What does it take to earn your National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) credential? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi hosts the Health Nerds, FMCA’s own Susan, Amy, Kellye, and Micki, who unpack their journey from FMCA graduates to thriving health coaches. The four guests reveal their personal stories of studying for and passing the NBC-HWC exam and share how their experiences inspired them to help others find exam success.

Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/health-nerds-084/

Ready to let go of what's holding you back and elevate your career in health and wellness? Join Dr. Sandi and Marketing & Mindset Coach Robert Notter on this episode of Health Coach Talk as they uncover the keys to thriving in your practice. Robert shares his business success strategies in a conversation packed with actionable insights you can use to shift your mindset and excel in your business.

In his 20+ years as a business coach, Robert has helped clients at all career stages tackle every business challenge imaginable. For some coaches, sales tactics and marketing strategies feel intimidating. For others, projecting confidence and authenticity in client interactions seems out of reach. Robert emphasizes mindset as the "root cause" of these issues. He peels back the layers of self-doubt and fear that often hold coaches back from realizing their full potential and offers tips for overcoming limiting beliefs and stepping into your power as a coach.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, Dr. Sandi and Robert offer valuable insights and tips to level-up your practice and transform your success in health coaching.

Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/robert-notter-083/⁠

How are your hormones today? For many of us, the answer is "I have no idea." Depending on your health, gender identity, and life stage, hormones may not be on your radar at all. But if you've experienced hormonal imbalances, especially due to menopause or perimenopause, you know that understanding and optimizing hormones can be a key to well-being. In this episode of Health Coach Talk, "The Girlfriend Doctor" Anna Cabeca joins Dr. Sandi to discuss hormones' effects on sexual health, intimacy, and relationships and share her insights into a more holistic approach to hormone health.

Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/anna-cabeca-082/⁠

We hear it all the time: You know you'd make a great health coach, and you've even found a training program that will arm you with the skills, knowledge, and certification you need to start working with your own clients. But what happens next? How do you set prices, get clients, find your niche? In short, what does the step between coach-in-training and successful health coach look like? Joining Dr. Sandi in this episode is Reed Davis, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, who delves into opportunities for health coaches, particularly those who are just starting out.

Reflecting on his journey, Reed shares how his earliest clients shaped him into the curious, creative, and successful health coach he is today. Often, those clients came to him frustrated and hopeless, desperate for a root-cause solution to their health problems after conventional doctors prescribed strong drugs and failed to offer a listening ear. Reed helped them get better—all without diagnosing or prescribing anything.

Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/reed-davis-081/

You've probably heard conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy for menopausal and post-menopausal women—you may even have heard that it's dangerous. As our guest this week says, "the bottom line is, that's nonsense." Let's set the record straight. This week, Dr. Sandi unpacks the complex history and science of hormone replacement therapy with her friend and colleague, women's health and hormone expert Dr. Felice Gersh

Our minds and bodies are linked even more closely than we may realize. Our mental state has an impact on our physical wellness (or illness)—and by tapping into that mind-body link, we can intentionally influence how we feel. This week, Dr. Sandi dives into the power and potential of the gut-brain connection with Board-Certified Internist and Functional Medicine expert Dr. Vincent Pedre.

As a competitive, high-achieving medical student, Dr. Pedre's discovery of mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga allowed him to soothe his vagus nerve and cultivate a sense of calm that actually promoted healing in his body. To him, it seemed obvious that the gut-brain connection was a critical component of wellness, and his experiences transformed the way he approached his medical practice.

Workplace wellness isn't just a hot topic for human resources departments or a recruitment tool. It is a tool that has been shown to help employees take control of their health and wellness. This week, Dr. Sandi discusses workplace wellness and menopause with expert Jaqueline Olivera-Cella of wellBe Consulting.

As a professional actuary, Jaqueline helps employees mitigate risks for their employees. Lately, her focus has been on employee health concerns and developing solutions for employers to implement. She recently created cases about menopause in the workplace and how women can care for themselves at work.

Health coaches can be instrumental in helping women navigate this time of their lives and advocate for themselves in the workplace. They ask questions and encourage their clients to be curious, especially when it comes to their health. Together, coaches and clients can pause and ask, "What is happening?" and then seek out answers. Health coaches are also essential in helping clients find the language to explain what is happening and express their needs while remaining professional. In the workplace, health coaches are not only a tool for employees to reach their health and wellness goals but also a guide to advocating for employee needs.

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One of the most confusing parts of health and wellness is nutrients. What should you be getting? How can you get them? Can you get everything you need from food? Should you take supplements? Which ones? With so much information out there, it is difficult to filter the good information from the bad. This is where a health coach can help.

This week Dr. Sandi discusses all things nutrients with expert Chris Kresser. Did you know that 90% of Americans are deficient in several micro-nutrients? Chris explains some of the reasoning behind this statistic and why even those who eat healthy and nutrient-dense diets might not be getting enough vitamins. Moreover, Chris explains the importance of nutrient synergy and how some nutrients work hand-in-hand to keep you healthy.

Chris Kresser has made it his mission to provide safe and effective supplements to people worldwide. He shares what to look for when shopping for supplements and highlights the three biggest problems he finds with many supplement brands.

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Six thousand women enter menopause in the United States every day. Yet many people don't know the difference between premenopause, perimenopause, and actual menopause. This week, Dr. Sandi welcomes Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz to share her expertise. Dr. Suzanne is the Chief Medical Correspondent for the Drew Barrymore Show and author of Menopause Bootcamp.

Menopause isn't "one-size-fits-all." From plant-based options to pharma to self-care, Dr. Suzanne shares her menopause toolkit. She discusses various tools and treatments available for women to help with the effects of menopause. Moreover, she and Dr. Sandi discuss how health coaches can be an excellent resource for women during this time.

Menopause and post-menopause are significant parts of a woman's life. It isn't an ending; it's a transition into a new period of life. So, let's talk about it.

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Functional Medicine Coaching Academy graduates are changing the world. Alum Shawn Blymiller is making a difference in the lives of families one coaching session at a time. This week, Dr. Sandi sits down with Shawn Blymiller of Pure Living and Pure Living Family to discuss his work in building a successful business and non-profit. He is helping kids and families with special needs thrive.

In 2018, Shawn's son was diagnosed with Autism and PANDAS a year later. This started Shawn and his wife's journey to discovering functional medicine, health coaching, and FMCA. Shawn saw firsthand how health coaching can improve the lives of families and children with special needs. However, he also knows that those families don't always have the resources available to hire health coaches.

This inspired Shawn to create Pure Living and Pure Living Family, a non-profit built on a model inspired by Toms creator Blake Mycoskie, and raised $30,000 to help give families with special needs access to health coaching. Now these families can start thriving.

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