Fearless Parent Radio

There’s a new feature documentary in town called The Pathological Optimist. It’s about Dr. Andrew Wakefield. You know, the British gastroenterologist who’s credited/blamed with linking vaccines and autism to millions of parents and thereby single-handedly birthing the modern anti-vaccine movement. Yes, that Andrew Wakefield. Andy inspires… hyperbole. Mention his name and it’s likely to provoke a fight. In a 2015 New York Times article: he was alternately described as “one of the most reviled doctors of his generation” and “Nelson Mandela and Jesus Christ rolled into one.”  I mean, Mengele or Mandela… seriously? There’s gotta be more than meets the eye here, right? We live in Tabloid Nation, after all, where paparazzi roam free and no one is immune. Why hasn’t someone been curious enough to take a closer look? Who is Andrew Wakefield really? And he’s a family man? How could any family survive this kind of circus? What do his wife and kids make of all this?    Miranda Bailey is a mom and a smart cookie. She’s a Hollywood actress who’s drawn to great, revelatory stories. Stories that teach us a little bit more about who we are. She also happens to be a very good filmmaker. Miranda wanted to know. She contacted me when she started doing research on the MMR vaccine scandal and we became friends. “Louise, can you introduce me to Andrew?” This was almost 10 years ago. Miranda has been making her “Wakefield doc” for a while now. I don’t want to think about the number of times she rued the day she met me (and Andy).  Like most good things, this movie took time. Miranda spent weeks following Andy all over the country and in Austin, TX with the Wakefield family. The storyline evolved real time multiple times as she filmed and filmed. And edited and edited. It was almost done when Tribeca happened. It’s a testament to her stubbornness.  I saw an early version last year and the final version in April, so I can tell you what you need to know.  No matter how you feel about vaccines or autism or Andrew Wakefield, this film is for you. It’s a character portrait so intimate that you can’t look away. It raises all sorts of questions that you get to ask and answer in the privacy of your own mind because attending this movie is not a statement of anything. Except the virtues of curiosity. And an appreciation for the genre of documentary filmmaking. The Pathological Optimist is not a pro-vaccine take-down or an anti-vaccine anthem. It stands squarely in that narrow sliver of real estate that dares to present an exceptionally controversial person without taking a position. It asks the question — who is this man? — and respects you enough to leave you alone to wrestle with it.  ps. Buy tickets now. It’s going to sell out and you’re going to want to watch. #pathologicaloptimist #liarhealer #monstersavior #TPO #dontmissit  Miranda Bailey is a passionate producer, actor, and director known for bringing a diversity of strong, well-crafted stories to the screen. Miranda has delivered 20 films over 15 years, including the Oscar-nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE; the Spirit Award-winning THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL; James Gunn’s SUPER; the Sundance hit SWISS ARMY MAN; and the critically acclaimed NORMAN. She has directed two documentaries: GREENLIT, which premiered at SXSW and is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Hulu; and now THE PATHOLOGICAL OPTIMIST opens September 29 at the Angelika Film Center in NYC and can be seen on VOD November 14. Read more about Miranda here. Andrew Wakefield MB.BS. is a co-founder of the Autism Media Channel and director of the film VAXXED. An academic gastroenterologist, Andy received his medical degree from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London in 1981. He qualified as Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985 and trained as a gastrointestinal surgeon with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease. He was awarded a Wellcome Trust Traveling Fellowship to study small-intestinal transplantation in Toronto. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in the U.K. in 2001. Andy has published over 140 original scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters. Louise Kuo Habakus is the founding director of Fearless Parent™. She is a bestselling author; runs two non-profits, Center for Personal Rights and Health Freedom Action; lectures widely; and has appeared in numerous media outlets, including ABC World News Tonight, Fox & Friends, and The New York Times. Louise was a Bain consultant and a C-level executive in the financial services industry. She holds two degrees from Stanford University. Louise serves as an advisor to Focus for Health Foundation, GreenMedInfo, The Documenting Hope Project, and SHE Living TV. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and the mother of two. 

#105 — What is Transhumanism? ** August 23, 2017Guest // Zoltan Istvan ** Host // Pratik Chougule, JD  Look around and you’ll see humanity not just engaged with technology but integrated in ways that are unexpected, sophisticated, fascinating, and for many of us, fundamentally alarming. There’s a nostalgia for the simplicity of the pre-internet past… for the time that my teenage kids call “ye olden days.” It’s pretty clear, however, that we aren’t stuffing tech back into the box anytime soon. And humanity is beset with all sorts of problems. Development of these technologies is accelerating and impacting human intelligence and physiology in ways that might transform what it means to be… human.  How do we wrap our heads around these ideas? How can we explore, plan, and lead responsibly? Join co-host Pratik Chougule and guest Zoltan Istvan as they discuss: What is the transhumanism movement (often abbreviated as H+)? Is transhumanism just an extension of human progress or something more radical? Why pursue a transhumanist future through the political system?  Zoltan Istvan is a Libertarian candidate for California Governor in 2018. He is often considered one the world’s leading transhumanists after his popular run in the 2016 US Presidential race as a science and technology candidate. Zoltan began his futurist career by publishing The Transhumanist Wager, an award-winning, #1 bestseller in Philosophy that has been compared to Ayn Rand’s work. Zoltan is also a leading technology journalist, a successful entrepreneur, and a former filmmaker and on-camera reporter for the National Geographic Channel. His futurist work and promotion of radical science has reached over 100 million people. He is a graduate of Columbia University, and lives in San Francisco with his physician wife and two young daughters. Learn more at ZoltanIstvan.com. Pratik Chougule, JD is an executive editor at The American Conservativemagazine. He served as the policy coordinator on the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Huckabee. From 2008-2009, Chougule was a Bush administration appointee at the State Department in the Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. Chougule graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and holds a JD from Yale Law School. 

Free speech is the right to articulate one’s opinion without fear of retaliation or censorship or societal sanction. The First Amendment of the US Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law… abridging freedom of speech.” Universities have traditionally been a place where burgeoning, radical, heated ideas are first expressed and take hold. Student activism has given rise to important political, economic, and social change. Think civil rights and the Vietnam era protests, for example. It’s not news for self-righteous students to express such vehement certainty that they are not interested in hearing other perspectives. But how do we feel when college administrators cave to their demands to shut down dialogue and the open exchange of ideas… you know, free speech? It’s a trend that has USA Today and others asking, What happened to American universities?  There’s a provocative new documentary that’s probing a profoundly unsettling question: Is the University Killing Free Speech and Open Debate? Flmmaker Rob Montz wants to understand how and why his alma mater, Brown University, and other prestigious universities have been run down by this kind of “nasty censoring species of student activism.” Why can’t we just have a conversation? What does this say about our country today and where we’re headed?  Rob Montz is a fellow at the Moving Picture Institute and a director at We the Internet TV. His work has been featured in the New York Times, BBC World News, the Economist, USA Today, and the Washington Post.  He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, daughter, and genius corgi, Bronson. Find more of his work at RobMontz.com.   Pratik Chougule, JD is an executive editor at The American Conservative magazine. He served as the policy coordinator on the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Huckabee. From 2008-2009, Chougule was a Bush administration appointee at the State Department in the Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. Chougule graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and holds a JD from Yale Law School. 

The Politics of a Vaccine Safety Commission ** February 21, 2017Guest // Pratik Chougule, JD ** Hosts // Robert J. Krakow, Esq and Louise Kuo Habakus Is it a good idea to convene a presidential vaccine safety commission? We just finished reading a cogent, probing, and well-researched article: “Why the Kennedy-DeNiro Vaccine Challenge Matters” whose author says, “Yes.” Pratik Chougule, JD, executive editor of The American Conservative, eschews the usual trashing of advocates who challenge the government’s vaccine safety program. Curious about this compelling voice emerging from the fray of naysayers, we were eager to hear more from Pratik. Some the questions we’ll address include: What are the historical origins of the American vaccine safety movement? Why are vaccine safety advocates dismissed in the mainstream press? How did Trump become interested in the vaccine/autism issue? What factors will influence Trump’s decision to tackle the vaccine issue? What political impact will a vaccine safety commission make? Pratik Chougule, JD is an executive editor at The American Conservative magazine. He served as the policy coordinator on the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Huckabee. From 2008-2009, Chougule was a Bush administration appointee at the State Department in the Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. Chougule graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and holds a JD from Yale Law School. His relevant writings include: My political journey; My piece on the decline of small-government conservatism in the Republican Party, which, I think, will influence the vaccine debate; and An op-ed on the alt-right, which may be an ally in the vaccine safety movement. Robert J. Krakow, Esq is an attorney in private practice in New York City focusing on the trial of civil and criminal cases, and specializes in the representation of persons injured by exposure to environmental toxins and vaccines. Bob started his legal career with NYPIRG. He was a prosecutor with the New York County District Attorney’s office and served as Bureau Chief of the special narcotics prosecution division. Bob is committed to working for individuals with disabilities. He is on the board of Focus for Health Foundation and Lifespire, Inc. where he was Board Chair for 7 years. He founded and/or serves/served on the boards of prominent autism and vaccine safety advocacy organizations including EBCALA, Center for Personal Rights, A-CHAMP, National Autism Association, and SafeMinds. He lives in NYC with his wife and their two children. Louise Kuo Habakus is the founding director of Fearless Parent™ and lead host and producer of Fearless Parent Radio™. She is a bestelling author; runs two non-profits, Center for Personal Rights and Health Freedom Action; lectures widely; and has appeared in numerous media outlets, including ABC World News Tonight, Fox & Friends, and The New York Times. Louise was a Bain consultant and a C-level executive in the financial services industry. She holds two degrees from Stanford University. Louise is on the board of Focus for Health Foundation, and the advisory boards of GreenMedInfo, The Documenting Hope Project, and SHE Living TV. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and the mother of two.

Healing Your Love Relationship with Stacey Martino – Episode 102 Healing Your Love Relationship with Stacey Martino – Episode 102 February 8th, 2017 Guest // Stacey Martino, Relationship Expert Host // Lea @ Maverick Kitchen As a Fearless Parent, you’ve turned over every rock to achieve maximum physical health for you and your family. But when is the last time you’ve “taken the temperature” of your relationship? There is growing evidence that relationship stress can directly impact your health [source]. As someone recovering from a number of immune illnesses as well as recently separating, I know first-hand the toll relationship stress can take on your overall well-being. And it all changed when I met this episode’s special guest and took big steps to heal my relationship along with my body. Join me for my first episode of the Heart Beat segment of Fearless Parent Radio, where she will explore love from all angles. This episode welcomes Stacey Martino, a Tony Robbins-certified relationship expert who has helped thousands of couples and singles built everlasting love with their partners and themselves. I am one of those people and now a devoted member of Stacey’s tribe of “lovies”. In this inaugural episode, we’ll be exploring thoughts around: How one person truly can transform their relationship WITHOUT their partner’s involvement How Stacey went from being the “ice princess” to her mission to enable lasting love for others How taking responsibility for your contribution to the relationship’s state is key to thriving How to trigger the best in your partner by being your best authentic self One simple, 10-minute strategy you can use starting today that will transform your relationship Stacey Martino is a sought-after relationship expert who knows that Better Relationships equal a Better LifeTM! Stepping out of the old relationship paradigm of couple’s coaching, our guest and her amazing husband empower individuals with the tools & strategies to transform, not only, their love relationship but ANY relationship…and the craziest part? You don’t need your partner to participate for this to work for you!

#101 — The Power of Pussy and Sister Goddess Activism ** December 28, 2016Guest // Laura Brayton, DC ** Host // Louise Kuo Habakus We’re ending 2016 with a bang and kicking off the new year with a gift to our sisterhood of women (and the men who love us). it’s time to take back what’s rightfully ours, the full responsibility and embodiment of our radiance, our power, and our joy. Mother Earth has been waiting for us. She knows it is the divine feminine that creates, gives, and protects life. Laura has been patiently asking to do a podcast with me. As much as I love connecting with our tribe of holistic healers, I just wasn’t so jazzed about doing another empowered mama wellness talk. But, I admitted, I did have a twinkle in my eye about something. I had just finished reading Pussy by Regena Thomashauer. Was she willing to go there? Laura was game. And I knew we were going to have some fun. This book is, imo, required reading for all women. The title is the portal and the message inside is even more provocative and revolutionary. Mama Gena has a recipe for true healing for what ails us. Heal the women, heal the world: What does the shame around this word, pussy and her sister the C- word, have to do with the reasons we push away compliments, play small, don’t ask, and keep a lid on it in a world where we feel worried and wrong? Who is the Goddess, the powerful woman?  Why does Thomashauer say our truth is present when we know desire? What does it matter if our culture does not honor grief, and her kinswomen: rage, longing, jealousy, frustration? What happens when we don’t feel our feelings? Women no longer need to trade sex for food. We are breadwinners and supermoms. Congresswomen and CEOs. Our partners are more egalitarian than ever with housework and childcare. So what’s wrong? Mama Gena has lots of homework assignments. Laura and I will do some of them together, on the air. Through our discussion, you’ll get to know this passionate and brave healer. Laura Brayton, DC is a holistic chiropractor, author, and educator who’s passionate about healthy families. She is certified in chiropractic pediatrics, Webster Technique for breech presentation, Sacro-Occiptal Technique, and is an advanced practitioner of Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET). Laura is a BioEnergetic practitioner utilizing Applied Kinesiology to “eavesdrop” into the body and determine its current needs for health. Check out her popular podcast “Well Adjusted Mama” and her websites www.drlaurabrayton.com and www.braytonbirthmethod.com.     Louise Kuo Habakus is the founding director of Fearless Parent™ and lead host and producer of Fearless Parent Radio™. She is a bestelling author; runs two non-profits, Center for Personal Rights and Health Freedom Action; lectures widely; and has appeared in numerous media outlets, including ABC World News Tonight, Fox & Friends, and The New York Times. Louise was a Bain consultant and a C-level executive in the financial services industry. She holds two degrees from Stanford University. Louise is on the board of Focus for Health Foundation, and the advisory boards of GreenMedInfo, The Documenting Hope Project, and SHE Living TV. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and the mother of two.

When she was told that her 20-month-old son had autism, Andrea Libutti MD was devastated. Therapists said he would never communicate with others, nor would he ever form meaningful relationships. Still, Andrea refused to accept that dim prognosis and instead embarked on a years-long journey of discovery and healing. Using her position as a physician to gain access to a variety of specialists, she explored every promising biomedical and behavioral therapy. Eventually, she came to see that we must consider autism not just from a physical perspective but from an emotional and spiritual one as well. In Awakened by Autism, Andrea distills the results of the research she undertook and relays her personal experiences as she tried one treatment after another in search of a way to help her son. From the interview you will learn: The multifactorial nature of autism and the problems inherent in how many health-care professionals view the disorder. How each child has unique needs and requires a personalized plan for healing. How changing our beliefs about the possibilities for those with autism allows us to uncover their hidden brilliance, while taking steps to improve their well-being. What she learned from her many intriguing interviews with shamans, energy healers, homeopaths, and educators from her “Awaken to Autism” webinar which aired just a few weeks ago. Andrea Libutti, MD is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and spent several years in private practice treating children with autism from a mind-body-spirit perspective. Her book Awakened by Autism  (Hay House, April 2015) is a culmination of her extensive knowledge and a guide for viewing autism from a new mindset. Her greatest hope is to empower families to embrace their special children with love and acceptance, while taking useful action to restore their well-being. Her own son with autism has been her greatest teacher. Mary Coyle, DIHom is a homeopath with extensive training in homotoxicology and German Biological Medicine. She is the director of the Real Child Centerin New York City. Homotoxicology utilizes cellular drainage, nutrition, and time-tested homeopathic techniques to stimulate the self-healing mechanism in your child. It is a therapy geared to enable your child to move to the next level of health. Mary writes and speaks about detoxification at the cellular level. She is a contributing author of Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism (Skyhorse,

#99 — How to Raise A Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor April 27, 2016 Guest // Sally Mendelsohn, CNM : Host //  Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD Do you have a pediatrician you love? Do you even know what that could look like? In the current polarized medical climate, finding a like-minded — or even open minded — pediatrician is not always easy. But… there was one pediatrician who was willing to swim against the tide — loudly and proudly — even back in the 1970s. In this episode, homebirth midwife Sally Mendelsohn and Dr. Maya discuss Dr. Robert Mendelsohn’s “renegade” ideas, including his books How To Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor and Confessions of a Medical Heretic. How did Dr. Mendelsohn start on his visionary path and how was it received by the medical establishment? What were his thoughts about birth, ultrasound, breastfeeding, and vaccination? What, if any, practices and attitudes have changed since he wrote his books? Robert Mendelsohn, MD (1926-1988) was one of the first outspoken, renegade pediatricians. A graduate of University of Chicago for both his undergraduate studies as well as medical school, he went on to write numerous books including How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, Confessions of a Medical Heretic, Male Practice: How Doctors Manipulate Women, and more. He was selected by President Johnson to lead Project Head Start’s Medical Consultation Service. He publicly questioned the mainstream attitudes about medication, parenting, birthing, ultrasound, immunizations, hospitalization and surgery. He appeared on over 500 television and radio talk shows. Sally Mendelsohn, CNM is the daughter of Dr. Robert Mendelsohn and a leader for women in her own right. After getting her undergraduate degree at Brandeis College, she graduated from Georgetown and Cornell Universities to eventually became a Certified Nurse Midwife in 1982. During her 25 year career, she delivered babies both in home and hospital settings. Most recently, she taught midwifery in the graduate program at New York University. Sally and her family have recently launched a new website to more broadly share the ideas of her father. Learn more at www.thepeoplesdoctor.net.

#98 — Tech Brain: The Vice Grip of Screens and Lights ** April 20, 2016 Guest // VIctoria Dunckley, MD ** Host //  Carla Atherton Has technology grabbed ahold of your kids’ brains, with the vice grip of blue screens and blinking lights? It’s affecting our children socially. It’s messing with brain function and development. It’s causing health problems from fatigue to sleep problems. It’s a catalyst of emotional upset, from tantrums and depression to addictions and even violence. Gulp. Do you have a daughter who’s not responding well to treatment? Do you suspect that you son is being medicated unnecessarily? Could screentime be affecting your child’s grades, happiness, sense of self, relationships, and overall quality of life? Could it be at the root of an ADHD or Oppositional Defiance Disorder diagnosis? Find out during this interview, and learn how you can join host Carla Atherton and Dr. Dunckley for a screenfast challenge. Reverse these tech side effects and develop new, healthy relationships with technology. Victoria L. Dunckley, MD is an award-winning integrative child psychiatrist and a leading expert on the disruptive effects of electronic media on brain health and development. In the past ten years, her Reset Program has helped more than five hundred children, teens, and young adults who failed to respond to conventional treatment alone.She blogs for Psychology Today, and has been a featured expert on the Today show, NBC Nightly News, and the Investigation Discovery Channel. She is the author of a groundbreaking new book, Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time. Carla Atherton, MA, Director of the Lotus Health Project, Writer and Editor, Workshop Instructor, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, Transformational Nutrition Coach, Yoga Instructor, Health (R)evolutionary, and Children’s Health Advocate. Carla is a trained Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and Transformational Nutrition Coach, and is a creative and academic writer, lecturer, workshop instructor, acreage-living, unschooling mom of three. She is passionate about health and wellness, which, to her, involves all aspects of health including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Carla created the Lotus Health Project, the Children’s and Teen Health (R)evolution, and its biannual online Children’s and Teen Health Summit in order to further her mandate – to let people know, both young and old, they are not alone in their health challenges or management and that anything can be overcome if you have the right mind and information.

#97 — Which Nutritional Supplements Are Right For Me?April 13, 2016Guest // Tieraona Low Dog, MDHost //  Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD We are constantly bombarded by mixed messages that a given nutritional supplement is good for us one day, and the next day it’s not. With more than 30,000 dietary supplements in the marketplace and new studies coming out every day, it’s no wonder we all feel confused and overwhelmed. Dr. Tieraona Low Dog has a masterful command of this science, which she brilliantly lays out in her new book, Fortify Your Life. Listen to her share her wisdom and hear her recommendations for using food and supplements to meet your nutritional needs:Which common nutrient depletions are of particular concern for women, especially during pregnancy?What nutrients do babies need that they might not be getting from your breast milk and that are not in your prenatal vitamin?What nutrient-dense foods are you avoiding that could protect your body and brain?How nutritional deficits in children can impact behavior, attention and intelligence quotient. Tieraona Low Dog, MD is an internationally recognized expert in dietary supplements and integrative medicine. In addition to her many years as a clinician and educator, she has been involved in national health policy and regulatory issues, serving on advisory panels for the White House and the U.S. National Institutes of Health and chairing two committees on dietary supplements for the U.S. Pharmacopeia. She is the author of Healthy at Home, Life is Your Best Medicine, and Guide to Medicinal Herbs. Learn more at drlowdog.com or follow her on Twitter @Lowdogmd.

#96 — Teen Boundaries Around Tech Usage February 24, 2016 Guest // Emily Roberts, MA, LPC Host //  Carla Atherton Do you have trouble talking to your teens about creating boundaries around their usage of technology? Do you feel like they are sometimes lost to you, immersed in a world of blue lights and virtual relationships? Do you want your teenager to have communication and social skills and healthy real-life relationships with their peers, family, and themselves and are worried about the power technology has over them? Uh, yes!!! Please… This whole new world of texting and the world wide web of the internet has made it such a massive challenge for parents to keep their kids safe. It is an added challenge to teach them healthy boundaries around what the internet exposes them to and what influences their choices, both of which influence the formation of their very self-esteem and self-image. BIG stuff! Technology isn’t going away. How can we allow our children to use technology as a tool rater than become enslaved while still allowing them space for self-expression and connection? Listen to (R)evolutionary Mama’s interview with the Guidance Girl, Emily Roberts, about how we need to effectively face this issue head-on with clarity and direction. Emily Roberts, MA, LPC is a psychotherapist, parenting consultant, educational speaker, and published author. She is part of the Hartstein Psychological Services team in New York City practicing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Emily writes a weekly blog “Building Self-Esteem” for HealthyPlace.com and is the parenting consultant for Neurogistics Corporation. She is the co-founder of The Talking Room, a proactive program for girls ages 5-9 specializing in developing self-esteem, confidence, leadership, friendship skills, and stress reduction activities with an emphasis on creating healthy boundaries with technology. Emily has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas, specializing in children, young adults, adults, and families. She is LPC licensed and has extensive training and experience in working with a variety of populations and diagnosis including challenges such as life transitions, anxiety, depression, relationships, and eating disorders.

Since the HPV vaccine was introduced to the public in 2006, it has been surrounded in controversy:conspicuously fast tracked by the FDA;speedily endorsed by the CDC;rapidly introduced to be mandated by nearly every state in the US;unusually challenged by some of the media and medical establishment, including the New England Journal of Medicine, the New York Times, and even one of its inventors;hailed by Pharmaceutical Executive magazine as “brand of the year” for its innovative and breakthrough marketing savvy;so aggressively promoted by Merck that Gardasil sales exploded, far eclipsing its flagship Measles, Mumps and Rubella II vaccine and bailing the company out of its staggering Vioxx litigation woes; andso widely adopted that, today, approximately 60% of adolescent girls and 42% of adolescent boys have received the vaccine.Time to add another bullet point to the above list…On January 14, 2016, the activist blog SaneVax revealed the details of an open letter sent by Sin Hang Lee, MD to the World Health Organization claiming “manipulation of data and suppression of science in order to maintain the illusion of HPV vaccine safety in the face of valid contradictory evidence.”Valerie Borek, Esq interviews SaneVax chief Norma Erickson about the stunning allegations:Who is Dr. Lee and why/how is he in a position to make these statements?What, exactly, did he say?What are the policy implications of this announcement?What has been the response of medical and government authorities?Is the HPV vaccine safe? What should parents do?Norma Erickson, President of Sane Vax, Inc., was an average citizen working as an independent business consultant and freelance author before she became aware of the number of people experiencing reported adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine. In 2010 she established SaneVax as a direct response to the worldwide devastation left in the wake of HPV vaccination programs. The SaneVax team believes no vaccine should be approved for public use without first being proven Safe, Affordable, Necessary and Effective.

#94 — Is Fluoride Safe?January 20, 2016Guest // Susan KanenHost //  Lisa BloomquistWater fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to control tooth decay. The CDC says that the safety and benefits of fluoride are well-documented. It’s also in our toothpaste. Dentists promote it. Maybe you took fluoride pills when you were a child or you give fluoride in vitamin drops to your baby. We’ve been fluoridating our water for over 70 years; so long, in fact, that few people question its wisdom.But there is much more to the story. The Fluoride Action Network shares some surprising facts, including:97% of Western Europe does does not fluoridate its waterFluoridated countries do not have less tooth decay than non-fluoridated countries40% of teens show visible effects of fluoride over-exposure (36 studies show a correlation between fluoride and lower IQ)Did you know that the fluoride that is put in our water is a toxic byproduct of the fertilizer and aluminum industries?The dominant paradigm used to be, “The solution to pollution is dilution.” Now we are discovering that many toxins accumulate in our bodies and our environment.Could many chronic diseases of modernity be linked to water fluoridation?Susan Kanen is a biochemist who worked in water treatment facilities. She suffered from multiple health maladies, which she attributes to multiple exposures to fluoride. Find out how Susan’s chronic health problems are connected to water fluoridation, and learn how to protect yourself and your family.

Guest // Suzanne SomersHost // Kelly Brogan, MDYes, we want to be healthy. Once we stop nodding at the basic platitudes — sound sleep, regular exercise, smart nutrition —  however, we’re left wrestling with the brutal realities of living in the real world:It’s hard to be healthy. I’m not smart enough to reconcile so much conflicting information. Do whole grains promote health or cause inflammation?I’m too busy to be healthy. Who has time for this? I run out of day before the end of my job and family obligations.It’s stressful to be healthy. When I have free time, I want to chill out. I do not want to research about health.It’s bad for my social and family life to be healthy. People think I’m weird or they feel implicitly criticized by my actions. My family wants to fire me.It’s not enough to be healthy. I want to look good. What happens when the thing that’s healthy conflicts with the thing that makes me look and feel my best?We page through women’s magazines and wonder about the airbrushed images that stare back. These women are flawless but looking like that can’t be healthy. Gel manicures, make up, and highlights? Laxatives? Is there an oasis of sanity in Hollywood… a health maven and wellness guru who really knows her sh*t? Because we have questions:What does she wish she knew when she was in her 20s and 30s?What are the little “health nudges” that we should never ignore?What are the ten things she does every single day?And seriously… what is she really eating and how on earth does she get her hair and teeth to look so perfect?We want to talk turkey with someone who conquered the Hollywood game, confronted a terrifying health scare, and emerged a real life superstar. Join us for an hour with Suzanne Somers, a fearless advocate for reclaiming health, naturally.Suzanne Somers is an actress, bestselling author, and businesswoman. Her latest book, Tox-Sick, was released earlier this year. She defied conventional medicine, beat cancer, and became a health activist who’s helping to redefine what it means to be robustly, vibrantly resiliently healthy.

#92 — CPS and Medical Marijuana Guests //Indra Lusero, Esq and Heather Thompson, PhD  Host // Valerie Borek, EsqAcross the country, states are legalizing marijuana use. Parents are discovering that medical marijuana can offer life-changing relief for their chronically ill children. But when child protective laws are not simultaneously updated, families can be caught in the middle.Join co-host Valerie Borek, Esq as she interviews two activists in the trenches. They explore this disconnect, with a lively and important discussion on personal, medical, legal, and privacy rights, and how to protect our families:How legal marijuana use can have negative consequences on families.The importance of informed consent in maternity care.The problems with the dissociation between criminal and child protective laws with respect to legal marijuana.Understanding your options if you or your newborn tests positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) when you are pregnant, a parent, or breast feeding.Understanding what we know, what we think we know, and what we believe about marijuana use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.ResourcesElephant Circle — website and Facebook page“Clearing the Smoke” Blog and Webinar (register for 12/9/15 event)Family Law and Cannabis AllianceNational Advocates for Pregnant WomenBirth Rights Bar AssociationHeather Thompson, MS, PhD is an applied molecular biologist, parent and birth worker. She is Research Director at Mountain Midwifery Center, Inc. and on the leadership team of Elephant Circle, a reproductive justice organization based in Colorado. She is passionate about supporting and educating Colorado families on the health and legal consequences of legal marijuana use.  Indra Lusero, Esq is a longtime advocate of family privacy rights. She is on theElephant Circle leadership team (“supporting strong people during a vulnerable time,” and President of the Birth Rights Bar Association.

Guest // Meghan BrooklerHost //  Carla AthertonAbout 5% of children have difficulty receiving “normal” sensory inputs from the environment — sound, light, smell, clothing, food, movement — and respond in ways that are deemed inappropriate, like crying, screaming, covering their ears, or tuning out.Maybe they’re challenged in school or social situations; at the restaurant, mall, or airport; even with clothing tags or automatic flush toilets in public restrooms, to name just a few. Not all children are hypersensitive over-responders, however. Some might be under-responders who might be quiet, with a flat affect and low arousalresponse.These children might have a kind of “neurological traffic jam” going on. If the adults in a child’s life don’t understand what’s happening, the child can be labeled and medicated in a variety of heartbreaking ways. The next time you hear that a child that is difficult, clumsy, picky, anxious, oppositional, quirky, etc., it might be worth looking into something called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).What is SPD? Is it sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD?How does SPD differ from Sensory integration dysfunction?What do parents wish that the medical community better understood about SPD?Is there a connection between colic/gastrointestinal symptoms and SPD?What kind of treatments are helping children today and what’s on the horizon?How are parents leading the way?Meghan Brookler is a certified nutritionist with an MS in Nutrition and Integrative Health, holistic practitioner, avid researcher, and a loving mom of a child with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Ever since discovering how to turn her family’s sensory struggle around through nutrition, occupational therapy, meditation and other holistic steps, she has been passionate to share what she’s learned. Her mission is to help every SPD family she can reach to stabilize their SPD struggle and start living happy, peaceful, empowered lives together. It’s not always easy, but she believes we can tap into tools to create more ease, understanding and support that nourish our families and makes for happier people!Carla Atherton, MA, Director of the Lotus Health Project, Writer and Editor, Workshop Instructor, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, Transformational Nutrition Coach, Yoga Instructor, Health (R)evolutionary, and Children’s Health Advocate. Carla is a trained Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and Transformational Nutrition Coach, and is a creative and academic writer, lecturer, workshop instructor, acreage-living, unschooling mom of three. She is passionate about health and wellness, which, to her, involves all aspects of health including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Carla created theLotus Health Project, the Children’s and Teen Health (R)evolution, and its biannual online Children’s and Teen Health Summit in order to further her mandate – to let people know, both young and old, they are not alone in their health challenges or management and that anything can be overcome if you have the right mind and information.

Host // Carla AthertonImagine that your healthy, happy child contracts a common illness and, seemingly overnight, becomes a different child, with emotional outbursts, physical aggression, strange body movements and vocalizations, and other surprising behaviors.Parents are perplexed and wringing their hands. They are witnessing dramatic and worrisome transformations in their previously healthy children.The sequence goes something like this:Infectious agents, environmental exposures, or other triggers are involved.There’s an unintended immune or autoimmune response that results in brain inflammation.The inflammation provokes severe, uncontrollable, and undesirable behaviors. These include OCD/tics, anxiety, sensory processing difficulties, and changes in varied areas, from cognition and personality, to handwriting and eating habits.Doctors don’t know what to make of it, let alone how to treat your child. But parents, registering that their children are in desperate need of help, are on the front lines of this condition that has become common enough to merit a name: Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome(PANS). You may be more familiar with the variant, called Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus Infections (PANDAS). Many parents have been stunned to learn that their children have sky high ASO and Anti DNAase B titers showing strep infection.Then what? Parents have questions:Is PANS/PANDAS real? How prevalent is it?What are the signs and symptoms? Do they vary significantly among children?Do children heal? What treatment options are available?What happens if you don’t treat it? Can children outgrow PANS on their own?What advice do experienced parents offer?Heather Korbmacher, MED, NBCT is the founder of Courageous Educational Services LLC and mom of two. She has taught for more than 20 years in the K-12 and post-secondary classrooms as a Special Educator, Behavior Specialist, and Adjunct Professor. She recently left the classroom to care for her oldest son who contracted PANS nearly two years ago. This has changed her understanding of behavior and health and she is now dedicated to helping other families access information and services on their journey to wellness, while at the same time, educating the professionals who work with our courageous children and their parents..Carla Atherton, MA, Director of the Lotus Health Project, Writer and Editor, Workshop Instructor, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, Transformational Nutrition Coach, Yoga Instructor, Health (R)evolutionary, and Children’s Health Advocate. Carla is a trained Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and Transformational Nutrition Coach, and is a creative and academic writer, lecturer, workshop instructor, acreage-living, unschooling mom of three. She is passionate about health and wellness, which, to her, involves all aspects of health including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Carla created theLotus Health Project, the Children’s and Teen Health (R)evolution, and its biannual online Children’s and Teen Health Summit in order to further her mandate – to let people know, both young and old, they are not alone in their health challenges or management and that anything can be overcome if you have the right mind and information.

Guest // Alan Phillips, EsqHost //  Valerie Borek, EsqAll fifty states provide for medical exemptions to mandatory vaccination for day care and school admission. Forty-eight offer a religious exemption and 20 have a personal belief or philosophical opt-out provision…Until July 1, 2016, anyway… when SB277 takes effect and California joins Mississippi and West Virginia as the three states in this country to deny the option for a parent-directed vaccine exemption.More states may follow California’s lead; they are surely trying.On the heels of this legislative offensive and irrespective of state statutes, schools across the country have been putting the pressure on parents this fall.Can a school choose not to follow state law?Can a school exclude a child based on vaccination status?Do I have to explain my religious beliefs to obtain an exemption? Is this constitutional?What happens when a private day care or school won’t honor a religious vaccine exemption?What can we do to protect our rights?Attorney Alan Phillips is a nationally recognized vaccine law expert. For over a decade he has been dedicated to legislative activism to preserve exemption rights, educating the public on vaccine law, and helping individuals and families secure their rights in public and private settings. Check out his website, his eBook, The Authoritative Guide to Legal Exemptions, and his show, The Vaccine Agenda on Blog Talk Radio.

Host // Kelly Brogan, MDWouldn’t life be easier if you just knew how to raise your kids? No endless hours on the internet, frantic calls to friends and family, expensive and tedious appointments with doctors and experts, stacks of books to collect?There certainly aren’t many parents who can claim to navigate the challenges of family life and child rearing with the trifecta of wisdom, grace, and evidence-based research, but Sarah Kamrath is one of them.Tune in to hear about her path to parenting from a space of inner knowledge, informed by her experience as a parent, researcher, writer, filmmaker, doula, and yogi:What is a parent’s most important parenting tool?What are top priorities for a healthy pregnancy and birth?What information is needed to avoid unnecessary interventions?Why kundalini yoga, what is it, and how did it change your marriage and parenting?How is your parenting different from what you read and see in the mainstream?Tell us about your goals and approaches for educating your children? How do they like it and how does it impact their social lives?What hopes do you have for humanity when it comes to parenting and family life?Sarah Kamrath is the mom of two beautiful children, an evidence-based researcher with a passion for learning what makes children and families thrive, akundalini yoga teacher, a prenatal yoga teacher trainer, a doula, a writer, and a filmmaker on a mission to share invaluable information about pregnancy, childbirth, and your baby’s first year. She spent several years traveling and interviewing the top OB/GYNS, midwives, pediatricians, scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, childbirth educators, sleep experts and lactation specialists. She read their books, took their workshops, filmed the interviews, and compiled all of their gems of wisdom and expertise into a comprehensive childbirth video series called Happy Healthy Child. Her goal is for parents “to understand ALL of your options so that you enter this incredible time in your life feeling empowered and excited, not fearful and unprepared.” Read more about Sarah and her work here.Kelly Brogan, MD is Medical Director of Fearless Parent and mom of two. She is board certified in Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Integrative and Holistic Medicine. Holistic living, environmental medicine, and nutrition are the bedrock of her functional medicine practice. She serves as medical advisor to GreenMedInfo, Pathways to Family Wellness, and Fisher Wallace. Kelly holds degrees from MIT and Cornell Medical School.

Guest // Alison SmithHost // Carla AthertonDo you view parenting as largely a fear-based exercise?Left to their own devices, will children revert to a Lord of the Fliesethos?Are kids inherently naughty and boorish?Were you raised by time outs, consequences, spankings, or behavior charts?Do you believe they’ll be grateful for your firm hand and “tough love” when they grow up?What if the strict rule-oriented adversarial, “manipulation not friendship” parenting model isn’t quite right for your kids?Alison Smith was a school teacher who left her conventional world following three catalyzing events — the first was her life partner’s serious illness, the second was the road to his subsequent recovery, and the third was motherhood. Alison is a life coach, entrepreneur, author, and educator. She is a Creator’s Code Certified coach and author of the Gentle Parenting Manifesto.Learn more about her work at Alison Smith Coaching.com. 

Guest // Tami DuncanHost // Mary Coyle, DIHomTami Duncan began her soul’s mission of vibrational healing through the process of recovering her son from autism. Although diagnosed with ASD at age seven, a later a diagnosis of Lyme disease was what provided Tami the clues that ultimately led to his remarkable progress.But the healing didn’t stop there. Tami’s desire to dig deeper into the full realms of healing led her to the vibrational healing arts, including Reiki.We know that the human body is an amazing information gatherer. The nervous system zings when confronted with a menacing stranger; and our olfactory nerves delight in the aroma of freshly baked cookies.But what about the other body — the one that resides outside of the physical? Often referred to as the astral body, the spiritual body, or the soul — how can accessing this realm of our existence enhance our lives? These days, it’s no longer considered fringe to visit a medium, medical intuitive, or a host of other practitioners who journey to these higher planes. Our deepest desire is to understand just a little bit more. to find resolution from a painful experience, to heal.Join co-host Mary Coyle, DIHom for a fascinating show and:Learn how vibrational healing can positively impact your over-all healthDiscover how your thoughts influence your well-beingHear some basic techniques on how to balance your child’s energyFind out why an imbalanced energy body may sabotage your healingTami Duncan is the author of Vibrational Healing for Autism aka Awesome Kids! She is also the founder of the non-profit organization Lyme-Induced Autism (LIA), which was created to help other parents become aware this poorly understood disease, and how it can negatively impact a child’s health. Once Tami began delving into this deeper understanding, including its power and healing capacity, she created Epiphany Healing to share it with others. Tami conducts group healing, mentoring sessions, online classes, and weekend retreats. You can reach her at:www.EpiphanyHealingArts.com.Mary Coyle, DIHom is a homeopath with extensive training in homotoxicology and German Biological Medicine. She is the director of the Real Child Center in New York City. Homotoxicology utilizes cellular drainage, nutrition, and time-tested homeopathic techniques to stimulate the self-healing mechanism in your child. It is a therapy geared to enable your child to move to the next level of health. Mary writes and speaks about detoxification at the cellular level. She is a contributing author of Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism (Skyhorse, 2013).

#85 — Essure Dangers: Permanent Birth Control Pain ** October 7, 2015Host // Lisa BloomquistEssure is a kind of non-surgical sterilization that was approved by the FDA in 2002. Since then, three-quarters of a million women have signed up. We’re talking about the insertion of metal coils inside the fallopian tubes, which is supposed to prevent hookups between egg and sperm.A one-time, hassle-free procedure. Modern technology has surely improved upon the IUD of yore, right?It sounds simple enough.So, why are thousands of women complaining of:debilitating painweight gain, hair lossdepression, brain fog, fatigueflu-like symptomsdigestive disordersoccluded fallopian tubesunintended pregnanciesdid we mention the pain?These thousands of women are joined by consumer activist extraordinaire, Erin Brokovich who set up the Essure Procedure.net website to encourage more women to come forward and share their stories. The legal system isn’t open to these women because of something called “federal preemption” of class III medical devices. But these women aren’t taking this lying down. They’re making so much noise, challenging manufacturer Bayer AG, that the FDA is taking another look.Lisa Saenz is a 46 year-old mother of 4 daughters and 2 grand children. She is a licensed Social Worker and currently works as a Crisis Intervention Social Worker with high risk patients addicted to opiates. Her background includes 23 years as a patient advocate for the mentally ill. As a victim of these awful devices, she joined and helped promote the Essure Problems Facebook page. This led to her current role as a passionate patient advocate for women’s health and reproductive safety.Lisa Bloomquist is a patient advocate who was injured by Cipro in 2011. She runs Floxie Hope, a fluoroquinolone toxicity advocacy site, and manages The Fluoroquinolone Wall of Pain. Lisa is a guest blogger for Hormones Matter and Collective Evolution, and hosts The Floxie Hope Podcast. Lisa has vowed to continue to screaming about the dangers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics until those in the medical professions start paying attention to their Hippocratic Oath, until proper informed consent is established for administration of these drugs, and until physicians stop giving them to children. Lisa is a Colorado native who enjoys the mountains, Pilates, and her cat. She has a BA in Economics from Colorado State University and a Masters in Public Administration from University of Colorado, Denver.

#84 — Why My Brain Isn’t Working (Like It Should) ** September 30, 2015Host // Kelly Brogan, MDWe’re a nation beseiged with brain damage. Cognitive problems, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis. Autism. ADHD. Check out the mind boggling index of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and your brain will surely hurt.This is not something that luminosity.com can handle.Neither can conventional neurologists. They just don’t have much to offer patients beyond a diagnosis. Part of the problem? It is a failure to recognize, honor, and treat the gut-brain connection.Enter Dr. Datis Kharrazian, a humble, heart-centered brainiac who has brought the art of diagnosis back into the holistic arena and brought holism to the diagnostics of the conventional realm. In his acclaimed and densely referenced book Why Isn’t My Brain Working? he takes us on a tour of modern day insults to the brain and what to do about it.Learn about vital bodily connections that hold the key to brain recoveryWhat are the first signs of neurodegeneration?What are three ways to heal your gut-brain connection?Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly to his San Diego practice for guidance, knowledge, and inspiration, including the application of natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases become too complex to evaluate and diagnose. He is one of the most sought after educators in natural medicine, laboratory analysis, and nutrition. Dr. Kharrazian has personally trained several thousand healthcare professionals and currently has educated a group of more than a dozen exceptional doctors to lecture nationally in order to meet the demands for education in his patient management model.Kelly Brogan, MD is Medical Director of Fearless Parent and mom of two. She is board certified in Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Integrative and Holistic Medicine. Holistic living, environmental medicine, and nutrition are the bedrock of her functional medicine practice. She serves as medical advisor to GreenMedInfo, Pathways to Family Wellness, and Fisher Wallace. Kelly holds degrees from MIT and Cornell Medical School.

#83 — Great Expectations: Chiropractic in Pregnancy Host // Jeanne Ohm, DCChiropractors are the third largest group of doctorate-level primary care providers, behind medical doctors and dentists. Chiropractic has become mainstream treatment, with more than 30 million people annually. When it comes to pregnancy, however, women have a lot of questions:Is chiropractic care during pregnancy safe?Are chiropractors trained to work with pregnant women?Can birth outcomes be improved with chiropractic adjustments?What is intrauterine constraint and how can a misaligned pelvis affect the fetus?Did you know that chiropractic treatment can mitigate nausea, reduce time of labor and delivery, relieve back and joint pain, and prevent a potential caesarian birth?Jeanne Ohm, DC is a chiropractor who has practiced family wellness care since 1981 with her husband, Dr Tom. They have six children who were all born at home and are living the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle. Jeanne is an instructor, author, and innovator. She is Chief Executive officer of the ICPA and Executive Editor of Pathways to Family Wellness magazine.

Guest // David WhiteHost // Carla AthertonAmericans are ballooning up — adults and kids alike. Suddenly, normal food portions are super sized, clothing manufacturers are resorting to sizes 0, 00, and even 000 to avoid offending touchy customers, and people are spilling over the armrests of their airplane seats.We’re left wondering… what on earth happened?What are the repercussions of this alarming trend?What do we need to do about it?Host Carla Atherton interviews David White about his Childhood Obesity Project:What is this obesity project and what do you hope to accomplish?Are children simply small adults? How do kids experience obesity? Can you give is insight into the child’s perspective?Why are children becoming obese at such a rapid rate these days?What are the top ten gems that were shared with you during the interviews you conducted for your project?David White is a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach level 3, CHEK Practitioner level 1, recovered food addict, and former incredibly sick and overweight child. Dave has been coaching clients (and getting coached by his clients) for about 7 years now and is currently studying Musculoskeletal Therapy. Dave believes that health and medicine aren’t things that any one institution owns, but are owned by the person looking to achieve their health goals. Dave believes that health is in our own DNA and innate wisdom of our bodies and that the best medical practitioners teach people how to be their own doctors.

Guest // Chris D. Meletis, NDHost // Lisa BloomquistThe mitochondria have important things to do, including production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP—the universal energy molecule), cellular apoptosis, calcium homeostasis, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).Mitochondria are the engines of our cells, and so it follows that mitochondrial health is related to all other aspects of health. Mitochondria are mighty, but they are also vulnerable, and are damaged by many of the toxins in our world.So, what does this mean exactly?What is the relationship between mitochondrial health and many of the “mysterious” diseases of modernity?How can we protect our precious mitochondria?Can “resuscitating” mitochondria improve health outcomes?Since mitochondria and hormones are inextricably connected, how does mitochondrial health affects hormonal health? How do both affect chronic disease and aging?Chris D. Meletis, ND is a naturopathic physician out of Beaverton, Oregon. He is an educator, author and lecturer. He has written over 200 nationally published article and a dozen books, with the sole purpose of sharing his passion and amazement of the human body and what is required to maintain health. Dr. Meletis served as Dean of Naturopathic Medicine and Chief Medical Officer for 7 years at NCNM and was awarded the 2003 physician of the year by the American association of Naturopathic Physicians. His personal mission is “Changing World’s Health One Person at a Time.” He believes that when people become educated about their body, that is the moment when true change and wellness begins. www.DrMeletis.com

Guest // David George Haskell, PhDHost // Louise Kuo HabakusThe #1 ranked high school in the country is requiring this book, The Forest Unseen, as summer reading for all incoming freshmen. I picked it up and was hooked. The premise is simple — what can we learn by closely observing the same square meter of forest over a one year period?It’s no surprise that the forest can teach us biology. But does it also hold lessons about social connections, social responsibility, and our essential humanity?Yes.Imagine a contemporary biologist who writes like a poet — giddy with delight about the surprises and secrets that Nature will disclose to anyone who cares to take a closer look.We know that our kids need to spend more time outdoors. For this to happen, maybe parents need a dose of inspiration, too. This isn’t a quick read; you won’t (and shouldn’t) knock it off your list in a weekend. I’m reading it with my boys, individually. Each is drawn to different ideas — the brutal parasitism of the horsetail worm… stripping naked in -20F weather to experience winter as the chickadees do — but it feeds curiosity and spurs some terrific conversations.If you’re headed to the lake or mountains — or wish you were — this is the perfect summer read. The chapters are short and the insights are unexpected. It’s no wonder that this book was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize and received numerous awards, including the National Academies’ Best Book Award for 2013, the 2013 Reed Environmental Writing Award, and the 2012 National Outdoor Book Award for Natural History Literature. A profile in The New York Times said that Haskell “gives the natural world the kind of open-minded attention one expects from a Zen monk rather than a hypothesis-driven scientist.”David George Haskell, PhD holds degrees from the University of Oxford and Cornell University. He is Professor of Biology at the University of the South, where he served as Chair of Biology. His scientific research on animal ecology, evolution, and conservation has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the World Wildlife Fund, among others. David serves on the boards and advisory committees of local and regional land conservation groups. His classes have received national attention for the innovative ways they combine science, contemplation, and action in the community. David was born in England, raised in Paris, educated at Oxford and Cornell, and now lives in Tennessee where he helps his wife run a CSA called Cudzoo Farm.

Guest // Patricia Lemer, LPCHost // Beth LambertWhen a child is sick and parents are in “get it done” mode, stand back. We’re booking appointments, stocking up on supplies, recruiting therapists, setting up protocols, implementing new programs, and buying lots (and lots) of supplements. It’s a relief to be productive but the feeling doesn’t last. Our frenzied, sleepless activity gives way to a kind of unnatural calm where we ask:What am I missing?There are elements of a child’s growth and development that are almost always overlooked.  This is true for all children but it’s especially true for those on a healing journey. For example:State-of-the-art won’t mean a thing if the basics aren’t covered — think: sleep, sunshine, laughter.What are retained primitive reflexes and what do they have to do with memory, sensory integration, emotional maturity, eating, handwriting, and stress management (among many, many others)?Did you know that visual acuity (i.e., can your child see the blackboard?) is just one component of vision?Patricia S. Lemer is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and practiced as an educational diagnostician for over 40 years. She was co-founder and Executive Director of Developmental Delay Resources (DDR), and international, non-profit organization for 20 years. DDR merged with Epidemic Answers in 2013, and Patty serves as Board Chair. She holds a Masters of Education in counseling and learning disabilities from Boston College and a Masters in Business from John Hopkins University. Patty lectures internationally on developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorders. From 2012-2014, she served as Chief Consultant in the establishment of a center for young adults with disabilities in Kuwait. She is the author of EnVISIONing a Bright Future: Interventions that Work for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Outsmarting Autism. Visit her website for more information.

Guest // Jennifer Wiessner, LCSW, AASECTHost // Carla AthertonSex ed. Those two words are enough to have many of us running for the hills. Fall in, parents! Kids are consuming more media than ever before and the not-so-hidden messaging about sex is everywhere. Hate to break it to you but sex education is important for children BEFORE their school’s typical initiation in fifth grade. The good news is, it’s easier to talk about sex when children are younger. Legions of parents can tell you what happens if you wait too long — the never ending eye roll isn’t the half of it.Join host Carla Atherton and her favorite sex ed guru on kids and the “birds and the bees”:At what age should we start these chats?What are the top three myths about healthy sexuality that get in the way of conversations with our children?How, uh, specific do we really need to be and doesn’t this open up a can of worms? [Ed. note: It will definitely get their wheels turning. I was feeling pretty smug having had a good first discussion with my boys. As I was saying good-night and turning off the lights, my 8 year-old asked, “So, how exactly does the sperm get to the egg, ma?” My response? “Great question! My, it’s late. We’ll talk about that tomorrow.”]What do you mean when you say that we need to address our own issues about sex first?Do you have any scripts you can share with us… please?Jennifer Wiessner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and certified Sex Therapist with a strong history working with adolescents and families. The added roles and responsibilities taken on by men and women today are giving rise to added stress, marital concerns, depression and anxiety causing struggles within relationships and families. Jennifer is the first female AASECT certified Sex Therapist in the state of Maine. Clients with sexuality concerns, sexual dysfunction and pain, gender identity issues, sexual interest questions, fetishes and general relationship issues are welcome. She is a Kink and Poly aware therapist. Jennifer offers sexual health psychoeducation sessions for parents of young children alone or with their adolescents who wish to have guidance with how to encourage positive and responsible sexual health behaviors and attitudes as well as educational consultations with physicians to ensure best practices with patients relating to sexual health. For more information, go to the HOPE Counseling Services website.

Guest // Lawrence Caprio, NDHost // Mary Coyle, DIHomChildhood illness has changed so much since the early 20th century. Mortality rates are down markedly, and that’s a good thing. But we seem to have traded infectious disease for chronic illness.Some of most common afflictions affecting so many children are allergies — food, environmental, and idiopathic in origin. Parents and clinicians alike are bewildered. Why are kids so darn red and itchy, bumpy and rashy anyway? Debating the causes doesn’t get us far. We’re more concerned about relief.What happens if you don’t treat allergies?What are the most effective allergy treatments?What’s the relationship between allergy symptoms and chronic illness?What’s possible for children when allergy treatment is effective?Lawrence Caprio, ND recognized early in his career the importance of allergy treatment as an effective adjunct to the management of the majority of chronic degenerative diseases seen in medical practice today. Subsequently, he was among the first to pioneer the Interro System of computerized testing developed in Provo, Utah and the science of ‘phenolic food compounds’ researched by Dr. Robert Gardiner at Brigham Young University. Dr. Caprio successfully integrated these modalities and developed a uniquely effective system of non-invasive allergy testing and sublingual immunotherapy which he currently uses. This system of computerized non-invasive electrodermal testing and optimal dose sub-lingual immunotherapy allows for the safe, rapid desensitization of acute allergy symptoms, as well as the effective long term management of chronic allergic problems. Dr Caprio attended the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where he obtained his degree in 1979. Since that time, he has built a successful 35+ year practice of Naturopathic and Preventive Medicine in Westport, CT. He treats patients worldwide.

Guest // Matt HernHost // Carla AthertonCarla Atherton interviews Matt Hern, lecturer, writer, historian, about lifelong learning, self-directed learning, deschooling, and compulsory education – tune in for an inspiring discussion about how we can better unleash our children’s minds and inspire them in their learning.Matt Hern lives and works in East Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories, with his partner and daughters. He has founded and directed the Purple Thistle Centre, Car-Free Vancouver Day and Groundswell: Grassroots Economic Alternatives among many other community projects. His books and articles have been published on all six continents and translated into ten languages. He currently teaches in CBU’s MBA program is an Adjunct Professor in UBC’s SCARP program. He has taught at many other universities, and continues to lecture globally. To learn more about Matt, visit his website.

Guest // Nicholas Gonzales, MDHost // Sayer JiWhy do we get sick? What is cancer? Are dietary changes, coffee enemas, and large amounts of supplements and enzymes truly able to accomplish miracles? How can a world renowned cancer doctor also help patients with CFS, MS, and other intractable, mysterious conditions?Imagine new paradigms on health and healing that use natural, individualized approaches and achieve extraordinary outcomes.Join co-host Sayer Ji and leading cancer physician Nicholas Gonzales, MD for a fascinating show about health and healing; toxicity and pathology; and the implications of some amazing new research on… water.Nicholas J. Gonzalez, MD graduated from Brown University, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, with a degree in English Literature. He worked as a journalist, first at Time Inc., before pursuing premedical studies at Columbia and then receiving his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. During a postgraduate immunology fellowship under Dr. Robert A. Good, considered the father of modern immunology, he completed a research study evaluating an aggressive nutritional therapy in the treatment of advanced cancer. Since 1987, Dr. Gonzalez has been in private practice in New York City, treating patients diagnosed with cancer and other serious degenerative illnesses. His nutritional research has received substantial financial support from Procter & Gamble and Nestle. Results from a pilot study published in 1999 described the most positive data in the medical literature for pancreatic cancer. More details on his background and accomplishments here.

Guest // Holly Grigg-SpallHost // Kelly Brogan, MDDo you know how The Pill works? Millions of women — healthy women who take this powerful hormonal medication daily from their mid teens to menopause — have absolutely no idea.Cultural mythology and pharmaceutical marketing have sold women on The Pill as liberation, freedom, and independence. Who’s going to tell us that this drug impacts every organ and function in the body? Who will disclose that it’s implicated in depression, anxiety, paranoia, rage, panic attacks, and more?Although some may dare to suggest these women are traitors of feminism, we know better. A growing number of women are looking for non-hormonal alternatives for preventing pregnancy. And brave voices are piercing the veil. Holly Grigg-Spall is fearless, and her courageous advocacy on behalf of women whose stories are too often silenced is a model for others trying to make positive change through health activism. Read the book and get inspired, get angry, and most importantly get information. Sweetening the Pill is exactly the thing needed to energize and mobilize thisimportant women’s health conversation.Holly Grigg-Spall is a writer and women’s health advocate. Her book Sweetening the Pill: Or How We Got Hooked On Hormonal Birth Control has been featured inElle, the Sunday Times Style (UK), Marie Claire, New York magazine, The Guardian,and on CBC and the BBC, amongst others. The book was optioned by Ricki Lake and is the inspiration for a forthcoming feature documentary. She currently writes frequently for LadyClever.com.

Guest // Zen Honeycutt ** Host // Toni Bark, MDParents marching in solidarity — across the United States — for food integrity. Hundreds of activist leaders organizing hundreds of community events in two short years.This is what happened after one mom started feeding her three boys organic food to avoid GMOs and pesticides and watched their allergy and autism symptoms abate. She realized that thousands of parents are making the same discovery.Has the food issue “tipped”?Who’s behind this movement and how did it start? (Hint: watch this TED Talk)How does something so personal become a national movement?What are the lessons for other health freedom activists looking to catalyze a national movement?What’s next in food-related activism and what can we do to get involved?Zen Honeycutt, is the Founder and Director of Moms Across America, a National Coalition of Unstoppable Moms, with the motto “Empowered Moms, Healthy Kids.” MAA has over 400 leaders who have created 600+ community events in 46 states in its first two years. Moms Across America empowers and amplifies the voice of the mom locally and nationally to create healthy communities by raising awareness about GMOs and related pesticides in our food. MAA is expanding to Moms Across the World with co creator Vandana Shiva. Zen has been seen on CNN, the Dr.Oz show, CSPAN, Fox News, and more. She is an international speaker, powerful leadership coach, speaker and consultant. She is currently working on a book called ” Unstoppable Love: Empowering Community Leaders to be Global Game Changers.”Toni Bark MD, MHEM, LEED AP received her medical doctorate from Rush Medical College and trained in pediatrics and rehab medicine. She was director of the pediatric ER at Michael Reese hospital then studied naturopathic medicine. An intense interest in environmental impacts on health led her to seek LEED accreditation. After working in Haiti post-earthquake, Toni began her studies in health care emergency medicine and disaster planning, including vaccine policy, ethics, safety, and production. She is a contributor author to Vaccine Epidemic (2nd ed) and co-produced her first documentary with executive producer, Jeff Hays.

Guest // Dean Raffelock DC, Dipl Ac, CCN, DIBAK, DACBN, DAAIM (Retired)Host // Kelly Brogan, MDPhoto Credit // Claudio DiviziaDean Raffelock is a pioneering intellect in the field of women’s health. He has focused much of his clinical work on the complexities of a woman’s hormonal physiology, but he goes beyond estrogen and progesterone into the interconnectedness between hormones, neurochemistry, and the immune system.Where conventional medicine is lumping postpartum depression into the convenient, pharmaceutically-defined box of “chemical imbalance”, Dean offers women science-based insights into the “why” of postpartum mental illness along with radically natural interventions that work.With only 3 placebo-controlled trials for the efficacy of the reflexive treatment – antidepressants – let’s see what else we can offer today’s mothers.Has postpartum depression always been around? If it’s more common today, then why?What we are calling depression may represent many different “problems”. What does depression really mean?What are some major causes of postpartum depression? Risks?What are important elements of a “natural approach”?Top 3 recommendations for any new mom?Dean Raffelock earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1976 from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. His internship included gynecology and obstetrics along with assisting with multiple deliveries.During his 36 years in practice he earned board certifications in Clinical Nutrition (DACBN), Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), Integrative Medicine (DAAIM), and Applied Kinesiology (DIBAK) along with becoming a certified clinical nutritionist (CCN). He was also certified by and a website host and lecturer for the Institute for Functional Medicine. His unique background and skillset allows him to have a truly integrative perspective regarding human health.Dean’s book, A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health explains many ignored causes of postpartum depression and recommends effective natural remedies.Having retired from active practice in late 2013, Dean now consults and formulates nutritional supplements and information products for the nutrition and healthy foods industry. This allows him to reach many people with his knowledge of health and nutrition.

Guest // Mary Coyle, DIHomHost // Louise Kuo HabakusPhoto Credit // ptnimagesHomotoxicology is a long name for a simple therapeutic model designed tosafely remove damaging toxins stored in our organs and body fats.Based upon the principles of homeopathy “Let like cure like,” Homotoxicology functions on both extracellular and intracellular levels. Most of us are familiar with chelation therapy, colonics, or dietary/supplement detox strategies for detoxification. This nearly 100 year old “best kept secret” can function independently or synergistically with these modalities. As its popularity grows in the US, more and more families have begun to integrate Homotoxicology into their lives to gain and maintain better health at a deeper level.This show features one of the leading practitioners of homotoxicology, particularly as it applies to children with chronic and neurodevelopmental conditions:What are the foundational principles of Homotoxocology and how does it differ from classical homeopathy?What’s the science behind how and why it’s effective?What is the body’s capacity for processing toxicity and what are its limits? What are the differences between detoxification and drainage?Tell us about Progressive and Regressive Vicaration as health begins to shift.Can you share a case study?Who might benefit from homotoxicology and what do we need to know about implementing this kind of program?Mary Coyle, DIHom is a homeopath with extensive training in homotoxicology and German Biological Medicine. She is the director of theReal Child Center in New York City. Homotoxicology utilizes cellular drainage, nutrition, and time-tested homeopathic techniques to stimulate the self-healing mechanism in your child. It is a therapy geared to enable your child to move to the next level of health. Mary writes and speaks about detoxification at the cellular level. She is a contributing author of Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism(Skyhorse, 2013).

Guests // Jody Selander & Sharon YoungHost // Chandler Marrs, PhDAlthough prominent in Chinese Medicine and across most mammalian species, placental ingestion or placentophagy, has only recentlygained popularity in Western cultures. The placenta plays an important role in endocrine functioning and fetal nutrient supply during pregnancy. After childbirth, the mom is depleted of these critical hormones and nutrients. According to placentophagy practitioners and researchers, the hormones, nutrients and other compounds contained within the placenta at the time of parturition may still be beneficial to mothers during their postpartum recovery.Over the last decade, an entire industry supporting postpartum placental ingestion has sprung up. Women are clamoring to experience the purported health benefits associated with placentophagy. Stories abound detailing the positive experiences associated with placentophagy along with a few not so positive experiences. Is it safe? Is it effective?For this episode of the Heal with Friends podcast, we’ll talk to leaders in the field of placentophagy, Jodi Selander, founder of Placenta Benefits, and graduate student Sharon Young. Both women have worked arduously to understand the risks and benefits of placentophagia.Jodi Selandar has been working with postpartum women for over nine years. She is the Director of Placenta Benefits, an informational resource and training organization dedicated to natural postpartum recovery. She launched the first training course for placenta professionals in 2007. Since then, she has published numerous articles on postpartum wellness, including peer-reviewed research articles on human maternal placentophagy. She is a member of the Placentophagy Research Team at UNLV. She is also the author of The Postpartum Survival Guide, a guidebook for parents. Jodi is a regular speaker at conferences on the subject of postpartum and teaches classes for parents and care providers. She is a single mom and lives in Las Vegas with her three young daughters.Sharon Young is a PhD candidate in the Anthropology Department at UNLV studying biomedical anthropology. Her research focuses on maternal reproductive health and, more specifically, human maternal placentophagy. She has studied placentophagy with an interdisciplinary team of researchers for the past seven years and this work has been highlighted in university, local, and national media outlets including newspaper and magazine articles, and television and radio interviews.

Guest // Mandy LeeHost // Beth LambertWant to feel inspired? Listen in as Beth Lambert interviews Mandy Lee, nutritional therapist, author, blogger, natural health enthusiast, mother/foster-mother to seven children and owner of one of the biggest and most generous hearts.More than 250,000 children in the U.S. enter the foster care system every year, and millions of children across the world are in need of a home. What few people realize is that the vast majority of these children are sick. Very, very sick. Mandy Lee and her family have made it their life’s work to help support and recover the health of foster children through nutrition and clean, holistic living.According to Mandy, “Almost every child we bring into our home has an illness: cancer, eczema, allergies, gum disease (at 18 months old!) and more. It is appalling now that 1 in 2 children have a chronic illness. We see it!” Some of the children that have come to live with Mandy and her family have demonstrated the following symptoms: Severe behavioral issues, drug toxicity, widespread allergies to foods, severe tooth and gum decay, physical injuries, ADD/ADHD, growth delays, missing reproductive organs (affecting hormone regulation) and many other chronic symptoms. But Mandy has made it her mission to fight this epidemic of chronic illness, with love, and one child at a time.Mandy says “Many times I have wondered if all these sick children we foster is a coincidence or if this is just the population of children today… and I wonder if these foster children are more sick than the children that belong to a loving family. Based on our short experience of the last 5 years, 100% of foster children are sick!”Tune in to find out how Mandy has helped so many vulnerable children reclaim their health and vitality.“Our joy and hope is to love children, orphans, and families and teach how easy it is to transition your health” — Mandy Lee www.fosteringnutrition.comMandy Lee is a Nutritional Therapist who hopes to inspire better health for you and your family. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science, and advanced studies from California Polytechnic State University, Mandy began to see a decline in children’s health. Her first son and first foster-to-adopt son presented with chronic illnesses. As a result, Mandy began to further investigate diets and became educated as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Nutritional Response Tester. After recovering the health of her child, Mandy began to foster/adopt other children and experienced first hand many of the “new childhood epidemics”: Autistic expression, cancer, eczema, severe tooth/gum decay and more. The recovery and learnings were so profound, that Mandy started a philanthropic business, “Fostering Nutrition” so she could help more children and teach other parents simple ways to keep their children healthy. Mandy intends to encourage a new generation of parents to reclaim health for their children. It’s all about empowerment! She continues to teach that everyone deserves to BE HEALTHY and BELONG!

April 22, 2015Host & Guest // Jeanne Ohm, DCHow does a woman become a mother? What is the alchemy that transforms us from eager students to knowledgeable parents? Where are the teachers? What are the lessons and traditions and stories we need to hear?Fearless Parent Radio™ welcomes Dr. Jeanne Ohm and there is no better guest for her inaugural show than Jeanne herself. She has been teaching parents for decades, empowering and inspiring us to trust and respect our conscious and informed choices for family wellness. This process requires a shifting of our paradigm. Instead of delegating our power and responsibility to “experts,” she shows us to honor the seat of wisdom within ourselves. Instead of coming from fear, we must learn to lean into and to celebrate our internal intuition.Jeanne Ohm is a chiropractor who has practiced family wellness care since 1981 with her husband, Dr Tom. They have six children who were all born at home and are living the chiropractic family wellness lifestyleJeanne is an instructor, author, and innovator. She has many passions — training chiropractors to learn specific techniques for care in pregnancy, birth, and infancy; forming national alliances for chiropractors with like-minded perinatal practitioners; empowering mothers to make informed choices; and offering pertinent patient educational materials.She is Chief Executive officer of the ICPA and Executive Editor of Pathways to Family Wellness magazine.

Guests // Activists from CA, VT, PA, and NJHost // Louise Kuo HabakusThere is a legislative assault currently underway across the country, ostensibly in reaction to the Disneyland measles outbreak.See that map on the right? If state lawmakers have their way, many more states will be colored red — for no parental exemptions.On the heels of 134 confirmed measles cases (as of 4/10/15), there are 116 bills in 38 states (as of 4/11/15) that seek to significantly curtail individual rights and expand governmental authority by:expanding vaccine mandatesrestricting or eliminating vaccine exemptionsexpanding police and emergency powersexpanding or requiring vaccine status tracking for enforcementpublishing detailed compliance and exemption ratesBased on media reporting and this extreme legislative response, vaccination rates must be plummeting and exemption rates must be sky high, right? Wrong.Vaccination compliance rates are at an all time high across the U.S.. The CDC reports that over 99% of children receive at least one vaccine in early childhood, 90-95% are fully vaccinated, and the median total exemption rate is 1.8%. These numbers far exceed published herd immunity thresholds.Three states have rejected stricter mandatory vaccination laws. What are we seeing in other states? Join us for a lively discussion on the front lines of the legislative battle with leading activists from CA, VT, PA, and NJ.If vaccine compliance rates are so high, what are these bills really about?What does the ACLU have to say?CA’s bill sponsor says medical exemptions are easy to get – true or false?We hear it’s one in a million. How rare is vaccine injury?What should concerned citizens be doing?Guests:Valerie Borek, Esq (PA) focuses on birth, parental, and family rights.Jen DeLugach, RN (CA) has a background in maternal child health.Jennifer Stella (VT) has a background in microbiology and is President of the VT Coalition for Vaccine Choice.Ray the “The Reluctant Advocate” is a public official, professional educator, and parent.

Guest // Lara Briden, NDHost // Chandler Marrs, PhDWhat’s happening with your period? Does it come every month? Does it come at all? Is it heavy or painful or difficult in some way? Maybe you’ve just come off the pill, or are thinking about coming off the pill.No matter your age or your situation, it’s time to get to know your period because it’s trying to tell you something about your underlying health. Every month, your period gives a faithful account of what is happening with you and your health. Do you wonder what it means when you have:  Irregular periodsPeriod painPMSPCOSAcneThat information is incredibly valuable; how better to know what you need to do and what you need to change? Lara Briden, ND will talk us through different period symptoms and what they mean. She’ll also provide treatment ideas.Lara Briden is a Naturopathic Doctor who practices in Sydney, Australia. She graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1997 and has been working in women’s health ever since. Lara’s e-book,Period Repair Manual, is available on Amazon. She also blogs at Lara Briden’s Healthy Hormone Blog.

Guest // Michael B. Schachter, MDHost // Kelly Brogan, MDThink cancer is always a death sentence?Think surgery, chemo, and radiation are basically non-optional treatments?Is cancer something we need to “get out” of our bodies, or is it an invitation to go in, look around, and clean house?What are the top 3 myths dominating the field of conventional oncology?What are the major drivers of the cancer epidemic? Is there really more cancer? What is causing it, if so?Is there a role for supplements in cancer treatment? Vitamins? Fish oil?What are some of the most important evidence-based natural treatments?Join the conversation with Michael Schachter, MD who has been supporting cancer patients for over 40 years at his holistic center in Suffern, NY.Michael Schachter, MD is the founder and director of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Rockland, NY. He has 40 years of clinical experience in Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine. Michael is board certified in Psychiatry, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, and has obtained proficiency in Chelation Therapy from the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). He is a 1965 graduate of Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. Read more at MBSchachter.com.