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What if your anxiety and brain fog weren't a mindset problem at all?

Today I'm joined by Nikki Freeburn, founder of Institute Botanica in Newcastle and a pioneer in therapeutic plants, biofermentation and natural medicine.

If you've been feeling anxious, overwhelmed, mentally foggy or like you've tried everything to get your health back on track, this conversation will open your eyes to an entirely different way of understanding your body.

Nikki shares how our modern approach to health has become fragmented, why so many people are left confused by endless supplements and conflicting advice, and why restoring the body's natural communication systems may be one of the missing pieces in healing.

We explore the fascinating role of the endocannabinoid system, why gut health influences everything from mood to mental clarity, and how therapeutic plants and biofermentation may help support the body's natural ability to find balance again.

This is a conversation about curiosity over fear, simplicity over overwhelm, and learning to listen to the incredible wisdom your body already holds.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why anxiety and brain fog are often signs the body is out of balance rather than "broken"

• The hidden role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating mood, inflammation, stress and overall health

• Why gut health and the microbiome play such an important role in mental wellbeing

• How therapeutic plants can support the body's own healing processes

• Why biofermentation is creating so much excitement in the natural health world

• The difference between chasing symptoms and supporting the body's natural intelligence

• Practical first steps for women who feel overwhelmed, exhausted and disconnected from themselves

About Nikki Freeburn

Nikki Freeburn is inspired by natural lore and is the founder of Institute Botanica, a wellness education centre based in Newcastle, Australia.

For more than 16 years, Nikki has developed innovative therapeutic applications using medicinal plants, botanical formulations and biofermentation. Her work combines traditional plant wisdom with modern scientific understanding to help people restore balance, vitality and resilience through nature.

Connect with Nikki

Website: https://www.institutebotanica.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/institutebotanica/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576187093915
9 day bioactivation program: https://www.theportal.life/guest-shop/guests-natural-lore-wellness-teas/product/367-9-day-bio-fermented

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love you to subscribe to the Nutrition Gateway Podcast and leave a review. Every review helps more women struggling with anxiety, brain fog and chronic overwhelm discover these conversations and begin their own healing journey.

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

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In this episode, Sally-Anne is joined by Rebecca Levy, a Newcastle-based Somatic Sexologist, Sex Educator and Relationship Counsellor who works with individuals and couples to help them feel safer in their bodies, communicate more clearly and build deeper intimate connection.

Rebecca combines counselling, somatic practices and sex education to support people in reducing shame, understanding healthy boundaries, exploring embodied consent and reconnecting with themselves and their partners in a way that feels natural, grounded and healing.

Together, Sally-Anne and Rebecca explore the often-unspoken connection between stress, nervous system safety, pleasure, intimacy and relationship disconnection.

This conversation gently unpacks why so many high-achieving women can feel overwhelmed, touched out, anxious or disconnected from their desire, especially when they are carrying the mental load of family, work, relationships and everyday life.

Rebecca shares why intimacy is not simply about sex, but about safety, communication, embodiment, self-awareness and the ability to be present in your own body.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• Why stress and overwhelm can shut down desire
• The connection between nervous system safety and intimacy
• Why obligation can quietly damage connection in long-term relationships
• How shame impacts pleasure, communication and sexual wellbeing
• What embodied consent actually means
• Why women often disconnect from their bodies during intimacy
• How breath, slowing down and self-awareness can support reconnection
• Why pleasure matters for women’s overall wellbeing
• The importance of maintaining identity inside a relationship
• How couples can create more intentional time for connection

Rebecca also shares insight into her work supporting individuals and couples both face-to-face and via Zoom, as well as her role as a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association and President of the Somatic Sex Educators Association of Australasia.

This is a mature, grounded and deeply validating conversation for women who have ever wondered why intimacy feels different in seasons of stress, why desire can disappear, or how to begin reconnecting with their body, their partner and their own sense of pleasure without shame or pressure.

Connect with Rebecca:

• Email: [email protected] 
• Website: https://www.rebeccalevy.com.au/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalevy_somaticsexologist/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalevy.somatic

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

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In this episode of Nutrition Gateway, Sally-Anne is joined by Dr. Irmarie Badenhorst, a chiropractor at Terrace Chiropractic in Raymond Terrace, who brings both clinical insight and personal experience to the conversation. 

After living with chronic lower back pain for over a decade and facing the possibility of surgery, Irmarie discovered chiropractic care and experienced first-hand how powerful the body’s natural healing capacity can be when it has the right support.

Together, Sally-Anne and Dr. Irmarie explore the powerful connection between the spine, posture, nervous system regulation, pain, anxiety, digestion, sleep, headaches, and brain fog. 

For high-achieving women over 35 who feel foggy, anxious, tense, inflamed, exhausted, or disconnected from their body, this conversation opens up a different way to understand symptoms. Instead of seeing headaches, jaw tension, poor sleep, digestive changes, pain or emotional overwhelm as separate issues, Dr. Irmarie explains how they may all be nervous system clues.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the autonomic nervous system matters for anxiety, sleep, digestion and pain
• The difference between fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest
• How posture and spinal function can influence how the body communicates
• Why headaches, jaw tension, fatigue, brain fog and poor sleep can be linked
• Why women over 35 may notice slower recovery, more aches and reduced resilience
• How hormonal shifts can influence joint stability, muscle recovery and pain sensitivity
• The difference between short-term symptom relief and deeper repair
• Why lasting change often requires a longer-term approach, not a quick fix

Dr. Irmarie also shares why she is passionate about helping people understand their body, listen to their symptoms, and support long-term health through simple, consistent care.

This is a powerful episode for women who know their body is trying to tell them something but have not yet connected the dots between stress, posture, nervous system function, and physical symptoms.

Listen now to discover how chiropractic care may support your body's ability to move better, feel stronger, and restore balance.

The episode is drawn from Sally-Anne’s conversation with Dr. Irmarie, where they discuss the autonomic nervous system, fight-or-flight, rest-and-digest, posture, women’s recovery after 35, and the difference between symptom relief and deeper repair.

Connect with Dr Irmarie Badenhorst:

• Instagram: @ terracechiropractic/
• Website: https://terracechiropractic.com.au/

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

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Most people think “good water” just means filtering out chlorine and contaminants. In this conversation with Fiona Provan, Senior Partner Manager at Zazen Water, we go deeper into cellular hydration, why minerals matter, and how water’s structure influences how well your body actually absorbs it.

We also unpack Zazen’s shower filter range and why chlorine exposure in hot showers can matter for your skin, hair, and breathing. Plus, how a simple renter-friendly setup can make your daily shower feel like a day spa upgrade.

If you’ve been working on anxiety, energy, inflammation, digestion, or you simply want stronger health foundations for your family, this one’s for you.

In this episode we cover

• Why filtering is only half the story (removal vs re-mineralising and supporting structure)
• Clean water vs water that hydrates at a cellular level
• The Zazen approach: minerals + magnetic field + light
• Dehydration and chronic symptoms (Your Body’s Many Cries for Water)
• Why some RO and bottled waters can leave you feeling flat
• Rainwater tanks, acidity, and why “alkaline” is not always “balanced”
• What to look for in shower filters (media quality, lifespan, replacement cost)
• Water filter vs shower filter first: how to decide for your household

Key takeaways
Better hydration is not just about what you remove, it’s also what you add back in. Minerals matter, and hot showers can increase chlorine exposure, so filtering your shower can be a meaningful upgrade.

Resources
Explore Zazen’s shower filters: https://zazenalkalinewater.com.au/collections/shower-filters-1

About my guest
Fiona Provan is the Senior Partner Manager at Zazen Water. With a background in Health Science (Homeopathy), she supports practitioners and customers across Australia and is passionate about practical water education for everyday health.

Want the podcast listener Zazen discount?

Message me and we’ll map your next best step, especially if anxiety, inflammation, fatigue, cravings or brain fog have been part of your story.

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a man stops drifting, gets clear on who he is, and starts leading from a grounded, God-given identity?

In this episode of Nutrition Gateway, I’m joined by Dusty Lapp- husband, father, minister, mentor, coach, and former professional bullfighter - celebrating his new book Kingdom Men: Rise, Lead, Finish. Dusty unpacks why sonship comes before striving, why identity is the first battlefield for men, and how vision (or lack of it) shapes marriage, family, health, and legacy.

We talk masculinity in today’s culture, why “toxic masculinity” is a lazy label, and what leadership actually looks like at home (often quiet, consistent, and courageous). Dusty also shares encouragement for wives carrying too much; and why prayer and honour can become catalysts for change.

If you’re raising boys, married to a man finding his feet, or you’re a man who knows you were made for more - this will land.

What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways)

• Identity before activity: worth isn’t earned-sonship/acceptance comes first (Matthew 3–4).
• Why men drift without vision -and how that impacts the whole household.
• Maturity isn’t age; it’s responsibility.
• Masculine leadership: protect, guide, govern (bring order and safety).
• Why men disengage under repeated criticism (withdrawal is common).
• The “crown” principle: words can strengthen leadership - or undermine it.
• Why prayer shifts the dynamic when control is released.
• Fathering shapes identity: what children believe they deserve and pursue.
• Whole-person health: spirit, soul, body - wholeness brings stability.
• Why Dusty wrote the book: break generational patterns and finish strong.
• Bullfighting lesson: courage moves toward discomfort; fear-marked areas require leadership.

Resources

• Kingdom Men: Rise, Lead, Finish (Dusty Lapp) - Amazon.com.au Kindle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dusty.lapp.9
• Instagram: @dustyl_kingdommen
• Website: https://kingdommencoaching.com/

Scripture referenced (themes)
Romans 8:19 • Matthew 3–4 • Proverbs 27:17 • Ephesians 2:10 • Exodus 20:5–6

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

Kate Mahoney, former NTA instructor & founder of the Supplement Academy, breaks down why less than 15% of supplements are worth taking, how to read labels with confidence, & why “food first” beats chasing the next trending pill.

Kate Mahoney, is a food-first dietary supplement expert with 30 years’ experience and the founder of the Supplement Academy. She teaches health professionals and consumers how to evaluate supplement quality and effectiveness without affiliate bias or brand influence - so people can make informed, confident decisions.

Episode Description 

If you’ve ever bought a supplement because “someone said it worked”… & then it ended up in your supplement graveyard, this episode will validate your experience.

I’m joined by supplement expert Kate Mahoney - a natural health geek and food-first functional nutrition practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience who accidentally became a dietary supplement expert along the way. She shares the facts: most supplements are not worth your money, & some can quietly create imbalances if taken long-term or taken in the wrong form.

We cover the real reasons most supplement education is confusing (hint: conflicts of interest), why “recommended doses” can be misleading, & the surprising differences between US vs Australian supplement labeling.

If you’re a health-conscious consumer or a practitioner who wants to lift your standards & protect your clients, this is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn

• Why 85% of supplements worldwide are NOT worth taking (and fatty acids 90%)
• The supplement industry’s biggest issue: profit-driven marketing disguised as education
• Why “if it’s on the shelf, it must be safe” is a dangerous assumption
• The difference between US (DSHEA) and Australia (TGA) oversight — and why it matters
• Why there is no universal “everyone should take this” supplement (bio-individuality)
• The magnesium myth: how long-term use can create mineral imbalances (calcium vs magnesium)
• Why “detox” & parasite cleanses are often backwards - & what actually supports detox
• The hidden label trap: “500mg magnesium glycinate” isn’t the same as 500mg elemental magnesium
• Why “recommended dose” depends on country rules, forms, sourcing, & what the label doesn’t say

Resources & Links

• Kate’s website:  www.thesupplementacademy.com
  Join the SQS certification course waitlist+subscribe to Kate's newsletter
• Follow Kate: @KateMahoneyNTP (and also look for @theSupplementAcademy on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram) 
• If this episode made you rethink your supplement stack, share it with a friend who’s stuck in the “try the next thing” loop -  & if you’re a practitioner, go follow Kate so you can tighten your clinical standards fast. Be tuned for the book! 

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

Sick of guessing what to eat… doing well on Monday… then falling off by Thursday because cravings hit, energy crashes roll in, your sleep breaks, or your body feels puffy and inflamed?

In this short promo episode of Nutrition Gateway, functional nutritionist Sally-Anne Kearns shares why your body isn’t broken - you’re simply missing a clear, sustainable process. She introduces the February HEALthy 40 Day Reset: a 40-day rhythm designed for high-capacity women who are running on fumes and want to feel better without perfection.

You’ll hear why symptoms like cravings, mood swings, “wired but tired” energy, unpredictable digestion and broken sleep aren’t character flaws - they’re feedback. This reset helps you learn the language of your body, personalise what works for you (bio-individual), and stop feeling gaslit when tests come back “normal” but you still don’t feel normal.

If you’re dealing with any of these, this episode is for you:
• Sugar or carb cravings + never feeling satisfied
• Puffy/inflamed body + stubborn symptoms
• Energy crashes + needing an afternoon nap
• Broken sleep (falling asleep or staying asleep)
• Unpredictable digestion
• Mood swings + feeling reactive under stress

What’s inside the HEALthy 40 Day Reset (February intake)

Dates: 5 February → 16 March (AEDT)
Live coaching: 6 live Zoom calls — Thursdays 1:00pm AEDT (recorded)
Includes: portal access (videos, guides, checklists), optional trackers, and a private community for accountability + real-time support.

Foundations we focus on:
Hydration rhythm • gut-loving swaps • 80/20 consistency • movement prompts • sleep starter steps

Optional add-on: wearable light-signalling biohacking tools to support your goals (performance, weight, nervous system regulation). Totally optional - recommended based on your needs.

This is not a detox. It’s a reset you can live inside real life - building trust with your body again through small “yes” steps stacked over 40 days.

Investment: $139 AUD
👉 Doors are open now. https://go.sallyannekearns.com.au/reset

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

Australian drinking culture is loud, normalised - and expensive. In this straight-talking episode, men’s health coach Andre Obradovic breaks down why Aussie men drink (stress relief, identity, belonging, avoidance), how “I only drink socially” often becomes a pattern, and why alcohol quietly sabotages the results most men want: fat loss, recovery, sleep quality, and testosterone.

We unpack the hidden costs beyond “extra calories”: the sleep disruption that drives cravings and poor decisions, the hormone hit that slows progress, and the way weekend drinking can wipe out a week of training and nutrition. Andre also calls out the fitness industry’s “cheat day + cardio” trap, shares practical scripts for handling social pressure without being weird or preachy, and gives a simple, measurable 30-day minimum effective plan that actually moves the needle.

Andre is known for his no-nonsense approach to nutrition, mindset, and performance. Since 2016, he’s coached everyone from everyday men to executives and athletes - helping them reduce stress, improve sleep, and drop stubborn body fat with clear systems that remove decision fatigue.

What we cover

• The real reasons men drink: stress relief, identity, belonging, permission, avoidance
• When “social drinking” becomes a habit (and how to test it)
• Work functions, judgement, and behaviour: the executive drinking problem
• Alcohol’s big hits: testosterone, sleep, fat loss, and recovery
• Why cheat days keep people stuck (and why the industry loves them)
• “No thanks” scripts for mates and social pressure (truth + “white lie” options)
• Parenting + leadership: what you model at home matters
• The 30-day plan: alcohol rules, food rules, sleep rules, steps, and structure

Key takeaways

• Weekend drinking can stall fat loss and recovery for days.
• Alcohol isn’t just calories - it changes hormones, sleep quality, and decision-making.
• If your mates mock your health goals, they’re passengers, not partners.
• Most men don’t need more cardio - they need better food, better sleep, and daily walking.
• You don’t wing health: plan dinners, cook extra protein, portion leftovers.

Connect with Andre

• Website: www.andreobradovic.com
• LinkedIn: (11) Andre Obradovic | LinkedIn
• Article: The Truth About Alcohol and Performance | Andre Obradovic

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

Maurice shares how his path through Taoism, Buddhist psychology, CBT, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) & IFS has shaped how he understands the “poly-mind” (many parts), the nervous system & what people are calling a global awakening.

If you are trying to make sense of your own inner world, this conversation gives a grounded, practical way to relate to thoughts, emotions and triggers without shame.

• Maurice’s journey from Buddhist practice and CBT into ACT, polyvagal theory and Internal Family Systems—how East and West describe the same inner processes in different languages.
•  The idea of the poly-mind: why we say “a part of me wants X, another part of me wants Y” and how IFS sees these as real, distinct inner parts with their own stories, beliefs & body sensations.
•  No bad parts: how protective parts like anger, anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, jealousy or overwhelm are safety mechanisms trying to keep us from emotional pain, not character defects.
•  The difference between parts energy vs Self energy & the 8 C’s of Self (calm, curiosity, compassion, courage, clarity, confidence, creativity, connection) to notice when you’re regulated and present in practice.
•  How polyvagal theory helps us track when we’re in fight, flight or dorsal shutdown & why “I’m overwhelmed” is often the nervous system going outside its window of tolerance, not a moral failing.
•  A simple starting point if you’re in overwhelm: using what you don’t want (e.g. “I don’t want to feel this anxious/jealous/angry”) as a doorway to understand what that part is afraid of and trying to protect.
•  The power of witnessing both in relationship and internally: “I see you, I hear you, and you matter” & how this alone can soften anxious, angry or avoidant parts.
•  How our inner harmonising of parts and Self mirrors what’s happening on the collective level & why Maurice feels we are in a time of “remembering” who we really are as consciousness having a human experience.
•  A reflection on manifestation, story & meaning-making: noticing how the mind creates a story about the past and future, and how freedom comes from seeing we are the ones giving events their meaning.

Key takeaways

• You don’t need to “kill your ego” — your parts formed when there wasn’t enough safety or Self energy available. They’re doing the best they can with the tools they had.
•  The work is not to get rid of parts, but to befriend and lead them from Self, with curiosity & compassion.
•  Tracking your body sensations (tight chest, solar plexus, lump in throat, shutdown, agitation) is one of the most direct ways to identify which part is up and what it’s trying to do for you.
•  Every time you come back to the present moment & drop the judgment-laden story, you’re contributing not just to your own healing, but to the wider collective nervous system.

Connect with Maurice

Inner Light Meditation Center – Townsville, QLD
Meditation, breathwork, Internal Family Systems–informed sessions & mentoring.
Website: innerlightmeditationcenter.com

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches 

Send us Fan Mail

Guest: Dr. Pia Winberg, Founder of Phyco Health

• The hidden nutritional power of seaweed
• Iodine's critical role in human health
• Gut health and the magic of marine micronutrients

Podcast Takeaways:

1. Iodine Insights

• Essential for brain development
• Prevents preventable brain damage
• Delicate balance crucial for health

1. Gut Health Revolution

• Seaweed slimes support microbiome
• Can reduce inflammation
• Potential links to managing chronic conditions

1. Sustainable Nutrition

• Seaweed as a complete nutritional source
• Regenerates nutrients from food production waste
• Potential to address global nutritional deficiencies

Where to Find More:

• Website: Phyco Health PhycoHealth - Seaweed Products for Nutrition, Gut & Skin Health 
• Location: Jervis Bay, New South Wales
• Products: Available at Harris Farm Markets and online

About your host
I’m Sally-Anne Kearns, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and host of Nutrition Gateway. I help women calm anxiety, clear brain fog, and stabilise energy through simple, stackable micro-habits grounded in nutrition and lifestyle foundations.

Book here for a complimentary health audit phone call, we will run through what may be missing in your toolkit to optimise your health.

Check out the Lifewave X39 Light Signaling Patches