Dawnversations: In My Head

Chuck says: "As a Type 1 Diabetic and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor, I have faced many personal health challenges. For years I was searching for practical and impactful ways to improve my health. In 2015 I was reintroduced to breathwork, and after feeling the benefits as well as the massive shift this brought into my life, I switched professions and dedicated my life to helping others discover their own personal power to help themselves.

Since then I have traveled worldwide studying different breathwork modalities. My first introduction to conscious breathwork was through the Wim Hof Method, which included weeks of instruction from Wim Hof himself. I was the first American Instructor to help lead the Wim Hof winter expeditions in Poland, and I continue to expand my knowledge in this and other breathwork modalities.

Now, for more than half a decade, I have been working in a healthcare setting applying foundational and functional breath coupled with specific breathwork protocols to help reduce chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. My goal is to empower people through their own personal and individual breathwork."

"Everyone’s physiology is different, I know there is no cookie cutter approach to optimal health, however I believe that functional breathing can positively impact everyone."

Think you know everything about Breathwork? Think again! This week on Dawnversations, I sit down with Chuck McGee, a Type 1 Diabetic and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor who discovered a surprising key to healing and resilience: breathwork. After experiencing a massive shift in his own health, Chuck left his former career to dedicate his life to teaching others how to unlock the power of their breath.

From studying directly with Wim Hof (yes, that Wim Hof) and helping lead winter expeditions in Poland, to applying breathwork in healthcare settings to ease chronic pain, anxiety, and depression — Chuck has seen firsthand how the way we breathe can transform the way we live.

In this conversation, we myth-bust what breathwork actually is (hint: it’s not just deep breathing), explore its role in mental and physical health, and talk about why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness.

✨ If you’ve ever wondered how something as simple and natural as your breath could be the missing piece in your health puzzle, this episode is a must-listen. Find Chuck here: https://www.instagram.com/icedvikingbreathworks

We’ve been through wars, terror, pandemics—and somehow, we’re still here. That means hope is stronger than hate. Today, choose faith over fear, choose light over darkness, and remember—your hope matters, because it just might spark someone else’s.

Food, Mood, and the Microbiome: Healing from the Inside Out       
On this episode of Dawnversations, we dive into the fascinating world of the gut-brain axis and the microbiome with two incredible guests: Missy Chase Lapine and Trinity Pate.

Missy is the New York Times bestselling author, foodie, and Functional Health Coach™ whose own journey with low blood sugar and anxiety showed her how food can truly be medicine. Trinity brings the science, with an advanced degree from Oxford and published research on the gut-brain connection. Together, they co-host the Heal Thru Food community, blending research, real-life experience, and practical tools to help people reclaim their health.

We talk about why the gut and brain are so deeply connected, how food can impact mood, energy, and overall well-being, and what steps you can take today to support your microbiome. Plus, I get to learn more about Missy and Trinity’s personal paths into this work.

✨ If you’ve ever wondered why your stomach and your mind seem to be in constant conversation, this episode will give you both the science and the practical steps to start healing from the inside out.

FIND THEM HERE: Website: www.healthrufood.com

Sign up to  our newsletter: https://heal-thru-food.kit.com/htf-newsletter

Listeners can use the code DAWN20 for 20% off their first month. When signing up they can enter it on the checkout page to receive the discount.

Email: [email protected]

If you’re at rock bottom, hurting, or thinking, I can’t do this anymore—stop here first. Breathe with me, slow down, and let’s sit through the storm together. This isn’t therapy or a magic fix; it’s one real voice reminding you that pain tells lies, feelings pass, and you are not alone.

We’ll practice grounding and remember the quiet truth: this too shall pass.

📞 U.S. & Canada – Dial 988 text HOME to 741741
 🌍 Find help anywhere – https://findahelpline.com

Share this with anyone who might need a calm voice tonight.

This week on Dawnversations, I’m joined by Gretchen Zimmermann, MBA, RD, LD, CDCES, CSOWM, VP of Clinical Strategy at Vida Health. Gretchen has spent her career cutting through the noise around obesity and nutrition — and in this episode, she helps us separate fact from fiction.

We bust some of the most common myths about weight loss, obesity, and “quick fix” diets, plus talk about why lasting health is a whole lot more complex than calorie counts and willpower. We even touch on The Biggest Loser and what that show got wrong (and right) about changing your body.

Whether you’ve struggled with weight yourself, or just want a clearer picture of how nutrition and obesity really work, this conversation is packed with insight and honesty. 

✨ Listen in and walk away with a fresh perspective on food, health, and what it really takes to feel your best.

Find Gretchen Zimmermann here:
INSTAGRAM: @gretchenzimmermann.rd
Vida Health | www.vida.com

Mike Carnes is back! If you love his meditations as much as I do, you can find more about him below:
Mike is a meditation teacher and voice actor who helps people slow down, breathe, and find a little peace in the middle of everyday chaos. He found meditation during one of the hardest chapters of his life and quickly realized it wasn’t about sitting on a mountaintop — it was about learning to stay present while doing the dishes or navigating rush hour. His style is down to earth, no fluff, and made for real people with real lives.

Follow Mike on Insight Timer for more down to earth guided meditations: mcvo.me/insighttimer

Find his audiobook, "30 Days to Mindfulness for those who think they can't meditate" on Audible: mcvo.me/30days

This week on Dawnversations, I chat with author Katy Allen about her new book Stuck in Our Screens. Spoiler alert: the drama isn’t just with teens—adults are just as guilty (maybe worse!). We dive into how our phones, scrolling habits, and social media antics are messing with real-life conversations, family dinners, and friendships. But don’t worry—we keep it real, relatable, and yes, even a little funny. If you’ve ever side-eyed someone at the table glued to their phone (or been that person), this episode is for you. 

KATHLEEN P. ALLEN is a  graduate of the University of Rochester, Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, Rochester, NY. A lifelong educator, she worked with the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at the University at Buffalo, SUNY from 2012 to 2023. Dr. Allen is a program evaluator, researcher, educator, writer, parent, and grandparent. She has published several articles on adolescent social drama.
Book: “Stuck in Our Screens: Setting Aside Social Drama and Restoring Human Connection”

#StuckInOurScreens #ScreenTime #SocialMediaAddiction #DigitalDetox #HealthyHabits #FamilyTime #ConnectionOverScreens #MindfulLiving #ModernLife #DawnversationsPodcast

FIND KRISTEN HERE:
Come hang out on Instagram: @kristen.franey

And, check out her free guide, From Stuck to F&@k Yeah, Done - Stop Stalling. Start Doing. 

The Pattern Interrupt Guide : Your 5-Minute Exit Strategy from Analysis Paralysis

#SlowDownSundays, #GuidedMeditation, #Breathwork, #MindfulnessPodcast, #MentalHealthMatters, #WeeklyReset, #SundayReset, #CalmMind, #IntentionalLiving, #SelfCareSunday, #BreatheAndRelease, #MindBodySoul, #GroundingPractice, #SlowingDown, #GentleReminders, #MeditationForBeginners, #EmotionalWellness, #QuietTime, #PauseAndReflect

In this jam-packed and brain-boosting episode, Dawn chats with the vibrant Autumn Bear about all things wellness—vitamins, supplements, brain fog, gut health, eating organic, and why your memory might just be living in your stomach! From how to support your cognition naturally to smart shopping tips for a healthier body and mind, this episode is equal parts helpful, hopeful, and hilarious. So grab your green juice—or your coffee, we don’t judge—and tune in!
FIND AUTUMN HERE:
Autumn Bear Wellness Collective
[email protected]
www.autumnbear.com

#BrainHealth #GutHealth #CognitiveSupport #SupplementsThatWork #WellnessPodcast #OrganicLiving #HolisticHealth #FunctionalMedicine #MemorySupport #HealthyLifestyle #FoodAsMedicine #MidlifeWellness #NutritionTips #DawnversationsPodcast