Humarian Health

On this episode of the Humarian Health Podcast, Amy and Dr. Benzinger are joined by stroke specialist Dr. Amytis Towfighi, MD, to discuss strokes and talk about her book, “What You Must Know About Strokes: How to Recover from a Stroke and Prevent another Stroke”.  Dr. Towfighi talks about her reasoning for wanting to write a book about stroke and points out how little attention it receives compared to its prevalence and severity.  Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the world and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, yet few people know what to do when they’re having stroke symptoms.   They discuss the difference between ischemic strokes and a hemorrhagic strokes, how FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) can be used as an effective pneumonic device to look for stroke symptoms, and the relationship between stroke, blood pressure, and blood pressure medications.  Dr. Towfighi talks about thrombolytics (clot busting drugs) and clot retrieval procedures, the most common treatment options for stroke.  Dr. Towfighi also addresses stroke concerns in relation to COVID-19 and why the Mediterranean diet has been shown to be most effective in reducing the chances of stroke. You can find Dr. Towfighi’s book on amazon.com, squareonepublishers.com, and wherever books are sold.

On this episode of the Humarian Health Podcast, Amy and Dr. Benzinger are joined by Dr. Clifton Meador, MD, to discuss his book, The Little Book of Doctors’ Rules: A Practical Guide to the Art of Healing. Dr. Meador is a retired physician and professor of medicine emeritus at Vanderbilt Medical School. He shares his background in medicine and explains what events in his career led to his desire to write a book on rules for doctors. They discuss Dr. Meador’s four major categories of patients that exhibit symptoms but no disease and discuss why he uses patient diaries to determine the causes of symptoms and rule out diseases. Amy asks specifically about rule #186, “All patients will lie about something, some patients will lie about everything”. They finish out the podcast by discussing how and why patients are ending up with so many different doctors and why doctors are often not able to devote the amount of time necessary for more thorough and accurate diagnoses. You can find Dr. Meador’s book, The Little Book of Doctors’ Rules: A Practical Guide to the Art of Healing, at Amazon, Square One Publishers, and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B are joined by Dr. Donald S. Teig, author of High Performance Vision, to talk about visual performance in sports and in life. Dr. Teig starts by talking about his background in psychology and how that shaped his interest in all aspects of visual performance. Dr. Teig explains how depth perception, peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and many other visual parameters all factor into vision performance. They discuss the impact of stress on vision and why athletes often report improved visual performance when they’re “in the zone”. Dr. Teig talks about the phrase, “keep your eye on the ball” and how he teaches baseball players to put it to practical use. They also discuss the impact of dominant vs. non-dominant eyes in sports performance, non-sport applications like reading, and how to tell which of your eyes is dominant. They end by talking about the visual impact of concussions in sports. You can find Dr. Teig’s book, High Performance Vision, on Amazon.com, Squareonepublishers.com, and wherever books are sold. You can find out more about Dr. Teig at highperformancevisionassociates.com.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B are joined by Dr. Mandip S. Kang, MD, FASN, to discuss food, kidney health, kidney disease, and how they all tie together with his book, The Doctor’s Kidney Diets: A Nutritional Guide to Managing and Slowing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease. Dr. Kang starts by discussing what he learned during his training in nephrology that led him to write his book. He gives a brief rundown of kidney functions in the body before describing the three most common kinds of kidney disorders: congenital kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The gang discuss some of the ways that CKD can arise, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as other kidney conditions like glomerulonephritis. Next, as per usual, Dr. B shifts the conversation to food, as they discuss the ways in which food and obesity can affect kidney health. They discuss dietary tips, nutrient deficiencies, and the impact of water filtration on the kidneys. Also, why is starfruit a big no-no for those with kidney disease? Dr. Kang closes out the show with a couple kidney-conscious food options. You can find Dr. Kang’s book, The Doctor’s Kidney Diets: A Nutritional Guide to Managing and Slowing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease, on Amazon, Square One Publishers, and wherever books are sold.

This week, we're bringing you the final part of Dr. B’s series on stress. Amy sits down with Dr. B for a discussion on how your mindset can affect the way you deal with stress. They start off by giving examples of how their mindsets have changed in their own lives recently and the effects those changes have had on their personal stress levels. Dr. B. outlines some problematic tendencies that can arise with fixed mindsets compared to growth mindsets, like gravitating towards known quantities instead of seeking out new experiences, declaring relationships as broken before first trying to work on them, or relying on natural talent above putting in hard work to succeed. Then he and Amy go over some of the ways that we can recognize fixed mindsets and work to develop growth mindsets in our own lives.

Join us this week for part 2 of Dr. B’s series on stress. Amy sits down with Dr. B for a discussion on the physiological effects of stress. They talk about major stressful events and what they mean for individual stress levels. Dr. B and Amy each mention some of the major symptoms they experience when they feel stressed. They talk about some of the most common stress symptoms cited after major stressful events, and then Dr. B breaks down some of these symptoms by going into detail about the physiological effects that stress can have on the body. They also touch on stress in relation to mood and food, genetics, mental beating, bad bosses, and family. Check back next month for part 3!

We have all kinds of great guests lined up for 2020, but we’re kicking off the year guest-less as Amy joins Dr. Benzinger for the start of a three-episode series about stress. This first episode is all about how stress shows up in our bodies and what it can do. Topics covered include doctor visits due to stress, common symptoms of stress, technology, and social media, and how to approach stress management day-to-day versus long term. In the second half of the show, they discuss the increased pace of everyday life today compared to a decade ago, the connection of workplace satisfaction with overall happiness, how to differentiate between good and bad stress, and more. Stay tuned for part 2!

On this week’s show, Dr. B is joined by returning guest, Dr. Earl Mindell, RPH, MH, PhD, to discuss his book, What's in Your Blood and Why You Should Care: How to Cleanse and Detoxify Your Blood for Optimum Health, co-authored by Gene Bruno. They get right into it with some talk about what kinds of harmful chemicals are in our water supply and how the water quality compares to 50 years ago. Then they dive into Vitamin D deficiency, cholesterol, and what can happen when harmful chemicals make it into our bloodstreams. Dr. Mindell goes into some specifics on how blood functions and what we can do to improve the quality of our blood for greater health and longevity. Dr. Mindell also talks about the history of hemp, the nationwide sugar epidemic, and how the now-infamous “Twinkie, Ding-dong, Donut, Pizza, Prozac, Pepsi” diet affects our blood and our bodies. You can find What's in Your Blood and Why You Should Care: How to Cleanse and Detoxify Your Blood for Optimum Health on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Dr. B is joined by James Templeton to discuss his book, I Used to Have Cancer: How I Found My Own Way Back to Health. James tells Dr. B about his background as a successful business and family man, his family’s history with cancer, and why that history led him to becoming a fitness fanatic. He talks about his stage 4 melanoma diagnosis, and his subsequent depression, job loss, divorce, and news that the cancer had spread to his lymphatic system. After learning that he’d have at best a 20% chance to live 3-5 more years with conventional therapies, James was ready to throw in the towel. He tells Dr. B how he found the will to push on and discovered the keys to his recovery: the macrobiotic diet, overloading on vitamin C, and visualizing recovery. It has now been 33 years since James’ initial cancer diagnosis. James tells us what he’s been up to since then, including starting his own nutritional supplement company, writing this book, and started a nonprofit organization called Templeton Wellness. You can find I Used to Have Cancer: How I Found My Own Way Back to Health on amazon.com, iusedtohavecancer.com, and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Brittany Henderson, MD, to discuss her book, What You Must Know About Hashimoto’s Disease: Restoring Thyroid Health Through Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Dr. Henderson talks about her background as a board-certified endocrinologist and what led her to opening a thyroid specific practice and writing a book on Hashimoto’s disease. She discusses the overall the prevalence of hypothyroidism, how suffering from one autoimmune disease can make you more susceptible to other autoimmune issues, and outlines some of the major symptoms of thyroid issues, like fatigue, weight gain, reproductive health, constipation, and feelings of “brain fog”. They spend some time discussing how thyroid health is still massively under-diagnosed in relation to fertility issues and why we see so many instances of postpartum thyroiditis, a form of Hashimoto’s disease that arises after pregnancy. Dr. Henderson gives a thorough explanation of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and how it is currently used to evaluate thyroid hormone levels in the body, as well as the thyroid’s relationship to body temperature and birth control. The group then discusses dietary concerns, including what to eat and what to avoid. Dr. Henderson ends the show by offering three pieces of advice for those that may be suffering from thyroid conditions. You can find Dr. Henderson’s book at amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Tony Kantzavelos, a pharmacist and owner of Nora Apothecary to talk about compounding, specialized pharmaceutical preparations, and his business. Tony tells us a little about Nora Apothecary and what separates a compounding pharmacy from a typical one. He describes the process of compounding and the many different forms that compound pharmaceutical products can take. Tony goes over the numerous scenarios in which compounding drugs offers benefits over traditionally produced big pharma drugs. He then talks about the growth of big pharmaceutical companies, how that has impacted the role of the modern pharmacist, and why compounding pharmacists are so important because of this reality. They also discuss the level of awareness of compounding pharmacists in the medical community and whether it is a rising or fading profession. Tony closes out the show by telling us why he has almost all of his patients on probiotics. You can find more information about Nora Apothecary and Tony at noraapothecary.com.

This week, we welcome Dr. Ryan Bentley back to the show. He joins Amy and Dr. B. to talk about probiotics in everyday products. You can now find orange juice, milk, lotion, makeup, and many other products that claim to be loaded with probiotics. Are they effective? Can they act as substitutes for probiotic supplements or fermented foods? Do the sugars in some of these products activate probiotics prematurely? How much do we really know about the effects of the probiotics in these products with current research? Dr. Bentley dives into all of this and more, so stay tuned!

In part 2 of our dietary discussion with Jodi Smith, Amy and Dr. B. join Jodi to discuss nutrients, dietary trends, and how to form long-term healthy eating habits. Topics discussed include: · Why a keto diet can reduce the likelihood of heart disease for some people and increase it for others, and why the idea that keto is a good diet for everyone that’s obese is probably not true. · Best practices and tools for making sure your diet is giving you essential nutrients that you need to function. · Why Jodi won’t even see clients until they complete a written 3-day diet diary. · Why certain body types do better on some diets and exercises than others. · Why many of the current dietary trends are shaped by vilification of grains. · Why it’s important to be mindful of overindulgence when you give yourself a chance to eat not so healthy things once in a while. You can find recipes, videos, dietary education, and more about Jodi on her website, plateology.com.

We have a 2-parter for you this time! In part one, Jodi Smith returns to the show to talk with Amy and Dr. B. about losing weight, keeping it off, and where diets like Whole 30, paleo, and keto fit into the mix. Jodi is a medical nutritionist and the creator of Plateology.com. Topics discussed include: · Major reasons people go on diets · Why we need to be better about considering the bigger picture regarding our weight · A deep dive into some shocking statistics on the current obesity epidemic · Why making the right food choices is not enough to maintain a healthy weight. · Why macro management on its own is not enough if you don’t also factor in calorie intake · Why certain diets are better suited for different people · How areas of your body that are most prone to weight gain can be indicative of predisposition to certain health conditions. · General indicators that certain types of food aren’t settling well with your body, like diarrhea, constipation, stomachaches, headaches, spaciness, and general lack of focus or clarity of thought. · Why you don’t have to eat like everybody else, and why figuring out what foods work for you and building your eating habits around them is usually the best course of action. Stay tuned for part 2!

This week’s show is a good one, folks! Dr. B. is joined by nutritional biochemist and leading expert in women’s medicine, Dr. Jolene Brighten, to discuss hormonal birth control and her book, Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill. After some talk about general hormonal birth control statistics, Dr. Brighten talks about potential short-term and long-term side effects of prolonged birth control pill use, her personal history with birth control, and how her personal experience with patients drove her to explore this topic in depth. She spends some time diving into the prevalence of medical gender bias, where women are statistically more like to have chronic pain dismissed, be told that their symptoms are in their head, or receive inadequate medical care. Dr. Brighten explains how hormonal changes can lead to thyroid issues, leaky gut, autoimmune conditions, and nutrient depletion. Dr. Brighten stresses that the primary goal of her book is to make sure that women have the full story about hormonal birth control so they can make educated decisions about their own bodies. You can find Dr. Brighten’s book on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Laura Stevens, author of Solving the Puzzle of your ADD/ADHD Child: Natural Alternatives for Hard-to-Raise Children. Laura tells Amy and Dr. B. how she became interested in the topic of ADD/ADHD and how this led her to write her first book, How to Feed Your Hyperactive Child. Laura describes the importance of clean diets when dealing with hyperactive children and why it’s especially important for parents to be on the lookout for dyes on ingredients labels. She talks about the impact of sugars, whether organic and non-GMO are terms we should be paying attention to for hyperactive children, and some of the most important nutrients to keep an eye out for. Laura also talks about good sleep hygiene and the importance of physical activity. You can find Solving the Puzzle of your ADD/ADHD Child: Natural Alternatives for Hard-to-Raise Children on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Dr. B. is joined by Swathi Rao, owner and CEO of local Indiana practice, Be Well Family Care. Be Well Family Care is a family practice with a focus on integrated care, or what Swathi calls “smart medicine.” This means that the practice tries to utilize everything that research brings to them, whether it be traditional, alternative, or functional medicine. Swathi talks about her background in traditional medicine and the catalyst that caused her to favor integrated care over purely traditional medicine. Dr. B. asks about Swathi why the kitchen takes up a third of their total office space. Swathi describes the importance of diet, nutrition, and basic cooking skills for staying healthy. When Dr. B. asks about the role of traditional medicine in her practice, Swathi responds, “You don’t do aromatherapy in the middle of a car accident.” She then elaborates on why traditional medicine is so important in the practice of smart medicine and why you don’t see many family practices that stress integrated care. You can find out more about Swathi and her practice at bewellfamilycare.com.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Amy Medling to talk about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and her book, Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Amy talks about her personal struggles as a woman growing up with undiagnosed PCOS and why 50-70% of women with PCOS remain undiagnosed. She talks about how her PCOS symptoms led to gaslighting from doctors. There is no magic pill to cure PCOS, so Amy explains why changing your mindset about your body is the first and most important step in fighting back. The gang then discusses the importance of diet and exercise in relation to mood, self-confidence, and PCOS symptoms. Amy also explains why intensity is not necessarily the most important consideration in exercise for helping with weight loss and other PCOS issues and why it’s important to heal in ways that make you feel good along the way. You can find more about Amy Medling and her 21-day plan at pcosdiva.com. You can find Healing PCOS: A 21-Day Plan for Reclaiming Your Health and Life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome at pcosdiva.com, Amazon, and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Sandra Kaufmann to discuss her new book, The Kaufmann Protocol: Why We Age and How to Stop It. Amy and Dr. B. ask Dr. Kaufmann about her background as a tropical ecologist and plant physiologist, why she decided to become an anesthesiologist, and how she used her diverse scientific background to unravel the mysteries of aging. She explains why the Kaufmann Protocol is the first ever comprehensive scientific system to explain why we age and what we can do to decelerate that process. Dr. Kaufmann outlines her protocol by detailing the seven core tenents of aging in and describing how she categorizes them. She then explains the Kaufmann 1-7 rating system she uses to quantify the effectiveness of molecular agents on each category and how using these systems in tandem can help to determine which molecular agents to use to help your biggest aging issues. You can find The Kaufmann Protocol: Why We Age and How to Stop It on amazon.com and wherever books are sold. You can find the Kaufmann Protocol app on iOS and the Google Play Store.

Dr. Ryan Bentley returns to the show this week to have another fun chat with Amy and Dr. B. about probiotics. The big question of the day: how long does it take to see the effects of probiotics? According to Dr. Bentley, it depends. The trio delves into why there isn’t one definitive answer to this question. They discuss some of the different factors that can cause variability in this time-frame and talk about some easy ways to tell that a probiotic is having an effect. Dr. Bentley talks about why the initial response to probiotic effects can sometimes appear negative and why that’s not necessarily the case. Dr. Bentley also discuses psychobiotics, the gut-brain axis, and some of the conditions that he has personally seen probiotics help with in his practice. Oh, and as usual, Dr. B. interrupts with story time at some point in the podcast. This time it’s about a patient that used probiotics to combat spousal flatulence. Enjoy!

Today, we welcome back board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Rajiv K. Sharma, MD. Amy sits down with Dr. Sharma to discuss the new edition of his book, Pursuit of Gut Happiness. Dr. Sharma talks about the new edition’s updates to spices and herbs and its increased emphasis on turmeric. Then he dives into some more specific benefits, like how mint affects smooth muscle spasms and stomach pain and how ginger can affect joint pain and aches. Dr. Sharma then disappoints Amy by dispelling the myth that ginger ale has any actual ginger in it to provide benefits. It doesn’t. Amy then asks Dr. Sharma to talk about the symbiotic relationship between probiotics and prebiotics and why they work better together than individually. Dr. Sharma closes the show by highlighting his saag recipe and explaining why it’s one of the healthiest dishes you can eat. You can purchase Pursuit of Gut Happiness on Amazon, Kindle, and at drguthappiness.com.

This week’s show is all about bras! Or rather, the lack thereof. Amy is joined by Humarian’s Community Manager, Christina Conlon, to talk to Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer about their book, "Dressed to Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras”. Syd and Soma work in the field of “applied medical anthropology” with a focus on how culture and lifestyle can make us sick. Soma begins by sharing her story of finding a lump in her breast and how a prior experience in Fiji led to the idea that constriction from bras could be a potential cause of breast problems. Syd shares new research regarding lymph stasis and how the constriction of bras can exacerbate this issue. They discuss some of the research indicating that women get breast cancer 100 times more than men, but bra-free women have about the same breast cancer rate as men. Soma shares her own experience with transitioning away from wearing a bra and tips for other women to do the same. Syd and Soma also dish about bra companies that have contacted them to consult on newer, less constrictive bra designs based on “Dressed to Kill” and the rise in prominence of less constrictive bras, like wire-free and sports bras. You can find “Dressed to Kill” on amazon.com and wherever books are sold, and you can find more about Syd and Soma’s research at brasandbreastcancer.org.

Our guest this week is Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, optometrist and author of Smart Medicine for Your Eyes. Amy and Dr. B chat with Dr. Ansel about eye exams, carrots, and eye diseases. Dr. Ansel explains the three “O’s” and how overall nutrition can affect our eyes. He also spends some time discussing the effect of continued electronic use on our ocular health. Tune in to find out why the windows to the soul are also the mirrors for the body! You can find Smart Medicine for Your Eyes on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Becca Coffin, an intentional living coach, to discuss living intentionally, the importance of identifying core values, and the dangers of fear-based decision making. Becca talks about how her background with her local church and project management led her down the path to become an intentional living coach. They discuss why so many people are living on autopilot, living in survival mode, or just aren’t feeling fulfilled by life. Becca describes the process of intentional living coaching, starting by identifying core values, then trying to establish a “why”. She describes how her approach differs between individuals and families and why children are often the catalyst for many of these issues to rise to the surface. They talk about why the “we’re too busy” excuse often does not hold up when activities filling that time are brought to light. Becca also talks about fear and guilt-based decision making, the some of the most common core values people define for themselves, and why it’s often okay to say no. You can find more about Becca and intentional living coaching at beccacoffin.com.

Our guest this week is Reiki master Denise Dilworth. Denise joins Amy to discuss the art of Reiki healing and the benefits it can provide. She talks to Amy about the three levels of Reiki masters, the way that Reiki works to heal the body, the nature of attunements, the difference between Reiki and other healing arts, why someone might want to consider seeing a Reiki master, what a typical Reiki session looks like, and how to find a good Reiki master.

Our guest this week is spiritual director Beth Booram. Beth is also an author, retreat leader, and co-founder and director of Sustainable Faith Indy. She joins Amy and Dr. B to outline the purpose of a spiritual director and the concept of a ministry of listening. Beth talks about what drew her to spiritual direction, what to expect from a session with a spiritual director, and explains the difference between spiritual direction and therapy.

On this week’s show, psychotherapist Dr. Pilar Jennings, PhD, joins Amy and Dr. B. to talk about Buddhism, psychotherapy, trauma, and to discuss her book, To Heal A Wounded Heart: The Transformative Power of Buddhism and Psychotherapy in Action. She describes her history with Buddhism, psychotherapy, and meditation, and how this background led her to bring them all together in her career. Pilar discusses how this unconventional version of therapy focused on being with and accepting silence can help children to open up that are not willing to with more conventional therapies. Sometimes, people don’t have the words to express their feelings, and that’s ok. She spends some time talking about trauma. Where can it originate from, what different forms can it take, and why isn’t it as simple to identify as people tend to think? They discuss the common ground between psychoanalysis and Buddhism, namely equality of listening, or fair attention, and how the integration of Buddhism is accepted within the psychotherapy community. They end by talking about how she chose the name for her book, and what she really wanted to call it. You can find Dr. Jenning’s book on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s show, family counselor Liz Howerth joins Amy and Dr. B. to discuss counseling, self-motivation, and the importance of being honest with ourselves. Liz tells us how she got started and why she decided to become a family counselor. The gang discusses the nature of counseling and where it fits within the paradigm of therapy, psychology, and psychiatry, and they touch on recent shifts of acceptance in the public perception of counseling being a normal part of good mental health maintenance. Liz talks about EMDR and other modalities that are common in therapy today and discusses the applications of leading with advice vs. acting as a mirror and leading patients to come to their own realizations. She also discusses the importance of self-motivation in patients, the impact it can have on growth and general progress in counseling, and why Liz goes to counseling too! Amy asks Liz about how to begin seeking counseling, how to measure progress, how to set goals, what to expect of your counselor and yourself, and why counseling might be worth a shot for those that haven’t tried it. Liz ends the show with a word of encouragement about being honest with ourselves.

On this week’s show, we welcome Gila Kurtz for National Walk Your Dog Week. Gila joins Amy and Dr. B. to talk about her website, Dog is Good, and her book, Fur Covered Wisdom: A Dog Can Change the Way You See the World. Gila discusses her background as a professional dog trainer and what inspired her to create Dog is Good. They talk about why Dog is Good is more focused on the messages than the products themselves, and Gila shares some of her favorite messages that customers have latched onto. She also explains how she is able to incorporate fitness into her pet’s life as well as her own and why it is NOT selfish to prioritize your own health so highly. Gila wraps up by talking about one of the most important lessons her dog has taught her. Gila’s book can be purchased at dogisgood.com and wherever books are sold. You can find more about Gila at dogisgood.com.

Our guest this week is fitness trainer and author, Nick Nilsson. Nick joins Amy and Dr. B to talk about intense weight training and exercise. Tune in to find out why Nick ate 8-9,000 calories a day in college, what he has done to get kicked out of gyms, and why he’s known as the “Mad Scientist of Muscle”. Nick also talks about some more traditional exercises and tips for helping someone that wants to add more weight to their lifts. You can find more information about Nick and his weightlifting knowledge on his website, fitstep.com.

Our guest this week is Joan Pagano, personal trainer and author of Strength Training: Exercises for Women. Joan joins Amy and Dr. B. to talk about how our bodies change as we get older and how our fitness routines should be changing as we do. She discusses why cardiovascular is only part of the fitness equation, what else we should be doing to have a well-rounded workout, and why strength training, flexibility, and balance are all important components of a well-rounded fitness routine. She also touches on workouts for men vs. women, some common myths of strength training, common stretching mistakes, and how to train for balance. You can find more on Joan and her fitness knowledge on her website https://www.joanpaganofitness.com. You can buy Strength Training: Exercises for Women on her website, amazon.com, and wherever books are sold.

Our guest this week is Megan Gilmore, executive director of Lark’s Song. Megan is a professional coach with a focus on positive psychology. Megan sits down with Amy and Dr. B. to chat about how she got into professional coaching and what led to the creation of Lark’s Song. She talks about the mission of Lark’s Song and how it helps clients to overcome obstacles and challenges on the way to wellbeing that they might not be able to overcome by themselves. Megan also describes the benefits of positive psychology, why habit formation is such an important component of professional coaching, some of the major differences between coaching and counseling, and why clients are the best experts on themselves.

On this week’s show, Dr B. is joined by author and veterinarian Dr. Jessica Vogelsang with Pawcurious to discuss pain related to Animal Pain Awareness Month. They discuss how to recognize when an animal is in pain, acute pain vs. chronic pain, why certain breeds of animals are better at enduring pain than others, and why the stoic animals are the ones we need to keep the closest eye on. Dr Vogelsang discusses how the pet’s role in the family has changed family dynamics and priorities over time, and how this has helped raise awareness for chronic and acute pain in pets. She talks about some common signs that a pet might be in pain, like cats that stop using the litter box, large dogs that seem to be slowing down, or animals with decreased appetites. She also talks about current treatments to manage chronic pain in animals, why opioids are typically used only as a last resort, and why the best preventative measure is making sure your pet is at a healthy weight. Dr. B. asks about the CBD oil craze and if the veterinary community has found it to be a valuable tool for animals. Dr. Vogelsang discusses the ethical conundrum of euthanasia in animals and the importance of finding a veterinarian trained in palliative care for animals facing end-of-life scenarios. They end by discussing the exciting prospects of telemedicine and why it could prove to be important in the future of hospice care. You can find more from Dr. Vogelsang at pawcurious.com.

Our guest this week is Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, a local veterinarian who specializes in cats. Dr. Shaw sits down with Amy and Dr. B to discuss feline enrichment, which is finding ways to provide cats with a sense of engagement, decrease boredom, and keep them mentally stimulated. Dr. Shaw covers a wide range of topics, such as importance of moisture rich diets, putting distance between food bowls and water bowls, walking cats with harnesses, fresh sunshine, cat cafes, cat tunnels and free floating shelves, laser pointers, music, declawing vs. trimming, cardboard boxes, scratching pads, plants for olfactory enrichment, and how micro-chipping can keep your cat safe and healthier. To learn more about feline enrichment, Dr. Shaw suggests consulting the Winn Feline Foundation. She also recommends checking out the Ohio State University indoor pet campaign at indoorpet.osu.edu/cats.

On this week’s show, Amy and Dr. B. are joined by Sara Hemmick, athletic trainer and owner of Myo-Fit. Sara joins the cast to talk about athletic training and how Myo-Fit differs from normal athletic training by specializing in manual therapy, or manipulative therapy. She educates us on the difference between manual therapy and physical therapy, why it’s so important to properly distinguish between the two, why manual therapy is so much more important in today’s world than it was 30 years ago and why her catch phrase is “soften, lengthen, strengthen.” Sara also talks about some of the instrument-assisted treatments she uses, like cupping and scraping. She outlines the benefits of these treatments and explains why controlled inflammation can be beneficial.

Our guest this week is Patty Pavey, a local hypnotist. Patty joins Amy and Dr. B to talk about how she got into hypnosis, what exactly hypnosis is, who can and should look to hypnosis, what hypnosis actually feels like, how hypnosis differs from meditation, what kinds of issues hypnosis can help with, and what a typical hypnosis session looks like. Also, what in the world is a golf hypnotist?

Our guest this week is Vijaya Nair, MD, and author of Prevent Cancer, Strokes, Heart Attacks & Other Deadly Killers. Dr. Nair joins Amy and Dr. B to discuss her education in Eastern and Western medicines and how it affects the way she practices medicine today. The gang talks about pharmaceuticals and natural alternatives, inflammation and oxidation, and what diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis have in common. They also cover how diet affects disease, anti-inflammatory foods, and non-dietary ways to stay healthier and free of inflammation. You can find Prevent Cancer, Strokes, Heart Attacks & Other Deadly Killers on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

On this week’s episode, Dr. B is joined by Dani Landolt, the chief marketing officer for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Dani and Dr. B talk about how she moved from sports marketing to sales to the pet industry and spend some time discussing the background and mission behind Leader Dogs for the Blind. Dani describes the three main services offered by Leader Dogs for the Blind, namely guide dog training (including a dedicated deaf/blind Leader Dog training program), accelerated orientation and mobility training (white cane training), and a week long leadership camp for teenagers that are blind or visually impaired. She talks about the breeds and dispositions of dogs that have been successfully bred as leader dogs and why Leader Dogs for the Blind primarily focuses on Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and German shepherds. She also describes the difference between guide dogs and service dogs, and she explains the importance of intelligent disobedience for guide dogs. You can find more on Dani and Leader Dogs for the Blind at leaderdog.org.

Our guest this week is Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, optometrist and author of Smart Medicine for Your Eyes. Amy and Dr. B chat with Dr. Ansel about eye exams, carrots, and eye diseases. Dr. Ansel explains the three “O’s” and how overall nutrition can affect our eyes. He also spends some time discussing the effect of continued electronic use on our ocular health. Tune in to find out why the windows to the soul are also the mirrors for the body! You can find Smart Medicine for Your Eyes on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

Our guest this week is Dr. Deva Khalsa, a pioneer in holistic veterinary medicine and author of Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog: Holistic Therapies, Nutrition, and Recipes for Healthier Dogs. Dr. Khalsa joins Amy and Dr. B. to outline how holistic medicine can make your animal’s body smarter, wiser, and more able to stay healthy and fight diseases. She discusses the importance of vetting your vet, differences between traditional medicine and holistic medicine, why veterinarian medicine has become a largely corporate-influenced field, and how this reality inspired her to write a book to help people become smarter pet owners. Dr. Khalsa details the rising prevalence of cancer in animals, the dangers of commercial flea and tick treatments, and other ways that pets can be harmed through traditional treatments. She also discusses merits of healthy animal foods, prepared foods, and why she is not a fan of the raw food craze that has recently surged in popularity. Later on in the show, Dr. B. and Dr. Khalsa get into the pitfalls of choosing natural supplements for both humans and animals. You can find Dr. Khalsa at doctordeva.com, her curated list of pet products at deservingpets.com, and her book, Dr. Khalsa’s Natural Dog: Holistic Therapies, Nutrition, and Recipes for Healthier Dogs, at amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

Our guest this week is Bryant Johnson, author of The RBG Workout. RBG, as in Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg! Bryant is the Supreme Court Justice’s personal trainer, and his book outlines the workout that he designed and guides her through twice a week. Bryant tells Amy and Dr. B all about his day job as a paratrooper in the Army Reserve and how he ended up as Justice Ginsberg’s personal trainer. He describes how he designed a customized workout for Justice Ginsburg to rebuild her strength after her bout with cancer, and how he uses this experience to help other recovering cancer patients. Bryant also shares some details on the origins of “Super Diva”, “Body Justice”, and why he often describes Justice Ginsburg as a cyborg. You can find The RBG Workout on rbgworkout.com, amazon.com, and wherever books are sold.

Our guest this week is Lorien Clemens with PetHub. Lorien joins Amy and Dr. B. to discuss all the things PetHub is doing to help protect, share, and nurture animals’ lives for pet parents. Lorien discusses why PetHub created Lost Pet Prevention Month in 2014 and how it has been used to provide resources for preventing lost pets and tools for finding them if they go AWOL (absent without a leash). She also discusses the importance of cat collars, external identification tags, pet licenses, rabies tags, pet tattoos, and why microchips alone are not reliable for finding lost pets. You can find more about PetHub and Lorien at pethub.com or lostpetprevention.com.

Our guest this week is holistic cardiologist, Dr. Joel Kahn. Dr. Kahn joins the show to talk about the ins and outs of heart health, heart disease, and plant-based diets. Dr. Kahn describes his path to becoming a cardiologist and why he decided to switch to a plant-based diet early on in his life. He explains his integrated approach to cardiology, the benefits of plant-based diets, steps you can take to ensure healthier heart health now and later in life, how quickly the body responds to major changes in lifestyle, the impact of fatigue and sleep fatigue on the body, the benefits of cold rooms, plant-based fasting diets, and some of his thoughts on the animal ketogenic diet vs. the plant-based ketogenic diet. Dr. Kahn has five books that you can find on his website, drjoelkahn.com, as well as amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

Our guest this week is Larry Kay with Positively Woof. Larry joins Amy and Dr. B. to talk about how his history in TV, music, media, and writing for Pink Panther and the Muppets led him to the pet industry, the creation of Positively Woof, and writing a book on dog training with President Obama’s dog trainer, Training the Best Dog Ever. Larry explains how “Positively Woof” went from his sign-off, to his motto, to his whole professional life and why Positively Woof is all about A.R.F. (Advocacy, Readiness, Fun). They also discuss misconceptions surrounding shelter dogs and how to turn perceived liabilities into hidden assets. You can find Larry on positivelywoof.com, and you can find Larry’s books, Training the Best Dog Everand Life’s a Bark, on amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

Amy and Dr. B. are joined by pet blogger and Instagrammer, Hannah Zulueta after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about Boston terriers, Instagram, home cooking for pets, and her blog, Maggie Loves Orbit.

Dr. B. is joined by blogger Jessica Rhae Williams after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about miniature doxens, why it’s unwise to make assumptions about the physical capabilities of a dog based on its size, hiking with small dogs, precautions to take when hiking with dogs, and her website, youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com.

Amy and Dr. B. are joined by cat blogger Paula Gregg after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about her blog, Sweet Purrfections. Paula talks about how she started cat blogging, her love for Persian cats and why they are so good for type A personalities, how she managed to go 2500 consecutive days with a post on her cat blog, and all about her future plans for her website. You can find more on Paula and her Persians at sweetpurrfections.blogspot.com.

Amy and Dr. B. are joined by radio personality Sam Ratcliffe after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about Vegas Rock Dog Radio. Sam talks about how she became involved in radio for dogs, her upcoming pet-focused TV program, the wide range of topics her program covers (such as training and nutrition), issues with pet shampoos, and her work with underserved animals and the five freedoms. You can find Sam and her radio show on every social media channel and at vegasrockdogradio.com.

Amy and Dr. B. are joined by blogger Bryn Nowell after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about her blog, A Dog Walks into a Bar. Bryn talks about how she decided to merge dogs and beer into a blog, her experience as a dog photographer, and all about her two Boston terriers. You can find booze info, cute dog pics, and more about Bryn and her dogs at adogwalksintoabar.com.

Amy and Dr. B. are joined by blogger Adriana Martin after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about her blogs, Tails Diary and Adriana’s Best Recipes. Adriana talks about her background as a chef, why she decided to start blogging about pet food, why simplicity is such a key component of her recipes, and why we need to be just as mindful about pet diets as we are our own. You can find more about Adriana and her food knowledge on tailsdiary.pet and adrianasbestrecipes.com.

Dr. B. is joined by the founder of PetsWeekly.com, Stacy Mantle after Blogpaws 2018 to talk about founding one of the longest running pet websites on the internet, the path Pets Weekly has taken over the last 12 years to get to where it is today, and the many ways that ideas about proper pet care have changed alongside it. You can find Stacy’s book, Conquering the Food Chain, on Amazon and wherever books are sold.