About Theresa Evans

Theresa Evans is a critical care nurse, international educator, and the author of Choosing to Die: A Daughter's Story of Supporting Her Mother's End of Life Through Assisted Death. Having spent decades at the bedside witnessing both good and difficult deaths, Theresa brings a rare combination of clinical fluency and personal candor to one of medicine's most sensitive topics. She lives in the United States and divides her time between nursing education and advocacy for informed end-of-life choice.

Key Takeaways

• Knowing your options reduces fear. Once Theresa's mother understood that MAID was available to her, she stopped fixating on future suffering and refocused on the time she had left. The option itself became a source of peace.
• MAID in Canada vs. the US looks very different. Canada permits intravenous administration by a physician; the 13 US states (plus Washington DC) where it is legal require patients to self-administer orally — a critical distinction, especially for those with progressive conditions like ALS.
• Two independent physicians must approve. In Canada, the patient must be evaluated and deemed appropriate by two separate physicians before MAID can proceed. The process is deliberate, not automatic.
• Anticipatory grief is its own experience. Knowing the date — November 15th, her mother's 80th birthday — meant living three months of grief before the death itself. Theresa writes honestly about how disorienting and unexpectedly clarifying that was.
• Advanced directives are a gift to the people you love. Theresa, at 66 with her 75-year-old husband, has already completed her own DPOA for healthcare and finances. She makes the case that waiting until a crisis is too late — and that even grown children may resist these conversations.
• You can do hard things. Theresa's takeaway isn't about MAID specifically — it's about showing up without an agenda. Her experience taught her that she could hold enormous difficulty with love and without pushing her own outcomes onto someone else.

What we talked about

• How Theresa raised the option of MAID with her mother — and what her mother did with it
• The difference between MAID as practiced in Canada and in the US states where it is legal
• Why her devoutly Catholic mother called a nun before making her decision — and what happened
• How the family navigated disclosure: who knew, who didn't, and why
• The role Theresa's nursing background played in being the family's "death sister"
• How a complicated mother-daughter relationship healed over four decades — and at the end
• What Greg's own experience with a dying stepfather revealed about forgiveness and apology
• VSED (voluntary stopping of eating and drinking) as an alternative available to anyone
• Why the garden became a metaphor for everything the family was living through
• How to start having end-of-life conversations with people you love — now, not later
• Resources & Links
• Theresa's book: Choosing to Die: A Daughter's Story of Supporting Her Mother's End of Life Through Assisted Death
• Follow her in IG
• Website: choosingtodie.com
• MAID legal status in the US: Currently legal in 13 states and Washington DC, with approximately 12 additional states with legislation in progress
• VSED: Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking — a legal option available to any patient in any state, typically in the context of hospice or palliative care

Connect with the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast

• Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
• Share this episode with someone navigating end-of-life decisions in their family
• Leave a review — it helps more people find the show. Need help? Here are step by step directions

Key Takeaways

• "Breaking in" vs. breaking down:
• What most people call a breakdown is really a breaking in — a moment of falling into your own wisdom, power, and heart space. The crisis is the doorway.
• The "it never should have happened" trap: Framing difficult experiences as wrong or unjust — consciously or not — keeps you from receiving the growth inside them. Resistance isolates. Openness integrates.
• Your body doesn't know the difference: The subconscious responds identically to a real threat and an imagined one. Every stress story you tell yourself triggers fight-or-flight chemistry — the same chemistry that drives cellular breakdown, hormone dysregulation, and immune suppression.
• Adrenals, thyroid, and the domino effect: Chronic stress exhausts the adrenals. The thyroid steps in as backup — a job it wasn't designed to do long-term. The result: energy crashes, mood swings, hormonal imbalance, and the 3 p.m. wall.
• Bears vs. beaches: At any moment, you can choose the lens you interpret your circumstances through. That choice directly changes your body chemistry. Three possible positive reasons a difficult situation is happening — write them down. Your cells are listening.
• Joy isn't something you find — it's something you uncover: You are made of creative energy, and that energy is inherently celebratory. Joy isn't earned or sought; it rises naturally when you release what's compressing it.
• Drop it into your body: Positive thinking alone has a ceiling. The real shift happens when you bring that possibility into the body — breathe it into your heart center, your solar plexus, your wisdom center below the navel. This is where chemistry changes, where trust lives, where healing begins.
• Vibrational matching: Your subconscious protects you by keeping out what it doesn't recognize. If you're operating at a "3," an "8" feels foreign and unsafe. The work is incremental — raise your baseline, and what you want becomes something you can actually hold.
• Responsible stewardship: You can't pour from empty. Serving from a place of self-sacrifice doesn't just harm you — it destabilizes the field around you. Your first job is your own alignment. Everything else flows from there.

From the Conversation

"I broke in. I broke into myself. I broke into my core, I fell into my heart space — my own wisdom center, my own personal power."

"If you're vibrating at a three, your subconscious thinks that an eight is way too different from you. So it's never gonna let you have the eight."

"You really can't do it wrong. You can just do it long."

About Dr. Sue Morter

Dr. Sue Morter is an international speaker, master of bioenergetic medicine, and founder of the Morter Institute for Body, Mind & Spirit. Drawing on quantum science, energy medicine, and decades of clinical experience, she helps people bridge their spiritual awareness with practical daily life. Dr. Sue travels the world leading BodyAwake® Yoga experiences, Energy Codes® workshops, and immersive retreats that guide participants from surviving to thriving — at the cellular level.

Resources & Links

• Dr. Sue's website: suemorter.com
• The Energy Codes® workshops — introductory single-day and full multi-day immersive formats available
• CDs, DVDs, and home-study materials available at suemorter.com

Connect with Greg

• Website & email list: RebelliousWellnessLifestyle.com
• Podcast: Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube
• Social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

If someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, you were handed a life-changing role with almost no training. The medical system is built around patients who can remember, report, and advocate for themselves — which means dementia, by definition, often slips right through the cracks. And caregivers are left trying to make sense of confusing behavior on their own.

In this episode, Greg talks with Amy Shaw, palliative medicine practitioner and dementia care educator, about what the medical system routinely misses — and what caregivers actually need to know. Amy breaks down why dementia is predictable, not random, and how understanding the brain's breakdown pattern can replace confusion and resentment with clarity and compassion.

Amy's website is betterdementia.com — her course, private family support, and newsletter are all available there.

About Amy Shaw

Amy Shaw is a palliative medicine practitioner, dementia care educator, and founder of Better Dementia. Her background spans primate cognition, wedding photography, urgent care, and cardiology — a path that gave her a uniquely human lens on one of medicine's most misunderstood journeys. She works privately with families, trains professional caregiving organizations, and has built an online course designed specifically for the busy, overwhelmed caregiver. Her book is forthcoming in 2027.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

1. Why the medical system is structurally designed to miss dementia — and why patients often appear fine in a clinical setting
2. The "caregiver backpack" — the invisible emotional weight that builds when behavior goes unexplained
3. Why dementia follows a predictable pattern, and how Amy's four-stage framework helps caregivers locate where their loved one actually is
4. The "cognitive detective" approach — working backward from behavior to brain to understand what's really happening
5. Dementia as an umbrella term — and why understanding Alzheimer's disease (60–80% of cases) gives you the framework for understanding dementia overall
6. Psychiatric symptoms, medication options, and how to have productive conversations with your medical team
7. Navigating care decisions — home care, memory care facilities, hospice — and how to make them before a crisis forces your hand
8. Why 1 in 5 working adults is also caring for someone with dementia — and what that means for organizations
9. What self-care actually looks like on the caregiving journey — and why there's no single right way to do this

Key Takeaways

1. Dementia is not random. It follows a pattern. When caregivers understand the stages and what's breaking in the brain, confusion gives way to clarity.
2. Your loved one is not lying. Behaviors that look like manipulation or deception are a reflection of brain failure — not character.
3. Dementia may rob skills and abilities, but it will never take away humanity. Caregivers who understand the biology can show up with compassion instead of judgment.
4. There is no right way — only the way that's right for you. What another caregiver chooses is not the standard. Your needs matter too.
5. You're doing a good job. Amy's message to every caregiver who has never heard those words.

Resources Mentioned

1. Amy Shaw's website and course: betterdementia.com
2. Amy's newsletter — available at betterdementia.com
3. Amy's forthcoming book — expected 2027

Connect with Amy Shaw

1. Course: betterdementia.com
2. Work with Amy 1 on 1
3. Newsletter signup: betterdementia.com

From retirement myths to gendered medical treatment, from intergenerational community-building to the quiet courage it takes to age out loud and proud — this episode challenges the default narrative and offers a more honest, energizing one in its place.

About Ande Lyons

Ande Lyons is an entrepreneur, podcaster, and community builder based in Westford, Massachusetts. Since 1992, she’s been self-employed — launching businesses, mentoring startup founders, and most recently building a thriving intergenerational community for indie podcasters she calls the Pod Garden. Her podcast, Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, explores what’s possible when we stop letting age define our limits.

In This Episode

1. Why so much of what we believe about aging comes from borrowed narratives — and how to start rewriting them
2. The real cost of retirement: a WHO study showed societies paying billions when people lose purpose and stop engaging
3. Gendered ageism in medicine: how women’s symptoms are routinely dismissed or attributed to age
4. Why intergenerational connection matters, and how Ande built a monthly in-person community that draws people from across New England
5. The patronizing language older adults hear constantly — and how to push back with grace
6. Advanced directives: why having that conversation before a crisis is an act of self-respect
7. Aging out loud and proud: what it costs to hide your age, and what it frees when you stop

Resources Mentioned

1. Rewire, Don’t Retire by Jerry Sittser — a book with guided questions to help you discover what fuels your purpose at this stage of life
2. Ande’s blog post on healthcare and ageism, including a downloadable list of tests to request at your annual appointment: dontbecagedbyyourage.com
3. The Pod Garden — Ande’s community for indie podcasters (in-person, New England, with a Zoom option)
4. AARP’s advance directive template — Each state has their own version and it includes space for clarifying statements beyond the standard yes/no questions

Connect with Ande Lyons

Podcast: Don’t Be Caged By Your Age

Website: dontbecagedbyyourage.com

https://www.dontbecagedbyyourage.com/

LinkedIn: Ande Lyons

TikTok: @andelyons

Key Takeaways

1. Travel is a community-building tool. The friendships formed on group trips — women who stay in touch and continue traveling together long after returning home — are often what guests value most.
2. The Camino de Santiago is one of the most transformative experiences available to women at a crossroads. Whether facing career change, loss, empty nesting, or simply a desire for something different, the Camino offers unstructured reflection time inside a structure that naturally generates connection.
3. Group travel removes conflict from group dynamics. When itineraries are pre-planned, friends and family can simply show up — no spreadsheets, no arguments, no resentment.
4. Connection is not a nice-to-have — it is a health necessity. Every physician Greg has interviewed over three years of podcasting points to social connection outside of family as one of the most critical and underreported factors in healthy aging.
5. Off-peak travel is almost always better. Spring and fall visits to Europe mean fewer crowds, lower costs, and cooler temperatures — especially relevant as summers across the continent have grown significantly hotter.
6. Nervousness before a group trip is completely normal. What Regina consistently finds is that by the end of the first welcome dinner, women have relaxed into the experience and begun to form real friendships.

Destinations Discussed

1. Camino de Santiago (Spain) — Bold Spirit walks the last 100 kilometers (the minimum to earn the Compostela certificate) over 10 days at roughly 10 miles per day, with luggage shuttled by van. Best seasons: April–early June and September–October. Recommended footwear: Hoka trail runners.
2. Costa Rica — Wildlife-rich and accessible, with monkeys, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Groups stay near an active volcano with on-site hot springs.
3. Scottish Highlands — A hiking-focused trip with serious elevation gain, wilderness trails, and a loch cold plunge followed by a lakeside sauna. Begins and ends in Edinburgh.
4. Iceland — A March adventure built around glaciers, geothermal springs, and lava caves. Highlights include glacier hiking with crampons, the Secret Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon, and geothermally baked traditional brown bread. Next departure: March 2027.
5. Greece & Southern Italy — Santorini, the Amalfi Coast, and a boat trip to the island of Ischia (famous for its thermal springs). Best visited May or late September.
6. Japan (in development) — A pilgrimage hiking trip modeled on the Camino experience, planned for a future departure.

Actionable Guidance

1. If the Camino is on your list, start training now — five miles a day, five days a week in the two to three months leading up to the trip.
2. Consider an immersive language course abroad as a solo travel entry point. You arrive with built-in structure, a daily schedule, and an instant peer community.
3. For private or custom group trips of six or more — milestone birthdays, long-standing friend groups, family reunions — Bold Spirit can plan a custom itinerary.
4. Check Meetup.com for travel-focused women's groups in your area. Regina runs several aimed at connecting women who want to explore together.
5. In Iceland, consider the Sky Lagoon or Secret Lagoon over the Blue Lagoon — equally beautiful, significantly less crowded.

Connect with Regina

Website: boldspiritravel.com

Instagram: @boldspiritravel

Custom Groups: Contact Bold Spirit directly for groups of 6 or more.

Referenced in This Episode

1. Goal Time— Jet lag and recovery supplement developed by previous guest Patti Milligan, Ph.D.
2. The Way (film) — A popular introduction to the Camino de Santiago.
3. Hoka trail runners — Regina's recommended footwear for the Camino. Boots are unnecessary for the last 100km.
4. Meetup.com Regina uses this platform to run travel-focused women's groups.

More than you think.

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and colleague Patti Milligan — dietitian, neuroscience-of-taste researcher, and now PhD — to talk about something most of us never think about… saliva.

Yep. Spit.

Turns out it might be one of the most underrated keys to digestion, immunity, stress management, and even how well you age.

We first worked together decades ago creating fresh, actually-healthy fast food (back when that was revolutionary). Since then, Patti’s career has taken her from hospital nutrition to executive performance coaching to studying the neuroscience of taste at the Sorbonne in Paris — and eventually into researching what really happens to our bodies when we travel.

Spoiler: your saliva drops 30–50%.

And that one shift affects everything.

This conversation is geeky in the most fun way — but also wildly practical. You’ll walk away with simple tools you can use today.

✨ What We Talk About

1. How Patti went from dietitian to PhD studying the neuroscience of taste
2. Why saliva is far more important than we ever realized
3. The connection between saliva, stress, and your nervous system
4. Why travel (even short flights) throws your body into fight-or-flight
5. How that stress response messes with digestion, immunity, and energy
6. The real reason chewing your food matters (your grandma was right)
7. Why humming or slow breathing can calm your body instantly
8. The surprising link between saliva and early disease detection
9. Lymphatic drainage, movement, and why sitting all day makes you ache
10. Hydration myths — and why plain water isn’t always enough
11. Simple electrolyte tricks (salt + citrus = magic)
12. Jet lag, resilience, and bouncing back faster
13. Why Patti prefers “resilience” over biohacking or anti-aging
14. And yes… how a jet lag remedy we once wrote about over raspberry beer turned into an actual product 😄 It's called Goal Time.

🧠 Tiny Practices You Can Try Today

1. Belly breathing to shift out of stress mode
2. Move your tongue (up/down/left/right) to stimulate saliva
3. Chew your food thoroughly
4. Hum or sing before meals to relax your nervous system
5. Add minerals or citrus to your water
6. Get up and move to support lymphatic drainage
7. Focus on resilience, not perfection

Small inputs → big physiological wins.

💛 My Favorite Takeaway

We don’t need complicated protocols or expensive hacks.

We need awareness.

Your nervous system, your breath, your digestion — these are levers you can actually control.

That’s agency.

And that’s rebellious wellness.

Find Patti on IG

And LinkedIn

This isn't about denying that our bodies change. It's about understanding the critical difference between a number and a practice—and why confusing the two causes unnecessary suffering in how we think about ourselves, move through the world, and show up as we get older.

What You'll Explore

• The lazy shortcut our culture uses to predict health, capacity, and even value—and why it's causing us to quietly shrink our expectations

• Why "this is just your new normal" is where agency goes to die

• The real difference between what's common and what's inevitable (hint: they're not the same thing)

• How some wellness messaging actually undermines agency while pretending to empower it

• Why remaining visible as you age is a form of activism

• One powerful question to ask yourself this week that shifts everything: "Where do I have agency, and where have I given it away?"

Key Takeaway

Aging happens. Suffering is optional. Much of that suffering comes from giving up agency long before we have to—and it's time to stop accepting narratives that don't serve us.

Greg's Everything Is Food Philosophy

This episode brings the "everything is food" concept full circle—it's not just about what you eat, but what you consume mentally, emotionally, and environmentally. What messages are you feeding yourself about who you're allowed to be at this age?

Have thoughts, pushbacks, or your own experiences with this? Leave a comment on YouTube or email me gregory@rebelliouswellnesslifestyle.com

Until next time: Keep trusting your body and don't negotiate with nonsense.

Let's connect on IG

Facebook and LinkedIn

About Dr. J Dunn

Dr. J Dunn is the founder of MyHappyGenes® and Wholistic Methylation. After years of battling lifelong depression and finding no answers through conventional or natural approaches, Dr. J discovered the power of genetic testing focused on biochemical pathways. Her work helps people understand how their unique genetic variants affect detoxification, neurotransmitter production, energy creation, and overall health.

Topics Covered

1. Why genetic testing focused on biochemical pathways differs from ancestry or drug compatibility testing
2. What genetic variants are and how they affect enzyme function at the cellular level
3. The critical difference between genes and enzymes, and why this distinction matters
4. Why popular supplements like turmeric can actually worsen symptoms for some people based on their genetic makeup
5. The truth about the MTHFR gene and why methylfolate isn't the universal solution many claim it to be
6. How genetic variants influence sleep patterns, entrepreneurial tendencies, empathy, and relationship dynamics
7. The difference between methylation patterns (which can change) and genetic variants (which don't)
8. Case examples: resolving ALS-like symptoms, depression, allergies, and autoimmune conditions through genetic-based interventions

Critical Takeaways

1. There is no one-size-fits-all supplement or diet. What helps one person can harm another based on genetic variants that control enzyme function.
2. Genetic variants don't create "fast" enzymes—only normal or slow ones. You inherit either 100% enzyme function or reduced function (30%, 70%, etc.), never increased function.
3. Genes code for enzymes, not outcomes. The focus isn't on turning genes on or off—it's on providing the right co-factors (vitamins, minerals) to help slow enzymes work more efficiently.
4. The MTHFR obsession is oversimplified. Looking at one gene in isolation ignores the complex interplay of biochemical pathways. Methylfolate can trigger rapid detoxification that overwhelms the body.
5. Food reactions may be delayed. If you notice irritability, brain fog, or depression, look at what you ate yesterday—metabolites take time to build up and create symptoms.
6. Genetic testing can reveal why conventional treatments fail. Issues like chronic depression, chemical sensitivities, or difficulty losing weight often have biochemical roots that standard approaches miss.
7. Understanding your genes removes self-blame. When you discover your brain can't make neurotransmitters efficiently or your body holds onto fat due to inherited variants, it's not a personal failing—it's biochemistry that can be addressed.

What You Can Do

1. Keep a food diary and track how you feel 24-48 hours after eating specific foods to identify genetic mismatches
2. Question popular wellness trends—just because something is widely recommended doesn't mean it's right for your body
3. If you're taking supplements without understanding your genetic variants, you may be working against your biochemistry
4. Consider genetic testing that focuses on biochemical pathways (detox, methylation, neurotransmitters, energy production) rather than just ancestry or drug interactions

Learn More

About MyHappyGenes® test and sample reports

Weekly Q&A Series: Watch our weekly Q&A videos addressing questions about genetics, wellness myths, and science-backed health information on YouTube.

Podcast Resources: Visit the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast for more episodes challenging conventional wellness narratives and empowering you to question health limitations

Bottom Line: Your genes aren't a life sentence—they're an instruction manual. Understanding your unique genetic blueprint allows you to work with your body instead of against it. Stop blindly following trends and start testing, not guessing.

Too many women are negotiating with a version of aging that doesn't feel true. Aging happens – that's real. But suffering, confusion, and fear-based advice that shrinks your world year by year? Those things are optional.

Rebellious wellness isn't loud as the word "rebellious" might indicate. It doesn't require perfection, extreme routines, or a complete lifestyle overhaul. It's quieter than that, and much more powerful. It's about asking better questions, refusing one-size-fits-all answers, taking your health seriously without becoming obsessed, using science without outsourcing your intuition, and staying engaged with your body, your life, and your sense of self as the years go by.

This podcast is here to support that courage. You'll hear conversations about the science of longevity, disease prevention, genetics, hormones, brain health, movement, and lifestyle – but always through a lens of discernment, giving you options, not fear.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why aging doesn't have to mean decline, resignation, or self-doubt

What rebellious wellness actually looks like in practice

The courage required to question conventional health narratives

Why prescription pad medicine isn't the whole story

How to age on your own terms – fully expressed, informed, and unwilling to negotiate with nonsense.

Why the stories you've been told about health and aging may be creating unnecessary fear and limitation

ABOUT THE HOST

I, Greg Cox, have been working in the wellness space for 20+ years and was a chef for 25 before that, often creating health meals for restaurants and as a private chef. I created the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast to empower women to challenge the limitations society places on them as they age.

I believe in science without outsourcing intuition. In prevention over treatment. And in the radical act of remaining visible, engaged, and fully expressed at every age.

CONNECT

If you want semi-regular weekly insights into how to live this way you sign up to receive my missives titled Reality Check Radar.

Find me on Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

When Cindy Dupuie's digestive system shut down and she abruptly entered menopause at 43 during a stressful divorce, conventional medicine offered little help. This experience launched Cindy on a 20-year journey into functional medicine and hormone replacement therapy.

Over the years she has discovered that women are routinely denied basic testing like DEXA scans and vitamin D levels—and that doctors often discourage HRT based on outdated information from the Women's Health Initiative study. Our conversation challenges the standard of care for menopausal women and explores why functional medicine practitioners are filling the gap left by conventional doctors who lack the time and training to properly care for women during this critical life transition.

"Menopause hits every single organ and tissue in our body. Estrogen and progesterone receptors are everywhere—in our bones, cardiovascular system, brain, gut, skin. This isn't just about hot flashes."

Key Themes

1. The WHI Study's Lasting Damage: The Women's Health Initiative study from the early 2000s scared an entire generation of women away from HRT, even though the study used synthetic hormones in older women who were decades past menopause. Bioidentical hormones given at the right time offer significant benefits for bone health, cardiovascular health, brain health, and overall quality of life.
2. Menopause Affects Every Organ System: This isn't just about hot flashes. Estrogen and progesterone receptors exist throughout the entire body—in bones, cardiovascular system, brain, gut, skin, and more. The decline in hormones impacts every single organ and tissue, yet most doctors treat menopause as a minor inconvenience rather than a systemic health transition.
3. The Standard of Care is Inadequate: Women are losing ground even when they're doing everything right with diet and lifestyle. Doctors tell them they're "fine" based on lab ranges that are far too broad, leaving women feeling dismissed when they know something is wrong.
4. Hormone Therapy and Cancer: Even women with breast cancer histories are being unnecessarily denied HRT. New research shows that for many women, HRT may not be contraindicated, and some oncologists are beginning to work with their patients on hormone therapy rather than issuing blanket refusals.

Actionable Guidance

1. Request a DEXA scan if you're over 60 and haven't had one
2. Get your vitamin D tested and aim for optimal levels (50-90 ng/mL, not just "in range")
3. Understand that "fine" on labs doesn't mean optimal—seek a second opinion if you feel terrible despite normal results
4. Educate yourself about bioidentical HRT before dismissing it based on outdated WHI study information
5. Consider adding a functional medicine practitioner to your care team for comprehensive lab interpretation
6. If you have a cancer history, don't assume HRT is automatically off the table—the research is evolving

Connect with Cindy

1. Website: livingbalance.net
2. Course: Grace in Transition - an 8-week online course covering diet, lifestyle, lab work, hormones, bone health, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, environmental toxins, and gut health for women in perimenopause and menopause. Her next cohort will begin on February 2, 2026
3. Services: Cindy offers multiple levels of support from lab and supplement reviews to comprehensive functional medicine consultations at very reasonable prices.

"If I can educate my clients, either individually or through courses, on what they need, how to ask for it, and why—and help them be advocates for themselves—I can't be any happier than that."

Why "Enough is Enough"? I woke up one day after reading yet another article targeting women over 60 that was focused on managing aches and pains, and I'd had it. Enough with generic advice on how to act, dress, and age. Enough with words like "senior," "geriatric," and "sunset years."

When I look at aging advice for women in their 60s and 70s, I see two extremes:

ONE: The supplement-pushers, extreme exercise crowd, personal-best-at-all-costs messaging, and the "do whatever it takes to look young" camp.

TWO: Slow cooker meals on a budget, fall-proofing your home, slip-on sneakers, and managing decline gracefully.

Both assume things I refuse to accept. The first assumes we're desperately trying to recapture youth. The second assumes we're managing decline and nothing else. I'm in neither camp, and I bet you aren't either.

In this episode, I use my own life at 70 as an example—turning the page into a new decade, investing in IFM certification, and walking through my anti-resolution framework to figure out what's genuinely mine versus borrowed from "shoulds."

THE 5 QUESTIONS:

What worked and what didn't in 2025? Where were you feeling strong and where did you feel like "woe is me"?

How do you want to FEEL in 2026?

1. We don't actually want the thing—we want the feeling the thing gives us
2. My word for the year: EXPANSIVE

What do you ACTUALLY want vs. what you think you should want?

1. Test: When you imagine NOT doing it, do you feel loss (yours) or relief (borrowed)?
2. Real example: How I found time for 12 hours/week of coursework

What are you keeping and what are you kicking to the curb?

1. Keep what serves you, kick what doesn't (or "release" if you're more spiritual than me)

Let's talk about vanity

1. Refusing the moralizing about what we "should" want at this age
2. Also refusing desperate youth-chasing on the other extreme
3. If you want the Botox, the sassy shoes, the shimmy dress—make it YOUR choice

UNDERSTANDING SABOTEURS:

1. Extrinsic: Life happens (daughter needs you to pick up kids)
2. Intrinsic: Mindset blocks ("I could never run 13 miles")
3. Don't just give up when they show up—plan for them and work around them

DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET: My VA made a beautiful PDF with all these questions for you to work through. Get a copy here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Most people fail at resolutions not because they lack willpower, but because they're solving for the wrong problem
2. Borrowed goals don't stick—only pursue what's genuinely yours
3. Make room for saboteurs instead of pretending they won't show up
4. Aging happens. Feeling old is optional. Feeling bad is common. Feeling better is possible.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

1. Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand - No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
2. Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) certification program
3. My newsletter (sign up at rebelliouswellnesslive.com for weekly content on informed skepticism)
4. CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) for tracking blood sugar

CONNECT: Website: rebelliouswellnesslifestyle.com

Subscribe to the newsletter for articles you won't find on the first five pages of Google.

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Enough is enough. Let's make 2026 about what's genuinely yours.

You are more. You still have more to do, to love, to experience, to feel.

Age Better. Live Fully. Beyond 60.

I am a convert! I tried traditional Pilates in groups, one on one, on a reformer and on the mat and never felt it was "for me." Then I tried one of Christine's classes using her free, 7-day trial.

Now I take one of her classes 3 -4 times per week and am loving it. No more neck strain doing the hundreds!

Key Themes

· Rethinking Fitness After 40: The high-intensity approaches that work in your twenties often leave women over 40 exhausted and injured. Our bodies need a different approach focused on balance, bone density, muscle mass, posture, and core strength rather than just aesthetics.

· The Power of Intentional Movement: Slowing down allows you to actually activate the muscles you're targeting. When we move too fast with too much weight, "bully muscles" take over, leading to improper form, pain, and ineffective workouts.

· Building Strength Without Heavy Weights: You don't need heavy weights to build muscle mass and bone density. Resistance comes in many forms including your own body weight, light weights, bands, and small props. A plank is one of the most effective exercises for women over 40.

· Balance as a Longevity Marker: Research shows that the ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds predicts lifespan. Balance should be a primary focus for women over 50, as falls can be life-changing events that significantly impact independence and quality of life.

· Movement as Prehab: Pilates focuses on joint mobility and proper alignment before adding load. This approach prevents injury and ensures you're building strength from a foundation of good alignment rather than reinforcing compensatory movement patterns.

· Finding What Works for Your Body: Not every workout is for every person. If high-intensity training leaves you depleted and discouraged, you're not the problem—you just haven't found the right workout yet.

Take aways and to dos

· Test your balance: Stand on one leg for 10 seconds. If you can't do this, make balance work a priority in your fitness routine.

· Start with lighter weights than you think you need: If you're new to Pilates or intentional movement, try 1-2 pound weights. Focus on feeling the target muscle working rather than how much weight you can lift.

· Pay attention to your bully muscles: Notice if your neck tenses during shoulder work or if your hip flexors burn during core exercises. These are signs that the intended muscles aren't activating properly and you need to slow down, reduce weight, or adjust form.

· Prioritize alignment before load: Before adding weight or resistance to any movement, ensure your joints are in proper alignment. This prevents injury and makes exercises more effective.

· Make time for shorter workouts: You don't need an hour to get results. A focused 20-25 minute workout can be highly effective when done with intention.

· Stop comparing yourself to your 25-year-old self: What worked in your twenties won't necessarily work in your forties, fifties, and beyond. Your body has different needs now, and that's not a failing—it's just reality.

About Christine Kirkland

Christine Kirkland is a certified Pilates instructor who specializes in working with women over 40. After struggling with postpartum depression and finding that high-intensity workouts left her exhausted and discouraged, she discovered Pilates and was amazed by the results from low-impact, intentional movement. She became certified to teach Pilates and has adapted her method specifically for the needs of women over 40, focusing on balance, bone health, muscle mass, posture, and core strength. Christine runs My Pilates, an online studio offering over 150 classes, weekly programming, live classes, and regular five-day challenges designed to meet women where they are in their fitness journey.

Connect with Christine

Website

Memorable Moments

· "The fitness industry really has forgotten about women over 40. What 20-year-old fitness influencers are pushing out there for us to do—it's not wrong, it's just not right for women in their forties, fifties, sixties, and up until their eighties."

· "When you move too fast with too much load, the bully muscles turn on. That shoulder muscle gets tired and the neck muscles take over—that's when you get the neck pain."

· "I wish women would stop thinking that what worked in their twenties is gonna work for them in their forties. It's a whole different ballgame when you're over 40."

· "You can build muscle with any type of resistance against your body. A plank using your own body weight is one of the best exercises you can do over the age of 40."

· "Balance is one of the most important things you can work on over the age of 50. Falls can have such catastrophic effects on quality of life and independence."

· "If anyone's feeling discouraged with exercise, I just really want them to know that they're not alone and you were never the problem. You just haven't found the right workout."

Elizabeth McGann is a holistic nutritionist, life coach, and founder of the Holistic GLP-1 Method. Her podcast, The Holistic GLP-1 Podcast, consistently ranks as a top show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Drawing from her own experience navigating weight challenges from childhood, Elizabeth takes a comprehensive approach that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of sustainable weight management.

This conversation challenges the current approach to GLP-1 medications and offers a science-backed roadmap for anyone considering these drugs or struggling with weight management. Elizabeth doesn't hold back about what's going wrong with standard GLP-1 prescribing practices and provides clear guidance on how to use these medications safely while building genuine, lasting health.

Key Insights

● The GLP-1 Problem Nobody's Talking About

Most people are being dosed dangerously high on GLP-1 medications. Elizabeth argues that standard dosing protocols are compensating for poor diet rather than supporting metabolic health. The higher the dose, the more severe the side effects and potential health risks.

● The Five-Pound Rule

Before considering GLP-1 medications, Elizabeth recommends losing the first 5-10 pounds on your own through diet management. This proves you understand the fundamentals and means you won't need the highest doses. If you can't lose weight without the medication, you're likely eating in a way that requires dangerous dosing levels.

● Food Noise Is Metabolic, Not Just Mental

The 'food noise' that GLP-1 medications quiet isn't just psychological. It's the result of glucose spikes from high-carbohydrate, processed foods. When you eat foods that spike your blood sugar, your body spends the rest of the day seeking the next sugar hit. A properly managed low-glycemic diet can achieve the same mental clarity without medication.

● Strength Training Is Non-Negotiable

Taking GLP-1 medications without strength training is dangerous, especially for people over 40. These medications cause disproportionate muscle loss, which affects bone health and overall metabolic function. If you're not willing to commit to resistance training, you shouldn't be on these drugs.

● The Minimum Effective Dose Strategy

Working with a compounding pharmacy allows for microdosing and customization that standard pharmaceutical protocols don't offer. The goal is to find the smallest dose that supports your metabolic shift while you do the real work of building sustainable habits around nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management.

● You Can Get Off These Medications

Contrary to what many doctors suggest, GLP-1 medications don't have to be lifelong. When used correctly alongside fundamental lifestyle changes, these drugs can be tapered down and eventually discontinued without regaining weight. The key is addressing root causes rather than treating symptoms.

What You Can Do Today

● Track your glucose: Consider using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or apps like MyFitnessPal to understand how different foods affect your blood sugar. Companies like Levels Health provide extensive research on optimal glucose management.

● Start with elimination: Remove wheat/gluten, corn, eggs, dairy, and soy for a period of time to identify what may be causing inflammation and digestive issues. Reintroduce one at a time to observe your body's response.

● Prioritize gut health: Incorporate probiotic-rich fermented foods and bone broth (especially on an empty stomach) to heal and seal the gut lining. Much of our immune system and metabolic function originates in the gut.

● Build strength training gradually: Don't wait until you're on medication. Start with small commitments—visit the gym twice just to sit and have a smoothie, establish the pattern, then add 10 minutes of activity. Anchor the habit before worrying about intensity.

● Find your carbohydrate threshold: Experiment with lower-carb eating to find the amount that allows you to feel satisfied, maintain steady energy, and naturally lose weight without triggering constant food thoughts.

Why This Matters

GLP-1 medications represent a significant tool for metabolic health, but they're being used in ways that create dependency rather than transformation. The medical establishment's approach—prescribe, dose up, stay on forever—ignores the fundamental metabolic and behavioral changes that lead to lasting health.

This isn't about shaming anyone who chooses medication. It's about ensuring that choice is informed, safe, and part of a comprehensive approach that addresses why weight became an issue in the first place. Whether you use GLP-1 medications or not, the principles of glucose management, strength training, gut health, and emotional work apply to everyone seeking sustainable wellness.

Connect with Elizabeth

● Website: elizabethmcgann.com

● Podcast: The Holistic GLP-1 Podcast with Elizabeth McGann (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)

● Instagram: @elizabethmcgann

● Free resource: Freedom from Food Noise masterclass (15-minute video covering best practices—link available in podcast show notes)

Resources Mentioned

● MyFitnessPal app for tracking macronutrients and carbohydrate intake

● Levels Health for continuous glucose monitoring research and education

● Rebellious Wellness blog articles on CGMs and blood sugar management

More from Rebellious Wellness

Questions or topics you'd like explored? Email Greg at gregory@rebelliouswellnesslifestyle.com

I joined her online fitness studio and love the variety of classes. Especially love the 20 minute ones for a midday fitness snack.

Are you tired of fitness culture telling you that real workouts require pain, soreness, and 200-pound deadlifts? Ready to rebel against the idea that movement should feel like punishment? Then this is a great conversation for you and you might also enjoy Ellen’s online studio.

Ellen Barrett has been teaching movement since 1989—back when it was called aerobics, before Instagram created an economy around fake fitness results, and long before "biohacking" became a buzzword.

Her message is refreshingly simple: Movement is medicine. It should feel GOOD. And it should have zero negative side effects.

That's right. Zero. No soreness. No exhaustion. No injuries.

If you have those things? You went too far.

Ellen's fusion approach combines Pilates, yoga, dance, and breathwork—all done barefoot, because shoes might be secretly destroying your alignment and causing chronic pain you can't explain.

This conversation will change how you think about fitness, your feet, and what it actually means to be "fit" after 50.

What You'll Discover

✅ Why gym class trauma turned off an entire generation - Those timed pushup tests and heart rate monitors made fitness feel clinical, competitive, and intimidating instead of joyful

✅ The barefoot movement revolution - How going shoeless strengthens feet, fixes alignment, prevents chronic pain, and makes you feel integrated from head to toe

✅ Why Ellen is "allergic to shoes" - After 30+ years of barefoot teaching, her feet are so capable they can't stand being trapped anymore

✅ Fusion fitness beats perfectionism - Why Ellen left the rigid world of Pilates to create workouts that let you "just move" with heat, strength, and stretch combined

✅ The fitness fakery problem - Cosmetic surgery passed off as "results," influencers not walking their talk, and devious behind-the-scenes stuff at an all-time high

✅ How breathing reveals how you're living - Show Ellen how someone breathes and she'll show you how they're living their life (tension blocks flow and abundance)

✅ Why flexibility is the fountain of youth - Everyone talks about strength training for women over 50, but mobility and flexibility are the neglected keys to longevity

✅ Exercise as an anti-aging facial - Movement nourishes your skin through circulation better than any cream or serum

✅ The research on movement and creativity - Writers who walk are more prolific than those who don't—even accounting for time spent walking

✅ How to avoid victim mentality in your 50s - Why some women lose confidence and capability while others feel like they're just getting started

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✔️ Women over 50 who feel intimidated by gym culture and Instagram fitness

✔️ Anyone who's convinced they need to lift heavy or run marathons to be "fit"

✔️ People suffering from chronic pain that doctors can't explain (especially back and knee problems)

✔️ Rebels tired of the all-or-nothing, perfectionist approach to fitness

✔️ Anyone who hated gym class and still carries that trauma

✔️ People looking for joyful movement that doesn't feel like punishment

✔️ Those curious about barefoot fitness and alignment

✔️ Women experiencing loss of confidence or victim mentality in midlife

✔️ Anyone who wants affordable, accessible online workouts without the intimidation factor

The Barefoot Movement Revolution

Ellen is convinced that shoes are causing chronic pain epidemics—and the research backs her up.

What happens when you wear shoes:

1. Your feet are in a cast, disconnected from the rest of your body
2. You lose proprioception (ground feedback and balance)
3. Your alignment gets thrown off from the ground up
4. Foot muscles atrophy from lack of challenge
5. Chronic back pain, knee problems, and mysterious aches develop

What happens when you go barefoot:

1. Feet get stronger (no more need for arch support)
2. Balance and stability improve dramatically
3. Alignment falls into place naturally
4. You feel more integrated and connected head to toe
5. Chronic pain often resolves

You don't need to be extreme:

1. Walk on the beach barefoot
2. Walk around your house without shoes
3. Take barefoot fitness classes in controlled environments
4. Spend an hour barefoot whenever possible

Ellen jokes she's "allergic to shoes" now—like putting rain boots on a dog. Once your feet are strong and capable, being trapped in shoes feels unnatural.

The Fitness Fakery Problem

Ellen doesn't hold back about what's happening in the wellness industry right now.

The issues:

1. All-time high of "posers" - People not walking their talk, doing devious things behind the scenes
2. Cosmetic surgery passed off as results - "That body came from fitness" when it actually came from surgery (no judgment on the surgery, but don't lie about it)
3. Intimidation culture - 200-pound deadlifts presented as the only way to be "fit"
4. Perfectionist standards - Creating injury, burnout, and all-or-nothing mentality
5. Expensive "biohacks" - Selling saunas and supplements when the most effective intervention is free movement

Movement as Medicine: The Research

Ellen's "movement is medicine" philosophy isn't just feel-good rhetoric—it's backed by research.

Studies show regular exercisers report:

1. Less depression - Movement regulates mood better than many interventions
2. Higher confidence levels - Capability builds self-esteem
3. More creative productivity - Writers who walk are more prolific than those who don't, even accounting for time spent walking
4. Greater sense of capability - Knowing your body can DO things translates to life confidence

The creative flow connection: When you move, you're not stealing time from productivity—you're enhancing it. Movement sorts things out mentally, gives you processing time, and actually CREATES time by making you more efficient.

The skin benefits: Exercise is literally a facial. The circulation, blood flow to your face, and sweating nourishes your skin in ways no cream or serum can replicate. You get that healthy glow at any age.

The autonomic nervous system: When you're chronically stressed (sympathetic dominance), your body isn't interested in healing—it's worried about survival. Movement, especially with breath integration, shifts you to parasympathetic (rest and repair) where healing happens.

The Zero Negative Side Effects Rule

Ellen's rule: If you're experiencing soreness, exhaustion, or injuries, you've gone too far in intensity, duration, or chosen the wrong format for your body in that moment.

What fitness SHOULD deliver: ✅ More energy (not depletion)

✅ Empowerment (not destruction)

✅ Confidence (not inadequacy)

✅ Better function (not worse)

✅ Connection to your body (not...]]>My guest, Ellen Barrett is a 30-year veteran of the fitness industry. She had DVDs for sale! And she’s never had an injury in all of her years of teaching movement classes from HIIT to yoga and pilates.

I joined her online fitness studio and love the variety of classes. Especially love the 20 minute ones for a midday fitness snack.

Are you tired of fitness culture telling you that real workouts require pain, soreness, and 200-pound deadlifts? Ready to rebel against the idea that movement should feel like punishment? Then this is a great conversation for you and you might also enjoy Ellen’s online studio.

Ellen Barrett has been teaching movement since 1989—back when it was called aerobics, before Instagram created an economy around fake fitness results, and long before "biohacking" became a buzzword.

Her message is refreshingly simple: Movement is medicine. It should feel GOOD. And it should have zero negative side effects.

That's right. Zero. No soreness. No exhaustion. No injuries.

If you have those things? You went too far.

Ellen's fusion approach combines Pilates, yoga, dance, and breathwork—all done barefoot, because shoes might be secretly destroying your alignment and causing chronic pain you can't explain.

This conversation will change how you think about fitness, your feet, and what it actually means to be "fit" after 50.

What You'll Discover

✅ Why gym class trauma turned off an entire generation - Those timed pushup tests and heart rate monitors made fitness feel clinical, competitive, and intimidating instead of joyful

✅ The barefoot movement revolution - How going shoeless strengthens feet, fixes alignment, prevents chronic pain, and makes you feel integrated from head to toe

✅ Why Ellen is "allergic to shoes" - After 30+ years of barefoot teaching, her feet are so capable they can't stand being trapped anymore

✅ Fusion fitness beats perfectionism - Why Ellen left the rigid world of Pilates to create workouts that let you "just move" with heat, strength, and stretch combined

✅ The fitness fakery problem - Cosmetic surgery passed off as "results," influencers not walking their talk, and devious behind-the-scenes stuff at an all-time high

✅ How breathing reveals how you're living - Show Ellen how someone breathes and she'll show you how they're living their life (tension blocks flow and abundance)

✅ Why flexibility is the fountain of youth - Everyone talks about strength training for women over 50, but mobility and flexibility are the neglected keys to longevity

✅ Exercise as an anti-aging facial - Movement nourishes your skin through circulation better than any cream or serum

✅ The research on movement and creativity - Writers who walk are more prolific than those who don't—even accounting for time spent walking

✅ How to avoid victim mentality in your 50s - Why some women lose confidence and capability while others feel like they're just getting started

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✔️ Women over 50 who feel intimidated by gym culture and Instagram fitness

✔️ Anyone who's convinced they need to lift heavy or run marathons to be "fit"

✔️ People suffering from chronic pain that doctors can't explain (especially back and knee problems)

✔️ Rebels tired of the all-or-nothing, perfectionist approach to fitness

✔️ Anyone who hated gym class and still carries that trauma

✔️ People looking for joyful movement that doesn't feel like punishment

✔️ Those curious about barefoot fitness and alignment

✔️ Women experiencing loss of confidence or victim mentality in midlife

✔️ Anyone who wants affordable, accessible online workouts without the intimidation factor

The Barefoot Movement Revolution

Ellen is convinced that shoes are causing chronic pain epidemics—and the research backs her up.

What happens when you wear shoes:

1. Your feet are in a cast, disconnected from the rest of your body
2. You lose proprioception (ground feedback and balance)
3. Your alignment gets thrown off from the ground up
4. Foot muscles atrophy from lack of challenge
5. Chronic back pain, knee problems, and mysterious aches develop

What happens when you go barefoot:

1. Feet get stronger (no more need for arch support)
2. Balance and stability improve dramatically
3. Alignment falls into place naturally
4. You feel more integrated and connected head to toe
5. Chronic pain often resolves

You don't need to be extreme:

1. Walk on the beach barefoot
2. Walk around your house without shoes
3. Take barefoot fitness classes in controlled environments
4. Spend an hour barefoot whenever possible

Ellen jokes she's "allergic to shoes" now—like putting rain boots on a dog. Once your feet are strong and capable, being trapped in shoes feels unnatural.

The Fitness Fakery Problem

Ellen doesn't hold back about what's happening in the wellness industry right now.

The issues:

1. All-time high of "posers" - People not walking their talk, doing devious things behind the scenes
2. Cosmetic surgery passed off as results - "That body came from fitness" when it actually came from surgery (no judgment on the surgery, but don't lie about it)
3. Intimidation culture - 200-pound deadlifts presented as the only way to be "fit"
4. Perfectionist standards - Creating injury, burnout, and all-or-nothing mentality
5. Expensive "biohacks" - Selling saunas and supplements when the most effective intervention is free movement

Movement as Medicine: The Research

Ellen's "movement is medicine" philosophy isn't just feel-good rhetoric—it's backed by research.

Studies show regular exercisers report:

1. Less depression - Movement regulates mood better than many interventions
2. Higher confidence levels - Capability builds self-esteem
3. More creative productivity - Writers who walk are more prolific than those who don't, even accounting for time spent walking
4. Greater sense of capability - Knowing your body can DO things translates to life confidence

The creative flow connection: When you move, you're not stealing time from productivity—you're enhancing it. Movement sorts things out mentally, gives you processing time, and actually CREATES time by making you more efficient.

The skin benefits: Exercise is literally a facial. The circulation, blood flow to your face, and sweating nourishes your skin in ways no cream or serum can replicate. You get that healthy glow at any age.

The autonomic nervous system: When you're chronically stressed (sympathetic dominance), your body isn't interested in healing—it's worried about survival. Movement, especially with breath integration, shifts you to parasympathetic (rest and repair) where healing happens.

The Zero Negative Side Effects Rule

Ellen's rule: If you're experiencing soreness, exhaustion, or injuries, you've gone too far in intensity, duration, or chosen the wrong format for your body in that moment.

What fitness SHOULD deliver: ✅ More energy (not depletion)

✅ Empowerment (not destruction)

✅ Confidence (not inadequacy)

✅ Better function (not worse)

✅ Connection to your body (not disconnection)

The "no pain, no gain" myth: We've been taught that soreness means "it's working" and exhaustion means you "pushed hard enough." But that's gym class trauma talking—the timed pushup tests and competitive heart rate monitors that made fitness feel like punishment.

The Goldilocks zone: Not overdoing it. Not underdoing it. Finding that "just right" place where you're challenged but not destroyed, energized but not depleted.

The more you move, the more sensitive you become to that zone. You KNOW when you've hit it.

Flexibility: The Neglected Fountain of Youth

Everyone talks about strength training for women over 50 (and yes, it's important). But Ellen argues that flexibility and mobility are the neglected keys to longevity.

Why flexibility matters:

1. Keeps you moving freely and painlessly
2. Prevents injuries from tight, restricted muscles
3. Maintains range of motion as you age
4. Allows you to keep doing activities you love
5. Creates that integrated, flowing feeling in your body

The Let's Move Online Studio

Ellen created her streaming platform in 2018 when everything went digital—initially just as a place to put her DVD workouts, then evolved into creating a new workout every month.

What's included:

1. 100+ fusion workouts combining Pilates, yoga, dance, and breathwork
2. Durations: 15, 20, 30, and 45 minutes
3. Intensity variety: gentle stretching to cardio challenges to strength building
4. New workout added every month
5. All classes done barefoot

Pricing:

1. 7-day free trial
2. $7.95/month (the most affordable fitness platform I've encountered)
3. No intimidation, no perfectionism, just joyful movement

Ellen's philosophy behind it: Created from the heart as a creative baby. Altruistic in nature—just wanting to provide accessible movement to people who need it. Freedom to name things what she wants, add her quirky personality, and serve "her people" who don't want to be judged.

Website: EllenBarrett.com

Streaming Studio: Let's Move

Suggested Action Steps

START BAREFOOT:

1. Walk around your house without shoes this week
2. Walk on the beach or in your yard barefoot
3. Try a barefoot fitness class (Ellen's platform has tons)
4. Notice how your feet feel—strong? Atrophied? Somewhere in between?

FIND YOUR GOLDILOCKS ZONE:

1. Pay attention to how you feel AFTER movement
2. More energy? You nailed it.
3. Exhausted or sore? You went too far.
4. No change? You might need slightly more challenge.

EMBRACE FUSION VARIETY:

1. Try Ellen's 7-day free trial at Let's Move
2. Mix cardio, strength, and stretch in the same workout
3. Choose durations based on your schedule (15-45 minutes)
4. Give yourself permission to modify and "do you"

SHIFT YOUR MINDSET:

1. Ask yourself: Am I approaching my 50s+ with victim mentality or empowerment?
2. Remember: These are the WISE years when you can contribute most
3. Movement is medicine—free, accessible, and instantly effective
4. Function over photograph. Always.

Ellen has spent 30+ years proving that movement can be medicine, fitness can be joyful, and going barefoot might solve chronic pain your doctor can't explain.

The rebellious truth: You don't need to do it the way fitness culture tells you to. You need to find what makes YOUR body feel capable, confident, and alive.

And if that means taking off your shoes, tossing Pilates and yoga and dance into a salad, and choosing 20 minutes over 90?

Perfect. Do that.

Stay rebellious,

Greg

P.S. Seriously, try Ellen's 7-day free trial. At $7.95/month after that, it's the most affordable online fitness platform I've found—and the variety is incredible.

Remember: Movement is medicine. It's the OG biohack. And it should have zero negative side effects—just energy, empowerment, and that feeling of being fully alive in your body.

Are you tired of being told "there's nothing we can do" when your eyesight starts to fade? Ready to rebel against the idea that cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are just inevitable parts of aging you have to accept?

What if I told you there's a board-certified ophthalmologist who cured his own life-threatening asthma with homeopathy—and then brought those same principles to eye care?

Dr. Edward Kondrot is the world's leading homeopathic ophthalmologist, and he's been treating eye diseases with alternative therapies for over 45 years. He still wears two hats—traditional ophthalmology when surgery is needed, and homeopathic approaches for everything else—which makes him uniquely qualified to tell you what actually works.

Here's what makes this conversation so important: Your eyes aren't isolated organs. They're connected to your liver, your emotional state, your circulation, your diet, your stress levels—your WHOLE body health. And that means you have way more control over your eye health than you've been led to believe.

What You'll Discover

✅ How a traditional ophthalmologist became a homeopath - Dr. Kondrot's near-death experience with asthma led him to a cure Western medicine said didn't exist (and transformed his entire approach to treating disease)

✅ Why cataracts are a warning light, not a death sentence - What your body is trying to tell you when a cataract develops, and the questions you should ask before rushing into surgery

✅ The truth about glaucoma that most eye doctors won't tell you - It's not just about pressure—it's about the health of your optic nerve, and there are steps you can take to improve it

✅ Macular degeneration from a whole-body perspective - Understanding the dry vs. wet forms, and why improving circulation and nutrition can change the trajectory of this disease

✅ The Ozempic blindness connection - Why this wildly popular weight loss drug is causing optic neuritis and permanent vision loss in some patients

✅ What "the eye is the flower of the liver" means - The Chinese medicine connection between your eyes, your liver, and unprocessed frustration and anger

✅ Light therapy and microcurrent that's been used for over 100 years - Ancient modalities that help the eye regenerate and balance your autonomic nervous system

✅ The shocking increase in diabetic retinopathy - Why what was rare 45 years ago is now epidemic (hint: it's not just diabetes—it's obesity and what we're eating)

✅ Computer vision syndrome and the blue light problem - How our screens are creating a generation of kids with eye problems, and what to do about it

✅ How to get a FREE eye health consultation - Dr. Kondrot personally reviews eye records at no charge for people who've been told "there's nothing more we can do"

Key Quotes

On his asthma cure awakening: "The third remedy I took, it was like somebody turned on the light switch. Not only did my asthma improve, mentally and emotionally there was a shift. I said, why didn't they teach us this in medical school?"

On what homeopathy actually is: "The homeopathic doctor feels, if the body's intelligent and wants a fever, let me give something which causes a fever. Then miraculously, you no longer have the fever. When I was cured of my asthma, I was given a substance which causes asthma."

On cataracts as a message: "The cataract is like a red warning light that goes off in your car. I wanna find out what's going on. Why do some people go blind with a cataract at age 50 and others live to 80 and 90 and never need cataract surgery?"

On what you don't want to see: "Subtly, I always wanna ask the person: what is it they don't wanna see? One of the biggest issues as we get older, we don't wanna see ourself getting older. I'm 75. I feel like I'm 20. When I look in the mirror, I go, who is this old guy?"

On glaucoma being more than pressure: "You can have a pressure of 25, which is high, and never lose vision. Or you can have a pressure of 10, which is low, and go blind. It's more the health of the optic nerve. You gotta take those steps to improve your overall health."

On food as medicine: "I feel that food is our best medicine. Thomas Edison said the doctor of the future would not prescribe any drugs, but instead advise the patient on diet and nutrition. One of the biggest contributing factors to poor health in the United States is our poor diet."

His shopping tip: "If it has a label, don't eat it. Always shop in the periphery of the grocery store. The periphery has the healthy food. The center has the canned and processed stuff."

On modern medicine's approach: "Modern medicine is maintaining disease. When you have hypertension, the doctors won't say, let's take steps to cure it. Nope. They're maintaining it. Take this drug, and next year you need two drugs. But homeopathy is one approach where we actually look for a cure."

On never giving up hope: "When a doctor tells you there's nothing else that can be done—that's the person I want to talk to. Never give up. The worst thing that can happen to someone is to give up hope. There's always something that can be done."

On how your vision projects your reality: "The eye is not just a receptor. It's also a projector. Your vision is projecting your external environment. Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?"

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✔️ Anyone who's been told their eye disease is "just something you have to live with"

✔️ People with cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy looking for alternatives to surgery or injections

✔️ Rebels over 50 who want to preserve their vision and prevent eye disease

✔️ Anyone suffering from dry eyes that aren't responding to conventional treatments

✔️ People taking Ozempic for weight loss (you need to hear the vision loss connection)

✔️ Those curious about homeopathy and how it actually works

✔️ Anyone who believes in the body's ability to heal itself with the right support

✔️ People ready to address the root causes of disease, not just mask symptoms

Dr. Kondrot's Home Program: What's Included

After COVID, Dr. Kondrot shifted from a 3-5 day in-clinic program to a home-based program that gives you all the benefits at a fraction of the cost:

1. Personalized Homeopathic Remedy

After reviewing your eye records and case history via Zoom, he prescribes a specific remedy for YOUR body and situation

2. Light Therapy

Using specific wavelengths to help the eye regenerate and balance the autonomic nervous system (used by the College of Syntonic Optometry for over 100 years)

3. Microcurrent Stimulation

Low-level electrical current to help the eye regenerate (doctors have been using this since 1803!)

Why balancing the autonomic nervous system matters: If you're in a chronic stress state (sympathetic, "grizzly bear chasing you"), your body isn't interested in healing. It's worried about survival. You must shift to parasympathetic (rest and repair) for healing to happen.

The Diet and Lifestyle Factors You Can Control Today

Food is medicine even for our eyes--and it's not just carrots!

Dr. Kondrot's golden rule: If it has a label, don't eat it. Those chemicals, preservatives, colorings, and dyes? He has a degree in chemistry and doesn't even know what some of them are.

Smart shopping: Always shop the periphery of the grocery store. That's where the healthy, whole foods are. The center aisles are full of processed, shelf-stable junk.

BLUE LIGHT MATTERS

During the day: You NEED blue light (that's why the sky is blue)

At night: You need to AVOID blue light and shift to red light

The problem: Computers and phones emit blue light all evening, disrupting your circadian rhythm

The solution: Use blue light blocking screens, enable "night shift" mode on your iPhone (shifts to reddish tone), and get outside in natural sunlight during the day

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME IS REAL

We're creating a generation of kids with eye problems because they're:

1. Using only central vision (screens) instead of peripheral vision
2. Not going outdoors to play, run, use all aspects of their eyes
3. Spending hours on smartphones and computers

Your action step: Reduce screen time, get outside, use your peripheral vision more

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND SUNLIGHT

One of the biggest deficiencies we're seeing? Vitamin D, because we're not getting enough sunlight.

Get outside—but wisely: If you live in Seattle, you could be outside all year and not]]>Okay, I had to use "eye-opening" just once because this conversation literally changed how I think about vision health forever.

Are you tired of being told "there's nothing we can do" when your eyesight starts to fade? Ready to rebel against the idea that cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are just inevitable parts of aging you have to accept?

What if I told you there's a board-certified ophthalmologist who cured his own life-threatening asthma with homeopathy—and then brought those same principles to eye care?

Dr. Edward Kondrot is the world's leading homeopathic ophthalmologist, and he's been treating eye diseases with alternative therapies for over 45 years. He still wears two hats—traditional ophthalmology when surgery is needed, and homeopathic approaches for everything else—which makes him uniquely qualified to tell you what actually works.

Here's what makes this conversation so important: Your eyes aren't isolated organs. They're connected to your liver, your emotional state, your circulation, your diet, your stress levels—your WHOLE body health. And that means you have way more control over your eye health than you've been led to believe.

What You'll Discover

✅ How a traditional ophthalmologist became a homeopath - Dr. Kondrot's near-death experience with asthma led him to a cure Western medicine said didn't exist (and transformed his entire approach to treating disease)

✅ Why cataracts are a warning light, not a death sentence - What your body is trying to tell you when a cataract develops, and the questions you should ask before rushing into surgery

✅ The truth about glaucoma that most eye doctors won't tell you - It's not just about pressure—it's about the health of your optic nerve, and there are steps you can take to improve it

✅ Macular degeneration from a whole-body perspective - Understanding the dry vs. wet forms, and why improving circulation and nutrition can change the trajectory of this disease

✅ The Ozempic blindness connection - Why this wildly popular weight loss drug is causing optic neuritis and permanent vision loss in some patients

✅ What "the eye is the flower of the liver" means - The Chinese medicine connection between your eyes, your liver, and unprocessed frustration and anger

✅ Light therapy and microcurrent that's been used for over 100 years - Ancient modalities that help the eye regenerate and balance your autonomic nervous system

✅ The shocking increase in diabetic retinopathy - Why what was rare 45 years ago is now epidemic (hint: it's not just diabetes—it's obesity and what we're eating)

✅ Computer vision syndrome and the blue light problem - How our screens are creating a generation of kids with eye problems, and what to do about it

✅ How to get a FREE eye health consultation - Dr. Kondrot personally reviews eye records at no charge for people who've been told "there's nothing more we can do"

Key Quotes

On his asthma cure awakening: "The third remedy I took, it was like somebody turned on the light switch. Not only did my asthma improve, mentally and emotionally there was a shift. I said, why didn't they teach us this in medical school?"

On what homeopathy actually is: "The homeopathic doctor feels, if the body's intelligent and wants a fever, let me give something which causes a fever. Then miraculously, you no longer have the fever. When I was cured of my asthma, I was given a substance which causes asthma."

On cataracts as a message: "The cataract is like a red warning light that goes off in your car. I wanna find out what's going on. Why do some people go blind with a cataract at age 50 and others live to 80 and 90 and never need cataract surgery?"

On what you don't want to see: "Subtly, I always wanna ask the person: what is it they don't wanna see? One of the biggest issues as we get older, we don't wanna see ourself getting older. I'm 75. I feel like I'm 20. When I look in the mirror, I go, who is this old guy?"

On glaucoma being more than pressure: "You can have a pressure of 25, which is high, and never lose vision. Or you can have a pressure of 10, which is low, and go blind. It's more the health of the optic nerve. You gotta take those steps to improve your overall health."

On food as medicine: "I feel that food is our best medicine. Thomas Edison said the doctor of the future would not prescribe any drugs, but instead advise the patient on diet and nutrition. One of the biggest contributing factors to poor health in the United States is our poor diet."

His shopping tip: "If it has a label, don't eat it. Always shop in the periphery of the grocery store. The periphery has the healthy food. The center has the canned and processed stuff."

On modern medicine's approach: "Modern medicine is maintaining disease. When you have hypertension, the doctors won't say, let's take steps to cure it. Nope. They're maintaining it. Take this drug, and next year you need two drugs. But homeopathy is one approach where we actually look for a cure."

On never giving up hope: "When a doctor tells you there's nothing else that can be done—that's the person I want to talk to. Never give up. The worst thing that can happen to someone is to give up hope. There's always something that can be done."

On how your vision projects your reality: "The eye is not just a receptor. It's also a projector. Your vision is projecting your external environment. Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?"

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✔️ Anyone who's been told their eye disease is "just something you have to live with"

✔️ People with cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy looking for alternatives to surgery or injections

✔️ Rebels over 50 who want to preserve their vision and prevent eye disease

✔️ Anyone suffering from dry eyes that aren't responding to conventional treatments

✔️ People taking Ozempic for weight loss (you need to hear the vision loss connection)

✔️ Those curious about homeopathy and how it actually works

✔️ Anyone who believes in the body's ability to heal itself with the right support

✔️ People ready to address the root causes of disease, not just mask symptoms

Dr. Kondrot's Home Program: What's Included

After COVID, Dr. Kondrot shifted from a 3-5 day in-clinic program to a home-based program that gives you all the benefits at a fraction of the cost:

1. Personalized Homeopathic Remedy

After reviewing your eye records and case history via Zoom, he prescribes a specific remedy for YOUR body and situation

2. Light Therapy

Using specific wavelengths to help the eye regenerate and balance the autonomic nervous system (used by the College of Syntonic Optometry for over 100 years)

3. Microcurrent Stimulation

Low-level electrical current to help the eye regenerate (doctors have been using this since 1803!)

Why balancing the autonomic nervous system matters: If you're in a chronic stress state (sympathetic, "grizzly bear chasing you"), your body isn't interested in healing. It's worried about survival. You must shift to parasympathetic (rest and repair) for healing to happen.

The Diet and Lifestyle Factors You Can Control Today

Food is medicine even for our eyes--and it's not just carrots!

Dr. Kondrot's golden rule: If it has a label, don't eat it. Those chemicals, preservatives, colorings, and dyes? He has a degree in chemistry and doesn't even know what some of them are.

Smart shopping: Always shop the periphery of the grocery store. That's where the healthy, whole foods are. The center aisles are full of processed, shelf-stable junk.

BLUE LIGHT MATTERS

During the day: You NEED blue light (that's why the sky is blue)

At night: You need to AVOID blue light and shift to red light

The problem: Computers and phones emit blue light all evening, disrupting your circadian rhythm

The solution: Use blue light blocking screens, enable "night shift" mode on your iPhone (shifts to reddish tone), and get outside in natural sunlight during the day

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME IS REAL

We're creating a generation of kids with eye problems because they're:

1. Using only central vision (screens) instead of peripheral vision
2. Not going outdoors to play, run, use all aspects of their eyes
3. Spending hours on smartphones and computers

Your action step: Reduce screen time, get outside, use your peripheral vision more

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND SUNLIGHT

One of the biggest deficiencies we're seeing? Vitamin D, because we're not getting enough sunlight.

Get outside—but wisely: If you live in Seattle, you could be outside all year and not get enough. If you're in Phoenix, five minutes might be too much. Know your environment and don't overexpose.

The Emotional and Spiritual Dimension of Vision

This is where Dr. Kondrot goes deeper than most eye doctors ever will:

What don't you want to see?

Often, cataracts and other vision problems develop when there's something we're avoiding looking at—aging, life changes, difficult truths.

Embracing aging as a gift:

"Aging is a gift. You have a lot of wisdom. It's wonderful to age and stay healthy and have that wisdom."

Your eyes project your reality:

The eye isn't just a receptor bringing in images—it's a PROJECTOR. Your vision projects your external environment. Is your glass half empty or half full? Your eyes reflect that.

Body intelligence:

Every symptom or problem is a MESSAGE. Maybe you need to make changes. Maybe you need to address your emotional state. Your body is constantly giving you signals—are you listening?

Free Resources from Dr. Kondrot

1. FREE Book Download: "10 Essentials to Save Your Sight"

Get it at: KondrotBook.us

This book covers lectures Dr. Kondrot used to give during his one-week program:

1. Homeopathy for eyes
2. Good nutrition
3. Reducing stress
4. Proper hydration
5. Light therapy
6. Eye exercises
7. Everything you need to know

His advice: "If you're having an eye problem, get a copy of the book and read it while you can read it—before you're unable to read."

2. FREE Eye Record Review & Consultation

Get it at: FreeConsult.us

Dr. Kondrot will PERSONALLY review your eye records at no charge and give you:

1. His assessment
2. His recommendations
3. Hope when you've been told there's nothing more that can be done

Who this is for: Anyone who's been given a bad diagnosis, told there's nothing else that can be done, or is losing hope about their vision.

Action Steps (Choose What Resonates)

IMMEDIATE (Do Today):

1. Enable night shift on your phone - Reduce blue light exposure in the evening
2. Shop the perimeter - Next grocery trip, stick to whole foods with no labels
3. Get outside in natural light - Even 10 minutes makes a difference for vitamin D
4. Download Dr. Kondrot's free book - KondrotBook.us

THIS WEEK:

1. Assess your emotional state - What don't you want to see? What frustration or anger needs processing?
2. Consider blue light blocking - For computer screens if you work digitally
3. Reduce screen time - Especially in the evening hours
4. Use peripheral vision more - Go outside, play, look at the horizon

THIS MONTH:

1. Review your eye health - When was your last eye exam? What were the results?
2. If you've been told "nothing can be done" - Get Dr. Kondrot's free consultation at FreeConsult.us
3. Address underlying health issues - Blood sugar, circulation, inflammation, stress
4. Consider homeopathic evaluation - Especially if conventional treatments aren't working

Why This Matters for Rebels Over 50

Your eyes are not failing you randomly. They're responding to:

1. What you're eating (or not eating)
2. How you're managing stress
3. What you're avoiding looking at emotionally
4. Your overall circulation and inflammation
5. Whether you're moving your body
6. Your blood sugar regulation
7. The health of your autonomic nervous system

Yes there are genetic influences here and lifestyle habits have contributed in a big way but you have more control over your eye health than you've been told. But only if you're willing to look at (pun intended) the whole picture—not just pressure numbers and whether you "need surgery yet."

Dr. Kondrot proved it's possible to cure diseases Western medicine says have no cure. He did it with his own asthma. He's been doing it with eyes for 45 years.

The question is: are you willing to keep an open mind and listen to your gut?

Resources & Where to Find Dr. Kondrot

Main Website: HealingTheEye.com

(Testimonials, videos, programs, trained doctors, vitamins, microcurrent info)

Free Book Download: KondrotBook.us

("10 Essentials to Save Your Sight")

Free Eye Consultation: FreeConsult.ushttps://www.healingtheeye.net/doctor-lead-magnet

(Dr. Kondrot personally reviews your eye records—no charge)

Mission Work & Daily Tips: Kondrot.com (Substack)

(100% of subscriptions support mission work in Africa)

Charity Work: Site.org

(Giving Sight and the Gospel in Togo, Africa)

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept "there's nothing more we can do" when it comes to our health.

Your eyes deserve more than just waiting until surgery is "necessary." They deserve:

1. Whole-body support
2. Emotional processing
3. Nutritional excellence
4. Stress management
5. Homeopathic wisdom that's been used for 200+ years

Your vision—both external and internal—is worth fighting for. Your sight is worth preserving. Your body is worth listening to.

And if you've been told there's nothing that can be done? Dr. Kondrot wants to talk to you. For free. Because he believes what I believe: there's always a way out of no way.

Stay rebellious,

Greg

P.S. Seriously, go download that free book while you can still read it comfortably. And if you're struggling with eye issues, take Dr. Kondrot up on that free consultation. The man is 75, still practicing, and reviewing eye records for free because he genuinely wants to help people. That's the kind of doctor we need more of in this world.

P.P.S. If you're taking Ozempic for weight loss, please do your research on optic neuritis and have this conversation with your doctor. In Denmark, where the drug originated, it's illegal to use it for weight loss. It’s prescribed only for Diabetes. That should tell you something.

Remember: Your eyes are projecting your reality. Make sure you're looking at a reality worth seeing.

The Rebellious Truth About "Perfect Health Days

Are you tired of feeling like you need to nail every health habit every single day or you've somehow failed? Ready to rebel against the myth that you have to do everything—the workout, the supplements, the meal prep, the stretching—all in one perfect day?

Here's what the wellness industry doesn't always tell you: You don't have to do it all. Not even close.

This conversation with Dr. Nat is going to shift how you think about health habits forever. She's redefining biohacking as finding better, more efficient ways to be healthy—not adding more guilt to your already full plate.

What You'll Discover

✅ Why weekly and monthly habits matter more than daily perfection - Learn how to organize your health goals across different timeframes so you can actually stick with them

✅ The three-tier system for building new habits - Discover which changes are quick wins vs. which ones need serious planning (and why you shouldn't tackle too many at once)

✅ Sleep as your non-negotiable foundation - Why tracking your sleep might reveal you're getting way less than you think (and what to do about it)

✅ The truth about strength training after 50 - Research shows women in their 70s can still build bone density and muscle mass—no excuses, just smart strategies

✅ Why CGMs are now affordable (under $100/month) and how they can give you powerful insights about your unique body

✅ The connection factor - Why your health habits mean nothing if you're trying to do them alone

Key Quotes

On redefining biohacking: "My definition of biohacking is just finding better and more efficient ways to be healthy. I see so many people thinking, 'If I can't go to the gym an hour and a half, four or five times a week, then I might as well not go at all.' That's not how this works."

On the daily perfection trap: "We think we need to do it all in one day—the perfect day where you take all your supplements, do your exercise, do your stretching. It's impossible. Let's face it, it's impossible."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✔️ Women over 50 who are tired of all-or-nothing approaches to health

✔️ Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of "must-do" health habits

✔️ Rebels who want to build sustainable routines that actually fit their real life

✔️ People struggling with sleep despite thinking they're "doing everything right"

✔️ Women concerned about bone density, muscle loss, and staying strong as they age

✔️ Anyone curious about blood sugar management and whether CGMs are worth it

✔️ Those who want to learn smart habit-stacking strategies from someone who gets it.

Your Affordable Biohacking Tool

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) - Now available for under $100/month through companies like Stelo and Levels. Worth doing at least once to see how YOUR body responds to different foods and activities.

The Social Connection Secret

While we focused on biohacking and habits, Dr. Nat reminded us of something crucial: people who live longest in Blue Zones aren't just eating well and moving—they're deeply connected to community.

Her advice? Find your people. Join a group. Try pickleball. Surround yourself with others on a similar health journey. The social aspect isn't optional—it's essential for longevity and vitality.

Beyond the Basics: When You're Ready

Once you've nailed sleep, movement, and nutrition, Dr. Nat covers advanced topics in her books:

1. Hormone optimization (adrenals, thyroid, female hormones)
2. Detoxification protocols
3. Strategic supplementation
4. Advanced biohacking tools

But here's the rebellious truth: you don't get to skip the basics. You can't exercise your way out of a bad diet. You can't supplement your way past terrible sleep.

Resources & Where to Find Dr. Nat

Books:

1. Smart Cuts (Latest) - Quick, practical biohacking protocols with cost indicators and bite-sized action steps
2. Hack Your Health Habits - The comprehensive bible with 62 chapters covering everything from mindset to hormones

Website: DoctorNat.Life

(Sign up for the newsletter and download her free ebook)

Podcast/TV: Full season of interviews with 24 different practitioners covering everything from Ayurvedic medicine to mindset

Social Media: Find Dr. Nat on Instagram for ongoing tips, research updates, and real-talk about health and on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept limitations that don't actually have to exist. You don't need perfect days. You don't need to do everything. You need consistency over perfection, community over isolation, and curiosity over rigidity.

Your body is capable of building muscle in your 70s. Your sleep can improve. Your blood sugar can stabilize. Your energy can return. But it won't happen by trying to be perfect—it happens by being strategic, consistent, and kind to yourself.

One habit at a time. One week at a time. One choice at a time.

Stay rebellious,

Greg

P.S. What's the ONE habit you're going to focus on this month? Don't try to do three. Pick one. Your future self will thank you for not settling for overwhelm.

Ready for more rebellious wellness wisdom? Subscribe so you never miss an episode of real talk about health, aging, and what's actually possible for your body.

In this conversation, I sit down with Michelle Waters—imagination advocate, clinical hypnotherapist, and business coach—to explore how hypnosis can transform everything from limiting beliefs to business success. And no, you won't be clucking like a chicken.

What You'll Discover:

✨ Why hypnosis isn't meditation (and why goal-oriented people often find it easier to master)

🧠 How hidden childhood memories can sabotage your adult life—including a fascinating story about a woman's unexplained phobia of bumblebees

💼 The surprising connection between hypnotherapy and business success—discover why it's the "super arrow in a business person's quiver"

🎯 How to overcome social anxiety and self-sabotage when your career depends on confidence

🚀 Michelle's revolutionary AI-powered app that creates custom hypnosis recordings in just 5 minutes (personalized wellness is here, rebels!)

📖 Leadership wisdom for every stage of life—from corporate climber to community volunteer

Key Quotes

"Hypnosis is like meditation, but with a goal. We're such a goal-oriented society that hypnosis works really well for people—even those who struggle with meditation."

"Your subconscious mind listens all the time, whether you are awake or you perceive yourself to be asleep."

"Leadership is important throughout one's life. The essence of leadership is always about who are you? How can you be the best you?"

"You can't make somebody do anything in hypnosis that they're not aligned with doing. When you try to suggest something they don't believe or think is crazy, they just wake up."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For:

✅ Women over 50 navigating career transitions or retirement

✅ Business leaders dealing with imposter syndrome or social anxiety

✅ Anyone curious about hypnosis but skeptical of the "woo-woo"

✅ Professionals who struggle with meditation but crave mental clarity

✅ Leaders looking to unlock their subconscious blocks to success

✅ People interested in the intersection of AI and wellness

Challenge the "Just Live With It" Mentality

Here's what traditional therapy doesn't always tell you: your conscious mind might not even remember the root cause of your struggles. That social anxiety holding you back at networking events? That fear preventing you from taking your business to the next level? The answers might be locked in your subconscious, waiting to be discovered.

Michelle shares how hypnotherapy helped a shy realtor overcome decades of social anxiety by uncovering childhood patterns—transforming his ability to build the relationships his career demanded. Sometimes the barriers to our success were built when we were six years old, and we've been living with them ever since without even knowing it.

The Science-Backed Approach to Mindset Work

While meditation asks you to empty your mind, hypnosis gives your brain a job to do—making it perfect for those of us who can't sit still without a purpose. Michelle breaks down how hypnosis helps with:

1. Business mindset blocks that keep you playing small
2. Stress relief without adding another hour to your already packed schedule
3. Lost memories that might explain current patterns
4. Goal achievement through subconscious reprogramming
5. Confidence building for career transitions

Get 25% Off Your Custom Hypnosis Recording

Michelle created something truly innovative: MakeMyHypno.com—an AI-powered app that generates personalized hypnosis recordings in her voice, tailored to your specific goals and preferences. Pick from 19 different topics, choose your ideal setting (moonlit beach, anyone?), add your personal details, and receive a custom recording in about 5 minutes.

Use discount code 25PODCAST for 25% off!

Take the First Step (No Chicken Dance Required)

Want to dip your toes in? Michelle hosts free online hypnosis sessions every month on Friday at noon Pacific. No commitment, no pressure—just a chance to experience what hypnosis actually feels like (spoiler: it's way more relaxing and less Hollywood than you think).

Find all the details at MichelleWalters.net, including:

1. Her podcast: Mind Power Meets Mystic
2. Her book: The ABCs of Conscious Leadership (featuring Zig Ziglar for "Z" - Zeal!)
3. Classes, events, and services

The Bottom Line

Your subconscious mind is either working for you or against you—there's no neutral. The question is: are you ready to find out what's really driving your decisions, fears, and limitations?

Don't settle for "that's just how I am." Your future self will thank you for questioning what's actually possible.

Stay curious, stay empowered, and keep exploring what your mind can really do.

Want to try hypnosis but not sure where to start? Leave a comment and let me know what mindset blocks you're working through—I want to hear about it!

#RebelliousWellness #HypnosisForLeaders #MindsetMatters #WomenOver50 #SubconsciousMind #BusinessMindset #PersonalizedWellness #LeadershipDevelopment

Board-certified hospitalist Dr. Monique Nugent pulls back the curtain on what really happens inside hospitals—and more importantly, how you can take control of your care. From understanding what a hospitalist actually does to navigating insurance complications and medication confusion, this conversation delivers the insider knowledge you need to advocate effectively for yourself and your loved ones.

What You'll Discover:

1. The critical difference between healthcare and sick care—and why understanding this distinction could save your life
2. Why every hospital patient needs a "care partner"—and what questions they should be asking
3. The real reason hospital stays feel so chaotic—and how to bring clarity to the confusion
4. What "medication reconciliation" means—and why you must demand it before discharge
5. How to leave the hospital with a solid plan—even if you don't have a complete diagnosis yet
6. The shocking truth about emergency room rights—what hospitals legally must provide (and what they don't)
7. Why the American healthcare system is "perfectly designed"—to get exactly the outcomes we're seeing

Key Quotes

On the healthcare system: "What we have designed and what we pay for in this country is sick maintenance. Healthcare isn't just something that happens in the four walls of a hospital in the 15 to 20 minutes of a doctor's appointment."

On hospital preparedness: "I want people to know what's in their community. Get to know what's in your community...because hospitalizations happen fast."

On having support: "The number one thing I want people to have in a hospital stay is another person. I call that person your care partner."

On discharge planning: "I don't particularly care if you get a diagnosis. I want you to have a plan. A diagnosis can come two weeks from now as long as someone is still working with you two weeks from now."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For:

✓ Anyone who's ever felt confused or powerless during a hospital stay

✓ Family members who want to be effective advocates for their loved ones

✓ People navigating chronic conditions that require repeated hospitalizations

✓ Anyone interested in understanding how the healthcare system really works

✓ Those looking for practical strategies to improve their hospital experience

The Truth About Hospital Medicine:

Here's what the medical establishment doesn't always tell you: hospital stays are high-stakes, fast-moving experiences where you're expected to make critical decisions while you're in pain, scared, and vulnerable. Dr. Nugent reveals that hospitals aren't just about treating acute illness—they're complex systems where safety, timing, and navigation skills matter just as much as medical expertise.

While conventional wisdom says "just trust the system," the research and real-world experience show that informed, prepared patients with strong advocates get better outcomes. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is refuse to accept that confusion and poor communication are just "how hospitals work."

Take Action:

Get Dr. Nugent's book: Prescription for Admission: The Power and Potential of Hospital Medicine (available on Amazon and wherever books are sold)

Visit: drmoniquenugent.com

Key takeaways to implement now:

1. Identify your care partner before you need one
2. Research the hospitals in your community—what are their specialties and limitations?
3. Always ask for written discharge instructions and medication reconciliation
4. Remember: demand a PLAN, not just a diagnosis

Final Thought:

Your future self will thank you for not settling for confusion and chaos during hospital stays. Keep questioning, keep advocating, and remember—you deserve clear communication, safe care, and a solid plan for what comes next.

That's what taking control of your wellness journey is all about—even inside the hospital walls.

Stay empowered and keep challenging the system to work FOR you.

Got a hospital story or question? Share it in the comments—I want to hear about it!

After corporate healthcare stripped away her ability to truly care for patients, Dr. Rachel opened Pearl Skin Body in Colorado Springs, where she combines internal wellness with external rejuvenation. This isn't your typical "get Botox everywhere" conversation - it's an honest breakdown of what works, what doesn't, and where you should never get filler.

What You'll Discover

✅ The med spa wild west - why your state's regulations (or lack thereof) could put you at risk

✅ Where filler should NEVER go - the common mistake that won't fix your problem

✅ The one treatment that "rolls back the clock 10 years" - Dr. Rachel's go-to for maximum results

✅ Why some people get "pillowy" faces from fillers - and how to avoid becoming one of them

✅ Red flags to watch for when choosing a med spa - what to look for beyond pretty websites

✅ The truth about Botox crossing the blood-brain barrier - should you be concerned?

✅ Testosterone for women since the 1920s - why this isn't just for men

Dr. Rachel on the med spa industry:

"Med spa world is like the wild west... A medical director technically doesn't even need to be in the same state when they're supervising a med spa. I, in Colorado, legally could supervise a med spa in Alaska and that would be totally okay."

On filler placement mistakes:

"That in between the eyebrows, that area is actually not an ideal location for filler because filler is specifically for volume loss... those wrinkles in between your eyes are usually from facial expression."

Greg on finding the right provider:

"If they don't have a picture of somebody that is my age, like I don't wanna see a 30-year-old before and after of Botox. I wanna see a 65-year-old."

Dr. Rachel on taking control of your care:

"Nobody should have to feel like a number. So if you're not getting the answers that you feel like you deserve, then meet with somebody else. There's nothing wrong with that."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Rebels considering their first med spa treatment but overwhelmed by options

✓ Anyone who's been told their aging concerns are "just normal"

✓ People wanting to understand the difference between volume loss and expression lines

✓ Those seeking a physician who takes a holistic approach to aging

✓ Anyone curious about combining hormone therapy with aesthetic treatments

The Rebellious Truth About Aging Treatments

While the beauty industry wants you to believe more is always better, Dr. Rachel reveals a different approach. The most effective anti-aging strategy isn't about filling every line or freezing every muscle - it's about understanding what's actually causing your specific concerns.

The game-changer insight: Most people are treating expression lines (caused by muscle movement) with volume fillers, when they should be using neuromodulators like Botox. Meanwhile, actual volume loss in the midface gets ignored.

Dr. Rachel's "Bang for Your Buck" Recommendation

For maximum anti-aging results without surgery: Radiofrequency microneedling (Morpheus)

This treatment addresses multiple concerns at once:

1. Skin texture and fine lines
2. Mild skin tightening
3. Collagen restoration
4. Can even puncture fat cells for facial contouring

The reality check: Two days of social downtime, but Dr. Rachel offers multiple pain management options including nitrous oxide and facial nerve blocks.

Red Flags When Choosing a Med Spa

Before you book anything, ask:

1. Who will actually perform your treatment? If they can't tell you or show pictures of real staff, walk away.
2. Is there a physician on-site? A medical director in another state can't help if you have complications.
3. What are the provider's actual credentials? Not all injectors are created equal.
4. Do they listen to YOUR goals? If they're pushing treatments you don't want, find someone else.

Take Action Like a Rebel

Start with the basics that deliver results:

1. Daily sunscreen (including hands and chest!)
2. Retinol (build up tolerance slowly)
3. Find a provider who spends time understanding YOUR goals

Before any treatment:

1. Research your state's med spa regulations
2. Meet the person who will treat you
3. Ask about pain management options
4. Start conservatively - you can always add more

Remember: It's easier to add more filler than remove it, and you should always feel like yourself - just a really great version.

The Bottom Line

The most rebellious thing you can do in the med spa world is refuse to accept one-size-fits-all approaches to aging. Your face is unique, your concerns are specific, and your treatment plan should reflect that.

Don't settle for providers who won't listen, treatments that don't address your actual concerns, or explanations that don't make sense.

Keep questioning, keep exploring, and remember: You deserve to age on your own terms.

Stay rebellious,

Greg

Ready to explore med spa treatments in the Colorado Springs area? Check out Dr. Rachel at pearlskinbody.com - and tell me about your experience! I want to hear what works for you.

From the $15 billion statin industry to the vegetable oil deception that's fueling chronic disease, this conversation exposes how medical "truths" are often based on flawed studies and financial interests rather than what actually keeps you healthy.

What You'll Discover

The Statin Scandal Exposed

- Why these fungal toxins masquerading as medicine may be causing the very problems they claim to prevent

- How statins destroy mitochondrial function and muscle strength (the #1 factor for longevity)

- The shocking truth about cholesterol: it's a repair molecule your brain literally can't survive without

The Seed Oil Conspiracy

- Why "vegetable" oils are actually industrial byproducts created with gasoline components

- How omega-6 fatty acids from processed oils are driving systemic inflammation and chronic disease

- The simple swaps that can dramatically reduce your disease risk

Supplements That Actually Matter

- Why 2 billion people are zinc deficient and what this means for your cellular function

- The truth about vitamin C: why the RDA keeps you barely alive instead of thriving

- How to know if you need supplements versus getting nutrients from food

Saturated Fat Vindicated

- How one flawed study in the 1960s vilified the fats humans have eaten for millennia

- Why your ancestors' diet of butter, eggs, and meat was actually protecting their hearts

- The real cause of cardiovascular disease (hint: it's not cholesterol)

Key Quotes from Dr. Kumar

“Heart disease is not inevitable. We have epidemiological studies that show some people never develop heart disease. This challenges the fear-based messaging used to sell medications and treatments.

“Statins are fungal toxins. A neurosurgeon's perspective on why these billion-dollar drugs may be doing more harm than good.

“25% of your body's total cholesterol is in the brain. The brain cannot get cholesterol from your body - it makes its own cholesterol. This explains why statin-induced brain fog and dementia are real concerns being ignored.”

“None of our ancestors ever put a teaspoon of seed oil in their mouth. It just didn't exist - it's an industrial process. A reality check on what we're calling "food" today.

The Rebellious Truth About Modern Medicine

Here's what the medical establishment doesn't want you to know: many of today's health recommendations are based on studies from 50+ years ago that have since been debunked. Meanwhile, newer research showing the benefits of traditional foods and the dangers of processed alternatives gets buried because there's no profit in telling people to eat real food.

The system profits from chronic disease management, not cures. When a neurosurgeon tells you to question everything - including his own profession - it's time to listen.

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Anyone taking or being pressured to take statin medications

✓ People confused by contradictory nutrition advice about fats and oils

✓ Those looking for evidence-based supplement guidance beyond marketing hype

✓ Anyone dealing with chronic inflammation, brain fog, or mysterious health issues

✓ People who want to understand the financial incentives driving medical recommendations

✓ Those ready to question medical dogma and think critically about their health choices

Want to take action?

Audit Your Kitchen: Remove seed oils (vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil) and replace with olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, or grass-fed butter. This single change can dramatically reduce inflammation.

Question Your Prescriptions: If you're on statins, research the actual benefits for someone in your risk category. Most people taking them receive minimal benefit while facing significant side effects. I’ve written extensively on statins and women. Here is a 2-part article on my blog.

Read part 1 here.

Part 2 here.

Think Like Your Ancestors: Ask yourself if your great-grandparents would recognize what's on your plate. The further you get from traditional foods, the more likely you are to develop modern diseases.

Supplement Strategically: Focus on nutrients difficult to get from modern food (vitamin C, zinc if vegetarian/vegan, omega-3s) rather than expensive formulations with dubious claims.

Connect with Dr. Ravi Kumar

Website: DrKumarDiscovery.com https://drkumardiscovery.com/

Podcast: Dr. Kumar Discovery

Quick Bites: Extensive blog posts covering 20+ health categories with evidence-based analysis

Dr. Kumar combines his neurosurgical expertise with ancestral wisdom and modern research to provide actionable health insights you won't hear in most medical offices.

Remember, rebels: the most dangerous thing you can do is blindly trust any authority - including doctors - without questioning the evidence. Your health is too important to leave entirely in someone else's hands.

This conversation cuts through the noise of coffee enemas, raw meat diets, and mandatory deadlifting to give you the truth: there's no exercise you HAVE to do, and healthy bodies come in every shape and size.

What You'll Discover

The Exclusionary Machine of Fitness Social Media

1. Why the fitness industry deliberately caters to people who are already fit
2. How clickbait misinformation drowns out sensible health advice
3. The psychological damage of being told your body isn't your "business card"

Exercise myths that turn people off entirely

1. Why you don't need to deadlift to be strong (even trainers skip exercises they don't enjoy)
2. The truth about squats, box jumps, and other "mandatory" movements
3. How to modify any exercise to work for YOUR body and circumstances

The Social Media Fitness Scam Exposed

1. Why most fitness influencers don't actually look like their filtered photos
2. How the algorithm rewards extreme claims over balanced advice
3. The reality behind supplement pushers and MLM fitness schemes

Creating Your Own Sustainable Approach

1. Why small, simple changes create lasting results (not dramatic overhauls)
2. How to curate your social media to see diverse, realistic representations of health
3. The power of focusing on habits instead of appearance

Key Quotes

"There's no exercise that you have to do. There's always a way that you can work a muscle that you might find less tedious or less off-putting." Michael's refreshing take removes the guilt and intimidation from exercise selection.

"If you can approach nutrition from a place of balance so that nutrition fits around your lifestyle rather than consuming it, it's always going to be a better outcome." This reverses the typical restriction mindset that keeps people cycling through diet failures.

"Our bodies are not a great reflection of how healthy, how strong, how happy we are. Fit and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes." A radical message in an industry obsessed with one narrow definition of "fitness."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Anyone who feels intimidated by traditional gym culture or fitness spaces ✓ People tired of conflicting nutrition advice (eggs are good/bad/good again) ✓ Those who've been told they "must" do certain exercises to see results ✓ Anyone following fitness accounts that make them feel worse about themselves ✓ People considering GLP-1 medications and facing judgment from fitness professionals ✓ Anyone ready to focus on health habits instead of appearance outcomes

Take action

Start Ridiculously Small: Instead of overhauling everything, pick one tiny habit change. Michael's clients are often surprised by how simple effective programs actually are.

Question the "Musts": Next time someone tells you there's an exercise you HAVE to do, remember Michael's approach: find movements you can tolerate or even enjoy that work the same muscle groups.

Focus on Function: Ask yourself what you want your body to DO rather than how you want it to LOOK. Build habits around those functional goals.

Connect with Michael Ulloa

Instagram/Social: @MichaelUlloaPT

Podcast: How to Fitness

Services: Online personal training and nutrition coaching (3, 6, or 12-month options)

Michael works with clients in 28+ countries and provides twice-weekly video check-ins, custom exercise programs, and nutrition coaching with a focus on sustainable, simple changes.

Remember, rebels: the most radical thing you can do in today's fitness landscape is refuse to accept that health has a specific look. Your habits matter infinitely more than your Instagram aesthetic.

Whether you're navigating empty nest syndrome, career transitions, or relationship challenges, this conversation reveals how to move from surviving midlife to thriving in it.

What You'll Discover

The Real Story Behind Midlife Struggles

1. Why surface-level problems mask deeper patterns that started decades ago
2. How childhood experiences show up in your current triggers and reactions
3. The connection between feeling "activated" by others and unhealed parts of yourself

Navigating Relationships When Everything Changes

1. Why boundaries become crucial (and harder) as you age
2. How to stop being a doormat without becoming selfish
3. The surprising way meeting others' core needs can transform your relationships

Redefining Purpose After 50

1. Why "finding your purpose" misses the point entirely
2. The six human needs every fulfilling activity must satisfy
3. How to transition from one life phase to the next without losing yourself

The Four Midlife Personality Types

Take Dr. McCreadie's quiz and find yours

1. Which of the four types describes you (and your blind spots)
2. How to leverage your natural gifts while addressing your challenges
3. Why knowing your "shadow side" is the key to real growth

Key Insights

"The problem is never the problem. There's always something underneath that." Dr. McCreadie's approach to coaching reveals how current frustrations often connect to unresolved childhood patterns or unmet needs.

"When someone's trying to hurt you, it's because they're hurting." This perspective shift can revolutionize how you handle conflict, especially with family members during tense transitions.

The Rebellious Truth About Midlife

Here's what nobody tells you: midlife isn't a crisis to survive - it's a strategic opportunity to redesign your life around what actually matters. While society pushes the narrative that your best years are behind you, the research shows that women who embrace this transition intentionally often report their highest life satisfaction in their 50s and 60s.

The key? Stop trying to fix surface-level symptoms and start addressing the underlying needs that aren't being met.

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Women in their 40s, 50s, or 60s feeling lost after major life changes

✓ Anyone struggling with adult children who won't fully launch

✓ People questioning whether to stay in long-term relationships

✓ Those feeling unfulfilled in careers that once excited them

✓ Anyone who finds themselves getting "activated" by the same people repeatedly

✓ Women wondering if there's more to life than what they're currently experiencing

Take Action

Dig Beneath the Surface: Next time you feel triggered or frustrated, ask yourself: "Where have I experienced this pattern before?" and "What need isn't being met here?"

Take the Midlife Personality Quiz: Visit Dr. Sue McCreadie's website to discover your midlife type and learn your natural gifts alongside potential blind spots.

Experiment with the 90-Day Challenge: Pick one important relationship and spend three months intentionally meeting that person's top two needs. Notice what shifts without saying anything about what you're doing.

Connect with Dr. Sue McCreadie

Website for Pediatrics: Pediatric Holistic Medicine

Website for Soulful Medicine, coaching

Take the Quiz: Discover your midlife personality type and get personalized insights Community: Join other women navigating midlife transitions through her group coaching programs

Remember, rebels: the most revolutionary thing you can do is refuse to accept that feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or disconnected is just part of getting older. You get to decide how you do this next chapter.

This episode features Brent Eck, founder of Sage Healthspan, who transformed personal tragedy into a mission to put health data back in your hands. After losing his father to cancer and spending two decades in the healthcare industry, Brent was tired of seeing people be ignored til it was too late.

What You'll Discover

✅ How to transform from health outsourcer to health agent - the mindset shift that changes everything

✅ The "McDonald's in a bottle" story that launched a 20-year journey into nutrition science

✅ Why your "normal" lab ranges might be keeping you sick - and what optimal really looks like

✅ The 5 foundational health skills that deliver 98% of your results (spoiler: supplements aren't one of them)

✅ How AI can interpret your blood work without compromising your privacy - no more Googling medical terms for hours

Key Quotes

Brent on health agency:

"I'm not gonna outsource my health to the doctor. I'm gonna become the agent of my own health."

On the broken system:

So after taking blood for my annual exam, my doctor says "Listen, I'll call you if something's wrong... It turns out three or four weeks later I had to call in and I ended up getting the individual at the front desk saying, 'Hey, are my blood labs back? How were they?' And she said, 'Oh yeah, they're back. They're in the system. Yeah, there's no notes. Everything should be fine.' That's not the world I wanna live in" Brent said.

Greg on taking action:

"If you've been having this inkling and you just happened upon this podcast and something comes up for you, take the next step."

Brent on the race car driver mindset:

"You take the best race car driver in the world... and you look at him and say, 'What are three things you could do to improve your driving?' And he'll tell you the three things... That's how we all need to be about our health."

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Rebels who are tired of being told "you're normal" when they don't feel optimal

✓ Data-driven individuals ready to understand their own biomarkers

✓ Anyone who's ever left a doctor's appointment with more questions than answers

✓ People ready to learn health as a skill rather than leaving it to chance

✓ Those seeking to enhance their relationship with healthcare providers, not replace them

And anyone who wants access to affordable blood tests without a doctor's prescription

The Rebellious Truth About Health Data

While conventional medicine treats your annual blood work like classified information, Brent reveals how Sage Healthspan is changing the game. Their AI doesn't just tell you what your numbers mean - it's trained by functional medicine doctors and operates in a closed network, so you get expert interpretation without your health data being sent to the cloud.

The paradigm shift? Moving from "normal" ranges (based on the average of everyone tested, including unhealthy people) to optimal ranges based on the latest science for your age and demographics.

The 5 Health Foundations That Trump Everything Else

According to Brent, these skills deliver 98% of your health results:

1. Calorie balance and adequate protein
2. Quality sleep mastery
3. Avoiding the obvious toxins (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.)
4. Stress management and processing
5. Strategic exercise and muscle maintenance

Master these first - everything else is fine-tuning.

Take Action Like a Rebel

Ready to stop being a passenger in your own health journey? Here's how to start:

1. Download the Sage app - Upload up to 100 tests for free and get AI-powered interpretations
2. Audit your last blood panel - Are you missing key markers like ApoB or Lp(a)?
3. Track trends, not just snapshots - Health is a moving picture, not a photograph
4. Prepare for your next doctor visit - Show up with informed questions, not just complaints

Visit sagehealthspan.com to start your journey from health outsourcer to health agent.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept limitations that don't actually have to exist. Your health data belongs to you - it's time to understand what it's telling you.

Keep questioning, keep exploring, and remember: health is a skill you can learn, not something that just happens to you.

Stay rebellious,

Greg

Want to share your health transformation story? I want to hear about it! Connect with me on social media and let's celebrate your rebellious wellness wins.

Lisa is a nutrition expert and ketogenic counselor who transformed her own health after 30 years using Keto and variations of it. And she, like me and many of you, challenges the conventional healthcare model that focuses on diagnosing and treating rather than preventing and empowering.

What You'll Discover:

1. Why the fear around ketogenic eating is largely misunderstood and how it differs from dangerous ketoacidosis
2. The critical difference between being "healthy" on the outside versus metabolically healthy on the inside
3. Why you can be insulin resistant for 10-15 years before it shows up in standard blood work
4. How the order you eat your food can dramatically impact your blood sugar response
5. Why continuous glucose monitors are game-changers for understanding your individual body responses
6. The simple ice cream recipe that proves fat doesn't make you fat

Quotes

"We have more power than we realize. We've unfortunately been conditioned through healthcare to think that there's a pill or potion for everything, instead of taking a look within ourselves."

"You can be insulin resistant for 10 to 15 years prior to your A1C ever showing pre-diabetes. Most physicians don't do the lab testing to check for inflammation or insulin resistance."

"Fat doesn't make you fat. If we could get past this last 50 years of fear around giving people fat - sugar makes you fat."

The Truth About Metabolic Health:

While conventional medicine waits for disease to appear before acting, true wellness rebels understand that metabolic health, or ill health, is about what's happening inside your body right now. Lisa reveals how inflammation and insulin resistance are the real culprits behind chronic disease, and how you can detect and reverse them years before they become "diagnosable" conditions.

Who This Episode Is Perfect For:

✓ Recovering yo-yo dieters ready to break the cycle

✓ Anyone confused about ketogenic eating and its safety

✓ People who "look healthy" but wonder what's happening inside

✓ Those frustrated with conventional healthcare's pill-first approach

✓ Anyone ready to take control of their metabolic health

Connect with Lisa:

Work with Lisa and Dr. Avedia at iixhearts.com for comprehensive metabolic health support that goes beyond conventional medicine.

Ready to rebel against accepting metabolic dysfunction as inevitable? Your future self will thank you for not settling for "normal" lab values when optimal health is possible.

Stay rebellious, Gregory Anne

Ready to rebel against the idea that recovery has a ceiling?

Welcome back, rebels! Today we're challenging everything you think you know about stroke, recovery, and the power of your thoughts to create your reality. My guest Tsgoyna Tanzman is a speech-language pathologist turned life coach who's helping stroke survivors shatter the myth that "three months is as good as it gets."

What You'll Discover

✅ The shocking statistics - Why women are 60% more likely to have strokes than men (and why single women face even greater risks)

✅ The rebellious truth about stroke prevention - How 80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes, not just genetics

✅ The BE-FAST method - A life-saving acronym that could mean the difference between full recovery and permanent disability

✅ Why "false hope" doesn't exist - How conventional medical thinking limits recovery potential

✅ The mind-body connection rebels need to understand - How your thoughts literally create your cellular reality

✅ The power of "I AM" - Why these two words are either your greatest weapon or your worst enemy

Quotables

From Tsgoyna:

"Two times as many women die of stroke when compared to breast cancer each year.”

"There is no such thing as false hope. We have to look for evidence of progress, gather strengths and notice what's working."

"You don't have to have a brain injury to damage your brain. You can do that with your own stinking thinking."

From Greg:

"80% is our responsibility, whether it's diabetes, heart disease... Everybody has cancer in their body. Not everybody's gene that carries a cancer turns into a cancer in the body, but the lifestyle is the thing that turns the gene on or off."

The Rebellious Truth About Stroke Recovery

Here's what the medical establishment doesn't always tell you: Recovery doesn't have an expiration date. While conventional wisdom says recovery plateaus at 3-6 months, Tsgoyna's work with thousands of patients proves this is a dangerous myth.

The research shows that neuroplasticity - your brain's ability to rewire itself - continues throughout your entire life. But here's the kicker: Your thoughts about your recovery directly impact your cellular healing.

This isn't just feel-good fluff, rebels. This is science-backed truth that challenges the entire paradigm of "managing" versus healing.

The Mind-Body Rebellion

Ready for a paradigm shift? Bruce Lipton's cellular research proves that when cells are exposed to stress (including negative self-talk), they literally shut down - they stop eliminating toxins and can't function properly.

Your "I AM" statements aren't just words - they're cellular programming.

Try this rebellious experiment Tsgoyna shares: Notice the difference in how these feel in your body:

1. "I must improve my health" vs. "I am improving my health"
2. "I should get stronger" vs. "I am getting stronger"

The ladder approach isn't woo-woo nonsense - it's strategic nervous system regulation.

Your Rebellious Action Steps

Don't settle for accepting limitations that don't actually have to exist. Here's how to rebel:

1. Learn the BE-FAST signs and share them with every woman in your life
2. Audit your "I AM" statements - are you programming limitation or possibility?
3. Question any medical professional who gives you a recovery timeline ceiling
4. Get Tsgoyna's book: "Hope After Stroke: For Caregivers and Survivors"
5. Start thinking like a stroke prevention rebel - 80% is in your control

Resources

Books by Tsgoyna Tansman:

1. "Hope After Stroke: For Caregivers and Survivors, the Holistic Guide to Getting Your Life Back"
2. "Just Decide: Failproof Strategies to Uplevel Your Life, Career and Relationships"

Website: Tsgoyna.com

(includes free resources for stroke prevention and brain health)

Keep the Rebellion Going

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept limitations that don't actually have to exist. Your future self will thank you for not settling for conventional wisdom that caps your potential.

Stay rebellious, and I'll see you next week for another episode that challenges everything you think you know about wellness!

What limitation are you ready to rebel against? Drop a comment and let me know - I want to hear about it!

#RebelliousWellness #StrokePrevention #MindBodyConnection #Neuroplasticity #WellnessRevolution

Let’s start with this quote from Dr. Goddard: “The endocrine system is endlessly complex.” And so no conversation on hormones at perimenopause and menopause is going to be complete in 35 minutes. But I did my best to ask Dr. Goddard the questions I think cover what we experience and have questions about.

Topics Covered

The Hidden Hormone Story

1. Why estrogen is just one piece of the menopause puzzle
2. The role of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in symptoms
3. How thyroid, cortisol, aldosterone, and parathyroid hormones are affected
4. The metabolic hormone connection: insulin, glucagon, and blood sugar regulation

Finding the Right Healthcare Provider

1. How to assess your GP's comfort level with menopause
2. Questions to ask your doctor to gauge their expertise
3. When to seek out a specialist vs. staying with your current provider
4. Using The Menopause Society to find certified practitioners

Telehealth and Online Menopause Care

1. What to look for in online menopause platforms
2. Pros and cons of virtual care vs. traditional practice

GLP-1 Agonists (Ozempic, etc.) in Menopause

1. Why these weight loss drugs are actually hormone analogs
2. How they might interact with other menopause treatments
3. Potential effects on oral hormone absorption
4. The complexity of introducing new hormones during perimenopause

Natural Alternatives and Supplements

1. Berberine and inositol for insulin sensitivity
2. The truth about allulose as a "natural Ozempic"
3. Why current natural options pale in comparison to prescription medications

Birth Control Pills During Perimenopause

1. How low-dose pills can regulate heavy, irregular periods
2. The contraception factor: pregnancy is still possible
3. How birth control acts like hormone therapy
4. Safety updates from early high-dose formulations

Non-Hormonal Treatment Options

1. SSRIs vs. SNRIs for mood and physical symptoms
2. Viosa: the current non-hormonal option for hot flashes
3. Upcoming Bayer medication targeting mood and sleep
4. The expanding pharmaceutical interest in menopause

Individual Variability in Menopause

1. Why some women "sail through" while others struggle significantly
2. The mystery of symptom variation between women
3. Potential connections between childbirth experiences and menopause

Resources Mentioned

1. The Menopause Society: For finding certified menopause practitioners
2. MIDI: Telehealth platform example (fee-for-service, accepts insurance)
3. Viosah: Currently available non-hormonal medication for hot flashes
4. Dr. Goddard's Newsletter: "Hot Flash" at savvy patient.substack.com
5. Practice: Park Avenue Endocrinology, Upper East Side Manhattan

And if you want all 3 years worth of my podcasts head over to Rebellious Wellness Over 50. When I rebranded all of those episodes stayed behind at the old name. I've got so many great docs and others you won't want to miss.

Meet Eric Klos, CEO and founder of Daily Breath, the revolutionary app that's challenging how we approach environmental health. While conventional wisdom treats air quality as background noise, Eric's platform puts you in control of understanding and preventing environmental health impacts before they become chronic conditions.

What You'll Discover

✓ The sad story that inspired Eric to create Daily Breath - and how it could prevent premature deaths

✓ Why waiting for symptoms is the old paradigm - and how to get ahead of environmental triggers

✓ The hidden pollutants in your home that are impacting your health right now

✓ How weather conditions multiply the impact of allergens and pollutants on your body

✓ Revolutionary wearable technology that's making personal air quality monitoring possible

✓ Why women may experience environmental health impacts differently than men

✓ The connection between air quality and cardiovascular disease - the #1 killer

Key Quotes from Eric

"Why are we pinpointing the triggers after the fact? Why aren't we trying to pinpoint the triggers and associate them with your risk personally?"

"We're not at the mercy of the weather and the environment. We can do things that will prevent negative health outcomes from occurring and take action."

"Without a data platform that tracks environmental exposures and your health, how can we possibly make these correlations?"

"The medical community has been neglecting environmental determinants of health for years. We have a system that's driven by what I call sick care codes."

The Rebellious Truth About Environmental Health

Here's what the healthcare system doesn't emphasize: Your environment is continuously impacting your health, and you can take proactive action instead of just reacting to symptoms.

While conventional medicine waits for you to develop asthma, allergies, or cardiovascular issues, Eric's approach arms you with:

1. Personalized environmental forecasts that predict when conditions will trigger your symptoms
2. Community mapping that shows where symptoms are clustering in real-time
3. Actionable recommendations for everything from air purifiers to timing your outdoor activities
4. Long-term tracking to understand your personal environmental health patterns

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ People with allergies, asthma, or environmental sensitivities

✓ Parents wanting to protect their children from developing chronic conditions

✓ Anyone interested in preventive health and biohacking

✓ Health-conscious rebels who want to take control of their environment

✓ People living in areas with air quality challenges

✓ Anyone ready to stop accepting "that's just how it is" when it comes to environmental health

Take Action Today

Download the Daily Breath app (available free, premium version just $0.99/year) and start tracking how your environment impacts your daily wellness.

Connect with Eric and Daily Breath:

1. Website: dailybreath.com
2. Available on iOS and Android app stores

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept that environmental toxins are just part of modern life. You have access to some control over your environmental health with Daily Breath - it's time to start using it.

Ready to stop reactive healthcare and take charge of the air you breathe? Your lungs, heart, and future self will thank you for not settling for "that's just how it is."

Stay rebellious,

Gregory Anne

This episode is part of the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle movement - challenging conventional wisdom and empowering you to question limitations that don't actually have to exist.

Are you exhausted by the "no pain, no gain" mentality that's creating an adversarial relationship with your body? Ready to rebel against the toxic messages about aging, body size, and what it means to move with joy instead of judgment?

Then this transformative conversation with Jennifer Joy Jimenez will liberate you from every limiting belief you've ever had about your body and show you how conscious dance can literally heal trauma while reversing the aging process.

🎬 Special Note: This episode features a visual presentation with scientific slides AND we actually dance together! For the full multimedia experience, watch the video version on my YouTube channel: Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle

Here's what in store:

• Jennifer's incredible transformation journey - From body-hating professional dancer graded on her body size to movement medicine pioneer helping thousands worldwide

• The pregnancy paradigm shift - How learning to love the baby in her body taught Jennifer to finally listen to her body's wisdom instead of suppressing its signals

• The birth trauma revelation - Why her 50-hour labor became the greatest gift, exposing the adversarial relationship she still had with her body

• The conscious dance breakthrough - How her first conscious dance class made her feel like "a caged bird finally set free"

• The science that will blow your mind - Research proving dance outperforms antidepressants, reduces Alzheimer's risk by 76%, and creates new neural pathways

• Practical tools you can use today - Simple ways to create your own dance breaks and "body part dance" practices

• BONUS: Live dance demonstration - Experience the transformation yourself with Jennifer's guided movement practice

Key Quotes:

Jennifer Jimenez: "Your body is your first born... Who puts you to bed at night? Who feeds you? Who bathes you? Who dresses you? You do. You are your own caretaker."

Jennifer Jimenez: "When you let your body dance, you strip away the lies and the dogma until all you're left with is the spirit of life itself. Movement is medicine, and if you put the psyche in motion, it will heal itself."

Gregory Anne: "There's nothing like your favorite song to get you out of your head... You just can't think negative thoughts when you're letting the music lead."

Jennifer Jimenez: "Most people don't realize this, but the heart has an electromagnetic energy field that is 5,000 times greater than the brain's. How do we activate our heart energy? Dance is one of our greatest tools for that."

The Science That Changes Everything:

While the fitness industry promotes punishment-based approaches, Jennifer's work reveals that joy-filled, intuitive movement is actually more powerful for both physical and mental health:

• 21-year New England Journal of Medicine study: Dance reduced Alzheimer's and Parkinson's risk by 76% • UCLA research: Conscious dance produced mental health benefits in 98% of participants • Comparative studies: Dance alone outperformed antidepressants, weightlifting, and walking for mental wellness • UK study: Dance outperformed weight resistance training for people over 70 • Neuroplasticity research: Creative movement creates new brain pathways that keep you mentally young • Happy hormone cascade: Just minutes of music and dance release dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins

The Rebellious Truth About Movement:

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to treat our bodies like enemies that need to be controlled and punished. Jennifer's "transcendence" approach proves that when we listen to our body's wisdom and move with joy instead of judgment, healing happens naturally.

Who This Episode is Perfect For:

✓ Rebels tired of the "no pain, no gain" fitness mentality

✓ Women over 50 dealing with body changes and self-judgment

✓ Anyone with a complicated relationship with exercise or movement

✓ People seeking natural alternatives to antidepressants

✓ Those curious about the mind-body connection and energy healing

✓ Anyone ready to reclaim joy in their body regardless of size or ability

Practical Takeaways:

• Create a playlist of songs that make you smile automatically • Try 5-minute dance breaks throughout your day • Practice the "body part dance" - give each part of your body permission to move • Replace negative self-talk with loving, regenerative statements • Remember: there's no "right" way to move - if you've seen an 18-month-old hear music, you know we're all born to move

The Bottom Line:

Your body isn't broken and doesn't need to be fixed - it needs to be loved, listened to, and given permission to move in ways that feel good. The research is clear: conscious dance is more powerful than pharmaceuticals for mental health, more effective than traditional exercise for brain health, and more healing than any punishment-based approach.

As Jennifer beautifully puts it: we are the CEOs of our own health, and our bodies are constantly talking to us - we just need to learn how to listen.

About Jennifer Joy Jimenez:

Movement medicine pioneer, founder of Transcendence conscious dance practice, and Director of Health & Wellbeing at Brave Thinking Institute. Former professional dancer who transformed her relationship with her body and now helps thousands worldwide discover the healing power of conscious movement.

Connect with Jennifer:

🌐 BTI.com/dance (free class with code: freeclass)

🎵 Live classes: 2 Saturdays/month, 10am Pacific

📥 Recording + curated playlist included with registration

Ready to join the body liberation rebellion? Use Jennifer's free class code and discover what happens when you stop fighting your body and start dancing with it instead!

🎬 Don't miss the visual experience! Watch the full episode with Jennifer's scientific slides and our live dance session on YouTube: Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle

Your future self will thank you for choosing joy over judgment and movement over punishment.

Are you stuck in the same exhausting relationship patterns, wondering why you keep attracting the same type of partner? Ready to rebel against the unconscious cycles that keep you trapped in toxic dynamics?

Then this conversation with Dr. Nima Rahmany will transform how you understand relationships, triggers, and the deep connection between emotional wounds and physical health.

What You'll Discover:

• The shocking link between relationship trauma and chronic illness - How relational ruptures create physical health problems that doctors can't solve with pills

• Dr. Nima's transformation story - From successful chiropractor to relationship expert after his own toxic relationship turned abusive

• The narcissist-codependent dance explained - Why these two attachment styles are "like moth to a flame" for each other

• The unconscious deal that creates trauma bonds - How childhood wounds drive us to recreate familiar but harmful dynamics

• Why traditional couples therapy fails - The difference between first-order and second-order change in healing

• The "Infinite Loop of Doom" - How anxious-avoidant cycles destroy your nervous system and health

• Becoming trigger-proof vs. trigger-less - Learning to use triggers for deeper connection instead of destruction

Key Quotes:

Dr. Nima: "The thing is, we don't know what's there until we're in a relationship. And there's something about intimate relationships where there's the vulnerability... where now the attachment hooks are in and you're no longer governed by your kind of adult brain anymore. It's the child brain that takes over."

Dr. Nima: "My sense of safety depends on your validation and approval of me. Your disconnect, your dysregulation becomes my dysregulation. There's no boundary energetically between what's happening inside of you and me. It's like a skinless peach."

Gregory Anne: "Anybody who's listening who feels like they're looking for that next person and can't seem to find somebody different, I think there's some work to be done."

Dr. Nima: "Becoming trigger proof doesn't mean trigger less. It means responsive. What do I do to self-soothe? Then how do I communicate from my adult self rather than from the child self?"

The Rebellious Truth About Relationship Patterns:

While conventional wisdom focuses on communication skills and compromise, the real work lies in understanding how childhood attachment wounds unconsciously drive us to recreate familiar dynamics. Dr. Nima's approach reveals that toxic relationships aren't random - they're unconscious attempts to heal unfinished business from our earliest relationships.

Who This Episode is Perfect For:

✓ Rebels tired of attracting the same type of toxic partner

✓ Anyone stuck in anxious-avoidant relationship cycles

✓ People dealing with chronic health issues tied to relationship stress

✓ Those ready to break generational patterns of dysfunction

✓ Anyone curious about the deep connection between emotional and physical health

✓ People who've tried traditional therapy without lasting results

The Bottom Line:

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to stay unconscious in our relationship patterns. Dr. Nima's work proves that we don't have to keep repeating the same toxic cycles - but breaking free requires going deeper than surface-level changes.

Your triggers aren't the enemy - they're messengers pointing you toward the wounds that need healing. The goal isn't to avoid being triggered, but to develop the skills to respond rather than react.

Ready to become trigger-proof instead of trigger-avoidant? Start by understanding your attachment style and recognizing that the pattern you're in has nothing to do with your current relationship and everything to do with unhealed childhood wounds.

About Dr. Nima Rahmany:

Former chiropractor turned relationship expert specializing in shadow work and emotional regulation. Creator of the "trigger-proof" methodology and founder of the Cycle Breakers Collective. Known for his deep understanding of narcissist-codependent dynamics and trauma bond healing.

Connect with Dr. Nima:

🌐 DrNima.com

📺 Dr. Nima TV (YouTube channel)

🎯 Monthly "Overview Experience" workshops

💫 Cycle Breakers Collective (invitation only)

Your future self will thank you for choosing conscious relationship patterns over unconscious repetition.

Are you exhausted by conflicting wellness advice from influencers who seem more interested in selling than healing? Ready to rebel against an industry where "expertise" can literally be purchased for the right price?

Then this conversation with Sandy Kruse will validate everything you've suspected about the wellness world - and empower you to trust yourself instead of the latest guru.

What You'll Discover:

1. The shocking reality of bought expertise - How some wellness "experts" pay $30,000+ to be featured in high profile media as authorities
2. Sandy's incredible personal journey - From three family health crises in three years to becoming a holistic nutritionist at 46
3. Why following expert advice backfired - How Sandy became insulin resistant while doing intermittent fasting recommended by authorities
4. The authenticity crisis in wellness - Podcasters charging guests money, bought followers, and hidden financial motivations
5. How to spot fake vs. authentic wellness voices - Practical questions to separate genuine guidance from paid promotion
6. The power of inner wisdom - Why trusting yourself trumps any external expert every time
7. Practical health navigation - Building your own team of practitioners and using discernment in research

Sandy Kruse: "Once again, it's like you need to have these, whether it is even some practitioners that are online that you know and trust are good. Having a physician that's your best health advocate that wants the best for you... it's like you have your team, right? That know you."

Sandy Kruse: "I became insulin resistant while I was doing 16:8 listening to one of the experts... So I'm like, no, I'm living proof because my HbA1c went up to 6.1 while I was doing that. And so what I was doing was I was listening to an expert, not listening to my body."

Gregory Anne: "And I think we downplay our own inner wisdom. We as a collective group of women at any age, and if we had never been good at trusting ourselves before, by the time we're 50, 60, now, we're really like... you just gotta clear out all that noise and really give it a chance, right? Give your own inner wisdom a chance to come out."

Sandy Kruse: "The biggest blocker of that inner wisdom is... fear. So I've been there before where you're scared shitless because you just got a diagnosis... and fear can really blur that inner wisdom and what feels right... but then also never being quiet."

The Rebellious Truth About the Wellness Industry:

While the industry promotes expensive protocols and one-size-fits-all solutions, the real path to health lies in developing discernment, curating a team of trusted professionals, and trusting your own body's wisdom. Sandy's journey from health crisis to holistic nutrition expertise proves that authentic healing happens when you combine knowledge with intuition, not blind obedience to authorities.

Who This Episode is Perfect For:

✓ Rebels overwhelmed by conflicting wellness advice

✓ Women who've tried every expert protocol without lasting success

✓ Anyone suspicious about the wellness industry's true motives

✓ People ready to trust their inner wisdom over external "experts"

✓ Those dealing with thyroid issues or health practitioner challenges

✓ Anyone wanting to separate authentic guidance from clever marketing

The Bottom Line:

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to outsource our health decisions to influencers who may have bought their credibility. Your body has been giving you signals all along - you just need to get quiet enough to listen.

Don't settle for following the latest trend from someone who paid their way to "expert" status. Trust yourself, build your own practitioner team, and remember: authentic wellness comes from within, not from someone else's affiliate link.

Ready to join the authentic wellness rebellion? Start by asking yourself: Does this advice resonate with MY body and experience, or am I just following someone else's paid promotion?

About Sandy Kruse:

Registered Holistic Nutritionist who returned to school at 46 after family health crises. Host of "Sandy K Nutrition Health and Lifestyle Queen" podcast for 5+ years. Known for her authentic, no-BS approach to wellness and fierce advocacy for personal empowerment over expert worship.

Connect with Sandy:

🌐 SandyKruse.ca

🎙️ "Sandy K Nutrition Health and Lifestyle Queen" podcast

📝 Substack (where she gets "fiery" about industry issues)

Today's guest, Dr. Dana Dean, is here to challenge everything you think you know about vision - and rebels, this goes WAY beyond needing glasses. We're talking about a complete paradigm shift in how your brain processes information, learns new skills, and reaches its full potential.

What You'll Discover

🔥 The rebellious truth about vision: It's learned - which means it can be retrained and optimized throughout your entire life

🧠 Why 75% of all sensory input is vision - and how nobody teaches us to handle this massive information stream properly

💥 How 2 in 4 children have undiagnosed vision-related learning issues that often get mislabeled as ADHD or other conditions

⚡ The real story behind stroke recovery: How patients can rewire neural pathways through vision training when traditional therapy plateaus

🎯 Visual memory vs. rote memorization - the game-changing difference that transforms how you learn and remember

🚀 Why primitive reflexes matter for adults - and how something as simple as crawling can unlock better cognitive function

✨ The connection between C-sections and learning difficulties - plus how to address these challenges at any age

Key Quotes

"Vision is so much more than eyesight. It's how our brain and our eyes and our body connect together." Dr. Dean

"Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept limitations that don't actually have to exist." Greg

"The magic happens in what we don't see - peripheral vision, focusing systems, visual memory. All of these tools are really the unseen, and that's where all the magic is." Dr. Dean

The Rebellious Truth About Vision Intelligence

Here's what the medical establishment doesn't always tell you: Vision is learned. While conventional wisdom says you're stuck with the vision you're born with (plus whatever glasses can fix), the research shows something completely different.

Dr. Dean reveals how vision training can help:

1. Stroke patients regain cognitive function faster than traditional therapies
2. Children with learning struggles overcome challenges without medication
3. Adults experiencing vision changes retrain their depth perception and visual processing
4. Anyone feeling cognitively overwhelmed learn to efficiently process the 75% of sensory input that comes through vision

This isn't just another wellness trend - it's a paradigm shift in understanding human potential.

Dr. Dana's Incredible Journey

From struggling student to vision revolutionary, Dr. Dean's personal story proves that limitations don't have to be permanent. After being a straight-A student in South Africa, she hit a wall in later years of school, barely made it through college, and then failed her optometry boards three times.

The turning point? Discovering vision training. After just six months of working on her own vision intelligence, she retook the boards and scored nearly perfect. That experience transformed not just her career, but her entire mission to help others break free from unnecessary limitations.

Who This Episode Is Perfect For

✓ Rebels ready to challenge cognitive decline as "normal aging"

✓ Parents of kids struggling in school (with or without diagnoses)

✓ Anyone dealing with stroke, concussion, or brain injury recovery

✓ People experiencing balance issues, memory concerns, or vision changes

✓ Adults who want to expand their cognitive abilities instead of watching them contract

✓ Anyone labeled with "learning disabilities" who suspects there might be more to the story

Ready to Explore Your Vision Intelligence?

Dr. Dean offers both in-person and online vision training sessions, plus she's developing workshops on different aspects of vision intelligence including:

1. Peripheral awareness training for better balance and spatial confidence
2. Visual memory expansion to reduce cognitive load and improve recall
3. Primitive reflex integration to build the foundation for efficient learning
4. Cellular-level vision training to support overall visual health

Don't settle for a world that keeps getting smaller. Your brain can learn new visual skills at any age, and your future self will thank you for not accepting limitations that don't actually have to exist.

Connect with Dr. Dana Dean

Website: visionintelligence.org

Newsletter: Join for ongoing vision intelligence tips and workshop announcements

Explore her comprehensive resource library, read success stories, and discover which aspects of vision intelligence might be the missing piece in your wellness journey.

Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is question what we've been told is "just the way things are." Whether you're dealing with learning challenges, cognitive changes, or simply want to optimize your brain's potential - vision intelligence might be the paradigm shift you've been looking for.

Keep questioning, keep exploring, and remember: limitations that don't actually have to exist are meant to be challenged.

That's what rebellious wellness is all about.

Stay rebellious,

Gregory Anne

Ready for more paradigm-shifting conversations? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join our community of rebels who refuse to settle for conventional limitations.

Are you tired of knee pain dictating what you can and can't do? Ready to rebel against the idea that chronic pain is just something you have to live with? Then this episode is for you.

I'm sitting down with two absolute game-changers in the world of knee pain relief: Tom Andriacchi (Emeritus Professor at Stanford and 50-year veteran of knee pain research) and Jenny Hledik (former marathoner turned biomedical engineer). Together, they've created something revolutionary called KNEEMO - and the testimonials are incredible.

And Tom and Jenny have generously offered a 20% discount with code WELLNESS20 applied in the cart.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

🧠 The Science That Changes Everything

1. How the "gate control theory" allows vibration to literally block pain signals from reaching your brain
2. Why staying active is actually BETTER for your joints than "protecting" them
3. The surprising connection between knee pain, obesity, and the sedentary lifestyle trap

⚡ KNEEMO: Smart Technology That Actually Works

1. Motion-sensing bands that know exactly when to apply vibration during your movement
2. Real-time adaptation whether you're walking, jogging, playing pickleball, or climbing stairs
3. How this isn't just pain relief - it's functional improvement

💪 The Results That Matter

1. Immediate improvements in quadriceps muscle function
2. Enhanced proprioception (your body's sense of where it is in space)
3. Better stair navigation and balance - no more fear of falling!
4. Post-surgery success stories that will give you hope

Key Quotes:

"We wanted to apply our expertise to working on things that help people, especially people that were suffering with pain."- Tom Andriacchi

"You should stay moving to support your joint health. That helps to reduce stiffness and improve flexibility." - Jenny Hledik

"We saw drastic improvements... for the naked eye, you see them struggling and then when they were wearing KNEEMO... they were better able to get their motion under control." - Jenny Hledik

Who This Episode Is Perfect For:

✅ Anyone dealing with knee osteoarthritis

✅ Post-knee replacement patients still experiencing pain

✅ Athletes with ACL or meniscus tears

✅ Active adults who want to stay that way

✅ People afraid of losing their balance or mobility

✅ Anyone looking for non-invasive pain solutions

✅ Physical therapy patients struggling with pain compliance

The Rebellious Truth About Knee Pain:

Here's what the medical establishment doesn't always tell you: movement is medicine. While conventional wisdom says "rest and protect," the research shows that strategic, supported activity is what your joints actually crave.

Tom and Jenny aren't just selling a device - they're challenging the entire paradigm of how we think about pain management. Instead of masking symptoms, they're addressing the root functional issues that keep us trapped in cycles of pain and inactivity.

What's Coming Next:

Tom revealed they're working on applications for back pain, shoulders, elbows, and ankles using the same revolutionary technology. The future of pain management isn't in a pill bottle - it's in smart, responsive technology that works WITH your body's natural healing mechanisms.

Take Action:

Ready to rebel against knee pain?

Learn more about KNEEMO: theKNEEMO.com

Read the full team bios, dive into the research, and check out those incredible testimonials I mentioned. This isn't just another "solution" - it's a paradigm shift.

Connect & Share:

Did this episode change how you think about pain management? I want to hear about it! Tag me on social media and let me know your biggest takeaway.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregoryannecox_/

Have a stroll around my website

And if you know someone who's been struggling with knee pain and limiting their activities because of it, please share this episode. Sometimes the most rebellious thing we can do is refuse to accept limitations that don't actually have to exist.

Until Next Week...

Keep questioning, keep exploring, and keep living that rebellious wellness lifestyle. Your future self will thank you for not settling for "that's just how it is."

Stay rebellious,

Gregory Anne

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment plan.

I discovered Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, orthopedic specialist turned longevity expert, while researching spermidine. If not for her thoughtful guidance on how to take this "it" anti-aging supplement, I'd be pill popping to my detriment.

With 30 years of experience in sports and spine medicine, Dr. Yurth shares how she transitioned from simply "patching people together" to pioneering cellular medicine approaches that help people truly heal.

And she did this all while raising 5 children!

What You'll Learn:

1. The truth about joint degeneration: it's not inevitable wear and tear but an inflammatory disease process that can be addressed
2. How our most critical cellular components (like NAD and spermadine) decline with age and the smart way to approach supplementation
3. Why plugging the "leaky bucket" matters more than just pouring in more supplements
4. The science behind regenerative therapies including exosomes, stem cells, and peptides
5. The surprising top three predictors of longevity (hint: they have nothing to do with supplements!)

Key Moments:

1. Dr. Yurth explains why blindly taking NAD supplements can actually create problems without addressing the root cause
2. The revolutionary approach to joint health that challenges the "joints just wear out" mentality
3. Why your own stem cells might not be the best option as you age
4. The three most powerful predictors of longevity that most people ignore

What predicts our health span might surprise you

"If you look at the top three predictors of longevity... the number one predictor is your socialization... Number two is the amount of time you spend actually in nature... And then the last one is... purpose."

Dr. Yurth's Human Optimization Academy empowers people to become their own health advocates by teaching them to understand their lab results and the science behind longevity interventions.

Connect with Dr. Yurth:

1. Website: boulerlongevity.com
2. Academy: bli.academy

Stay rebellious, and I'll be back next week with another fascinating guest who's challenging the status quo in aging well!

And if you like this kind of information, check out my past episodes at RebelliousWellnessOver50.com/podcast

Brea's online, global community and class portal offers over 400 different classes, guided meditations, and live classes once a month.

Key Points:

1. Brea has been teaching yoga since 2003 and experienced what she calls a "yoga existential crisis" about 10 years into her teaching career
2. Heart and Bones Yoga combines biomechanics and anatomy knowledge with traditional yoga practices
3. The approach focuses on building strength rather than just flexibility
4. Props are celebrated and encouraged for everyone, not just as modifications for those who "can't do" a pose
5. Classes are organized by body focus (hips, thoracic spine, etc.) and energy level (relaxing, easygoing, energizing) rather than beginner/intermediate/advanced
6. Online format makes yoga more accessible with shorter class options (10-20 minutes)
7. The anatomy-informed approach acts as a "great equalizer" that works for different body types
8. Heart and Bones offers an online yoga teacher training program
9. Their approach includes strength training options with weights for bone health

Quote from Brea:

"Move with love. Move your body with love, move with love with your community and your people. What is moving with love for you? And maybe do more of that."

I'm a big fan of yoga in its many variations and have interviewed yogis of many different persuasions. Yogi Aaron, for instance, insists we stretch too much and to our detriment. Kathy White has developed a type of asana that renews aging joints.

The key is to find what works for you. Brea's no-pressure-to-be-bendy, work with the body you have and the way it feels when you arrive at the mat feels like a great place to start a practice or keep one going if the old way is no longer working.

Resources:

1. Website: heartandbonesyoga.com
2. Online yoga membership with 400+ classes
3. Teacher training program available
4. Upcoming Tuscany yoga retreat
5. Free 7-day Trial

This episode highlights the importance of inclusivity in wellness practices and finding movement that truly feels good for your unique body.

The levels were high so he ordered the genetic test to confirm and bingo, heterozygous or two genes worth of the "Celtic Curse" as it's sometimes called because I was so happy to come across naturopathic doctor Eric Lewis about hemochromatosis, a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food.

Dr. Lewis explains that hemochromatosis is a "genetic metabolic disorder of excessive iron absorption from our meals" that affects approximately 1 in 9 people of Northwestern European ancestry (with one gene variation) and about 1 in 200-250 people (with two gene variations).

The conversation covers:

1. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, and insomnia
2. Why women often discover the condition after menopause
3. The potential health consequences of untreated iron overload include arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, and heart problems
4. A possible link to an always-on parasympathetic nervous system
5. How therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation) helps manage the condition
6. Dietary strategies to reduce iron absorption, including which foods inhibit or enhance iron uptake
7. Surprising facts about spinach, red wine, and other foods that affect iron levels
8. Resources available at hemochromatosishelp.com include newsletters, books and a cookbook by Dr. Lewis and his wife

"When you look out over the years, the decades, over a lifetime, it can start to accumulate and can lead to iron overload, where the storage of iron in your body exceeds what is normal. And this can lead to problems." - Dr. Eric Lewis

Dr. Lewis emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis through proper blood testing and explains how this common genetic condition is often underdiagnosed or misattributed to other causes. People with hemochromatosis can effectively manage their iron levels and prevent serious complications with proper management through phlebotomy, diet modifications, and lifestyle changes.

Their website is hemachromatosishelp.com.

Check out their library of information on all things iron overload.

Meanwhile, if you fit the profile and have some of the symptoms mentioned, tell your doctor you want a full iron panel that includes ferritin, TIBC, and Transferrin. Dr. Lewis offers lab services.

If your serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels are high, a doctor will likely order gene testing.

I was able to manage my levels for a long time with just phlebotomy every two months, but got off track, so I am now going once per month to get back to baseline. My symptoms start to show up when I'm not diligent; for me, it's high blood pressure, joint pain, and erratic sleep. I will now be better at staying on schedule, as enduring that big needle more than needed is something I will not miss.

I was so taken by the idea that I signed up for the foundational program right after I got done with the interview. It's been a month now and I love this program! My arms are taking shape and my core is getting stronger. I asked Ashley if I could have a special deal for my rebellious listeners and she said "Sure because my goal is to get this to as many women as possible."

Read about the program here. If you are interested in giving it a try use code REBEL50 at checkout and you'll save $50! If you have questions about the program or which level to pick, book a 20 minute call with me here.

My guest Ashley Selman brings 30 years of expert training experience (recognized as a top 100 trainer by Men's Health and top 10 in the Bay Area) to share how Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training can transform your fitness journey with minimal joint stress and maximum results.

What We Cover:

1. Why muscle loss is such a critical issue for women over 40 and why traditional advice fails us
2. Ashley's personal journey from hip replacement at 43 to finding BFR as her solution after years of struggling
3. How BFR training increases human growth hormone naturally (which plummets during menopause alongside estrogen)
4. The shocking truth about GLP-1 medications and muscle loss (hint: about 40% of weight loss is muscle!)
5. Why lifting light weights with BFR bands creates muscle growth that would be impossible otherwise
6. The unexpected benefits including better sleep, improved metabolism, enhanced brain function, and greater vascular flexibility
7. How BFR can help protect your muscle while losing weight

BFR isn't just another fitness fad – it's backed by decades of science and widely used in physical therapy and with elite athletes. The difference is that now it's accessible for everyday women who want strength without killing themselves in the gym.

Ashley's program makes this unique training method approachable with virtual coaching that includes personalized guidance, specialized bands designed by a cardiologist (much safer than cheap versions), and workouts that take just 20 - 25 minutes while using 3-5 pound weights. As you get stronger you''ll want to use heavier weights but never more than 10 pounds.

The best part? No soreness, no intimidation, and quick results – making it perfect for women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond who want to reclaim their strength without the stress.

Visit SELIstrength.com to learn more about Ashley's program and see how women of all ages are transforming their bodies and health with this revolutionary approach.

And again, if you want to join the program at anytime use code REBEL50 at checkout to save $50. Start on this page to learn more.

In this episode of Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle, host Greg speaks with Shannon Jamail, owner of a retreat center in Austin, Texas, that offers unique transformative experiences with the help of her four-legged assistants—horses.

Episode Highlights:

1. Shannon's background includes corporate sales and mental health therapy before transitioning to hosting retreats
2. Her retreat center in Austin features seven horses (plus one mini) that free-range on 46 acres
3. Shannon's signature retreat "Wine and Unwind" offers women a chance to disconnect from daily stressors in an elevated camp-like experience
4. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to successfully launch and run their own retreats

The Healing Power of Horses

Shannon discovered the transformative power of horses after bringing them to the ranch for her family. This led to incorporating them into her retreat offerings:

"When you have a 1200 pound partner, you are so tuned in to what is happening and what you are feeling, because what you're feeling, your partner's feeling... You experience this peace that just cannot be described. It's just really, truly magical."

Guests can interact with horses at different comfort levels—from casual interactions as they roam freely to trail rides, equine yoga sessions, and deeper equine coaching experiences.

Keys to Successful Retreats

For entrepreneurs interested in hosting retreats, Shannon shares essential advice:

1. Be prepared to dedicate time and resources—retreats aren't a "set it and forget it" business

Get specific about your target audience: "If you're marketing to everyone, you're marketing to no one"

1. Create a clear "retreat promise" that addresses specific pain points and delivers solutions
2. Do market research and attend other retreats before hosting your own
3. Develop a comprehensive budget that includes your desired profit margin
4. Have proper legal documentation (waivers) in place before collecting any money

"The budgeting is so important... It's not a hobby. It's a business and it can be a very lucrative business for everyone, your guest and you."

Shannon emphasizes that virtually any passion or expertise can become the foundation for a successful retreat—from crocheting to plant medicine to art workshops.

Final Advice

For potential retreat-goers who might be nervous about attending, Shannon encourages an open mind and heart:

"Please come with an open heart and be open-minded and know, at least at my retreats, I know for sure, but most people who are in this space—all we wanna do is love on you and give you a place to just let it all out."

For entrepreneurs considering hosting retreats, she acknowledges the risks but emphasizes the rewards are worth it—creating deep connections and lifelong customers through these transformative experiences.

To learn more, visit mindbodycomplete.com for retreat information or theretreatleaderplaybook.com for resources on hosting your own retreats.

We explored how our bodies communicate with us through chakras, energy medicine, and intuitive healing. Dr. Mary shares her journey from traditional chiropractic practice to becoming a medical intuitive and offers practical wisdom on how listeners can tap into their body’s innate intelligence.

I’m always intrigued by the idea–science really–that says our body holds on to traumas, big and small resulting in pain, anxiety, a constant feeling that something isn’t right. Mary expands on this concept and emphasized that we can release these traumas and heal.

Dr. Kathy Campbell is a pharmacist with over 33 years of experience who owns her independent pharmacy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She’s the author of “Obesity: The Modern Famine” and advocates for a prevention-focused approach to healthcare. She speaks nationally and internationally on pharmacist-led lifestyle medicine and is working to create a network of wellness pharmacies across the country.

1. Website: drkathydoes.com
2. Book: “Obesity: The Modern Famine”
3. Products: Dr. Kathy Nourish salts and spices
4. She shared her recipe for Spicy Chicken Soup–one of the favorites of her cooking class attendees. Download a copy here.
5. Get a copy of her book Obesity – The Modern Famine: Discover the Underlying Drivers of Weight and Navigate Your Way to Health, available on Amazon

Brehan Crawford is a Chinese medicine practitioner with a four-year master’s degree and additional six years of direct mentorship focusing on complex and chronic cases. He specializes in helping people with conditions that haven’t responded well to conventional treatments, particularly digestive disorders and autonomic nervous system issues.

This short episode was sparked after a few conversations with people close to me who had relatives who suffered strokes or heart attacks from unidentified vascular anomalies. With companies like Life Line affordable testing is in our hands regardless of what a doctor might think is necessary.

Peace of mind is priceless and the information one gets from these tests can give you that and or, save a life if there is a problem.

I just love that name. We covered a wide range of cool topics from menopause to the good news about turning 60.

Take a walk on the woo side of Rebellious Wellness Over 50, as Gregory Anne speaks with Seph Dietlin, an angel communicator and spiritual guide with over 20 years of experience.

Seph laughs about how it all began–he was having a really bad day and was bargaining with god–and how shy he was telling people he had been talking to angels. And this was in Southern California! Once he did he realized lots of people have experienced this.

I followed them for at least a year and dug deep into their social posts for the science behind what they were sharing. It’s all there and easy to understand. We share a point of view that peri-menopause and menopause are not the end of the world. There are times of serious changes going on, and we have to learn to adjust and get the help we need if needed.

Knowledge is the first step, and this episode will enlighten you in many ways.

Shannon Petrovich, LSCW, LISAC, BCD is an expert in the complex world of toxic relationships.

This is an especially important interview in light of the many studies highlighting how common it is for women to be the victims of verbal abuse, diminishment, and feelings of shame due to a toxic relationship. This can be from a partner, family member, or even an adult child.

According to the American Psychological Association, “One nationally representative study showed that 27% of Americans are actively estranged from at least one family member.”

To start, things seemed to be going well. Things improved but she never returned to health. In fact, over time, she felt worse and her symptoms returned.

We discussed the importance of protein–specifically animal protein–as we age. It benefits the gut, our muscles, immunity, and more. For those who have concerns about how animals are processed, an egg from a humane farm fed organic food to supplement their grazing, is the answer.

His CV is extensive, you can read about him here. In 2007, Dr. Roizen was named Chief Wellness Officer at Cleveland Clinic, the first such position in a major healthcare institution in the United States.

The concept might sound like something out of science fiction, but Dr. Roizen discussed real scientific endeavors aimed at reversing biological aging. He opened up about cutting-edge technologies such as 3D organ printing – which may one day allow us to replace aged organs with new ones – and research on telomeres and stem cells that are at the forefront of longevity studies.

Amiright?

When I heard about the new book, Dementia Prevention, Using Your Head to Save Your Brain, I knew I wanted to interview the author(s). Luckily, one of them reached out to me, to you the audience, thinking it might be something we’d be interested in. Ya think?

This episode is chock full of what contributes to dementia, who might be heading that way, and what we can do to prevent it or slow the progression.

Susan Salenger is the author and researcher behind SIDELINED: How Women Can Navigate A Broken Healthcare System. Sidelined examines the many ways in which some women manage and sometimes mismanage their healthcare.

Systemic issues plague our healthcare system—less funding for women’s health research and gender biases can put lives at risk. I brought Susan on to dive deep into why this happens and what needs fixing.

He’s also one of the docs I love to feature because he has transitioned from the western model of medicine–he was an orthopedic surgeon–to holistic health; prevention and remedial treatment.

Today he shares his insights on preventing and reversing bone loss at any age.

is a mindset trainer. Her mission is to spread joy and she uses fitness and her endless positive vibe to help her clients achieve what they want in life with ease and joy.

Sandy became the first female trainer for the Philadelphia Flyers and personally worked with Eric Lindros, Ed Snider, and Pat Croce. Sandy also worked with the Philadelphia 76ers dance team when she choreographed and performed a half time routine.

Take one aspect, food. It’s information and it’s information that speaks directly to the many systems that keep us going–or not going.

You’ll learn how Dr. Wolfson shifted from Western medicine to a holistic approach focused on avoiding unnecessary procedures as we age. His philosophy on how to do this is summed up the foundation of treating patients.

Spoiler alert: they don’t. We went on to discuss how cultural pressures can distort self-perception and how painful this is for millions of men, women, and children.

Perhaps the new music indicates I’m ready for a fresh start. This isn’t just an update to the playlist; it’s a rejuvenation of content and spirit aimed at those who share a desire to live life to the max–me and you!

The book is based on interviews with couples well into the second half of life and looks to answer the question, What keeps a marriage evolving and thriving, especially in the final season of life?

And:

1. How can we make the most of our remaining years?
2. What does love mean now, at this seasoned age?
3. How do we work with the tension of “me” and “we?”
4. How do we practice mutuality to support each other in body, mind, and spirit?
5. How can we offer a beneficial presence to our troubled world?
6. When one of us dies first, how will the survivor live on and thrive?

She created the MedShadow Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides education on the side effects and long-term impacts of medicines.

As we grow older, it’s not uncommon to face an increasing number of prescriptions. Each tablet or capsule promises relief or prevention from ailments that often accompany aging. But with every promise comes a caveat; medications carry risks and potential complications which may be heightened as our bodies change over time.

Many listeners might relate with either wanting to write about their fascinating life experiences or feeling their life wasn’t quite exciting enough yet still desiring to craft a memoir. Alison touched on both scenarios.

Do you aspire to pen a memoir but are hesitant about the process? Alison will help you understand the nuances of autobiographical writing versus memoirs, how to decide what stays in your story and what doesn’t, where to start – she has answers for everything!

If you are like me, someone who enjoys wine and other adult beverages and feels there is plenty of joy and happiness then this might not be the podcast for you. If you are also like me, someone who thinks less enjoyment of the grape would be a good thing, then listen in.

If you are someone who is stuck in a cycle of drinking to excess and wanting to stop but 12-step programs aren’t your thing, an organization called This Naked Mind, who trained Lily as a sobriety coach, is a successful, reputable alternative.

And can you imagine defying medical expectations and healing from MS or other autoimmune disease using the power of emotions, science, and energy? Tracy Hill, the Conscious Evolution Coach, did just that.

Her diagnosis came while she was in grad school. She’d been over exercising, training for 2 marathons and more stressed with school when her left side went numb for hours. She had been tripping on things but couldn’t figure out what. At last, a neurologist gave her the diagnosis of MS.

Today, I’m joined by Kristen Sparks who has conquered abuse, addiction, and physical trauma to uncover an unbelievable joy and resilience. She emphasizes the importance of discarding obsolete narratives, embracing love’s transformative power, and finding happiness in tiny moments of contrast.

Like so many of my guests, her life journey, told in wonderful stories, kept me rapt. From her experiences as a hippie in the 60s, to her career transition from dance, drama, and art to psychotherapy and business coaching, she’s had a full life. She even reveals how she managed to hitch a ride in a fighter trainer jet!

Rheumatoid arthritis showed up and ended her dance career, but she took it all in stride and looked for the next thing. “So it was a jump. And one of the biggest leaps that I took, ’cause I’m not the sort of woman who can, you know, be happy with bingo or afternoon TV or something like that.”

When a friend invited her to a lecture on transpersonal psychotherapy she thought, sure, why not but what’s that? By the end of the lecture she was hooked. Enter the next chapter of her career.

See where your mind went?

I’m talking dirty as in toxins. My guest, Wendie Trubow, MD, MBA, IFM certified practitioner, is a detox expert. Like so many health experts with a niche specialty, it was her struggles with mold and metal toxicity, Celiac disease, and other health issues that steered her in this direction, she started out as an OB-GYN.

She is the poster child for healthy living and was even when she was suffering multiple symptoms that finally, at 35, led to a diagnosis of celiac. She’d likely had it since she was a teen, but it wasn’t a thing that docs knew to test for.

Can you relate?

Today, back pain has reached epidemic levels, not just in the United States, but throughout the world.

It’s recently become the #1 cause of disability in the country.

Chronic back pain adversely impacts pretty much every aspect of life and derails your ability to participate in the activities that bring you joy.

It can lead to clinical levels of depression, anger, fear, anxiety and hopelessness.

This is why I was happy to find this week’s guest, Dr. Ryan Peebles.

Sometimes I find I need a bit of guidance from other sources.

Like Prema Gurreri, this week’s guest.

I discovered Vedic astrology about ten years ago. I’d been having my chart read Western astrology style, for years. Good stuff and eerily accurate. Vedic is different. It’s more about now, about planetary energy and how it affects each of us individually.

Prema, a Vedic Astrologer and business oracle, uses Vedic astrology to help people chart their paths and flow with the energy of life as it is influenced by the planets.

And there are plenty of people who still just want to get high for the sake of the buzz. A whole new generation of drug users is getting high with plants to expand their consciousness, to heal from depression, or to find a way to shift some inner stuck place.

I chose to bring a psychedelics specialist because there are I wanted to explore these plants’ potential. Universities like NYU, Johns Hopkins, and UCBerkley to name a few, and hospitals around the country are exploring the healing power of these plants for people with pain, PTSD, depression, addiction, and terminal illness.

Unless you want to enroll in a western medical trial, (Use that link to find trials now accepting new patients), then what are our options?

In the US only Oregon has decriminalized shrooms. Here are the countries around the world where you won’t go to jail for possession or use.

My guest this week, Alice Smeets, is the co-founder of a company, A Whole New High, who facilitates this new cohort. Wouldn’t you know it but the original party people, Boomers, are the ones who are flocking to retreats, journeys, and individual guided sessions in large numbers.

More than 80 different conditions—including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Graves’ disease, and Hashimoto’s disease—fall under this umbrella, and some have similar symptoms.

While these diseases are generally viewed as separate conditions by specialists who treat the symptoms alone, they share common causes. In many ways, they could be considered one big disease that can involve any body part.

My guest today, Dr. David Bilstrom, is an author, international speaker and distinguished member of the American Academy of Integrative Medicine and American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He is an advanced fellow in anti-aging, regenerative, and functional medicine.

A lucky encounter with a climbing wall started him on his return to health. Despite having a panic attack on the first climb, Adam went back again and again. And he learned a specific kind of breathing technique that climbers use to keep them focused and steady.

“And that’s what most women want. They’re not looking for, you know, physical beauty. They’re looking for dignity. They don’t want to be in a nursing home calling the bell for somebody to take them to the bathroom.”

I’m totally in agreement with her, you?

Don’t worry, she’s not going to beat the drum for any particular diet though she tends towards plant-based meals except when she craves animal protein. All she asks of you, of us, is to read labels and skip things that come in bags and boxes.

For him this means a life free from alcoholism as well as the other “aholisms” we can find ourselves trapped in. Like workaholism or sexaholism.

Stephan told me, “I have gone through dark times myself and have experienced depression, anxiety and PTSD. I did not have good coping skills and relied on alcohol to numb my pain. As you guessed, that did not end well.”

He says it’s easy to incorporate in any yoga practice or any movement activity to ensure we continue to live pain-free into our third age.

Deep level stuff like love, connection, self-worth?

Tracy McCubbin believes that we over shop, over save, and over anti-age ourselves because something is missing and we try to fill it.

For the sandwich generation — that’s us, right — we have places galore to find clutter. The obvious, our parents homes as they downsize or even pass away.

Not so obvious is empty nest syndrome where a woman who identified for so many years as mom, and all that entails, finds herself with huge swaths of time to fill. Nothing wrong with finding things to fill that time, but shopping isn’t the answer.

He knows a thing or two about the spine and how best to care for it and the whole person.

After enduring 3 neck surgeries and the pain that did not get relieved from the operations, he’s invented a device to alleviate neck and lower back pain.

The promise of the device — as proven by lots of satisfied customers — is, “Long-term relief from neck and lower back pain is as easy as lying down.”

Diane knew, from the time she was 5, that she wanted to be in fashion. She wanted to sew and go to school for it but her mother was having none of it.

Get married and be a good wife was the message of the day.

Somehow Diane was able to break away from the limitations of her mother’s thinking.

“When the sixties hit and through circumstance, I met Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane. I became their seamstress in the band. I took their denim, their jeans. I embroidered it. I jeweled it. I loved to do hand painting on denim. I followed the music scene to San Francisco and then one day just said, you know, you’re in your mid-twenties. Where are you going with this? A party cannot last forever.”

So, she took her last few bucks and moved to NYC, home of the fashion industry.

A dream she had, experience she did not, so at night she worked as “the worst waitress at Max’s Kansas City” and by day in the bullet bra and girdle department in Bloomingdale’s.

Fate stepped in, she was given a break because she boldly said she was ready despite the lack of evidence.

She was the first to prove that using only natural methods, nearly every woman can build strong bones for life. Incorporating her research and the latest science, her six-point natural program has helped tens of thousands of women take control of their bone health and enjoy long, active, happy lives.

Alicia Jones, founder of Alicia Jones Healthy Living has the answers and 15 years of experience transforming the health and lives of women over 50 through fitness and weight loss strategies. All backed up with lots of credentials in many different fitness modalities and kinesiology.

One reason I’m hosting Alicia is her realistic — and safe — approach to fitness for busy women really of any age but her specialty is the midlife woman.

“My passion is to help people get back the Stamina they lost, the Ambition they once had, the Vitality they are missing in their lives, the Energy to perform at their highest level and the Desire to live their best life.”

Former osteopathic surgeon, he realized he was only fixing the tail end of a problem in many cases and wanted to help the whole person. He was and is interested in prevention and strengthening a person from gut and immune system to muscles and bones.

Our conversation went wide and deep in a few instances, like diabetes.

‘I recognize that we can do amazing things in the system, but what we are not good at is treating the things like diabetes, like osteoporosis, because the system just isn’t designed to help deal with these things that have a broad cause.”

Pharmaceuticals for things like dementia, diabetes, and osteoporosis are not very effective but a whole person approach that includes coaching and education about lifestyle, etc is effective and can send that sick person back in the direction of health. Something meds will never do.

“The truth is two times as many women die of stroke when compared to breast cancer each year. Again, women take the lead at 60% versus 40% of men.”

And we have a greater chance of long term disability! Not because we have stronger strokes but because we wait too long to get help.

Typical woman, “I’m too busy, don’t want to bother anyone, don’t need to go to the hospital”…And time costs us in function or even life.

No matter what you might want to see be different, leave the mean girl thoughts out of planning it.

A “new you for the new year” has a certain ring to it but you don’t need to new yourself. You have talents and strength and skills that will get you anywhere you want to go.

What you might need is expert advice and support. You might need new tools, information, and a system.

And it’s the system that’s most important when it comes to growing or reaching goals. I mentioned James Clear, author of Atomic Habits as a great tool if you want the most successful strategies probably on the planet working with you.

Or does this sound more like you, “It’s time to make a big change, I’m blowing it all up and here for the ride?”

Monica Ricci did the latter. In the space of four months, Monica left her marriage, sold their two homes, a business, and the illusion of a secure future. She had two choices: fall apart or forge ahead.

Even though it was her choice there was still a huge loss to get through.

In addition, she had to start over in every aspect of her life.

We talked about how long it took her to decide she had to take action and how she learned — finally — to lean on others to get her through.

How about knowing with certainty that you can receive messages for people looking for direction or help with an area of their lives?

Karen Romine, is a psychic and medium but her roots were conservative, traditional. “Even when I was younger, I heard voices or I knew things that I really wasn’t supposed to know.”

And she had many careers before deciding to get trained to use her natural gifts to help others.

Questions on cancer, mental health, (Which is why she started her company My Happy Genes) addiction and more.

I asked J if she’d come back again to answer them and asked people on my list to join us live or ask their questions ahead of time by email.

Boiler plate medicine is one-size-fits-all diagnosing and prescribing and it makes me nuts.

True, some aspects of being a woman or a man line up, like stress is bad for us and junk food in abundance causes inflammation and a host of other ills.

Most every other aspect of health must be filtered by, at the least, gender, age, lifestyle habits, and genetics. (Yeah, that’s me who used to say genes are not destiny. I still believe that, but new science has me expand on that idea. They are still only a blueprint waiting for a builder, (that would be you and me) but the more we know about our genetic profile the stronger we can build our house.

That’s not the focus of this episode, but if you want to hear about the latest science of using genes for better mental and physical health, here’s an episode on that.

What I hope you’ll take away is that every recommendation for a prescription or procedure that you get from a western trained doc isn’t necessarily what you need and might in fact be harmful over time.

My guests today are Gael Hannan and Shari Eberts. They both have hearing loss and advocate for others. They co-authored the book Hear and Beyond, Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss. Their book offer a new skills-based approach to hearing loss that is centered not on hearing better, but on communicating better.

If you’ve tried traditional yoga practices like hatha, hot, or vinyasa but felt the poses were too strenuous or complex, stay with us.

Kathy calls her unique blend of yoga styles, a joint renewal system and her goal is to help women rediscover flexibility and relief from joint pain.

So why is he appearing on a podcast for over 50 women? Because his second passion is helping women feel better, feel like themselves so they can enjoy the second half of life.

He is the head of clinical operations at ByWinona.com, whose mission is “To create a world where the second half of life is even better than the first.”

He’s also a full time OB-GYN, still bringing those babies into the world.

The co-founder, Nancy Belcher, PhD, struggled during her own menopause journey and was reluctant to try hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to outdated science of the Women’s Health Initiative. Because of this old information, like so many women, she suffered unnecessarily for far too long. Today, Nancy is focused on reassuring women on the safety of HRT to help relieve menopause symptoms and prevent diseases associated with decreased levels of hormones.

So she started an online company to make getting educated about and prescriptions for HRT easy and convenient.

Michael and I discussed:

1. The Women’s Health Initiative Study, the source of much of the erroneous information on bioidentical hormone therapy.
2. Who is a good candidate for BHRT —

“For appropriately screened patients that start hormone replacement therapy before the age of 60, they actually have a decreased risk of cardiovascular events. Women that start hormone replacement therapy before 60 that are appropriate candidates on average will live longer and live healthier lives than women that have never been on hormone replacement therapy.”

She had a successful practice in New Mexico for 30+ years and was bothered by those few patients who didn’t respond to tools she used on all her patients–nutrition, structural work, emotional work.

“As natural healthcare practitioners, we kind of park that stuff on the side and say, it must be genetic. You know, that was kind of the black box on the side that we couldn’t really get to.”

Her father had died young of lung cancer which didn’t surprise J because he had been a smoker and drinker with a few other poor lifestyle habits. Her step-dad on the other hand, who shared his buddy’s bad habits, lived another 30 years.

All of those things had J. curious about this genetics thing.

Many years of research and studying later, she is depression free, free of fibromyalgia, and has helped thousands of people heal from emotional and physical problems using gene mapping and biochemistry.

Many of my people are women entrepreneurs at Be More Marketable and here. Of the many, a good percentage of them are second careerers or looking to get into their own business.

Another piece of Mary’s work that I think is important for listeners, business owners, or not, is the idea of core identity.

“What I have found with women over the age of 50 is that even though we’re at that point in our life where it’s like, ‘screw everybody, I don’t care. I could be unapologetically myself.’ That the reality is that women aren’t unapologetically themselves.”

What holds them back is their core identity. The part of them, us, that keeps us in fear or “I’m not good enough, see it’s not working” and backing down or not doing what it takes to succeed.

“The identity is that a much younger version of me that’s holding onto beliefs and behaviors around one or two areas of my life where I feel powerless and helpless. Once we can see that we are powerless and helpless in one or two areas of our life. And typically, it’s around love and money. We know that’s a clue to say that we have an identity that is showing up as that lesser version of, smaller version of ourselves.”

“I was desperate to get a good night’s sleep after an unexpected crisis rocked my world in my mid-thirties. As a Pharma rep, I didn’t have the luxury of “sleeping in” after staring at the clock all night. That’s when I got my hands on a popular, physician-prescribed sleeping pill—because when you work in the Pharma field, it’s not hard to score a pill for any ill.”

This all-too-common scenario — woman can’t sleep, doc says “I have just the thing”—resulted in reliance on Ambien, pharma name, Zolpidem. According to medlineplus.gov, “Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Zolpidem belongs to a class of medications called sedative-hypnotics.

They go on to say, “Zolpidem may cause serious or possibly life-threatening sleep behaviors. Some people who took zolpidem got out of bed and drove their cars, prepared and ate food, had sex, made phone calls, sleep-walked, or were involved in other activities while not fully awake. After they woke up, these people were unable to remember what they had done.”

Morgan goes on to say, “I didn’t know that sleeping pills inhibit your ability to experience restorative sleep. Taking the pills may help you become unconscious, but sedation is not the same as sleep. I would wake up groggy, oftentimes to an empty box of cookies I didn’t remember eating, and trudge through the morning until last night’s pill would wear off. It’s a miracle I never got behind the wheel in these fugue states.”

So begins our conversation on how to sleep deeply and restoratively, without using prescription medications long term.

Like my guest, Marsha McLean, founder of Grandmas 2.0, I was not ready for that.

End of life conversations, though hard to start, can bring you closer to the person whose life you are helping to plan.

My guest, Jane Duncan Rogers, was thrown into a situation where she had to have the conversation, ask questions like, buried or cremated, what kind of urn or coffin, party or quiet ceremony only — when her husband was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and their time was short.

She put off asking “the questions” and had hoped to rush through them, just get it done. What happened instead was a 90-minute conversation with him. It was full of laughter and a sense of being in a project together.

Unless you follow someone like Matt Walker, the preeminent neuroscientist specializing in sleep, or one of his colleagues around the world, you may miss out on information that will encourage you to make sleep a priority.

And increase the likelihood of aging in good health.

It’s no secret that as we age, regular, sound, sleep seems to elude us unless everything is Goldilocks perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, not too much on our minds, the creaky back isn’t complaining, and on and on.

But, as you’ll find out in this episode, it’s possible to improve your sleep, though it’s not likely to happen overnight. (Couldn’t help myself)

And that’s what most people think of it for. But it’s so much more than just symptom relief. My guest, Monica Molenaar, shares her story, the science, and the reasons she co-created MyAlloy.com.

My guest, Kyria Perero, is a total health/holistic health practitioner. She is trained in functional health coaching which means she looks at the whole person, the whole body, and test results when suggesting changes for her clients.

We are more engaged, take better care of ourselves, are more active. This doesn’t change the fact that there are physical changes going on in these more active bodies. Aging changes us on the inside and the outside.

Wrinkles get a lot of attention and money thrown their way because we can see them and mostly — except maybe for laugh wrinkles — want to banish them.

The more important changes, like those occurring in our cardiovascular system, our ears, and our bones, to name a few, get less. Unless we have a problem like high blood pressure or painful arthritis, we are likely to accept the changes as just what happens at this age.

And not only get sober by curbing addictive cravings, but help them once they're in sobriety with depression, anxiety, and mood issues.

Today’s guest, Thomas White believes it does and he has the science to prove it as well as a large volume of testimonials.

His company, Exact Nature, focuses on helping people with addiction, overuse issues, and those who are sober curious.

Before I go any further I want to mention that Thomas has offered my listeners a 20% discount—For as long as you use the product! This is not a one-time offer. (I am not an affiliate btw) Use code RW20 at checkout and it will deduct 20%. Here’s the store.

Thomas started this company after learning about the benefits of CBD for people with depression and anxiety. He is 13 years sober and as he put it,

“When my active addiction moved out, depression moved in.”

CBD has been a lifeline for him and his son, a partner in the business and also in recovery.

I was heartened to learn that “the FDA has approved CBD. They're looking into it and they've approved clinical trials for CBD to use as an ingestible to help with people that suffer from opioid addictions.”

And one reason the FDA has been willing to go along with this is because they are seeing firsthand the positive results that come that come from this.

Always look for full spectrum CBD. Thomas explained why.

“Full spectrum CBD is what I always recommend because CBD and all the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes that go with it, create something or produce something called the entourage effect. So to remove that as does CBD isolate, you eliminate the chance for all of these very positive productive synergistic interactions with the body.

I specifically wanted to know if these products would support someone looking to cut back on drinking or take a break from it. He has plenty of testimonials that the answer is yes.

"If you're sober curious, then yes, these products will definitely help, but there are very few people that these products will not help. There is no downside to using these products. They just put your body back in balance. And everybody's endocannabinoids system gets a bit depleted."

One thing that sets these folks apart from the many CBD companies is their commitment to helping people. Thomas personally writes customers, answers questions by phone if that’s the best way to do it, and they offer a no questions asked money back guarantee on all of their products.

Our conversation got personal and left me feeling enlightened and hopeful for the future of addiction treatment. And that humans like Thomas and his son, Daniel, are providing products and personal and confidential support to their customers.

Don’t forget the 20% off deal Thomas is offering listeners. Code RW20 will get it done.

They’ve got a ton of great resources on their site here.

Insta where you will find links to articles and such

Facebook

She’s not the only woman this has happened to and she knew she had to do what she could to help other women navigate the unexpected occurrences that knock us on our you-know-whats.

So she gathered 20+ experts – myself included – to teach women about the many subjects she wishes she’d have had guidance around:

1. Health and wellness
2. Finances
3. Self Esteem
4. Love and dating
5. Getting past the blocks that hold you back from trying new things
6. Rebuilding your life to suit you