Optimized Health

In Part 2 of our end of year round table, we sit down with Optimize U women’s health providers Laura Chastain, Amanda Shelton, and Ashley Johnson for a meaningful conversation on thyroid health, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, and what it looks like to support women through every stage of hormonal change.

They share the personal experiences that shaped their careers, the mission behind their work, and their commitment to helping women understand their bodies, their symptoms, and their options. This episode highlights the importance of education, connection, and individualized care so women feel prepared, supported, and empowered.

What We Discuss

How Their Passion Began

• The moments that led each provider into women’s health

• How life experience influences the way they support and advocate for patients

• Why trust and communication are essential in women’s healthcare

PCOS GLP 1s and Root Cause Care

• How GLP 1 medications are helping PCOS patients beyond weight loss

• Why addressing metabolic and hormonal root issues changes long term outcomes

• The role of personalized treatment in restoring balance and confidence

Perimenopause Support

• Guiding women through the uncertain and overwhelming phases of perimenopause

• Helping patients understand what is ahead and how to navigate it

• Recommended books and resources for women entering this stage

Women’s Health in 2025

• The impact of the FDA removing the black box warning on hormone therapy

• How this shift opens the door for better brain, bone, and heart protection

• Why women today are becoming more informed, proactive, and engaged in their health

Looking Ahead to 2026

• The growing need for research on testosterone in women

• Understanding that women naturally produce more testosterone than estrogen

• Exploring the concept of mom brain and the potential connection to hormone decline

Key Takeaways

• Women benefit from care that recognizes their unique history and biology

• Education and preparation are key to navigating hormonal changes with confidence

• With the right support, women can move forward feeling stronger, clearer, and more empowered

Welcome to Part 1 of our End of Year Special at the Optimized Health Podcast.

In this episode our male providers Josh Porter, Matt Hughes, and Justin Edwards sit down together to share how they each discovered their passion for hormones, preventative care, and helping people reclaim their lives.

You’ll hear how this work hasn’t just shaped their careers. It has transformed their own personal health journeys. They talk about what keeps them motivated, the mission that drives them, and the question they’re always asking:

“What is the next step to help someone become the best version of themselves?”

Inside This Episode

🔥 Men’s Health Highlights of 2025

• FDA removal of Black Box warnings

• Understanding red blood cell production while on TRT

• Why guidelines are options and not mandates

• TRT’s role in prosocial behavior, PTSD support, and anxiety relief

• Honoring and serving veterans through better care

🧬 Looking Ahead to 2026

• The rise of peptides

• The truth about the grey market

• Why 2025 created a major shift in preventative medicine

• What real optimization could look like in the near future

💡 Provider Hot Takes

• Their favorite patient victory stories

• The one optimization superpower they would give every man

• The best recovery hack of 2025

• The wellness trend they hope disappears in 2026

Whether you want to better understand TRT, learn more about peptides, or you’re passionate about improving your health in the year ahead, this conversation is packed with insight, stories, and real hope for what is coming next.

Have you ever wondered what your true purpose in life is , or why motivation fades when the “big moments” are behind you?

In this episode, Pastor Matty Finley from Silverdale Baptist joins The Optimized Health Podcast to talk about mindset, and how the way you think can transform your health, fitness, and everyday life.

We dive deep into:

• Understanding your “why” and creating lasting habits

• Finding balance in a world that glorifies burnout

• Building community and asking for help

• Learning from failure instead of being defined by it

• Why the five people closest to you shape your future

Maybe life isn’t where you thought it would be by now, but there’s still purpose, time, and strength in you. Your story isn’t over.

🎧 Tune in to rediscover your why and reignite your mindset for growth, purpose, and health.

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you wait until you’re in pain before seeing a chiropractor? In this episode of The Optimized Health Podcast, we sit down with John Fee, owner of Key to Change Wellness & Chiropractic, to talk about why chiropractic care isn’t just about fixing pain, it’s about preventing it.

John shares how his team partners with local companies to help employees reduce strain, prevent injuries, and move better every day. We discuss:

• ​ When is the right time to see a chiropractor
• ​ Why every body type needs a customized approach
• ​ How proactive care can keep you strong, mobile, and pain-free

It’s time to start listening to your body before it breaks down.

👉 Learn more or book online at keytowellness.com

Follow @K2Cwellness on Instagram for more insights and tips.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects millions of women—yet it remains one of the most misunderstood hormone conditions. In this episode, Laura Chastain, NP, sits down with Dr. Catherine Needham, PharmD—known as @CycleBalancedDoc—to unpack everything a woman needs to know about PCOS: from hormone imbalances and insulin resistance to inflammation, fertility, and metabolic health.

Together, they explore how functional and root-cause approaches can help women move beyond symptom management to true hormone balance. You’ll learn how nutrition, exercise, stress regulation, and targeted supplementation can restore cycle regularity, improve energy, and support long-term wellness.

This episode is for every woman who’s ever felt dismissed, confused, or frustrated by her PCOS diagnosis. You’ll walk away with the knowledge and empowerment to advocate for yourself—and the confidence to start balancing your body from the inside out.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Pranav “Dr. K” Kukreja, a Franklin, TN-based dentist who’s challenging conventional thinking through biological and alternative dentistry.

Dr. K shares how modern science and ancient wisdom intersect in the mouth—where oral health reflects total-body wellness. We explore the cutting edge of holistic dental care: ozone therapy, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), laser technology, safe amalgam removal, remineralization, and the link between airway development, orthodontics, and adolescent health.

You’ll also hear why Dr. K believes prevention starts far earlier than we think—and how diet, lifestyle, and microbiome health can determine your risk for disease long before a cavity forms.

Whether you’re a healthcare provider, biohacker, or just someone who wants to protect their health from the inside out, this conversation will make you rethink what’s possible in modern dentistry.

In this episode, Laura and Mandy discuss both surgical and nonsurgical techniques with Dr. Chris Sanborn, bariatric surgeon and the Director of the Erlanger Metabolic Center. Beyond the Scale dives deep into the evolving science and solutions for weight management. This discussion unpacks the latest in surgical and non-surgical approaches to obesity care—from bariatric surgery and lifestyle strategies to breakthrough medications like GLP-1 therapies. With a balance of medical expertise and practical insights, listeners will gain a clear, compassionate perspective on what truly works for long-term health and sustainable weight loss.

“Walking the Talk: How We Test, Train, and Optimize for Longevity”:

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In this episode, Josh and Mandy pull back the curtain and share their own personal health journeys. From VO₂ max testing to resistance training routines and longevity tools, they discuss what’s working, what they’re learning, and how they’re applying the same principles they encourage their patients to use. Tune in for a real, behind-the-scenes look at how they’re walking the talk—pursuing strength, endurance, and long-term health while balancing the demands of life and leadership.

In this episode, Mandy Livingston and Laura Chastain sit down with Dr. Susan Raschal, a specialist in allergy, asthma, and immunology, to explore the personal journey and professional insights that shaped her career. She opens up about the obstacles that nearly prevented her from becoming a physician—financial hurdles, lack of guidance, and limited access to resources—and how persistence and resilience helped her overcome them.

We dive into important questions such as:

• ​Why choose osteopathic vs. allopathic medicine?
• ​How do you select a good allergist?
• ​What role does lifestyle medicine play in long-term health?
• ​What every child needs for a strong foundation in wellness.
• ​How to prevent anaphylaxis in food-allergic children.
• ​And how to live a high-performance, fulfilling life using simple, practical strategies.

Dr. Raschal also shares powerful life lessons learned along the way—insights not only for aspiring physicians but for anyone striving to live with purpose and balance.

Whether you’re a parent, patient, student, or professional, this conversation offers practical wisdom, inspiring stories, and actionable steps to improve both health and life.

In this episode of the Optimized Health Podcast, we sit down with Andrea Mangrum, founder of The Bloodwork Analyst and a board-certified Natural Wellness Practitioner. Andrea specializes in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis, helping people uncover what their standard lab results might really be saying—especially when doctors dismiss them as “normal.”

We dive into:

Why conventional lab ranges don’t always tell the whole storyHow functional ranges can reveal early signs of dysfunction before diagnosisThe most important markers to pay attention to in your bloodworkHow Andrea’s personal health journey led her to help others find answersPractical steps you can take to use your labs as a roadmap for true wellnessIf you’ve ever been told “everything looks fine” but you still feel unwell, this conversation will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at your health.