Ever feel like cooking healthy meals is overwhelming or that you just don’t have the time?

You’re not alone! That’s exactly why I was so excited to sit down with Chef Jeremy Rock Smith for this week’s podcast episode.

Jeremy spent years in high-pressure restaurant kitchens before experiencing a midlife cooking crisis that completely changed his relationship with food. His journey led him to top wellness resorts like Canyon Ranch, Kripalu, and Miraval, where he began teaching others how to make cooking both simple and nourishing.

This episode is full of practical tips, humor, and insights that will inspire you to rethink how you cook and eat.

I’m so grateful to Jeremy for sharing his journey, knowledge, and passion for making food a source of health and joy.

Learn more about Chef Jeremy Rock Smith

• How we can make changes from the inside, but also how to remove the toxins around us.
• The impact of environmental chemicals and toxins on our health.
• Regenerative farming and its importance for our future.
• The power of thoughts and beliefs: how your mindset shapes your health journey.
• Identifying and working through the belief systems clients hold within themselves.
• Michele and Amanda’s favorite podcast episodes and the reasons behind their choices.
• Why meal-prepping is your ultimate key to success.
• And an exclusive look at the revamped Brandwein Membership, with exciting packages coming in 2025!

I’ve always been so proud of our unique model here at the Brandwein Institute. We pair my expert guidance in relation to interpreting test results with the accountability and feedback from a health coach. We work in tandem, building up and supporting each other’s strengths, all for our clients’ benefits.

If you want to know more about how our health coaches are an important part of the coaching we provide, then be sure to take a listen to this episode. Two of our coaches, Amanda Schuh and Michele Baron,  talk about what they love about working with clients, how a first meeting works, and the unique ways they support clients in this transformative process.

P.S. This week grab our 30-Day Rebel Reset: A Medical Medium Inspired Meal Plan! We’ve taken everything I’ve learned from the Medical Medium and created 30 days' worth of meals so you can adjust your diet and reap the benefits. This is something we are starting to use with our clients, and we’d hate for you to miss out. It’s 20% off this week - a perfect way to reset during back to school season.

This is the second part of an in-depth interview I had with Gay Riley, a functional medicine nutritionist who focuses on environmental toxicity.

Gay and I have so much in common in relation to how we coach our clients toward health in their whole body, and in this part we focused on the genetic predispositions that can impact how our body detoxifies.

To learn more about Gay, check out her website.

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with a fellow colleague, Gay Riley.  Gay, like myself, is passionate about the work she does in functional nutrition and loves making a difference in her clients’ lives.

Today we talked in depth about the environment and how the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the way we think all impact our health and wellbeing.

Books and apps we talked about in the episode:

• Toxic Legacy by Stephanie Senneff
• Seeds of Change by Henry Hobhouse
• Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey M. Smith
• Metabolical by Robert Lustig
• EWG’s Healthy Living app
• EWG’s Tap Water Database

To learn more about Gay, check out her website.

Today I had a fun conversation with my partner Howie about his journey and the amazing progress he has made!

I always say this work is a process. Howie talks about his journey, and what he found out about himself as he began doing this work.

If you are wondering what change looks like, if you are curious about what we do, take a listen.

Howie candidly shares the shifts he has made in his life and talks about what it takes to really create healthy lasting habits.

I am proud of how far he has come and I know the effort he's put in to get there. Take a listen to hear about how he completely transformed his life, his body, and his habits.

If you, or someone you know is dealing with osteopenia or osteoporosis, you are going to want to listen to this great conversation I had with Dawn Holey, owner of Osteostrong in Ft. Lauderdale.

If you are trying to understand how to best manage this condition, and are confused about the information you are getting, even from your doctor, then take a listen to learn how to best manage your condition and what to do, from a natural perspective that can help you thwart off bone loss.  Bone health is a big deal and we at the Brandwein Institute want you to know that we are here to support your efforts and can help make sense of the conflicting information that is often presented in this arena.

Dawn's own personal journey and her subsequent passion for helping others maintain and optimize bone health are fascinating.  Take a listen to how she too is working to improve not only your bone health but your overall wellbeing.Interested in learning more? Find out more about Dawn at her website

In a world where the noise in this industry is so loud, and so many people claim to be experts, sifting through the information has become a task unto itself.  

Either that or you are just flat-out listening to the wrong people and getting questionable advice.  If you want to know how to find the right people to listen to, this episode is for you.

Suzette and I had a lot of fun talking about this and take a listen to hear how to best embark on your wellness journey.

Interested in learning more? Find out more about Suzette on Instagram and on her website.

Today Suzette and I jumped right into it. As a longtime integrative health coach, Suzette truly understands how to unravel and help women decipher the noise that often overtakes our thoughts, emotions, and our success at achieving our goals.

Listen to Suzette and me to hear what may be missing in your health journey that is undoubtedly holding you back.

Interested in learning more? Find out more about Suzette on Instagram and on her website.

AROA is my favorite yogurt on the planet. (And no, no-one paid me to say that!)

Take a listen to hear why it’s my favorite, and more importantly, why this yogurt is so good for your health.

Dairy has gotten such a bad rap, and for good reason. Most dairy in this country is so highly processed that I actually label it a ‘non’ food.   

So if you are wondering what makes Maria’s yogurt so different and how this can truly support your health, you are going to want to listen to our conversation!

It’s all about teamwork at the Brandwein Institute. What does that mean? In this week's podcast, you will hear from our coaches about what it’s like to work with us here at BIN.

I am not an ordinary nutritionist, and my coaches aren’t ordinary either! We provide an extraordinary service, and if you want to get a better understanding of what that means and what a session looks like, then take a listen.

Welcome back to part two of our fabulous conversation with Ky Evans and Jodi Vanderlie

Today we bring Jodi into the conversation and she and I go a little deeper in relation to nutrition and exercise.

Jodi talks about the four pillars of the LIFT lounge philosophy and why it is so important that people embrace this concept.

You can find more information about Ky and the Lift Lounge on their website. For a transcript of this episode, click here.

Get ready for part one of this two-part series with Ky Evans, one of the owners and founders of the Lift Lounge method!

I am sure Ky and his partner Jodi Vanderlei are here in South Florida and I am sure they are about to revolutionize the exercise industry!

Ky is a trained ballet dancer turned exercise scientist and has created a workout that truly maximizes the body’s potential.

You can find more information about Ky and the Lift Lounge on their website. For a transcript of this episode, click here.

I truly love hearing about success stories, especially when it comes to someone’s health and wellbeing.  We are all unique and experience healing very differently and this podcast guest is no different.  I was excited to talk with Dr. Setare Taabodi about her experience with the Medical Medium and how it led her down the road to recovery from her mystery illnesses.

Dr. Setare shares her health battle and what led her to search out Medical Medium information.  If you are curious about what Medical Medium is about you’ll want to listen to this.

If you have been suffering from health conditions that no one seems to have answers to, or have been dismissed as being “fine” or “normal,”  you will identify with Dr. Setare’s story.  

If you want to know what it’s like to feel validated with what is happening in your body, this is the perfect episode to listen to. 

Dr. Setare is a wealth of knowledge and information.  I am sure you will enjoy hearing what she has to say.

Learn more about Dr. Setare.

Let's face it. Who hasn’t felt lonely? Who hasn’t felt lost at one time or another?  Have you been made to feel bad if you even consider asking for help?  Do you feel as though you might be viewed as “weak?”

These are just some of the questions that Amanda and I discuss in this podcast.  Why are we talking about this? Because we want to make a change. We want to make a difference in people’s lives.

In an effort to bring people back together, to heal, and to create a sense of belonging and support, we have created our Community Facebook Group.

Come join us for our Facebook Live on October 6th at noon ET on our Facebook page!

I am so thrilled to introduce this part two of my conversation with Barbara Capp, licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in disordered eating behaviors.

Today we continue our conversation about disordered eating and take a little bit of a different spin. Our discussion today was focused on the parents.

We talk about how to best include parents into the conversation about eating disorders and how sensitive a topic it truly is. According to Barbara, it there is a spectrum of engagement when it comes to parents and how they handle a child with disordered behavior. The one thing we do know is that it is never just about the food, or controlling how much a child is or is not eating. It’s often about the family dynamic and the role that everyone plays.

This can be a scary and uncomfortable place for so many parents to “live,” yet with the help of a professional Barbara explains that there is success and accomplishment if we can simply start the conversation and make it about connection.

Take a listen! What a great conversation this was!

What an engaging conversation I had with Barbara Capp. As a clinical psychologist of more than 30 years, Barbara gave us such an amazing perspective and insight into the world of disordered eating behaviors.

We covered everything from how these disorders present in the first place to the mental emotional nuances of these conditions. We talk about social media and the current state of anxiety and overwhelm and how it contributes to the perpetuation of these disorders and talk about strategies to help people recognize and address disordered eating behavior.

Colby Kranz and I had such a great time talking that we had to split this one into a two parter!

In the second part of my interview with Colby, health coach and founder of LivingPurely, we focused on the influx of health and nutrition trends, fads, and ‘hacks’ on social media these days, and how to understand exactly what your body needs and why.

Colby Kranz, founder of LivingPurely, is new to the health coaching world. She shared with us her insights about being a millennial in this ever-changing landscape, what that means for her business, and how she has learned to navigate the health and wellness space.

Colby shares her own story, how and what prompted her to get into this work, and the events that happened to her during the pandemic that shifted her thinking about this work.

We covered topics such as how to deal with social media, disordered eating behavior, and how to recognize good advice from bad. We also talk about the work that I do and how there is such a synergy between coach and clinician.

Colby is candid and open and was a pleasure to talk with. I am sure you will enjoy our conversation!

I had the distinct please of talking with fertility specialist Dora Toma recently. If you’re looking to conceive or are currently pregnant, you are going to want to listen to this podcast.

If you are wondering why nutrition is such an important focus during pre-conception, conception, and post-delivery, this podcast is a must listen.

We talk about everything from stress to environment and the how’s and why’s of all of it.

Miscarriage is a difficult process for everyone involved. As a woman, there are a million things that swirl through your head and loss and grief are just the beginning.

I had the distinct please of talking with fertility specialize Dora Toma recently. If you’re looking to conceive or are currently pregnant, you are going to want to listen to this podcast.

If you are wondering why nutrition is such an important focus during pre-conception, conception, and post-delivery, this podcast is a must listen.

Dora is truly an expert when it comes to women’s health and all things related to fertility, and I am sure you’ll love listening to her pearls of wisdom.

In the second part of our deep dive on functional nutrition, I chatted with Amanda Shuh, our Director of First Impressions at The Brandwein Institute for Nutrition & Wellness in more detail about the types of tests we generally use, and how we decide on the right test (and the right time to take it) for each client.

There is so much information out there (and not all of it good) and a lot of it suggests ‘hacks’ or ways to fast track weight loss. But the truth is, it took time for your body to get to the imbalance you feel right now, and it will take time to rebalance things too.

If you’ve ever considered coming in to visit me, or going to any functional nutritionist, then you’ll love this episode.

Enjoy!

What do we do exactly? It’s a question we often get asked!

Are you experiencing pain and frustration and not getting any answers? Do you feel as though you are being let down by the medical system?  Are you being given pills and medication just to manage a symptom? 

If you said yes to any of these questions, this podcast is a must listen.

So many of you are confused and frustrated about how you feel and just don’t know where to turn to get the right answers. And it’s not all about illness here. My passion is keeping people healthy. If your goal is about elevating your health wellness, this is also for you.

I spoke last year with Dr. Richard Bloomer, the Chair of The Department of Health and Sport Sciences and the Dean of the School of Health Studies at the university of Memphis.

We discussed the benefits of using supplementation in addition to following a well-balanced diet and an active lifestyle. More importantly, we looked at the fact that research shows supplementation isn’t meant to fix those things that are out of balance in our diets.

Take a listen to get the lowdown on what you should be looking for when it comes to supplementing, or not in your own health and wellness plan.

Let's face it, raising kids can be challenging. We all want the best for our children, and teaching them how to take care of themselves is an important job for us parents. Speaking from experience, I know what it’s like to get the push back from not only my kids, but from society itself. 

We are endlessly inundated with mixed messages and false advertising from the food industry, and sometimes, trying to do the “right thing” can be exhausting. In this rerun of episode 63 from 2022, Amanda and I talk about the challenges we face in sticking to our guns and staying true to the conviction we have as parents to feed our children food that helps to nourish their body and mind. 

If you are frustrated, confused, or tired of fighting with your kids about food, take a listen to this podcast as we offer up some great advice for those of you who are struggling to feed your children. I can guarantee you that there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and that staying true to your convictions, pay off not only short term but in the long run as well.

Take a listen to this enlightening conversation, as I assure you, it will help ease your mind about how to nourish your kids. It’s really not quite as hard as you may think.

I had such fun talking with Renie Anderson last week on the podcast, and we couldn’t help but continue the conversation and talk about a specific thing I hear a lot in discovery sessions with clients, and follow ups; the release, and then the pull-back of wanting to solve the problem.

Ever wonder how to change the dialogue in your head so that you aren’t focusing on the negative all of the time? So often we move through life with thoughts that keep us from realizing our true potential.

We have dreams, desires and goals, and yet the overwhelming fear of failure prevents us from even trying.  If any of this resonates just a little, you are going to want to listen to our insightful podcast with mindset coach Renie Anderson.

Let's face it, raising kids can be challenging. We all want the best for our children, and teaching them how to take care of themselves is an important job for us parents. Speaking from experience, I know what it’s like to get the push back from not only my kids, but from society itself. 

Take a listen to this enlightening conversation, as I assure you, it will help ease your mind about how to nourish your kids. It’s really not quite as hard as you may think.

There are few things more frustrating than being told you are “normal” or “fine” when you feel anything but that.

Our very own, Amanda Schuh went through years, many many of them being told she was fine and normal when she knew something was wrong. As a young adult, when she should have been in her prime, she felt as though her body was defeating her.

Unable to function and having to drop out of college, Amanda went on her own healing journey. In this conversation, you will hear from Amanda herself, her frustration with the ”system” and how she finally was able to get some answers.

Listen to part 2 of my interview with our new in-house personal trainer, Jessie Ben Dayan, as we talk about the common myths around weightlifting and working out in general.

If you are confused about whether or not you should incorporate weights into your routine, or if you are unsure about how to even begin to think about exercise, this is the podcast for you.

Dr. Russinoff trained as a traditional medicine doctor and practiced ER medicine for most of his career.  In the last year he has opted for a less traditional role as the medical director at Sollis Health, a concierge-based ER practice with a location in West Palm Beach.

Dr. R shares his experiences as an ER physician and why he chose to make the shift.  He candidly shares his own frustrations with the traditional medical model and why the system is broken. Take a listen to his take on functional medicine and why prevention is the key to longevity.

In this second part of my interview with Shari Coltune, we talk about how we handle our emotions and the brain body connection.

We consider how to nourish all of ourselves in an effort to get and stay healthy.

To learn more about Shari, visit her website.

I really enjoyed talking with coach Shari Coltune about our mindset as we work through making positive changes to our habits. We discussed small shifts tin  lifestyle changes, and how to address the guilt when things don't change instantly.

Instant gratification is ingrained into our culture, but understanding that things will take time, and putting strategies in place to accept that can really help. 

Next week we’ll have the second half of the interview with Shari where we talked about getting in tune with your body and how we as a society deal with disordered eating.

I truly do love talking with experts in their fields of study and this week was no different. I had the sincere pleasure of speaking with world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn.

Dr. Kahn. is an interventional cardiologist whose focus is centered around the idea that a plant-based diet is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet.

Today Dr. Kahn and I address the topic of protein, an extremely hot and triggering topic these days. Dr. Khan shares his views on what we need to know about cardiovascular disease and what the important aspects of testing and screening we all should be doing to prevent cardiovascular disease from wreaking havoc on our lives.  

We talk about lifestyle factors that are crucial to help prevent and manage cardiovascular disease, and why Dr. Kahn believes a plant-based diet is key to longevity.

Dave Krasky is a licensed school psychologist, specializing in working with children and adolescents up to the age of 21. We talk about the rising levels of anxiety plaguing so many young adults and teens; Dave is  a longtime colleague and our conversation was honest, real and engaging.  Our dialogue touched on so many subjects and particularly those that are very relevant to today’s world.

To learn more about Dave, check out his website.

This is the second part of an interview with my client, David Stout. 

Last week I shared the first part, where we discussed David’s story, how he decided to use genomic testing, and how he’s been adding supplements and changing his diet to take the results of his testing into account.

In the second part of the interview, we look at the health situations that impacted David after he started working with the Brandwein Institute for Nutrition and Wellness.

We are continuing our Men’s Health month with an interview with a client, David Stout. 

I always enjoy my engaging conversations with those clients who take a deep genuine interest in not only their health but in their desire for longevity. 

David shared his journey and the tipping point of what eventually brought him to us. I think so many of you will relate to what he says and will be inspired by his drive to find answers. 

We talk about his genomic testing and how that has impacted his health; and he shares how working with us has changed his life for the better. 

I am sure you will enjoy listening to his story as much as I enjoyed interviewing him!

Dr Mike shares his experience and knowledge and the strategies that he uses in his practice to help men feel better. Oftentimes men feel like they are alone or that they are the only one suffering from a condition. Dr. Mike talks about how he treats common, but not talked about, concerns such as low testosterone, and the options available.

I'm aware that a lot of the conversations around health often focus on women, and in light of the fact that April is Testicular Cancer Awareness month, I want to devote all of April here at the Rebel Nutritionist to men’s health. 

I had the pleasure of talking to two amazing cancer survivors - Jeff Klugerman and Josh Alter. Both battled testicular cancer  - one in his teens and one in his forties - and they share their unique stories with us on the podcast. 

We talk about diagnosis, treatment, and what steps they have taken in their lives after going through the journey of having testicular cancer.

But it’s rare to find someone who really knows what the thyroid is and what it does.

That’s why this week I decided to re-release a podcast from last summer, where I delved into the details of this organ and what it means to have a thyroid imbalance. Even in the medical community, there are doctors who misdiagnose or mistreat thyroid conditions.

I am always delighted to share my insights, clarify the role of the thyroid gland, and look at many of the common misconceptions. I think it’s important to understand the lab values associated with properly diagnosing thyroid issues. Only once we understand all of these can we take a deeper dive and assess thyroid imbalances and talk about next steps.

PS: Many of our clients are already having great success with our 30-day Your Way Meal Plan program. It is self-paced or you can add one or two coaching sessions to help boost your success. It’s a great low-pressure way to see if working with a coach is right for you. You can sign up today and be experiencing real improvements by the end of April! 

We talked about:

• The modern phenomenon of distraction and why we need 23 minutes to get back to the level of attention and focus we had before our attention was taken away
• The layers of self that we all experience on a daily basis, and why it’s important for these to be in alignment
• Recognizing emotions in our self and others to enable connection
• The power of meditation and staying distraction free

I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Tamsin and can’t wait to have her on the podcast again in the future!

This week I talked to Tamsin Astor, Chief Habit Officer and author of Force of Habit: Unleash Your Power by Developing Great Habits.

We talked about what habits are and why they are so challenging to change.  We also discussed behaviors and how to learn how to make positive changes.

Today I am going to speak about the facts and fallacies regarding IV vitamin therapy and why and when I recommend them to my clients. I am delighted to have one of my long-time clients Jackie Cruz join me today for this conversation and we talk about why she has been doing this treatment for some time now. 

Jackie talks about her own health journey and shares her perspective on how the IV infusions have helped her. We talk about the importance of not only knowing who to trust but also knowing why you should or should not have an IV. 

If you have been wondering about IV infusions and if they are right for you, take a listen. If you are curious about what IV therapies can and cannot do, take a listen. This was a fun and engaging conversation and I am sure it will shed some light on the entire subject for our audience.

Each week at The Brandwein Institute we have a coaches huddle where we connect and discuss our clients’ progress.  These meetings are always engaging and inspiring and we often find that talking about someone else’s client gives us ideas to support our own clients.

Take a listen to what we have to say about stagnation and self-sabotaging behaviors and what our coaches do to help get their clients over that hump. This was a passionate and engaging discussion for sure! You aren’t going to want to miss it!

We hear about inflammation, we know it’s not good for you, but do you really understand what it is and how it impacts your health? Did you know that ongoing inflammation will impact your longevity?

Do you know there are specific tests you can take that show levels of inflammation? 

Are you aware of the many factors that contribute towards inflammation? 

Are you curious about how nutrition and lifestyle can help improve your levels of inflammation?

If all of these questions leave you wondering, then you are going to want to listen to this podcast

Today Amanda and I take a deep dive into inflammation and the steps you can take to help control it.

We talk about all of the points above and provide you with some detailed action steps that you can take to help you manage or prevent inflammation from happening in your body.

This is a great listen!

What a special treat to chat with Hunter Franqui, the host of SoFlo Health, South Florida’s amazing lifestyle TV show. Hunter opened up about his story and what got him first interested not only in TV but specifically in the health and wellness field.

Take a listen to his story and find out what has transpired in his own life and how he is tackling some of his health challenges now.

To find out more about Hunter, check out SoFlo Health.

Ever wonder why you suffer from acne, psoriasis, eczema, or other skin conditions? 

As we will learn today, it’s not just about the outside of your skin, but more about what the outside is telling us about the inside!

Join us today for a conversation with Dr. Marianna Blyumin-Karasik where we talk about all things skin and whole-body health.

My conversation with Jay Feldman answered many questions about how the coach gets coached! In today’s climate, it seems there is a coach for everything, and not all of them are created equal. Jay Feldman’s unique perspective, both as an executive coach and as a Brandwein client, puts him in the driver’s seat of his health and wellbeing.