Integrative Medicine Podcast

Welcome Back! After a very very long season 1 (that went on for 2 years and over 150 episodes) we decided to take a break over the summer before returning to recording.  This welcome-back episode focuses on the feelings of “new years” we often feel in the fall and how to start to think about your goals, your purpose, and your outcomes.  If you’ve ever felt disappointed by your outcome even though you tried really hard - this episode is for you.  If you’ve ever given up on a goal because you didn’t get the outcome you expected by a particular date - this episode is for you.  If you’ve ever even considered changing things about yourself - this episode is for you.  I also share my journey from a spiteful-counterculture naturopathic doctor (which is terrible to say that the counterculture in my profession was by being evidence-based at that time) towards a more compassionate and softer approach to sharing information with all of you to help you better understand your body and your health

Bloating is an annoying symptom that prevents many people from eating the foods they love, wearing the pants they love, and living abdominal-pain free.  In today’s episode, I’m joined by my college Dr. Dominque Vanier, a Naturopathic Doctor and Gut-Focused practitioner who is the perfect guide to your bloat-recovery journey.  In this episode, I ask Dominique questions like:  When is bloating something more serious? Why do hormones cause bloating and when should women have this looked into? Why does bloating happen randomly?  What are the first steps to understanding digestive health and bloating? If you’ve ever changed your pants part way through the day, felt like you had to limit yourself because of your digestive pain or wondered what on earth was happening inside your gut (since it feels like a total disaster in there), this episode is for you.  Dr. Vanier accepts patients in person and virtually in Ontario at Clarity Health and focuses on supporting people with digestive concer

I don’t hate the word should. I think we can use this word with the right intention to help us more towards our goals rather than always feeling that we are lacking something.  In this episode, I share the “summer shoulds” based on what I notice when working with patients through the summer months. The summer can be a wonderful time for celebration, but also is an opportunity to make things happen for our health.  Can we do both? This episode shares my summer goal setting and the three areas that I notice that things go sideways through the summer months. The summer is long (and short all at the same time) and as a result your health habits matter. We’ll cover how to stay on track and set reasonable goals for yourself over the next few months.  If you’re noticing that your summer needs more support, my colleagues at Clarity Health are here to guide you towards a better understanding of your health and to develop a plan for your summer so you can make the most of it.  You can book a discove

Are you okay with an expiry date on your ability to be active and vibrant?  Nope. Me neither.  Our conversations about menopause and midlife on the podcast circle around similar themes. You can be strong(er) in menopause. You can be (more) confident in menopause. You can be better than you are today in menopause.  Today’s guest is Selene Yeager. A women’s health and fitness author, insane athlete and advocate for women achieving their health goals in midlife.  What does the outright winner of the race across America think about slowing down in menopause? (She beat the men too fyi). You’ll want to listen to her message, and it’s for all of us, whether you identify as an athlete or not.  Selene hosts a podcast Hit Play Not Pause, and her latest book with Dr. Stacy Sims is available now called Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond.  You can get a copy of the book here.: https://www.amazon.ca/Next-Level-Kicking-Crushing

Stories are meant to be shared. Especially if they help others see themselves in your mess and springboard themselves forward by learning from others experiences.  In today’s episode I share 3 stories I’ve never shared. Together, they make up the 3 worst pieces of business advice I’ve ever received. Some of the advice came from the bank. Some came from financial professionals. Some come from people close to me. They are stories that remind us that not advice is for us, that other people’s fears will come through in their opinions about us, and how we need to hold our values up high as we invest in ourselves and our future (financially and otherwise).  If you’ve ever been told your idea sucked, that you should stay home as to not be a tax burden on your partner (yes, this is one of the stories) or that your quality of life should come last - this episode is for you.  It’s a raw 1:1 with me to give you the courage to stand up for yourself and make choices that align with your life, not the life o

We often think about libido as a hormonal chemical spark that bursts in our brains and makes us hungry for passion.  Except you just rolled your eyes and racked your brain for the last time that things felt that way.  Today’s podcast is with my friend and colleague Dr. Jordin Wiggins, a Naturopathic Doctor and sexual health educator who is taking the world of pleasure and sex by storm. And quite frankly, offering sex re-education to a generation of women starved for pleasure.  We cover a lot of ground in this episode but focus on how your sex life IS your life. Meaning if you’re not having pleasure in the bedroom, you’re likely also struggling in the boardroom.  Pleasure is a different part of our brain than the ‘fireworks’ we see in the movies. Even if you aren’t in a partnership, or are just learning how to explore the pleasure side of your health, this episode will give you a framework for how to think about sexual health and steps to take to get on the path towards pleasure.  Jor

I spent the last few months doing a deep dive on iron. It compelled me enough to sit down and record a full podcast on why this nutrient needs to matter to you, why the reference range isn’t good enough, and why we’ve got things so wrong about iron.  Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency around the globe. And when we have a stat like that, we often imagine women in low-resource countries. But it’s not just women living in developing countries that are struggling. You’re struggling too.  Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in ALL women. No matter where you live or how much meat you do or don’t eat.  This episode is for you if you have ever Been told you have iron deficiency. Even if you think it’s fixed.  Have fatigue but have been told your iron is “fine”.  Have a diet that is low in iron (vegetarian, plant-based, etc.) Have a menstrual cycle.  I talk through what iron deficiency looks like in your lab work (again, even if you’ve been told it’s fin

In today’s podcast, I’m joined by my colleague Dr. Fiona McCulloch ND and author of 8 Steps To Reverse Your PCOS. Fiona is a passionate advocate for better research and treatment of women and people with PCOS and in today’s episode, we break down the impact of epigenetics, the different types of PCOS, and the future directions that we both hope to see this endocrine condition go in.  PCOS is the most commonly diagnosed hormone condition in women and presents with acne, hair loss, unwanted hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycles. Where does this condition come from? Fiona and I discuss the genetic basis of PCOS, and how the development of PCOS likely starts in the womb.  We also share the challenges in the research with subclassifications of PCOS and the challenges of treating both lean and classical PCOS. We share how to decide if the research applies to your “type” and why an individualized approach to PCOS is the way of the future.  If you’ve wondered about a PCOS diagnosis, or have a for

In this episode, I’m joined by my close friend, Dr. Kim Bretz ND for an honest conversation about where we go wrong in making recommendations for patients with gut symptoms, how hardly any people have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), and why we need a new solution for patients with chronic constipation other than magnesium.  Kim gives us a lot to think about as both patients and practitioners and highlights what the unintended consequences are when we label patients with gut “issues” that they don’t actually have.  This episode will help you understand what to look for in a practitioner for your gut symptoms and might teach practitioners a thing or two about the evidence for testing bacterial overgrowth.  If you’re a Naturopathic Doctor, Medical Doctor, or other practitioner that works with patients with constipation, we’d love to invite you to join Dr. Kim’s course being put on by the Confident Clinician LIVE (virtually) on May 27, 2022. We are on a mission to deliver evidence-base

Last weekend I participated in a masters age Olympic weightlifting competition and needed to lose some weight to make weight. I gained weight through covid and hadn’t tried to reduce my weight intentionally since my last powerlifting competition in 2019. The competition cutoff was a little below my natural body weight, and so I had to try pretty hard to change my body weight.  The last time I lost weight I posted that it took me 100 days to lose 10 lbs and a bunch of ‘gurus’ online told me that I had done it wrong. And if I had worked with them I could have lost the weight faster (insert eye roll).  This episode takes a very pragmatic approach to talking about weight management - which I can do. Certainly if you are struggling with your relationship with food, or have been diagnosed with disordered eating, I’d love for you to skip this episode or come back to it at a time when you feel confident you can listen without being triggered.  In this episode I cover What adjustments I made in my diet

I never had any fear about money until the pandemic. I always figured that I’d find a job, or “figure it out” if I needed to. I had a good education, great communication skills, and my hand in many pots I could turn towards if I needed to.  Then the pandemic.  My security turned to fear.  My husband was unemployed for 5 months, I canceled 500 appointments at my clinic and had to close aspects of our business because we couldn’t compete with Amazon.  2 years later, with the pandemic costing our businesses over 1 million dollars, I'm almost not afraid. Almost. When I heard April Stroink speak for the first time I knew I needed to hear more from her. She has a different strategy for supporting women when it comes to money, and strategies that acknowledge how our behaviour and beliefs impact our money choices. She wants to know how your story affects how you make decisions, and can teach you to take control of your own financial future.  We have a great conversation on the podcast this we

Today’s episode is about the use of botanical medicine and the symptoms of menopause. From hot flashes to low libido, menopause can show up in everybody system and women are often looking for solutions to smooth the transition. Botanical medicine offers a romantic solution for menopause, but does it have the clinical evidence to back it up? We’ll talk about it in today’s episode. You’ll find many promising products in the market that offer possible solutions to our hormonal woes, but are they choosing ingredients that actually work?  Today’s podcast episode is sponsored by Smart Solutions. I’ve worked with Smart Solutions as an educator for the last year and am encouraged by their continued dedication to provide evidence-based products and solutions to women to support their health needs.  Perimenopause and menopause can leave women feeling confused about their hormones, and without practical solutions to stop their symptoms from getting in the way of their day. Smart Solutions offers products that

“Are you stressed?” This question doesn’t usually elicit the kind of answer that we want from patients, and yet it’s the way we often screen for stress in a health appointment. When we ask patients if they are stressed they immediately compare their stress to others, compare their current stress to past stress, or compare their perceived stress against how they “feel like they should feel” about their life.  None of this is helpful.  When I asked my colleague and teammate Dr. Dominika Zarzenzny to join us on the podcast I had one goal in mind. I wanted you to deeply understand how your past stress influences your current health. Six years into clinical practice, Dr. Dominika stumbled on landmark research known as the ACE study that changed the trajectory of her work with patients. From that point on, she decided to dedicate her practice to understanding how early life events can dys-regulate one’s nervous system, and how a dys-regulated nervous system in turn influences health outcomes. Dr. Dominika

Let’s be clear, there aren’t any magical nutrition solutions. If things “work” for people it’s because it’s a strategy that they can do and that makes a difference. The end.  So why does intermittent fasting get such a good review in the weight loss space? Lots of the claims about it aren’t evidence-based (meaning that we don’t have compelling human studies that show benefit). Fasting can also show some positive cellular benefits which have led us to make some pretty bold statements about the benefits.  In today’s episode, I share why I think people like fasting, what they misunderstand about it, and the side effects (yes, side effects) of this particular nutrition strategy.  If you’ve been mulling over your next nutrition decision, this episode will help you think more clearly about what you need.  My team at Clarity Health is ready to help support you with the next evolution of your nutrition. We’d like to see your changes last. You can book a 15-minute consultation (and a massage while

When Dr. Anne Hussain was growing up in Pakistan, periods were not something that was talked about openly. When her periods became irregular, not only was there nobody to ask about it, but it prevented her from being properly assessed and diagnosed.  Fast forward to moving to Canada, Anne was able to be formally assessed and diagnosed with PCOS, but only after advocating for herself and learning about her hormones on her own.  Anne realized there was a gap in menstrual education not just in Pakistan, but also in Canada. She’s spent the rest of her career in Naturopathic Medicine creating accessible information for women and people who menstruate about what a “normal” period looks like.  Even if you think you know what normal is, this episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:  If your spotting is normal? If your level of bleeding or cramps is normal? How to advocate for yourself at our doctor’s office? Whether the changes you’ve experienced as you age are normal? Have a listen, and be s

The Very Real Consequences of Self Improvement Two total bosses get together on a zoom call and what do you get? A very real cost is about pursuing your goals, chasing your dreams, and risking everything for what you truly desire.  Lori Kennedy is a business coach that I have admired and worked alongside for years. We’ve talked to each other’s audience back and forth and shared our wisdom with each other’s respective clientele.  But never have we sat down and talked about our own journeys as female entrepreneurs. Never have we talked about the real cost of chasing what you want.  And there’s definitely a consequence. We share how the path to self-improvement includes setting boundaries, saying no, going to bed, letting go of relationships, and overcoming fear of judgement.  We also share how to find friends at “the top of the mountain” and how to stop looking for advice from those around you who haven’t taken the plunge towards self-improvement.  Today’s episode is a fresh look at how

One of the largest barriers to health I see in women I work with is the amount of “stuff” on everyone’s plate. Women are overwhelmed by their work, family and other obligations. These same women are tired, not exercising and don’t have time to make themselves a meal.  If you want to get better, you need to do less. I know it’s scary, but today’s episode will give you the 3 strategies you need for more effective delegation.  It’s an episode that will help you if you    Feel like you’re the only one in your house who can do certain jobs or they won’t get done.  Feel like you keep adding and adding to your plate without taking anything off.  Feel like you don’t have any “wiggle room” in your day and couldn’t carve out more self care.  We’ll talk through my 3 steps to more effective delegation including how to communicate about your boundaries, what you really really want (insert Spice Girls) and how to leave space for others to learn as you delegate (rather than snatching tas

Do you overreact? Try and guess what your partner will say next? Do you withdraw over conflict? Do you vocalise your desires? Dr. Shyamala Kiru knew she had a book inside her. She sat down and thought about what was really (and we mean really) getting in the way of her female clients from excelling in their relationships, careers, and lives. She has written the book we all need. The book teaches us the skills we need to level up.  The skills of emotional intelligence.  With her debut book hitting stores this month, Shyamala and I share a deep conversation about our paths towards working on our emotional intelligence. We both share personal stories about our paths, describe practical tips for navigating hard conversations, and will leave you feeling like your emotional intelligence is something you can shape - regardless of the patterns you were modeled in your life so far.  You can grab a copy of Dr. Shyamala’s book here, or wherever books are sold. Connect with her free content on Instagram @

I’ve actually shied away from researching acne. I remember being taught when I was in school that if you had acne (which I did) that there was some special diet or special potion that needed to be discovered to help it heal.  I was always left feeling like I didn’t have the willpower to follow a strict diet, or that I had some weird deficiency that was getting in the way of healthy skin. I was always worried when a patient wanted help with their acne because I was a secret “professional failure” that couldn’t figure out my own skin.  I finally studied the topic in-depth so that I could present it to my peers and was shocked at the re-wiring I had to do with what I had been told about acne. Almost everything I had been taught was wrong, and I actually had the power to support my skin. In today’s podcast episode I share the 3 lessons I want you to know about adult acne, which will give you the tools you need to set yourself on a positive path. These 3 pieces of information changed my understanding of

Do you create your day? Or get swept along in the emotional vortex of it all? This week’s podcast is not just about your morning routine, it’s about the mindset you use to start your day and how that predicts your success. Mindset coach Adele Tevlin (who I’ve worked with personally in the last few years) joins me for a real conversation about how our mind can be harnessed to create the day we want.  We know what you’re thinking! “I can’t create my day, my day is ruled by my work and my kids and my obligations.” We hear you. And we still want you to create your day.  How your brain perceives the stressors and obligations you have changes your mental health and your ability to show up as your most vibrant self. So if you’re being swept along with what’s being “handed to you”, we want to offer you a different perspective. You can create your day instead.  Adele supports high performing women to achieve their optimal state through mindfulness and mindset training. Her courses and daily mindset club