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Explore every episode of the podcast Ground & Root Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for Ground & Root Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Joy, Music, & Dancing As Longevity Tools10 Jun 202600:43:32

Joy is not a luxury, it is biology. That’s the thread we pull with Tina Woods, a globally recognized longevity expert and social entrepreneur who started DJing at 60 and turned a dance floor into a living laboratory. 

On today's episode we talk about why healing has many doorways, and why music, dancing, community, & joy might be one of the most underrated ways to support longevity, resilience, and a longer health span.

Here's some of what we're covering today:

• Tina’s path from genetics and medical education to longevity science, tech, and policy
• Why health span matters more than “living forever” and the question of what makes a life worth living
• The personal shift that led Tina to become a DJ at age 60
• The case for measuring joy as a health metric alongside steps and sleep 
• Loneliness, social disconnection, and the exposome as drivers of modern disease risk
• Sound, BPM, brain states, and wearable EEG tools used during dancing and raves
• Plus simple ways to bring more dancing and connection into everyday life

If you’ve ever felt that “electric” shift in your body when the right song hits, this conversation puts language and emerging science around that experience.

I hope you enjoy today's episode and please remember to subscribe to the Ground and Root Podcast, share this with a friend who needs more joy, and leave a review so more people can find us.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Tina Woods is a globally recognized longevity expert and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of science, technology and policy.

She is Founder and CEO of Collider Health and Business for Health, Executive Director of the International Institute of Longevity (IIOL), and as a Steering Committee member of the Human Exposome Project a leading voice in the emerging field of the human exposome — understanding how environment, lifestyle and connection shape long-term health and resilience.

She brings together academia, business and government to drive system change from ‘sickcare’ to prevention — while also living her message as founder of Longevity Rave, leader of the JoyScore Experiment and DJ Tina Technotic.

Tina sits on various advisory groups, including the XPRIZE Global Visioneering Brain Trust and Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air.

Tina’s book, Live Longer with AI: How artificial intelligence is helping us extend our healthspan and live better too was published  in October 2020.

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What If Coherence Is The Real Medicine03 Jun 202600:28:11

Your healing plan doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to be yours. 

This month on the podcast, we’re exploring a simple framework I'm calling the “Doorways to Healing”. It's built around one big idea: energetic coherence & finding the path that will enhance your coherence. 

When your cells and systems communicate clearly across the physical body, the nervous system, and your emotional and energetic layers, you create the conditions for balance, repair, harmony, and vitality in the body. 

When coherence breaks down, the body gets pulled toward inflammation, stress physiology, and the kind of mis-signaling that can support disease...including cancer.

In today's episode, we walk through the first three doorways, starting with the most practical paths related to our physical wellness.

Here's some of what we're covering today:

• First an overview of the framework of coherence across physical, emotional, spiritual, and energetic layers 
• Removing disruptors & stressors like toxins, inflammation, blood sugar issues, infections, chronic stress, and stuck emotions so the body can heal itself...as one doorway.
• Deepening nourishment through real food, plant allies, herbs, supplements, sleep, and self-care as another doorway.
• Movement as yet another doorway to healing through exercise, walking, strength, yoga, tai chi, qigong, dance, and vibration.

If this gives you a clearer starting point for your healing journey please subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs some renewed hope and structure, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

👉 Resources mentioned on today's episode:

1- Previous Podcast Episode with Dean on Exercise as a Doorway

2- Previous Podcast Episode with Kylie on Building Muscle

3- Previous Podcast Episode with Lauren on Sound Healing

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What If Your Next Meal Changed Your Cancer Risk?18 Mar 202600:28:05

Most “anti-cancer diet” advice either turns into fear-based restriction or becomes so vague it’s useless. 

At Ground & Root we take a different path: a clear, balanced, research-informed way to nourish your body so it’s harder for cancer to grow...whether you’re actively in a cancer journey or focused on prevention and staying cancer free.

In today's episode we break down our anti-cancer dietary approach and explain why balance and variety beat rigid restriction for long-term healing. We also share a research-backed grocery list of foods that support detox pathways, blood sugar balance, inflammation control, immune function, and healthy cell signaling.

Here's some of what we're covering:

  • The four hallmarks of our dietary approach including nutrient density, macro balancing, system support, and personalization
  • Our top anti-cancer foods to prioritize including cruciferous vegetables, alliums, leafy greens, beets, carrots, mushrooms, berries, citrus, spices, and green tea
  • What these foods may support including DNA repair, apoptosis, lower inflammation, immune surveillance, and detoxification
  • How certain foods and phytonutrients may help suppress cancer stem cells linked with relapse and metastasis
  • Plus lifestyle practices that can complement food choices to target cancer stem cells

If you’re ready to make food feel empowering again, hit play, take notes, and build your next grocery list with intention. 

👉 And once you've listened if you decide you'd like more nutrition guidance, here are 3 ways we can support you:

1- Receive a personalized plan inside our coaching program. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more

2- Join the self‑paced Enhance Your Plate course

3- Grab the Cancer Diet Cookbook for 100 recipes that put these ideas on your plate (or get it FREE when you join either the course or our coaching program)

As always, if you're enjoying our content, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏

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What Your Thyroid Reveals About Inflammation, Immunity, And Cancer Prevention11 Mar 202600:41:05

What if one small gland quietly shaped your energy, your immune surveillance, and your long-term cancer risk? 

In today's episode we are joined again by guest expert Lauren Papanos to look at the thyroid’s role in metabolism, detox, and cellular defense & why eating for organ support is important in an anti-cancer nutrition plan.

We break down what to test beyond TSH, how to interpret early clues, where inflammation hides in plain sight, and we'll connect the dots between autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and cancer risk.

Here's some of what we're covering:

  • thyroid as master speed regulator across systems
  • why autoimmunity starts silent and how to screen
  • why a full thyroid panel plus antibodies and oxidative markers is important to monitor
  • the role of iodine in thyroid health & cancer prevention
  • immune drains from viruses, gut issues, toxins, training
  • antioxidants that protect thyroid and lower risk
  • postpartum shifts, perimenopause, and hormone monitoring

You will also learn which foods can help move the needle...like selenium from Brazil nuts, sulfur-rich veggies for glutathione, vitamin E from olive oil, vitamin A from organ meats & more.

By aligning smarter screening with a stepwise plan—lower inflammation, rebuild resilience, and only then fine-tune iodine—you reinforce the same systems that keep cancer risk low and daily energy steady.

If this helped you see your thyroid in a new light, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Lauren Papanos, MS, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian, board certified sports nutritionist, and functional medicine expert providing solutions for thyroid, hormones and autoimmunity in active women and athletes. She holds advanced certifications in functional endocrinology, environmental toxins, advanced blood chemistry and is internationally licensed as a Micro-immunotherapy practitioner. She's been featured in Forbes, Shape, Insider, and national TV. Lauren runs her private practice, Functional Fueling Nutrition, and hosts the Strength in Hormones Podcast.

👉 Website: www.functionalfueling.com

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functional.fueling/ 

👉 Podcast: https://functionalfueling.com/category/podcast/ 

PLUS resources shared on today's episode:

👉 Lauren's Thyroid Inflammation Lab Decoder Guide  

👉 Lauren's Functional Thyroid Foundations 

👉 Episode 9 Interview with Lauren: Hidden Link Between Thyroid health & Breast Cancer

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Designing An Anti‑Cancer Diet You Can Actually Follow04 Mar 202600:24:53

Are you tired for sifting through all the conflicting & confusing information online around diet & cancer prevention?

With recommendation and arguments on every side of this debate...from Raw Vegan to Keto or Carnivore it can feel impossible to know which diet is best for you.

In today's episode we strip nutrition down to what actually supports healing: a nutrient‑dense plate, smart macro balance, and habits that strengthen the body’s core systems. 

I walk you through five clear principles that make food choices easier and more effective, without forcing you into an extreme plan or a second career in meal prep.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• our Ground & Root 3‑pillar approach
• five core principles for real‑world meals
• macro balance with higher protein and lower carbs
• meal timing, overnight fasting and seasonal ketosis
• blood sugar and insulin control strategies
• anti‑inflammatory foods and what to limit
• immune support and microbiome nourishment
• personalization with labs, lifestyle and preferences

If you’re ready for more nutrition guidance, we have 3 ways to support you:

1- Receive a personalized plan inside our coaching program. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more

2- Join the self‑paced Enhance Your Plate course

3- Grab the Cancer Diet Cookbook for 100 recipes that put these ideas on your plate (or get it FREE when you join either the course or our coaching program)

As always, if you're enjoying our content, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏

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Can Vibration Enhance Healing? A Survivor’s Journey To Coherence & Calm25 Feb 202600:48:53

A cancer diagnosis at 27 can steal your breath. On today's episode we share Lauren’s path from stage III melanoma to a career blending ICU nursing with Reiki and sound therapy. 

We dig into the practical side of Reiki & how it can downshift the nervous system. Then move into the benefits of sound therapy: crystal bowls that lift, metal gongs that move energy deep, & drums that mirror the heartbeat. 

You’ll learn more about how it all works as well as how vibration travels through our water-rich tissues to nudge cellular balance, reduce inflammation, & enhance coherence.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• Reiki as intentional relaxation and safety
• acupuncture, yoga, & mindfulness for nervous system support
• sound baths and brainwave entrainment
• bridging hospital care with integrative modalities
• building a personal healing toolbox and protecting rest

If you’re navigating cancer, caregiving, or burnout, this conversation is a roadmap to capacity. And if this resonates, don't forget to subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Lauren Nielson (Aloisio) is a New England–based Registered Nurse, Shamanic Reiki Master/Teacher, and Sound Practitioner/Teacher. A melanoma cancer survivor, Lauren brings a uniquely integrative perspective to healing, bridging evidence-based medicine with supportive energy practices.

After being diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in 2015, Lauren turned to tools like Reiki, sound meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness to support her nervous system, emotional health, and overall resilience throughout treatment and recovery. These practices became foundational in both her personal healing and her professional work.

Lauren went on to bring the first offerings of Sound Therapy to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she supports healthcare staff in managing burnout, anxiety, and caregiver fatigue. Her mission is to increase education, awareness, and access to integrative wellness practices as complementary support within mainstream medical settings.

👉 Website: https://laurenaloisio.com/

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.energy.nurse/

👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@energynurse

👉 Insight Timer App: https://insighttimer.com/energynurse 

PLUS resources shared on today's episode:

👉 Book: The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music By Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor

👉 Book: The Tao of Sound: Acoustic Sound Healing for the 21st Century By Fabien Maman and Terres Unsoeld

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Rewire Your Nervous System To Rewire Your Health18 Feb 202600:23:05

What if healing starts by teaching your body to feel safe again? 

In today's episode we dig into the practical side of stress recovery and show how quick daily signals of safety—sunlight, slow breathing, grounding, gentle movement—can flip you from fight or flight into rest and repair. 

When your nervous system settles, your immune system, sleep, digestion, and inflammation all shift in the right direction, making every other therapy more effective.

We break down the feel-good chemistry behind resilience. You’ll hear how to naturally boost dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin with simple habits like nature time, touch, massage, music, laughter, exercise, intimacy, and light exposure. These aren’t fluffy add-ons; they are actionable levers that lower cortisol, reduce pain, improve mood, and support cancer prevention by creating a biology that heals instead of defends.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• why regulation starts with the nervous system
• nature, breathwork, meditation, gentle movement as fast resets
• feel-good hormones and how to raise them daily
• overlap between exercise, touch, sunlight, and mood chemistry
• somatic release for stuck emotions
• gratitude, mindset shifts, and community for resilience
• simple, repeatable practices that compound over time

Step 1 in our 3-Part Recovery System is to calm the stress response. To help you do this, we are offering a FREE personalized flower remedy for anybody who joins our coaching program this month. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more!

As always, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏

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Healing Starts Within: Stress, Trauma, And Cancer Care11 Feb 202600:42:08

What if the turning point in cancer care isn’t another protocol, but a deeper conversation with your own nervous system and story? 

In today's episode we sit down with Integrative Psychiatrist Tracy Peng, MD to explore how stress, trauma, and suppressed emotions shape the cancer journey and why mental health support is a core part of care. 

We unpack the data on confidants and outcomes, the Adverse Childhood Experiences link to cancer risk, and the common pattern of people pleasing and emotional suppression. Tracy also shares tools for accurate narrative, grief work, boundaries, and nervous system regulation to restore coherence and inner wisdom.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• emotional stress as a driver of disease and what to do about it
• how integrative psychiatry supports cancer care
• confidants, anxiety, and outcome differences
• unhealed trauma mirroring nonhealing wounds
• childhood coping patterns and adult triggers
• ACEs research and cancer risk
• reconnecting to inner wisdom over quick med checks
• acupuncture, tapping, bodywork, and food as stabilizers
• grief as a core skill for resilience
• composting anger into clarity and action

Listen to learn how to create a care plan that includes your emotions, your body, and your soul. And if this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Tracy Peng MD is an integrative and holistic depth psychiatrist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. She practiced at UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Health for over 20 years, which is where she met and became a fan of the luminous Dionne! She has worked extensively with patients with chronic or terminal illnesses and has a special interest in spiritual and mindfulness-based approaches to the mental health care of women with cancer. She is a graduate of the End-of-LIfe Care Practitioner Program offered by Zen Hospice Project (and later offered through the Metta Institute).

👉 Tracy's Website: www.tracypengmd.com

PLUS Resources shared on today's episode:

👉 Screening tool for Adverse Childhood Experiences 

👉 https://www.rachelremen.com/  

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How Chronic Stress Shapes Cancer Risk And Recovery04 Feb 202600:30:50

Stress isn’t just a feeling you push past. It’s a biological signal that can suppress immune surveillance, push inflammation higher, and quietly set the stage for cancer risk and recurrence. 

In today's episode we're digging into the science of how cortisol, adrenaline, and pro-inflammatory cytokines change the terrain of the body, from natural killer cell activity to blood sugar, sleep, & metabolism. Plus why calming the nervous system often needs to come before diet, fasting, supplements, or anything else.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• links between chronic stress and immune suppression
• differences between acute hormetic stress and chronic overload
• early life stress shaping sensitivity and reactivity
• suppressed emotions as epigenetic drivers of risk
• research connecting anger repression and grief to cancer
• common “cancer personality” traits and why they matter
• & more

Pulling these threads together, we outline a practical three-part plan to reduce load, regulate the nervous system, and build resilience while addressing suppressed emotions and key personality patterns.

If this resonates, hit play, subscribe for weekly episodes, and share it with someone who needs the nudge to put stress work first. Your feedback matters—leave a review and tell us which stressor you’re ready to drop next.

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From Leukemia To Lymphoma To Life: Dean Hall On The Power of Resilience, Nature, & Purpose28 Jan 202601:14:13

In today's episode we sit down with therapist and endurance athlete Dean Hall for a raw, energizing, & inspiring story of resilience amidst a rare leukemia profile, profound grief, a lymphoma surge, & the unlikely decision to train for a 187-mile swim in 42-degree water. 

Dean walks us through the exact choices that shifted his trajectory, healed both of his cancers, and transformed his life. We explore practical tools you can use today, including his “Nervous System First Aid” playbook, the Wild Me Manual, and simple weekly practices to recharge. 

If you’re navigating cancer, burnout, or anxiety, this conversation offers both science and soul—showing how joy, play, and purpose...along with a healthy dose of nature...can be part of a serious healing plan.

Enjoy the show & share it with someone who could use a new perspective and renewed hope in their healing journey.

More about today's guest & how to connect with him:

Dean Hall is a licensed therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience and more than 60,000 hours working face-to-face with clients recovering from trauma and anxiety.

After losing his wife to cancer and later being diagnosed himself, Dean became the first person in history to swim the entire 187-mile length of Oregon’s Willamette River. Immersed daily in cold, moving water for weeks, the experience profoundly changed how he understands healing, resilience, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His doctors believe this sustained immersion was responsible for the spontaneous remission of his leukemia.

That lived transformation, combined with decades of clinical practice, gave rise to BioWild Psychology, a nervous system first, nature-based approach to restoring safety, clarity, and emotional regulation by working with the body’s biological signals rather than willpower or Mindset.

Dean now teaches this work through books, keynote speeches, retreats, and his LifeText platform, helping people remember how to regulate, heal, and belong anywhere on Earth.

👉 Dean's Website: https://www.thewildcureway.com/ 

👉 Grab Dean's Books: https://www.thewildcureway.com/books 

👉 Follow Dean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanhallofficial/  

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Fasting For Resilience & Cancer Prevention21 Jan 202600:20:14

What if the most powerful resilience practice costs nothing, fits any schedule, and turns your own cells into a repair squad? 

In today's episode we dive into fasting as a practical, evidence-informed way to boost resilience, support treatment, and create a body environment where cancer struggles to thrive. 

I share step-by-step strategies to help you start safely, build metabolic flexibility, and time longer fasts for deeper benefits.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• why fasting acts as a hormetic stress for longevity and resilience
• metabolic shifts that lower insulin, glucose, inflammation, and IGF-1
• autophagy and cellular cleanup that supports detox and repair
• immune regeneration and stronger white blood cell production
• differential stress resistance to protect healthy cells during treatment
• practical fasting tiers from 13 hours to 72 hours and beyond

There are really good reasons why fasting is my #1 tool to support cancer prevention and why I encourage everyone to give it a try.

If you want more guidance around fasting, join us inside The Healing Accelerator, our coaching program, where we will teach you all the ins and outs of fasting and help you personalize a plan so that you can start playing with it in a safe and effective way. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more!

As always, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 

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Building Muscle To Age Well & Reduce Cancer Risk14 Jan 202601:02:25

In today's episode we are continuing the conversation around building resilience by looking at how building muscle supports healthy aging, metabolic health, and cancer prevention. 

I am joined by Kylie Fagnano who shares clear steps for safe strength training, protein targets, and short, effective HIIT sessions you can repeat for life.

Here is some of what we cover:

• muscle as a longevity organ and metabolic ally
• starting from any level with safe, progressive strength
• when bodyweight is enough and when to add load
• practical protein goals to trigger muscle synthesis
• HIIT basics for mitochondrial health and time‑crunched days
• mindset shift from restriction to construction
• action plans to choose your on‑ramp and build consistency

As always, if this conversation resonates with you, please follow the show, share it with someone who would benefit, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Your support helps bring evidence-based, integrative tools to people navigating cancer and beyond.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Kylie Fagnano is an integrative and functional dietitian.  She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and together, they own DC Strength & Nutrition.  She focuses on gut health and muscle health to support her patients with longevity and understanding how to feed themselves.

👉 Kylie's Website: https://dcstrengthandnutrition.com/ (you can sign-up to access their Free Exercise Library & Nutrition Info)

👉 Grab their 12-Week Strength Training Program HERE

👉 Follow Kylie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylie.dcnutrition/ 

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A 3-Step Holistic Plan For Stronger Immune Function & Cancer Prevention20 May 202600:20:16

Your immune system doesn’t just need more support, it needs the right kind of support in the right order

We’re continuing our cancer prevention and immune system series with a simple 3-step system we use with clients to rebalance immune function and strengthen cancer surveillance...without making your life feel like a full-time wellness project.

Here's some of what we're covering today:

• how calming the stress response can move you out of fight-or-flight and back towards healing
• grounding and nature breaks as fast nervous system support
• breathwork plus herbs, flower remedies, and scent for regulation
• raising positive emotions through gratitude, fun, laughter, and connection
• the nutrients & foods necessary for white blood cell building & immune nourishment
• deep restorative sleep, circadian rhythm habits, & lifestyle strategies that can further support immune function 
• deeper emotional healing for stored trauma and stuck emotions
• using blood work & functional labs to monitor immune function & dive deeper into what might be impacting it

We can all use a little extra immune love. I hope today's episode inspires you with practical ways you can help your immune system work better.

And if this helps you think differently about immune support and cancer prevention, please subscribe, share the show with someone you love, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. 🙏

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Harnessing Hormesis To Heal And Thrive07 Jan 202600:18:20

In today's episode we kick off the new year by reframing your 2026 health goals around using hormesis to build resilience and explain how controlled, short stressors can strengthen immunity, mood, cellular repair, & more! We share practical ways to use cold, heat, fasting, and exercise to build a body and mind that bend without breaking.

• defining resilience as stable function under stress
• links between stress resilience, cancer risk, and longevity
• overview of hormesis and adaptive benefits
• list of benefits including immune, mood, sleep, inflammation
• cold exposure methods and safety basics
• heat exposure, sauna timing, and repair pathways
• fasting windows, autophagy, and seasonal fasts
• exercise choices that drive adaptation
• practical micro-challenges to push comfort zones

Join us inside The Healing Accelerator to build your resilience in 2026 with coaching, seasonal fasts, and structured protocols. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more!

Please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 

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New Year Intentions That Actually Stick31 Dec 202500:22:56

As we welcome in this last day of 2025, let's talk about setting intentions that will actually stick.

New Year's Resolutions rarely fail because you lack willpower—they fail because they’re built on an overloaded life and a dysregulated nervous system. 

We flip the script with a five-step intention-setting framework designed to support healing, prevent burnout, and make healthy changes last. As a holistic cancer dietitian, I walk through how to honor winter’s energy, learn from last year without shame, and build goals from self-love rather than self-critique.

  1. We start with reflection as real-world data: what worked, what didn’t, and what you’re ready to release. 
  2. From there, we choose one primary goal—putting yourself first—and let every other action flow from that stance. 
  3. Then we lean into guided dreaming. Before you chase tactics, get vivid about the life you’re creating: radiant health, calmer days, more connection, and purposeful work. (You’ll hear how vision clarified an unexpected move for me & my family across the world, reinforcing that direction precedes logistics.)
  4. Joy becomes a core health strategy, not an afterthought. We explore why fun, laughter, and creative play regulate the nervous system, lower stress, improve sleep, and make nutrition and movement easier to sustain. 
  5. Finally, we practice “less is more.” By stripping nonessentials, you create space for rest and the simple habits that compound—sleep, nourishing meals, walks, grounding, and supportive routines.

If you’re navigating a cancer journey or committed to staying cancer free, this approach helps you build a life your biology can thrive in. 

Ready to start 2026 with intentions that actually work? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find practical, hopeful strategies for long-term health.

Wishing you a very happy & healthy New Year!! 🎉

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Reflect, Release, Renew: A Year-End Review For Success in 202624 Dec 202500:22:11

In today's episode, on Christmas Eve, we pause for a year-end ritual that helps us reflect honestly, release what no longer serves, and welcome a healthy, aligned start to 2026.

Here's some of what we're covering in today's episode:

• why reflection precedes effective goal-setting
• ten guided questions for your year-end review

  1. What did I learn? (skills, knowledge, awareness, etc)
  2. What did I accomplish?
  3. What would I have done differently? Why?
  4. What were the most significant events of the past year? (list the top 3)
  5. What do I feel especially good about? What was my greatest contribution? What am I most proud of?
  6. What were the fun things I did this year? (going back through your photos can be helpful for this one)
  7. What was the most surprising thing that happened this year?
  8. What were my biggest challenges, roadblocks, or difficulties?
  9. How am I different this year than last?
  10. What am I particularly grateful for?

• separating reflection from judgment
• the science of gratitude and brain rewiring
• the nightly three gratitudes routine I recommend to all of my clients
• shifting from release to aligned intentions for 2026

Taking time to reflect in the waning days of the year, will make 2026 feel lighter, clearer, and more aligned with who you want to become.

✨ If after moving through today's episode, you know you're ready to step into a new, healthier, more vibrant version of you in 2026, there is no better place to do that than inside of our coaching program, The Healing Accelerator. Learn more here. You'll get a full year with us to help you realize your goals AND you can take advantage of our current pricing before the investment goes up in January. ✨

And if today's show resonates with you, please share the episode with someone who needs a reset, subscribe for next week’s intention-setting guide, and leave a review to help others find the show. 🥰

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From Breast Cancer To Forest Bathing: A Filmmaker’s Path To Integrative Healing17 Dec 202500:47:37

A breast cancer diagnosis can compress life into appointments, lab results, and hard choices. We explore that reality and step into the woods with filmmaker Lisa Landers, whose path through stage one breast cancer led to surgery, tamoxifen, and a powerful integrative toolkit: targeted nutrition, community support, and the restorative practice of forest bathing among the redwoods.

In today's episode you will learn more about Lisa's personal healing journey as well as the power of the forest to enhance healing. The research is compelling: lower cortisol and blood pressure, improved sleep, and increased natural killer cell activity are just a few of the benefits tied to time among trees and their aromatic compounds.

Lisa also shares the creative arc behind Giants Rising, her PBS-featured film about redwoods, awe, and our relationship with forests. We close our conversation with simple ways you can step into this healing practice...like five-minute houseplant sessions, a morning sit spot before your phone, or a local guided walk—so the practice becomes yours.

As always, if this conversation resonates with you, please follow the show, share it with someone who needs a gentler path, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Your support helps bring evidence-based, integrative tools to people navigating cancer and beyond.

Resources mentioned in today's show:

👉 Lisa's Website: https://www.forestremedy.earth/

👉 Article: Why Harvard Docs are Seeking Out Forest Bathing

👉 Study: Effect of Forest Bathing on Immune Function

👉 Study: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes

👉 Find a Forest Bathing Guide

👉 Giants Rising Film

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Winter Wellness, Made Simple10 Dec 202500:23:51

Winter doesn’t ask us to do more; it asks us to do what matters. In today's episode, we dig into a practical, earth-based approach to seasonal wellness where warm food, steady movement, and deeper rest work together to calm the nervous system, support digestion, and strengthen immunity during the winter months. 

Drawing from Ayurveda and circadian science, we translate “winter energy” into clear actions you can take this season to create better balance & optimal health, without complicated rules or rigid routines.

You will learn:

  • Why aligning to the season improves mood, sleep, and metabolic balance
  • What foods & self-practices will best support winter energy
  • How brief outdoor light right after sunrise stabilizes your internal clock even on cloudy days, and how simple lymph movers—dry brushing, bouncing, breath work—prevent that heavy, stuck feeling winter can bring. 
  • Which evening strategies, like dimmer lights, earlier dinners, hot baths, and device light control, will protect melatonin and deepen sleep.
  • A simple winter solstice ritual to welcome in the new season & best prepare for the year ahead. 
  • And then finally how to improve immune resilience with hydration, sleep consistency, vitamin D, mushrooms, garlic, citrus, green tea, and easy at-the-ready remedies like medicinal honey and bone broth.

Everything is designed to be doable, adaptable to your climate, and anchored in the simple truth that health improves when we move with nature’s tempo.

Listen now, share with a friend who needs a winter reset, and subscribe for upcoming episodes on reflective journaling and intentional goal setting. And if you're enjoying the podcast, please help us spread the word by sharing and leaving a review.

Resources from show:

👉 Winter Wellness Blog Post

👉 My Favorite Winter Remedies

👉 And if you want to dive even deeper, you can join us inside the Healing Accelerator for the Winter Wellness Workshop watch party PLUS lock in current pricing before December 31st!

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Aging As Radiance: Make Your Day Sacred27 Nov 202500:30:56

What if your birthday isn’t just a date on the calendar, but a powerful reset that renews joy, meaning, and courage for the year ahead? 

That’s the lens we bring to a candid, uplifting conversation with birthday coach and author Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, where we trade party checklists for rituals, mindset shifts, and deeply human stories about what the day can unlock.

We start by reframing birthdays as a personal new year: a 24-hour window where you get full permission to pause, step into the center of your life, and choose delight on purpose. Tamar shares the concept of Birthday Eve—creating a simple altar with photos, candles, flowers, and music—to welcome the “birthday spirit.”

From there, we go practical. Planning is the quiet superpower: take the day off, book the hard-to-get dinner, invite friends early, and be explicit about what you want. 

We also unpack birthday blues and sabotage and with gentle prompts, Tamar shows how to rewrite those scripts and practices so you can have better birthdays year after year.

And perhaps most importantly we challenge the culture that equates beauty with youth and offer a vocabulary of radiance and vitality instead. Unlocking aging as a privilege, a chance to expand power, wisdom, and visibility rather than shrink. 

Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or rebuilding your relationship to your birthday from scratch, you’ll leave our show with accessible rituals, clear boundaries, and a new respect for the day you were born. 

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs some support to have a better birthday, and of course subscribe for more grounded guidance, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Grab Tamar's Book here: How to Have a Happy Birthday

And the Workbook here: How to Have a Happy Birthday Workbook

Plus you can connect with Tamar at her website here: howtohaveahappybirthday.com 

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Turning 50: Practical Strategies For Healthy Aging And Meaningful Birthdays19 Nov 202500:23:33

Ever looked at a birthday and felt more dread than delight? 

We flip that script by separating the number on the cake from the real story your cells are telling. As a holistic cancer dietitian turning 50, I break down why biological age—not chronological age—drives energy, resilience, and long-term cancer risk, and how simple daily habits can slow the clock from the inside out.

We map the biggest accelerators of aging plus the five high-impact pillars you can leverage today to start slowing your biological clock.

We also discuss the importance of making birthdays meaningful (+ 2 ideas to help you do this) and how to look at the passage of time as the gift it actually is.

Give it a listen and then if this helps you see aging differently, subscribe, share with a friend who needs the reframe, and leave a quick review.

I'd also love to hear from you! What’s one birthday ritual you’ll try this next year?

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From Diagnosis To Resilience: Valerie’s Integrative Cancer Journey12 Nov 202500:31:51

In today's episode we're sharing Valerie’s breast cancer recovery story and the integrative tools that helped her tolerate chemo, rebuild resilience, and reframe fear of recurrence. From fasting and fiber to two-minute breathing breaks, we show how small daily choices shift terrain without blame.

• choosing surgery, chemo and radiation with an integrative mindset
• recognizing the exposome and lifelong exposures
• fasting around chemo and gut support with glutamine
• hydration, gentle walking and nature for recovery
• fiber and fermented foods for detox and microbiome
• herbs, yoga and tai chi for nervous system balance
• practical micro-breaks with music and belly breathing
• shifting from self-neglect to self-prioritization
• reducing scan anxiety as five years approaches
• becoming an integrative practitioner to help others

If you enjoyed today's episode and want more inspiring survivor stories I invite you to follow along, subscribe, and share our podcast with your friends and family.

👉 And if you want more guidance on how to enhance your breast cancer prevention plan, head here: Cracking The Code on Breast Cancer: https://groundandroot.com/breastcancerworkshop 

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Hidden Link: Thyroid Health And Breast Cancer05 Nov 202500:42:02

Imagine if your breast cancer prevention plan is missing the organ that sets the speed for cell growth & regulates apoptosis, powers immune energy, and helps with estrogen clearance. That’s the thyroid—quietly directing the processes that keep breast tissue healthy or tip it toward risk. 

In today's episode we sit down with registered dietitian and functional endocrinology expert Lauren Papanos from Functional Fueling to connect the dots between thyroid hormones, breast health, and the oxidative stress that drives DNA damage when thyroid is too low or too high.

We break down why thyroid hormones matter far beyond “metabolism,” how iodine acts as both a building block and a local protector in breast tissue, and why sequencing is everything: replenish antioxidants first, restore mineral balance, then fine-tune iodine. 

You’ll learn practical food strategies—like where to find iodine-rich foods, how to time crucifers so they don’t block iodine when stores are low, & how to enhance bile flow as a hidden lever for T4-to-T3 conversion and estrogen clearance.

Most importantly, we move past TSH-only testing. Lauren's go-to panel includes TSH; total and free T4; total and free T3; reverse T3; and thyroid antibodies (TPO, TG), with functional ranges that flag issues early: 

  • T4 <1.2 is a flag
  • T3 <3 is a flag (<2.3 can cause breast changes)
  • TSH >2 is a flag

We wrap with the foundations of where to start: eat enough, sleep well, right-size exercise, lower exposures, and even testing after big hormonal shifts like postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, or starting HRT.

If you’re ready to turn prevention goals into daily practice, press play, take notes, and share this with someone who still thinks “normal TSH” tells the whole story. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which thyroid lab you’ll request next.

✨ Dive Deeper with Lauren ✨

AND If this conversation inspires you to get more clarity when it comes to reducing your risks for breast cancer... ⬇️

👉 Then I invite you to grab our on-demand workshop: Cracking The Code on Breast Cancer. Learn more here: https://groundandroot.com/breastcancerworkshop 

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Beyond The Pink Ribbon: A Holistic Blueprint To Help Prevent Breast Cancer29 Oct 202500:24:20

Welcome to part 2 in our 2-part mini series focused on breast cancer.

Most people know the basics of breast cancer prevention—move more, drink less alcohol, eat plants—but what happens if you were already doing all of that (& more) and yet still got breast cancer?

In this episode we go beyond the standard prevention guidelines and show how your emotions, environment, and unique genetics create an inner terrain where cancer risk rises or falls, and we translate that science into clear, compassionate steps you can actually live with.

If this conversation inspires you to go even deeper... ⬇️

👉 Then I invite you to join our upcoming live 4-day workshop or watch the replays. Learn more here: https://groundandroot.com/breastcancerworkshop 

And please don't forget to subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a rating and review to help more women find grounded, science-smart prevention.

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East Asian Medicine Tools For Immune Resilience And Cancer Prevention13 May 202600:57:03

Your immune system is doing quiet, relentless work every day, and when it struggles, it shows up as more than just “getting sick.” It can look like poor recovery, chronic inflammation, constant fatigue, or a body that can’t downshift out of stress long enough to heal. That’s why I’m so focused on immune function and immune surveillance as a core cancer prevention strategy, and why I wanted an expert voice from outside nutrition to widen the lens. 

On today's episode I’m joined by Dr. Jennifer Ashby, a doctor of East Asian medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and herbalist, to translate classic concepts into practical, modern language. 

Here's some of what we're covering today:

• how East Asian medicine maps “defensive” immunity through Wei Chi
• why exposure to wind, cold, damp, heat, and dryness is a useful model for barrier health
• lungs as an immune commander tied to breathing, skin, pores, and respiratory capacity
• spleen as an immune factory tied to digestion, gut health, and food-to-energy conversion
• kidneys as an immune battery storing Jing and what “push-through” energy costs
• practical ways to support immunity with sleep, hydration, movement, and breathwork
• emotional patterns linked to organs, including worry with digestion and fear with kidneys
• Dr. Ashby’s upcoming book The Energy Prescription and why fundamentals beat biohacks --> coming in October 2026!!

If this conversation helps you, please subscribe & share it with someone who needs a steadier energy baseline, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. 🙏

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Jennifer Ashby is a leading doctor of East Asian medicine, board-certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in San Francisco, California. She is the co-founder and one of the lead clinicians at the prominent Lotus Center, a senior acupuncturist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, and leading voice on integrative East Asian medicine and the role of Eastern medicine in lifestyle, disease, and epigenetics.

👉 Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ 

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/

👉 TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nRkzuN_j4o&t=3s

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From Emotions To Epigenetics: Rethinking How Breast Cancer Starts22 Oct 202500:31:36

Welcome to part 1 in a 2 part mini-series on breast cancer.

Holistic breast cancer prevention requires us to look at how biology, behavior, and context interact. In this episode we walk through the basics of breast cancer subtypes—hormone receptors and HER2 status—then connect them to what’s actually changing risk in everyday life, from circadian rhythm to detox capacity. The picture that emerges is practical and empowering: even if you “did everything right,” there are levers you can pull to shift your internal environment away from tumor-friendly conditions.

We explore why incidence is rising among younger women, what breast density and earlier menarche really mean, and how night shift work and low melatonin can blunt immune surveillance. From there, we dig into our E3 model—emotions, environment, and epigenetics—to outline the hidden drivers most people miss. You’ll also hear why genes aren’t verdicts—BRCA mutations explain only a minority of cases—and how epigenetics, methylation, and antioxidant pathways guide whether risky signals get amplified or shut down.

Want guided help turning insights into action? ⬇️

👉 Join our upcoming live 4-day workshop to identify your personal drivers and build a tailored breast cancer prevention plan. Learn more here: https://groundandroot.com/breastcancerworkshop 

If today's conversation helped, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find this resource.

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Community As A Cancer Healing Pillar: Christine’s Story & Why The Right Group Matters17 Oct 202500:26:09

What happens after you ring the bell and the room goes quiet? We dig into that tender space where support fades, symptoms linger, and the question becomes: how do I actually heal now? 

We welcome Christine Bache on today's show—Ground & Root Coach, mom of three, and triple negative breast cancer survivor— to unpack the power of community as a core pillar of recovery and long-term prevention.

Christine walks us through her cancer journey and the shock of doing “everything right” beforehand yet still getting cancer. She shares the different holistic tools that helped in her recovery...including the importance of finding people who had walked the same path, who could validate the strange side effects her clinic hadn’t seen, and who shared tools that worked in real life. 

We talk about the difference between support groups that spiral into venting and spaces designed for healing—rooms where hard feelings are welcome, then gently guided toward action. Expect candid insights on how validation calms the nervous system, why belief shapes behavior, and how simple practices like acupuncture, walking, journaling, prayer, and nutrition build momentum when you’re rebuilding from the inside out.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the show, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review telling us what community means to you. Your voice helps more survivors find their people.

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Why Energy Work Belongs in Your Cancer-Healing Toolkit16 Oct 202500:48:35

What if the most important shifts in your health start in a field you can’t see—but can absolutely feel? In today's episode we sit down with energy healer, longtime oncology social worker, & Ground & Root Coach, Vicki Landes, to explore how subtle energy shapes symptoms, resilience, and the way your body heals. 

Vicki shares her journey from hospital corridors and breast cancer care coordination to Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki, and shamanic tools, revealing why “enhancing energetic flow” sits alongside nutrition and movement as one of our core wellness pillars of recovery and prevention.

Across this conversation, we turn big ideas into quick wins. You’ll learn...

  • The three-breath reset that calms your nervous system in under 30 seconds
  • A hand-to-heart practice that eases anxiety
  • A grounding exercise that helps to release tension
  • A short energy-field scan to notice what you're feeling in your energetic field and how to clear stress and restore clarity
  • And because balance needs boundaries, Vicki also shares how to protect your energy with a simple energetic shield

Whether you’re navigating an active cancer journey or focused on staying cancer free, these micro-practices are made to fit your day and build real resilience over time.

If this sparks something in you, try one tool today and notice what changes.

Then subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs to feel more calm & grounded, and leave a review to help others find these healing strategies.

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Reclaim Your Rhythm: Light, Hormones, and Cancer Resilience15 Oct 202500:41:13

We invited our Ground & Root Integrative Dietitian, Kaslyn Hancock, to break down how two tiny shifts—stepping outside near sunrise and blocking blue light after sunset—can reset your circadian rhythm, deepen sleep, and boost daytime energy. This isn’t another “hack.” It’s a return to the simplest timing system your biology understands, translated for modern life with phones, laptops, and late dinners.

Kaslyn explains how changing light across the day programs hormones like melatonin, serotonin, and cortisol, and why constant indoor blue light confuses them. 

You’ll hear the most common signs of a scrambled clock—wired-but-tired nights, 2 p.m. crashes, cravings, restless sleep—and how quickly they can improve with consistent light cues. 

We also connect the dots to cancer resilience: stronger nighttime melatonin supports DNA repair, immune surveillance, and cellular housekeeping, making circadian rhythm a meaningful lever for prevention and recovery.

Some resources discussed during the episode (we are not an affiliate for any of these):

Ready to align your day with the light your body trusts? Press play, try the two practices for seven days, and tell us what changes first—sleep depth, morning energy, or evening calm. 

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it.

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Six Convictions + Four Wellness Pillars: A Holistic Map to Cancer Healing06 Oct 202500:24:07

What if the real breakthrough in cancer care isn’t choosing sides, but weaving them together? We open our playbook and share six core convictions that shape everything we do at Ground & Root—from the belief that healing is always possible to the crucial difference between treating and healing. You’ll hear how we blend evidence‑based medicine with earth‑centered living, circadian rhythm support, and energetic practices to reduce burden now and reshape the terrain to help you stay cancer-free.

We break down four wellness pillars that keep the plan simple yet strong. 

  1. Earth‑Centered Living: whole foods, sun and nature time, movement, sleep, and resilience practices that rebuild your baseline. 
  2. Enhancing Energetic Flow: practical tools to regulate your nervous system, process emotions, and move stuck energy so the body can repair. 
  3. Finding Your Why: functional labs and DNA insights that replace guesswork with targeted action. 
  4. Community Support: curating a circle that lifts you, co‑regulates your stress, and sustains hope over the long arc of healing.

Plus how to pull all of them together into the evolved healing formula we use with our clients and their families.

If this resonates, subscribe now so you never miss a weekly release, and share this episode with someone who needs a grounded, hopeful plan forward. Your review helps more people find a holistic, evidence‑rooted, and human approach to staying cancer‑free.

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The Hidden Drivers Behind Cancer: if risk isn’t random, what's causing cancer to form06 Oct 202500:22:19

A quiet shift is underway: cancer rates are falling in older adults but rising fast under 50. We unpack what’s driving that change and show why risk isn’t random—it's the result of an interplay between emotions, environment, and epigenetics that shapes how cells age, repair DNA, and defend against disease. 

Emotions aren’t a soft add-on; they tune physiology, alter glucose and inflammatory signaling, and determine whether your nervous system spends time in healing states. 

Environment spans food quality, movement, circadian rhythm, nature exposure, air and water, and everyday products that quietly raise toxic burden. 

Epigenetics reveals your blueprint—how you methylate, antioxidize, and clear hormones—so we can tailor inputs that shift gene expression toward resilience. Two people can share exposures yet see different outcomes because their pathways work differently; the key is to find your weak links and reinforce them.

You’ll hear how small, consistent changes stack up: better sleep and light hygiene to restore circadian rhythm, nutrient-dense meals that stabilize glucose and boost detox, reducing high-risk exposures without chasing perfection, and practical tools for stress and emotion processing that reawaken immune vigilance. 

If this conversation helps you see your health terrain with new clarity, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one insight you’re taking forward.

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From Hospital Halls to Holistic Cancer Care: My Journey and Mission06 Oct 202500:22:21

What if cancer isn’t random—but a signal we can read and change? Dionne Detraz, a holistic cancer dietitian and former hospital-based RD, opens up about the journey that shaped Ground & Root Cancer Nutrition: early curiosity, clinical training in integrative settings, and the profound lessons learned while supporting her father through lymphoma. 

The first time her father faced cancer, pairing standard RCOP chemo with targeted nutrition and lifestyle strategies, led to minimal side effects and clear scans. Years later, a five-year recurrence shattered the comfort of “all clear” and ignited a deeper question: why did it return?

We walk through the uncomfortable truth behind the “bad luck” explanation and unpack what functional assessments revealed: persistent infections, glyphosate exposure, gut parasites, rising glucose and insulin, and immune stress layered on a history of inflammation. Instead of treating these as footnotes, we connect them as terrain—the internal environment that shapes cancer risk, treatment tolerance, and long-term resilience. You’ll hear how integrative oncology blends standard care with practical nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and targeted supplementation to support immune surveillance and metabolic balance without rejecting evidence-based treatments.

This story is both personal and practical. We outline what to measure beyond routine labs, how to interpret red flags, and why younger adults are being diagnosed more often. You’ll come away with a clear, compassionate case for shifting from reaction to prevention, from “cross your fingers” to “change your terrain.” If you’re ready to think differently about healing—and to share what you learn with your circle—we’d love your help growing this mission to reach a million people.

If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a hopeful, actionable path forward.

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The Ground & Root Podcast Trailer: Healing Beyond Conventional Cancer Care23 Sep 202500:01:52

In this short trailer, Dionne Detraz introduces the Ground & Root podcast dedicated to exploring holistic strategies for enhancing healing and staying cancer-free. As a holistic cancer dietitian who lost her grandfather, uncle, and father to cancer, she's dedicated to changing the alarming statistics showing nearly one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

• Exploring science-based and time-tested holistic strategies for cancer prevention
• Understanding that cancer isn't caused by bad luck but has identifiable root causes
• Sharing a combination of solo teaching episodes, guest expert interviews, and recovery stories
• Learning targeted steps to prevent cancer by understanding why it grows
• Weekly episodes focused on helping listeners enhance healing and stay cancer-free

Subscribe, follow along, and join Dionne on this journey to discover holistic approaches to cancer prevention and recovery.

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Immune Surveillance 10106 May 202600:31:40

Your immune system is not just your cold and flu defense. It is also your front line cancer prevention system, running immune surveillance every day to spot abnormal cells and clear them before they can take hold. 

This month we are diving deeper into immune support and in today's episode we are starting with what happens when that surveillance weakens.

We walk through how cancer can start from normal cells that accumulate DNA damage, fail to repair, and avoid apoptosis. Then we zoom out to the real question so many people are asking: why does immune function get impaired in the first place?

Here's some of what we're covering today:

• why immune surveillance is a key defense against recurrence risk
• how sugar intake can directly suppress immune function for hours
• ultra processed foods, inflammation, and microbiome disruption
• alcohol patterns that lower immune response including binge drinking
• chronic stress, cortisol, and reduced immune surveillance
• sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythm as immune suppressors
• the emotional trauma link to longer term immune suppression
• how chronic infection and chronic irritation can create a cancer friendly environment
• plus simple self assessment & monitoring options

If this helped you think differently about immune support and cancer prevention, subscribe, share the show with someone you love, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. 🙏

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A Cancer Survivor’s Non-Toxic Lifestyle Plan29 Apr 202600:47:40

A lump. A blunt doctor visit. Surgery scheduled days later. Brandon Weaver’s testicular cancer story starts fast, and what he did after recovery is even more interesting: he built a realistic system for reducing toxic load and supporting detox that he’s kept up for years. 

In today's episode I sit down with Brandon to talk through what “surveillance” really looks like over time, how he stays diligent without spiraling, and why learning from the medical exam itself shaped his own self-check habits. 

We break down the food, home, and habit changes he actually maintains five years later and how he stays consistent through discomfort.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• Brandon’s diagnosis story and rapid surgery timeline
• Surveillance plan basics including markers and imaging
• Self-check routines and learning from clinician exams
• Organic produce priorities & reading ingredient labels
• Switching from nonstick cookware to stainless steel
• Water filtration & air purification at home and cost-saving strategies
• Choosing organic cotton essentials closest to skin
• Swapping personal care and cleaning products
• Quarterly fasting-mimicking approach for cellular cleanup
• Infrared sauna habit stacking with binders and dry brushing
Plus so much more!

If you’re ready to make one smart change instead of chasing perfection, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs motivation, and leave a review with the one habit you’re committing to next.

👉 Resources mentioned on today's episode:

1- Environmental Working Group

2- Pact Organic Clothing

3- AirDoctor Air Filter

4- Hydroviv Water Filter

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Detox Pathways For Cancer Prevention22 Apr 202600:31:11

Detox isn’t a product you buy or a weekend cleanse you “power through.” It’s the quiet, daily work of keeping your body’s drainage systems open so inflammation and toxins don’t linger, recirculate, and add to your cancer risk over time. 

In today's episode we break down the six core detoxification pathways in a simple, practical way: lymph, liver, kidneys, colon, skin, and lungs. You’ll learn what each pathway is responsible for, what “sluggish” can feel like in real life, and the most effective habits to support healthy detox function. 

Here's some of what we're covering:

• the sink analogy for toxic burden and why backups happen
• lymph basics, signs of sluggish flow, and the best ways to move lymph
• how to better support the liver with diet
• strategies to enhance elimination through the gut, kidneys, & skin
• why stress and poor sleep slow detox, plus emotional and energetic “inputs” to clean up
• fasting basics + when supplements may help, including binders and targeted support based on labs and genetics
• putting it all together into a simple daily plan

👉 Resources mentioned on today's episode:

1- Environmental Working Group

2- The Healing Accelerator Spring Detox Challenge

3- Episode 2: Why Cancer Grows

Enjoying our content? Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share this with someone who is looking for a healthy reset, and leave a review to help more people find the show. 🙏

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Non-Toxic First Aid & Skin Care That Works15 Apr 202600:50:35

Your “clean” routine might be spotless in the kitchen and still toxic in the first aid drawer. We’re zooming in on one of the most overlooked cancer prevention strategies: lowering toxic burden from the products we rub into our skin when we’re burned, itchy, scraped up, breaking out, or just trying to “stay clean.”

In today's episode I'm joined by Jodi Scott, founder and CEO of Green Goo, a plant-based first aid and herbal wellness company. We are talking all about plant-based alternatives that support the skin microbiome, calm inflammation, and help the body stop “swimming upstream.”

Here's some of what we're covering:

• why first aid products can be a major source of toxic exposure
• parabens, petroleum, phthalates, and endocrine disruptors on skin
• how the skin connects to the nervous system and immune regulation
• why the skin microbiome matters for inflammation, odor, and repair
• using skin as a “nutrition portal” with supportive botanicals
• why stopping soap can help rebuild the skin barrier and hydration
• Green Goo First Aid as a multi-use salve for cuts, bites, blisters, and more
• Skin Repair for burns, scars, eczema-prone skin, and radiation sensitivity

If this conversation changes the way you think about skincare, detox pathways, and non-toxic living, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Jodi Scott is the founder and CEO of Green Goo, a plant-based first aid and herbal wellness company rooted in traditional herbal medicine and modern science. With a background in biology and health psychology, she focuses on the connection between skin health, immune regulation, and reducing toxic burden. Jodi is passionate about helping families create safer, non-toxic home environments that support the body’s natural healing processes.

👉 Website: https://www.greengoo.com/ 

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengoohelps/ 

👉 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greengoohelps

👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooHelps

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Spring Detox Basics: Where To Start To Enhance Cancer Prevention08 Apr 202600:31:56

A spring reset sounds nice until you realize how much “stuff” we’re exposed to every day. 

We're kicking off a month-long focus on detox and cleansing with the true first step: awareness. Before we talk about supporting detoxification pathways, we have to get clear on what’s actually adding to your toxic burden and which exposures you can realistically reduce. 

In today's episode we will dive into the modern-day toxic load we live with and why lowering exposure matters for staying cancer free. We will also share a simple framework to spot what is coming in through air, food, water, and skin so you can make realistic swaps without chasing perfection.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• examples of known and probable carcinogens in daily life
• how toxins create oxidative stress & DNA damage which increase cancer risk
• the sink-and-drain model for toxic burden and detox support
• why genetics can change detox capacity and inflammation response
• what exposures to audit from your environment & lifestyle
• plus simple low-hanging swaps you can make to start reducing your toxic burden today

👉 Resources mentioned on today's episode:

1- Environmental Working Group

2- The Healing Accelerator Spring Detox Challenge

3- Episode 2: Why Cancer Grows

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Why The Doctor Sent Her To Buy Tea25 Mar 202600:54:07

A single cup of tea can be comfort, but it can also be strategy. On today's episode I’m joined by Maria Uspenski, founder of The Tea Spot and author of Cancer Hates Tea, for a conversation that starts with her ovarian cancer diagnosis and opens into the surprising science and daily practice of using tea for recovery, prevention, and calm.

We get specific about what the research actually points to: polyphenol antioxidants across true tea (Camellia sinensis), why green tea gets so much attention, and what makes EGCG a standout compound. Maria explains the real-world differences between matcha and leaf tea, why Japanese green teas are often prized for quality, and how harvest timing can matter as much as the label.

Here's some of what we're covering:

• Why green tea dominates research and what makes EGCG stand out
• What counts as "tea" versus herbal infusions and why the distinction matters
• The main tea types: green, black, oolong, white, puer, yellow
• Simple rule for consistency: drink the tea you love most
• Teas for digestion, endurance, energy, focus, and nervous system support
• When to drink tea for health benefits and polyphenol bioavailability
• Adaptogens in cancer care support and favorite options like ashwagandha and tulsi
• How to buy fresh tea, taste before investing, and store by tea type

If you’ve been trying to “do the perfect anti-cancer diet” and feeling overwhelmed, this is your reminder to keep it simple and sustainable. Perhaps simply start with a daily cup of antioxidant-rich tea!

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More about today's guest & how to connect with her:

Maria Uspenski is the founder and CEO of The Tea Spot, a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to empowering wellness through tea. An MIT- trained mechanical engineer, Maria holds multiple U.S. patents for Steepware® innovations that modernize tea preparation and make daily wellness rituals more accessible. Her journey began after discovering the profound impact of whole leaf tea on her own recovery from illness — an experience that shaped her mission to bring the health benefits of tea to more people through science- backed, functional blends. A recognized tea industry leader and wellness advocate, Maria has been featured in national media and has lectured widely on the role of tea in preventive health. She is the author of the best seller "Cancer Hates Tea" (2016) and co-author of "101 Teas to Steep Before You Die" (2025). She continues to lead The Tea Spot with a deep commitment to innovation, education, and social impact.

👉 Website: https://www.theteaspot.com/

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteaspot/ 

👉 Books: 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die & Cancer Hates Tea

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