diet, a modified Paleo diet and dietary guidelines will give them support. 355 00:57:33.750 --> 00:57:43.860 Terry Wahls: over that time period, we will follow them over two years we will be measuring did they actually implement the diet. 356 00:57:44.310 --> 00:58:00.450 Terry Wahls: What what are they eating so will will know about dietary adherence we will know about clinical outcomes in terms of walking function vision function hand function will understand patient reported outcomes in terms of mood. 357 00:58:03.570 --> 00:58:11.610 Terry Wahls: Processing speed or memory fatigue, quality of life, we will have biomarkers as well. 358 00:58:13.200 --> 00:58:13.740 Terry Wahls: and 359 00:58:15.930 --> 00:58:34.380 Terry Wahls: This will be the first time that will have had a study of this size for two years, that will be able to look at changes in clinical outcomes changes in biomarkers whilst be looking at myelination along the way. 360 00:58:35.610 --> 00:58:36.180 Terry Wahls: as well. 361 00:58:37.680 --> 00:58:46.350 Terry Wahls: And we're will be freezing microbiome specimens will be freezing blood specimens so at the end. 362 00:58:47.400 --> 00:58:55.200 Terry Wahls: We will ask bill to write another grant to go back and say let's look at the molecular mechanisms of what is going on and why. 363 00:58:56.250 --> 00:58:59.820 Terry Wahls: So this will be absolutely transformational. 364 00:59:01.440 --> 00:59:05.910 Terry Wahls: A smaller study that may be even more transformational in some ways. 365 00:59:05.910 --> 00:59:08.640 Terry Wahls: Ways it may be looking at an. 366 00:59:10.380 --> 00:59:21.510 Terry Wahls: An online course that we've created that teaches people through virtual technology such as this, how to improve diet. 367 00:59:22.770 --> 00:59:24.600 Terry Wahls: Stress reduction and exercise. 368 00:59:25.620 --> 00:59:30.060 Terry Wahls: In these supplemental non diet not exercise things that you can be doing. 369 00:59:31.710 --> 00:59:44.310 Terry Wahls: And we'll see that impact on MS patients with we're so that cities approved, we are talking now with our cancer Center and. 370 00:59:45.600 --> 00:59:57.690 Terry Wahls: We anticipate having it studied in cancer we're also talking to rheumatology folks and saying this in rheumatology patients as well, so if we can show anticipate that will we will build a show. 371 00:59:58.170 --> 01:00:10.590 Terry Wahls: That we can teach these concepts online and have improvement in dietary intake improvement in patient reported outcomes Now this is. 372 01:00:12.120 --> 01:00:13.020 Terry Wahls: The sky's the limit. 373 01:00:14.550 --> 01:00:19.170 Terry Wahls: We can transform more lives, this can be. 374 01:00:22.050 --> 01:00:26.130 Terry Wahls: expanded its it has no limits. 375 01:00:27.180 --> 01:00:34.080 Wade Lightheart: You know, this is one of the beauty beautiful things about the Internet and the distribution of information is once. 376 01:00:35.190 --> 01:00:45.750 Wade Lightheart: A demonstrated will protocol breakthrough can be developed, you can share that with a wide variety of people who might not have both the medical. 377 01:00:45.750 --> 01:00:54.000 Wade Lightheart: Or you know the or the even the knowledge of that by you know hey they find out about it, they can experiment they take it to their professional medical science said hey i'd like to. 378 01:00:54.570 --> 01:00:58.920 Wade Lightheart: i'd like to experiment with this on our own, on my own Is that what you anticipate happening. 379 01:00:59.310 --> 01:01:03.930 Terry Wahls: Well, what we certainly anticipate is that this makes it so much more available to. 380 01:01:04.950 --> 01:01:12.090 Terry Wahls: Rural communities to small small communities that don't have access to professionals that could. 381 01:01:13.050 --> 01:01:35.760 Terry Wahls: say a dietitian or to those populations, for whom transport into a clinic is a huge difficulty because of their motor disabilities or access to transportation, so I think this makes it so much more readily available and it's standardized is the education. 382 01:01:37.110 --> 01:01:38.730 Terry Wahls: So I mean, I think this will be. 383 01:01:40.020 --> 01:01:42.960 Terry Wahls: You know, huge huge huge technology. 384 01:01:44.370 --> 01:01:56.910 Terry Wahls: You know that the next the other studies that were the grant next grant that i'm writing and we'll see if I can get this funded by grants or, if not we'll be going back through philanthropic support. 385 01:01:58.230 --> 01:02:03.810 Terry Wahls: When can people stop the disease modifying drug treatment, but when can you do a point is that appropriate. 386 01:02:04.620 --> 01:02:14.550 Terry Wahls: So there are a couple of studies that are underway, now that are randomized and you stop where you stay on there's no intervention to make it more likely that the stoppers will do okay. 387 01:02:15.060 --> 01:02:31.740 Terry Wahls: um so of course you know you know me i'm like well there's a lot we can do to make it more likely that if you stop you're going to be okay, and so we're working on designing studies that could make it more likely that the stoppers will in fact be okay. 388 01:02:32.310 --> 01:02:50.220 Wade Lightheart: that's a that's a really huge piece, because I guess once a once a person has a diagnosis and is going by standard Karen is on a pathway through their physician, many of the physicians are remiss to kind of stop that because of the you know the the legal and. 389 01:02:50.610 --> 01:02:52.740 Wade Lightheart: Well, that would be so. 390 01:02:52.920 --> 01:03:10.500 Terry Wahls: The current standard of care for an autoimmune disease is once you're on a disease modifying treatment you're on that the rest of your life or maybe until you're in your 60s, I should, is there a way to identify who could be weaned off safely. 391 01:03:11.700 --> 01:03:20.400 Terry Wahls: And so I think that's a really important question i've been talking with my neurology colleagues who agree like yep that's a really important question. 392 01:03:20.790 --> 01:03:27.990 Terry Wahls: we've been working on that study design and we will be putting that grant forward. 393 01:03:29.040 --> 01:03:30.060 Terry Wahls: very excited about that. 394 01:03:31.320 --> 01:03:32.070 Wade Lightheart: So. 395 01:03:33.120 --> 01:03:48.480 Wade Lightheart: i'm gonna i'm gonna invite you know that you can you said that you had to give away the future but i'm going to ask you, what do you see happening in the future, so I could ask you to go out there, what would you like to see happen or what would you like to see. 396 01:03:49.620 --> 01:03:55.800 Wade Lightheart: come out of your research your work and that of your colleagues in this area, what do you, what do you hope to happen. 397 01:03:56.220 --> 01:03:57.420 Terry Wahls: Well, you know, I think. 398 01:03:59.040 --> 01:04:14.850 Terry Wahls: What I see is more dietary multimodal interventions that there is a greater recognition that human physiology is incredibly complicated that single drug based steps. 399 01:04:15.630 --> 01:04:31.200 Terry Wahls: compounds that impact our physiology in one pathway very effectively is not going to restore health, but if we're going to restore health we're going to have to work on a comprehensive multimodal support. 400 01:04:31.860 --> 01:04:41.460 Terry Wahls: and that it will make it even more complicated and messy is that if I were to do a multimodal intervention that addresses diet lifestyle exercise. 401 01:04:42.360 --> 01:04:53.670 Terry Wahls: I need to allow for self determination, because if i'm going to have you adapt this multimodal stuff for the next year or two years. 402 01:04:54.420 --> 01:05:06.240 Terry Wahls: I need to design a method of support that gives you autonomy to select elements of what is the meditative practice you gonna do what is the exercise gonna do what is. 403 01:05:07.110 --> 01:05:16.500 Terry Wahls: The dietary plan that the menu of what I offer that you can do so that we're designing a lifestyle intervention that. 404 01:05:17.040 --> 01:05:30.780 Terry Wahls: meets my targets but you've had autonomy and design it what to meet your needs and your family needs that's messy complicated hard science to do that we're going to have to work out. 405 01:05:32.340 --> 01:05:44.490 Terry Wahls: But I think it's really arbitrary say you got to do ballet as your workout you're going to have to do the modified Paleo diet, as your workout and you're going to have to do a mantra based meditation meditation. 406 01:05:47.100 --> 01:06:00.840 Terry Wahls: That doesn't allow for autonomy that's going to make it much harder to adapt this new behavior and sustain if we can personalize this for that you have a variety of acceptable. 407 01:06:01.890 --> 01:06:08.640 Terry Wahls: strategies that you could use to hit the targets that we lay out, I think that would be more successful. 408 01:06:09.930 --> 01:06:14.400 Terry Wahls: My team and I are thinking deeply about how we could design that. 409 01:06:16.500 --> 01:06:34.260 Terry Wahls: What are the parameters that could work in what are the standardized target so it's reproducible science, this will be messy it'll be difficult, and I think one of the reasons i'm so innovative is I don't have a PhD I have an md. 410 01:06:35.460 --> 01:06:54.540 Terry Wahls: I have a depth of clinical experience I have ideas now hire my PhD say Okay, we take these ideas we're going to keep working on it till we come up with a rigorous approach that's reproducible that honors the basic framework that i've laid out yet and. 411 01:06:56.490 --> 01:07:01.890 Terry Wahls: My pitch, these are coming along they're like okay Okay, I think we can do this. 412 01:07:05.310 --> 01:07:09.150 Terry Wahls: You know I realized, now that if i'd had my PhD. 413 01:07:10.860 --> 01:07:29.430 Terry Wahls: I wouldn't be as innovative I would be more in this yet the the the intervention has to be exactly this intervention and we're not going to allow for any patient autonomy and self determination, because that is how research is done. 414 01:07:30.030 --> 01:07:32.250 Terry Wahls: Correct that is not how life is lived. 415 01:07:32.550 --> 01:07:39.450 Wade Lightheart: Right PhD research is you're controlling all the parameters in life it's impossible to control all the parameters essentially. 416 01:07:40.320 --> 01:07:53.070 Terry Wahls: So if we're going to ask someone to do this for a year or two years, we need to think about that self determination aspect, a little bit more. 417 01:07:54.510 --> 01:08:03.630 Wade Lightheart: last question before you we go you've been so generous with your time and your information, your research, and I know there's going to be some listeners here they're going to wonder about this. 418 01:08:04.710 --> 01:08:13.170 Wade Lightheart: would like for you to speak to someone who might have multiple sclerosis or someone who might know some with multiple sclerosis. 419 01:08:13.650 --> 01:08:26.700 Wade Lightheart: or looking at options, what would you say to them as someone who has you know, been subjected to the to the diagnosis saw the degeneration and found a way to turn it around and doing research, what would you say to that person. 420 01:08:28.350 --> 01:08:41.400 Terry Wahls: So I had really profound disability and profound levels of pain and was able to have a dramatic impact by addressing what was under my control. 421 01:08:42.570 --> 01:08:56.220 Terry Wahls: And then, working with my position to adjust my medications appropriately we seen that in others, and of course we don't know for you what level of recovery might be possible. 422 01:08:57.630 --> 01:09:08.010 Terry Wahls: But, are you doing all that you can, in terms of improving your diet, adding a stress reduction practice thinking about movement practice. 423 01:09:09.270 --> 01:09:15.960 Terry Wahls: We, we have a variety of tools that can help you in that journey would love to be support. 424 01:09:18.630 --> 01:09:36.630 Terry Wahls: it's not just Ms it's part of the proteome it's other autoimmune conditions there's so much that can be done to slow your decline and often rest in reverse the disability we'd love to help you in we could. 425 01:09:38.460 --> 01:09:47.130 Terry Wahls: We have a variety of resources for you at Terry walls that calm try, while still be a challenge COM. 426 01:09:49.350 --> 01:09:58.710 Wade Lightheart: Dr dairy walls it's an honor and a privilege for you to join us today on the awesome health podcast and I am inspired by your story. 427 01:09:59.220 --> 01:10:10.650 Wade Lightheart: and your research and your work and i'm wishing you continued success in this journey, I know you're making a big impact for a lot of people and that's a very noble cause, thank you for your effort. 428 01:10:12.120 --> 01:10:13.710 Terry Wahls: Much love to you and your team as well. 429 01:10:15.450 --> 01:10:22.920 Wade Lightheart: There you have it folks another edition of the awesome health podcast just absolutely remarkable work about what's possible. 430 01:10:23.160 --> 01:10:35.580 Wade Lightheart: actually know, we believe that you can go from six to superhuman Dr Terry walls is someone who has is a living example of the possibilities of great diet. 431 01:10:36.390 --> 01:10:45.780 Wade Lightheart: meditation and an iron will to discover the possibilities of human physiology Thank you so much for joining us today, we appreciate. 432 01:10:46.590 --> 01:10:57.540 Wade Lightheart: You listening, if you like it, you can share it and, of course, check all of the information on the show notes, if you or someone you love is suffering from one of these autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis. 433 01:10:57.840 --> 01:11:06.000 Wade Lightheart: Make sure that you check out Dr Terry walls and her research thanks so much for joining us today i'm at light heart from by optimize there's see you next time. | |||
| #168 - Dr. Susan Brown from Alkaline for Life | 18 Nov 2021 | 00:38:46 | |
| #167- A Pro-Aging Perspective on Bone Health- with Sarah Glicken | 11 Nov 2021 | 00:43:34 | |
In this episode, we get the skinny on bone health from Sarah Glicken, who has a wealth of knowledge on this topic. Sarah co-founded the Los Angeles-based wellness center called OsteoStrong LA - a place where clients received attentive care and treatments that strengthen bones, joints, and muscles. Sarah is "pro-aging," not anti-aging. She helps people age gracefully using technology, mindset, and supplementation and believes everyone deserves to live in a healthy body. She is a Certified Holistic Healthcare Coach and holds a Masters in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She also is an entrepreneur who loves running a business that brings people hope and guides them to a healthier and happier place. In this podcast, we cover:
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| #166 - This Heart Surgeon Uses Regenerative Biologics for Peak Health - with Jason Chiriano | 02 Nov 2021 | 00:46:31 | |
They say when you only have a hammer - everything looks like a nail. This expression doesn't apply to our guest today. He has a toolbox full of healing modalities that are cutting edge, tested, and, here's the best part: proven to work! First of all, Dr. Jason Chiriano has an extensive resume as a surgeon: President of the Southern California Vascular Surgery Society, and a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. If you need vascular surgery, he's your man! But what makes Dr. Jason so unique is that his resume continues into the exciting field of regenerative biologics (a.k.a. regenerative medicine.) Buckle up as Dr. Chiriano shares why he started the Vivalife Healing Centers - a destination for those suffering from chronic ailments who cannot find results in the allopathic matrix. Dr. Chiriano's approach to healing includes powerful, non-invasive regenerative-based treatments, including omniwave sonic therapy, stem cells, brainwave activity, IV therapy, photobiomodulation therapy, sound vibrations, and electromagnetic field therapy. If you are suffering from a chronic ailment or want to learn about the compelling field of regenerative biologics, be sure to tune into this episode!
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| AHP Episode 165- with Marc Champagne | 28 Oct 2021 | 01:05:23 | |
In this episode, our guest Marc Champagne takes us on a quest to find mental fitness - something that is extremely important when it comes to not only your health but also your ability to achieve your goals and dreams. Marc illuminates the pathway: the key is to ask the right questions. But what does it mean to "ask the right questions"? Tune into this episode, where Marc shares these powerful questions and how to use them to break out of a mental rut to find a different life, personally and professionally. Marc is the host of the top 50 ranked podcasts Behind the Human, and his first book recently was recently released titled Personal Socrates. In the pages of his new book, Marc explores the practice of asking pointed questions (like Socrates did) to stimulate our mental fitness, teach us how to direct our internal narrative, and facilitate a better life. Marc is also an entrepreneur. He co-founded the journaling app KYO, which had 87 million people without using advertising. Marc had to shut down KYO, and he shares this life-altering experience with Wade. Marc is a renowned expert on mental fitness - primarily due to his exceptional interviews with legendary figures like Kobe Bryant, Maya Angelou, Robin Williams, James Clear, Coco Chanel, Stephen Hawking, and many others. If you are looking for a way to climb out of depression, start the career of your dreams, or reach higher levels of success, be sure to listen to this episode. Getting clear on who you are and where you're going isn't so hard when someone like Marc can guide your steps. | |||
| #164 - A Truly Holistic Approach to Wellness - with Aleks Rybchinskiy | 21 Oct 2021 | 00:50:56 | |
Meet Aleks Rybchinskiy. This young man and his partner Sara offer one of the most holistic wellness services available today. Aleks is a co-founder of Primal Fusion, which takes "holistic wellness" seriously. In this episode, you will discover the exciting health education and holistic wellness therapies offered at Primal Fusion. Aleks points out that Primal Fusion does not do any intentional marketing. Instead, the business is growing through word-of-mouth referrals because of Aleks and Sara's truly holistic approaches to their clients. Aleks specializes in wellness education and primal integration for optimal living as a co-founder of Primal Fusion. He is a Master CHEK Practitioner and Neurosomatic & Holistic Therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. Alex works with celebrities, pro athletes, and "regular" folks from all walks of life. | |||
| Breathe Your Way to Optimum Health & Happiness - with Dan Brulé | 13 Oct 2021 | 01:32:36 | |
In this episode, you get to hear how the breath powerfully impacts every facet of life from the world's foremost authority on breathing, breathwork, and something called "rebirthing." His name is Dan Brulé, and you will quickly be enraptured by Dan's joy for life and the mind-blowing stories he shares from his incredible life journey. Dan is the author of the popular book JUST BREATHE: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond (available in ten languages). He is also the Founder and Director of The International Center for Breathwork and The Breathing Festival. | |||
| 162: Increase Your Frequency & Convert Your Naysayers with Results - with Sara Banta | 09 Sep 2021 | 01:00:37 | |
Hippocrates - the father of modern medicine - once said (in so many words) that experiencing illness creates empathy, so those who get sick with many ailments would naturally make the best healers. If there is a best-case example to prove this - Sara Banta might be the one. Although not a doctor - Sara has accumulated years of self-education in nutrition, Ayurveda, Chinese Herbology, fitness nutrition, and supplements to become one of the most followed and respected alternative health coaches out in the field today. Sara also has plenty of empathy through her past suffering with many debilitating ailments, including Crohn's disease, hormonal issues, PCOS, heavy metal toxicity, and depression. Since discovering these new healing modalities, Sara has not been sick in 15 years. You may be wondering how someone battling so many debilitating illnesses could turn into a passionate evangelist for alternative medicine? Let's just say her "momma bear" instinct kicked into high gear several years ago when her nine-year-old son was diagnosed with a devastating illness. Sara's first response was to break out in tears. But when her precious son looked up at her and asked why she was crying, and confidently told his mom, "you're gonna fix me," Sara knew right then what her life's mission was going forward: get her son healed and open people's eyes to the world of natural healing. Early on in her journey, Sara was surrounded by naysayers - many were her family members. Today, those same family members come to Sara for advice on health matters after seeing her son restored and thriving. Sara has accumulated plenty of results during her years of coaching practice, and her happy client testimonials bear the fruits of her labor. She continues to expand her knowledge while serving clients and radio podcast listeners with cutting-edge protocols that combine Scalar frequency-based supplements, Chinese medicine, healing devices, and more to detox, reset and rebuild the Body, Mind, and Spirit. Soon after you hit play, you will notice the soothing, healing frequencies emanating from Sara. Watch her in person, and you will see her aura glowing with red, pink, orange, and yellow energies. Tune in to turn up your frequency.
In this podcast, we cover:
"People thought I was crazy. They thought I was mental or depressed." That was the low point for Sara. She was suffering physically, but everyone around her thought it was all in her head. Ever feel that way? Sara can relate. She tried working with allopathic doctors but found that experience frustrating. One doctor would completely forget who Sara was and her story between weekly appointments. She would have to recant her entire story each office visit. Yikes. Until one day, Sara had her body scanned by a particular machine to check 10,000 items in the body. "It was like peeling an onion," Sara tells Wade. "Within ten minutes, this man (mind you, he wasn't even female) knew exactly what was going on in my body, what I was experiencing. I started crying. I thought, 'Finally!' This proves I'm not crazy." "This guy tells me, Sarah - you're not digesting food. You've got a leaky gut. You're loaded with heavy metals. You've got hormones that are out of control. You're high in testosterone." "So, we started cleansing me, putting me through detox from heavy metals. I was loaded with heavy metals. Aluminum and mercury were off the charts." "I have to tell you about a client that just finished my cleanse." At one point, Sara brings up one of her clients who went through her cleansing process: "He started out homeless. He was addicted to heroin, cocaine. He was down and out. Now fast forward ten to fifteen years - he's living in a multi-million dollar home. However, he has fatty liver. And he's telling me, 'I can't do anything. I can't live my life. I've got all this money and a beautiful partner to share it with. We want to go road tripping. We want to do all this stuff. I can't do anything. I feel like crap." "Yesterday, he finished the end of the cleanse, the liver cleanse. He says, 'Sarah, I'm buying an RV. I'm living life. The pain's gone. You could see his aura. He looked like a different human being." Be sure to listen in as Sara and Wade cover a lot of ground in the areas of frequency, detoxification, and supplementation. Knowledge is power, and Sara knows this as well as anyone - when you want to be well, you will seek answers. Sara is a wealth of health solutions. She brings up several things never before discussed on the Awesome Health Podcast. You don't want to miss this one. Check out this episode - "biofeedback" is just that - biological feedback. Information like this could radically improve your health!
Episode Resources: AHP Listeners get 10% off here | |||
| 161: Obliterate Your Fears and Insecurities Using THIS - with Jacob Strachotta | 07 Sep 2021 | 00:52:22 | |
A Powerful Hypnotherapeutic Technology that Improves Mental Health & Restores Self Confidence Hypnotherapy continues to deliver many people from phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, hang-ups, and low self-esteem. However, too many folks continue to suffer from these mental health issues because they never give hypnotherapy a chance. Why? The answer lies in a few myths floating around hypnotherapy, keeping people too cautious about trying it out. These myths mainly involve a patient's inability to wake back up or have "the wrong program" placed into their mind. These concerns are unnecessary. Finding a trusted, experienced hypnotherapist is the key to getting the results you need - one with many testimonials to back up their work. Our guest today, Jacob Strachotta, has the resume and results. He is one of the best hypnotherapists in the world. If you wrestle with stress or grapple with getting a good night's sleep, be sure to tune in to this episode. Jacob has worked as a hypnotherapist for over 25 years. His work in the mind field started back in his days serving in the Danish Air Force as a Captain. During those years, Jacob worked with technical management, quality control, and organizational management. As part of his training, he learned how to deploy personnel on a psychological level. Jacob's career went to a whole new level in 2016. Fueled by a desire to reach more people, Jacob, and his team launched the App HelloMind. This award-winning app is helping people break and eliminate negative thought patterns. HelloMind already has over 1.5 million downloads and was nominated as Best Mental Company and Best Consumer & Wellness Company by UCSF Digital Health Awards in 2019. Curious to learn more about hypnotherapy? You found a fantastic interview to dive into! Check out this podcast, where we cover:
You already went in and out of hypnotic states many times. In the interview, Wade talks about his experiences using hypnotherapy and the powerful results he found. He asks Jacob: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't people going in and out of hypnotic states all the time and don't even realize it?" "Yes, we are," replies Jacob. "It's like passive hypnosis that you go in and out of daily. For example, if you sit in your car and drive from one place to another, and you might forget to turn. You were in control, but your mind was somewhere else." Wade: "You realize - I've been playing with the radio and drove three miles but don't remember anything on the road." Jacob: "Exactly. If you have been in school, and your mind wanders, and the teacher says to you, 'read page 17 out loud," and you are still on page 12. There is a time slip. You know where you are (a classroom), but you have been inside yourself." "When you go inside yourself and find tranquility, you can change your long-term memory. We have short-term memory and long-term memory. We want the good stuff to go down into our long-term memory." "I talk about deep learning and hypnosis is good at not only discovering what's in the long-term memory but also learning what's in the long-term memory that you don't want there." "If you have negative beliefs of yourself, your values, or something else you are convinced about - but that belief is not fruitful for you - you can go into this mellow state and change it. You can change beliefs that were formed a long time ago in your life." Hypnotherapy vs. Regular Talk Therapy During the interview, Jacob has this to say: "Hypnotherapy is powerful because you don't need a lot of sessions. It's not like a standard talk therapy where you take a lot of time to get to the root cause of the problem. It can also be confusing for the person sitting in the session to know what they need to solve. Sometimes clients don't know what the problem is." "When I was in the military, I did some research on the people that get sent out into war zones. Soldiers carry stuff with them from back home, including traumatic childhood stuff. What happens is if they get ambushed or in some other scary situation that can trigger a link back to an episode in their childhood. The logical thing would be not just to treat the actual episode, where you talk about what happened. We will debrief you. You also need to go back and link that other episode (from childhood), and that will help." "We have done sessions in the HelloMind app for this." With this new technology that anyone can download with a smartphone, fears and insecurities get addressed from the comfort of home. You deserve better mental health. Now is a great time to see if hypnotherapy is the right therapy for you. Why not skip weeks of traditional treatment and find peace and happiness sooner with HelloMind? At the count of three, you will tune into this episode: 1, 2, 3. (A little hypnotherapy humor there.) Check out this episode - hypnotherapy might leapfrog you to a happier existence.
Episode Resources: AHP Listeners get 30% off by visiting Hello Mind here | |||
| 287: Thyroid & Liver: Key to Health - with Sara Banta | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:58:12 | |
In today's world, many people struggle with weight gain, a slow metabolism, brain fog, and difficulty building muscle, despite healthy diets and exercise. Health expert Sarah Banta says the cause is often in thyroid and liver health. Her insights, shared on a podcast with Wade Lightheart, highlight how these organs regulate metabolism, fat burning, and muscle building. When these organs are not working well due to toxins, stress, or poor nutrition, the body may have trouble losing fat and gaining muscle. Thyroid: Metabolic Master SwitchThe thyroid controls how the body makes energy. It affects our metabolism, body temperature, fat burning, mental clarity, mood, and hormone balance. Sarah notes that many people might have thyroid issues, even if tests look normal. Symptoms of a struggling thyroid include slow metabolism, fat gain, cold hands and feet, brain fog, fatigue, and muscle loss. Thyroid issues can prevent effective fat burning, no matter the diet or exercise. Liver: Metabolic RoleThe thyroid and liver work together. The liver converts inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to the active form (T3). If the liver is slow or congested, this conversion suffers, slowing down the thyroid. Modern lifestyles burden the liver with toxins, processed foods, and stress. This can lead to fat gain, slow metabolism, and hormonal imbalances. Liver stress can reduce thyroid and overall metabolic function. Iodine's Essential RoleIodine is important for thyroid function and every cell in the body. Many people are iodine deficient due to depleted soils, microplastics in salt, and competition from other chemicals. Iodine helps produce thyroid hormones, supports brain function, cellular energy, immune defense, and hormonal balance. It also helps detoxify heavy metals. Optimal iodine dosing is needed to overcome deficiency and remove toxins. Liver Detox for ResultsAn overloaded liver can block fat burning, impair thyroid conversion, cause insulin resistance, and interfere with protein absorption. Sarah's approach uses herbs to stimulate bile flow, support detox, break down fatty liver, and optimize metabolism. Key ingredients include Milk Thistle and other herbs that help with liver health. A healthy liver allows the body to burn fat and build muscle safely. In this podcast you'll learn...
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| 160: Clean Your Body, Mind, & Soul Through Detoxification - with Dr. Alejandro Junger | 02 Sep 2021 | 00:54:46 | |
Here's why many doctors are NOT healthy... Not all medical professionals live a healthy lifestyle. The long hours filled with stress coupled with diets supplied by hospital cafeterias and vending machines are a toxic combination. Our guest, Alejandro Junger, knows this firsthand. Dr. Junger's life didn't start that way. He was born and raised in Uruguay, and he describes his childhood as being closely connected to the natural environment. Some of his most vivid memories are of his father at the local market teaching young Alejandro how to pick out fruits and vegetables through touch and smell. His youth was spent "in the moment." But when Dr. Junger moved to New York for postgraduate training in internal medicine, he experienced a blast of culture shock. Suddenly, he was working long hours with little time to cook his food. Naturally, he ate from the food sources at the hospital where he worked. Hospital food has never been known for its health benefits. These drastic lifestyle changes wreaked havoc on Dr. Junger. As a workaholic, he lost touch with his body, mind, and spirit and became afflicted with irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, and depression. Through a series of events along life's road, Dr. Junger's well-being was holistically revived - his story is incredible. Be sure to tune in and hear how Dr. Junger's open mind led him to shift his medical career from allopathic healthcare to a medical practice heavily influenced by Eastern medicine. Becoming a patient inside the same healthcare system he worked in was a wake-up call. Dr. Junger became a functional doctor who incorporates Ayurveda and is now an expert in gut health and nutrition. Today, Dr. Junger is known as "The Father of Detox." His Clean Program is followed by people worldwide, including dignitaries, A-List celebrities, and media personalities.
In this podcast, we cover:
Physical, Mental, & Emotional Toxicity are ONE During this episode, here is a snippet from Dr. Junger: "In Ayurvedic medicine, thousands of years ago, they did not distinguish between mental, emotional and physical toxicity. They're all called under an umbrella name - AMA. Some say A-M-M-A. This is a Sanskrit word that encompasses toxic elements. And they include mental, emotional, and physical factors. Now, what is the relationship between them? Ultimately, we're just energy. Whatever vibration your physical body is, it will attract thoughts and emotions as a means average. Are you going to help them be released? "You need to make this available for everyone." Dr. Junger: "I started doing the detoxification with my friends, family, and then my patients. Over time, as I started getting lots of good results, people said, 'you need to scale up. You need to make this available to everyone. That is when my program became a company." "The program is a set of things that you do. It involves food, supplements, and activity that creates the conditions for your body to work its detoxification system at maximum efficiency for optimal health." "Functional medicine talks about the seven systems. The communication system, hormones, nerves, cardiovascular system, transport system, defense, repair system, and immune system have to be equalized because any system will affect other systems. Imagine one system messing up the other six. Balancing them helps 60% of the people I see with all their health problems." "It's about decreasing the workload of the digestive system and decreasing the need for the body to keep on the inflammatory system. By reducing the workload of the digestive system during breakfast and dinner, replacing solid meals with liquid that's easier to digest, a shake in the morning and night and a solid meal at midday, eliminating all the foods known to cause all kinds of reactions, acidity, mucus, and eliminating allergic foods - doing this for 21 days plus certain supplements to enhance liver detoxification - the results are unbelievable." Dr. Junger's message to the world is you can find health and wellness again through detoxification. You need someone to show you how to do it effectively. Dr. Junger has a proven detoxification process. Tune in and discover how to clean your body, soul, and mind in 21 days. (Or start with his 7-day program if you only have a week.) Check out this episode - time to remove toxins and feel fantastic!
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| 159: Spermidine: The Funny Sounding Molecule Packing Serious Longevity Power - with Don Moxley | 31 Aug 2021 | 00:51:50 | |
This episode's guest loves to teach. Being an assistant professor or adjunct professor is one of Don Moxley's favorite parts of his resume. He's a scientist at heart who navigates his academic career by staying on the fringes of the university where he teaches - keeping his hands free from the handcuffs of whatever dogma the institution professes. Don loves to teach. However, he is not interested in getting comfortable in a college ivory tower. This is why Don stays nimble in his health and wellness work by working directly with innovative health brands. Trained as an exercise physiologist, Don likes to keep a foot in the wearable technology industry. He has also worked for years in the high-performance athletics field - primarily collegiate wrestling. Don was a good wrestler himself back in college and has spent much of his career working with college wrestling programs, helping athletes reach their full potential. At the beginning of 2017, Don made a significant shift in his mindset by changing how he approached life by operating through his mission statement instead of operating life through definition. His mission is "understanding and directing individual changes that alleviate suffering and contribute to the betterment of well people." This new approach to his career and life opened up tremendous opportunities to grow and impact his community. Currently, Don works with Longevity Labs, an Austrian company, and is helping launch their flagship product, spermidineLIFE. This molecule with the funny name provides serious help to our cells, impacting human longevity, how you feel in the present, and your ability to live a quality life as you age. Tune in as Wade and Don discuss this little-known health agent that biohackers are getting excited about.
In this podcast, we cover:
High-Performance Athletics and Cannabis At one point, Don speaks about his experiences working in the cannabis industry, where he did a deep dive into understanding the human endocannabinoid system, a portion of his career Don calls "an incredible opportunity." Here is a snippet of what he said on this episode: "I think if you're trying to do high-performance athletics, and you're not at least trying to understand cannabinoids and terpenes, you're kidding yourself." "I think when you measure HRV, you measure endocannabinoid system status, and you can modify it. While I was doing that, I get a call from a buddy in Austria. He asks, "What are you doing?" He tells me about this company that's focused on autophagy." "I had not done a deep dive into it yet. He then says, 'have you ever heard of a molecule called spermidine?' I had not. He says, 'I want you to do the same thing for us that you did in Florida for the cannabis brand.' "Today, I'm their director of applied science and brand development. So, my job is to help this company build a brand that's based on science. And that's what we do." "So now I've gone down the rabbit hole of autophagy and polyamines." You need THIS for a long, healthy life… The one thing you must be doing for a long, healthy life, according to Don, is autophagy, which is, in layman's terms, your body's natural process of recycling cells. Don tells Wade, "There is no doubt in my mind that to live healthy, to get the most out of your healthspan and lifespan, you have to have good autophagy. Intermittent fasting or fasting is the shortest pathway to that. And spermidine helps. No doubt about it - you increase spermidine, then your autophagy increases as well." "You also need to eliminate sugars. It's one of our biggest challenges as a society. I call it caloric toxic. We have so much access to sugary drinks." "On the other end of the spectrum, you move from caloric restriction and autophagy and then into intermittent fasting and longer fasting, ceremonial fasting. There's a reason why it's included in every major religion in the world. Health benefits come from it." "What's old is new, and old is leading the way," replied Wade. Tune in to find out what spermidine can do for your health, energy, and quality of life. Don Moxley is a science-based researcher with a diversity of subject matter areas. He is good at connecting the dots, revealing connections between spermidine, autophagy, fasting, strength training, our endocannabinoid system, cannabis, and our ability to live a longer, higher quality life through diet, exercise, and supplementation. Check out this episode - spermidine could revolutionize your health!
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| 158: Finding Wellness Thru Travel & Eastern Massage Therapies - with Jessica Van Antwerp | 26 Aug 2021 | 01:22:31 | |
She's on a quest to empower and heal. Years ago, Jessica Van Antwerp was a typical college student searching for answers to life's conundrums. Still figuring out what to do with her future, Jessica changed her major from business to philosophy (dad was not happy.) This one decision tells us so much about her - Jessica is a thinker. A critical thinker. A big thinker. Finding business school to be a bore, she fell in love with philosophy, which fit her like a glove, and those thinking skills she picked up would serve her well as an adult. She never stopped asking big questions and seeking truth. Jessica was an athlete in high school, and she was always interested in health and fitness. Over the years, she has lived on a vegetarian diet, but some severe health results (that she shares with Wade) brought her back to eating meat. If you struggle with addiction, be sure to tune in as Jessica talks about her seven-year daily addiction to weed. She has also leaned on alcohol and even nicotine at times during stressful periods. Today, those substances are far behind her. Still relatively young (late 30s), Jessica has overcome addictions, stress, and childhood trauma through two powerful physical and emotional therapy modes: traveling and massage. Today, Jessica is an entrepreneur whose business focuses on both travel and Asian massage therapy. She is the owner and CEO of Integral Travel - a wellness retreat company that educates people on how to unlock the natural healing capacity of their bodies while connecting people around the globe. She draws on over a decade of experience in the health and wellness industry. Her experiences with anxiety, weight, low self-esteem, and addiction are also huge contributors to her knowledge base today. Jessica is also a licensed massage therapist trained in several eastern schools of massage, including Shiatsu, Qigong, Thai Yoga Massage, and other energy modalities. Her story will grab you by the qi. Don't miss this fantastic conversation between Jessica and our host, Wade Lightheart. You'll learn a whole lot during this 80-minute journey. In this podcast, we cover:
The answers lie within, not outside of you. During the show, Jessica talks about when she first discovered a particular form of Qi gong called Sheng Zhen Gong, which means unconditional love. Here's an excerpt: "I immediately felt its power. I went from feeling qi in the palms of my hands to feeling it in my entire body. And I felt my heart. It was like that scene from the Grinch, where his heart grows three times and busts out." "I felt this in my whole body, and I knew this was my medicine. I dove into the practice. Within a month, I was at a five-day meditation retreat with Master Li, the founder of Sheng Zhen. In China, he trained with a women's martial arts team for over a decade. He's a Kung Fu movie star. This guy knows what he's doing in relation to energy. And so I practiced every day for six months before I felt normal. Meanwhile, very little had changed about my external circumstances." "I think this is the key I want anyone listening to understand - sometimes there's not a lot you can do about the stressors in your life. They are your responsibilities, your obligations. What you can do is change your relationship with them." Gaining New Perspectives You may already have a taste of the impact a retreat can provide - particularly a focused, organized retreat. As the CEO of Integral Travel, Jessica offers powerful wellness retreats. She says: "That's sort of the pinnacle of what we offer during a multi-day experience, just immersing or exploring one's inner terrain while the attendee is exploring an outer terrain that is unfamiliar." "The newness sheds new light and gives perspective on what you're confronting and learning about yourself through the internal practices that we do - yoga, qi gong, meditation - how it takes you out of your day-to-day routine so you can look back and ask yourself, "Okay, what aspects of this are working for me, supporting my health, my vitality, making me feel good? What aspects of my daily life are not so good?" "What do I want to change? That's the magic of going on a retreat - giving conscious attention to your life and yourself, as opposed to just going on vacation, feeding on activities." "A retreat is different. It's about inner reflection for long-term change in your life." Don't feel ashamed if life seems overwhelming. Jessica has been there. She worked 90 hours per week at one point and had a nervous breakdown. With refreshing honesty and compassion, she shares the high and low points of her life. Dealing with addictions, emotional hurts, workaholism, and then the spiritual turning point that led to healing travels and life-altering rejuvenation through eastern meditation, yoga, and qi gong. Check out this episode - love is energy, and it can turn your life around. Episode Resources: | |||