​If you feel like you’ve been doing everything right but aren’t getting the progress you expected, this conversation may give you another piece of the puzzle.  This episode offers a different way to think about participating in your health: not by doing more, but by understanding what your body may still be responding to.  You’ll learn why the body can continue responding to old patterns of stress, how trauma may leave a physiological imprint, and why simple practices like slower breathing, movement, reduced stimulation, eating without screens, and better sleep rhythms can help create conditions for recovery. 

Choosing functional or root-cause healthcare isn't just about choosing a different practitioner—it may require becoming a different kind of patient.

In this episode Laura explores the expectations we bring to functional care: wanting deeper testing but expecting insurance to cover it, wanting alternatives to prescriptions but expecting equally effortless results, and wanting lasting change without always making lasting changes.

She also challenges the functional medicine industry itself—because more testing, more supplements, and more expense don't automatically mean better care.

The question is are you looking for someone to make you better or are you ready to participate in getting better?

For more information about Optim8 or how to get started visit https://optim8healthandwellness.com/

What if the greatest gift of health we could give our children doesn’t come from a bottle?

In this episode of Health Matters with Laura Kopec, Laura sits down with Shazia Lackey, head of Optim8 Health and Wellness new Functional Pediatric department. Join Laura and Shazia as they explore what a truly healthy approach to Optim8's new brand of functional pediatrics Functional ParentingⓇ and what that can look like. We'll discuss when specialty testing and targeted supplementation may be appropriate, but also why they should never replace the foundations of lifelong health.

From nutrition, sleep, movement, and healthy boundaries to screen time, emotional resilience, and the culture of immediate gratification, this conversation challenges us to think differently about raising healthy children. The goal isn't to teach kids that their bodies are broken—it is to teach them that their bodies are intelligent, adaptable, and worthy of care.

Join us for Episode 1 in our 4 Part Series and this thoughtful conversation about empowering the next generation with habits that last a lifetime rather than creating lifelong dependence on tests, protocols, or supplements.

To schedule with Shazia go to https://optim8healthandwellness.com/appointments/

You can find a free copy of Cultivate: A Poetic Invite by Shazia Lackey at https://optim8healthandwellness.com/store/Cultivate-A-Poetic-Invite-by-Shazia-Lackey-p852005087

In this episode Laura explores how protein has become the "celebrity nutrient" of today's wellness culture. While protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle, supporting metabolism, and healthy aging, has our focus on maximizing protein caused us to neglect other equally important aspects of nutrition? Discover why fiber may be one of the most powerful nutrients for overall health. Far more than just supporting digestion, fiber plays a vital role in feeding the gut microbiome, regulating blood sugar, supporting heart health, influencing hormone balance, promoting satiety and healthy weight management, strengthening immune function, and even supporting brain health through the gut-brain connection.

The supplement industry is worth billions of dollars, yet many products on store shelves contain low-quality ingredients, questionable formulations, or doses that simply don't deliver meaningful results.

In this episode ​Laura sits down with Casey Sartori, leading expert from one of the industry's most respected professional-grade supplement manufacturers Ortho Molecular Products to pull back the curtain on what most consumers—and even many healthcare providers—don't know.

Together we discuss the science, manufacturing standards, and quality differences that can dramatically impact whether a supplement has the potential to support your health or simply become an expensive habit.

For more information on how to personalize your nutritional supplements you can schedule with a practitioner at Optim8 Health and Wellness at https://optim8healthandwellness.com/ and for more information about Ortho Molecular Products visit https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/

In this episode Laura takes a thoughtful, evidence-based look at why cortisol matters, where the science supports the conversation, and where the wellness industry may have oversimplified a much more complex story. You'll learn why chronic stress affects the body, but also why symptoms like exhaustion, weight resistance, and burnout can just as easily stem from iron deficiency, thyroid disease, chronic inflammation, under-eating, sleep disorders, nutrient deficiencies, or other underlying conditions. This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for health advice. For more information or scheduling an appointment go to https://optim8healthandwellness.com/

Functional health and functional medicine was supposed to be the answer to one-size-fits-all healthcare. So why are some patients spending thousands of dollars, taking 20 supplements a day, retesting every few months, and still feeling stuck?

Let’s pull back the curtain on the uncomfortable truths inside the functional industry. From cookie-cutter protocols and unnecessary testing to fear-based marketing and endless treatment plans….the industry has drifted from its original purpose—and do we expect patients can tell the difference between true root-cause care and a business model built on dependency.

If you've ever wondered whether you're being helped, managed, or marketed to, this episode is for you. For more information or schedule an appointment with Laura visit www.optim8healthandwellness.com

What if some of the things you’re doing to “get healthier” are actually increasing inflammation, exhausting your nervous system, and keeping your body stuck?

In this episode of Health Matters with Laura Kopec, Laura takes on one of the most controversial conversations in modern wellness culture: when optimization becomes overload.

From collagen and high-protein culture to creatine, kombucha, fasting, cold plunges, green powders, and biohacking trends—Laura breaks down the hidden downside of constantly pushing the body in the name of longevity.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by wellness advice… confused by conflicting health information… or frustrated that you’re “doing everything right” but still not feeling your best—this episode will completely change the way you think about health optimization.

Because longevity isn’t built through extremes.
It’s built through intelligent adaptability.

​To schedule an appointment with Laura visit optim8healthandwellness.com 

In this episode of Health Matters with Laura Kopec, Laura explores the historical and modern patterns that have led many women to feel dismissed, minimized, overmedicated, or disconnected from their own bodies. From the origins of “hysteria” to today’s rushed healthcare culture, this conversation uncovers why empowerment in health can feel overwhelming—and why learning to advocate for yourself may be one of the most important parts of healing.

This episode is not about fear or extremes. It’s about balance, strategy, resilience, and creating a smarter approach to longevity, hormones, mental health, and overall wellness. Backed by clinical research and grounded truth, Laura discusses how women can reclaim their health without falling into burnout, obsession, or dependency.

To visit the practice website and learn more about Optim8 Health and Wellness or to schedule a consult with Laura visit www.optim8healthandwellness.com

Testosterone is being prescribed at unprecedented rates—and not always for the reasons you think.

What was once a targeted therapy for clear clinical need is quickly becoming a trend. But when did optimization turn into over prescription? And more importantly… who is actually asking the harder questions? In this episode of Health Matters with Laura Kopec, Laura sits   down with investigative journalist Lisa Marie Shaughnessy to unpack the findings behind her book Testosterone: The Next Drug Epidemic. This is not a surface-level conversation. It’s a deeper look into how testosterone therapy is being positioned, prescribed, and in some cases—misunderstood.  This episode is for both patients and practitioners who want to think more critically about hormone health—and step outside of the one-size-fits-all narrative. It is for informational purposes and not a substitute for medical advice.

For more information about Lisa visit https://lisamarieshaughnessy.com/ and to schedule your hormone appointment visit https://optim8healthandwellness.com/