Pursuing Health

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the only presidentially appointed director to serve more than one administration.  In this role, Dr. Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research.

A pioneer gene hunter, Dr. Collins led the Human Genome Project from 1993 until 2008. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007, and the National Medal of Science in 2009 for his revolutionary contributions to genetic research.

In addition to his numerous scientific achievements, Dr. Collins also has a longstanding interest in the interface between science and faith and is the author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.

I have been a fan of Dr. Collins since I first read his book in medical school, and given his role in the response to COVID-19, I was curious to learn more about his insights on how we can bring the pandemic to an end.  We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from how the COVID-19 vaccine works, the impact of Long COVID, how lifestyle and precision medicine can play a role in the prevention of disease, and how Dr. Collins reconciles his faith in God with his role as a scientist.

*Dr. Collin’s bio adapted from the NIH website

You can connect with the National Institutes of Health via Instagram @nihgov

Resources:

To find a vaccine near you visit vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to 438829

All Of Us Research Project

BioLogos Foundation

Ep 164 - Boosting Immunity and Reducing COVID Risk with Dr. Aseem Malhotra

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Jeff Livingston is a retired maternal fetal specialist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the relatively young age of 36 after noticing a tremor in his finger.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, progressive neurological disorder that leads to reduced dopamine production and can result in tremors, balance problems, stiffness, and even depression.

For many years Jeff did very little to address his symptoms, but as his neurological symptoms increased and the condition grew more and more isolating, his wife and his family encouraged him to face his Parkinson’s head on. He began exercising to increase his dopamine levels and stumbled upon CrossFit. Since then, the changes he’s witnessed in his physical condition and mindset have been powerful.

Jeff and I first connected at an MDL1, and I was interested to catch up with him to learn more- not only how the high intensity component of CrossFit results in an immediate reduction in his Parkinson symptoms, but also how being a part of the CrossFit community has played such a big role in improving his mental health as well.

You can connect with Jeff via Facebook and you can learn more about the annual Fox WOD here.

Related Episodes:

Ep 169 - Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis with Jasmine Joy

Ep 114 - Practicing CrossFit for Health with Dr. Maude Dull

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns

The secret to training success? The right type of exercise in the right dose for the right person.

Dr. Mark Goodman is an emergency and sports medicine physician who utilizes this secret  to help athletes understand how to make the most of their time spent in the gym.  Dr. Goodman received his medical training at Oregon Health and Science University and completed his residency at University of Utah, followed by a fellowship in Sports Medicine.  He has worked with athletes of all levels and volunteered as a physician for the Cascade Cycling Classic, USA Olympic Speed Skating and University of Utah team sports. 

As the Director of Sports Medicine for Wild Health, a genomics based medicine practice, Dr. Goodman applies his passion for health and performance optimization to provide personalized care for issues surrounding athletes of all levels.

In this episode, Dr. Goodman and I talk about the role genetics play in our response to training, including how they can indicate what our training strengths and weaknesses will be, how much recovery time we need, and which supplements will benefit us the most. We even dig into my personal genomics and talk about some of the factors that might have contributed to my success as a CrossFit athlete.

You can connect with Dr. Goodman via Instagram @precisionsportsdoc

Ep 108 - Training Smarter, Not Harder: Prevention and Recovery from Injury with Pure Physio

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

At age 20, Sarah Adams was surprised to learn she had Asperger Syndrome.

She had taken advanced classes in school, played competitive sports, attended college, and overall enjoyed a happy, healthy childhood.

After receiving her diagnosis, some of the symptoms and signs of the condition she experienced as a child began to make sense.

Rather than feel limited by her diagnosis, Sarah has been able to use this knowledge as a powerful tool, implementing strategies to be successful in both her personal and professional lives.  In this episode, we chat about what it was like to be diagnosed with a developmental disorder later in life, how CrossFit plays a role in keeping her balanced, and the importance of surrounding yourself with a community of friends and family for support.

Related Episodes:

Ep 176 - Pursuing Wild Health: Women are Not Small Men with Dr. Stacy Sims

Ep 75 - Growth Through Adversity with Kyle Maynard

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns

"Imagine you’re doing thrusters, but you can breathe like you’re going for a walk."

Max Finkbeiner and Kate Caines have developed a methodology to help do just that.  By using science, data, targeted assessments, and technology, they derive relative intensity personalized to individuals.  These athletes can then use this information to inform their training, making sure to work on all of their energy systems with their own personal targets in mind. 

This methodology is not just limited to elite athletes, either.  Max and Kate have implemented this style of training with members at their location, as well as remotely, and found that by taking intensity back a notch, their members not only feel better, but also have an increased work capacity even on high intensity efforts.  They’ve seen these paced methods elicit improvement across all metrics of health and wellness making training sustainable, purposeful, and vital to a bigger life.

You can connect with Max and Kate via their website and Instagram @tickerfitness.

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Scott Switzer is a former athlete, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, and a familiar face at CrossFit events across the country.  He has a remarkable transformation story, having lost nearly 250 pounds and reversing his diabetes with the help of his neighbor, his family, and his CrossFit community.

But Scott’s journey has not been without setbacks.  Back surgery, a vascular condition, and an ongoing struggle with depression have resulted in regaining weight, but he’s not giving up.  

In this episode, Scott shares his incredibly inspiring mindset around how he’s improving his mental and physical health.  We chat about the ups and downs of his journey: how he recognized he needed to get help from a professional, how he’s found the courage to make big changes in his life, and how he continues to work his way back towards fitness.

You can connect with Scott via Instagram @clydesdale_fitnessandfriends

Related Episodes:

Ep 92 - Bob Harper on Surviving a Heart Attack

Ep 165 - Thriving on the Unexpected: Cory Schmidgall

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns

David Haase, MD, is a doctor, teacher, author and innovator. In his practice, he strives to be a super-generalist, looking at the human body as a whole and applying relentless curiosity to identify and treat the root cause of a patient’s disease.

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings has been a professional golfer since 2010.  Despite turning in successful performances on green, off the course, Scott struggled with sleep, excess weight, and lack of energy, all compounded by a grueling travel schedule.

He finally decided enough was enough and made a huge lifestyle overhaul.  He worked with a physician to address hormone imbalances and to correct a sinus problem that was causing sleep apnea.  He cleaned up his diet, incorporated CrossFit into his training regimen, and developed strategies to stay on track even though his career has him on the road more days than he is home.  

To date, Scott has lost over 40 pounds and has improved his lab markers substantially.  In this episode, he shares the steps he’s taken to get in the best shape of his life, and the motivation behind this huge transformation.

You can connect with Scott via Instagram @scottstallings

Related Episodes:

Ep 01 - Rich Froning on competition, shifting priorities, and using his platform

Ep 119 - Josh Bridges on Recovering from Knee Surgery and Paying the Man

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Katie Spotz is an incredibly impressive ultra-endurance athlete who has undertaken enormous adventures across the globe to help raise funds for clean water and sanitation for underserved communities.

Just a few highlights: at 22, she rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, becoming the youngest person ever to do so.  In 2020, she ran 138-miles nonstop in 33-hours across the state of Maine.  She was also the first person to swim the length of the Allegheny river at 325 miles, she’s cycled across the country, and completed 5 ironman triathlons and countless marathons. Her next adventure will take her cycling across the coastline of Maine, 308 miles from the Canadian border to New Hampshire.

Katie’s drive to test her limits, dream big, and break records is remarkable, all the more so because of the motivation behind it.  Worldwide, an estimated 2.2 billion people lack access to a safe, clean water source, and roughly 4.2 billion people live without adequate sanitation services, according to the World Health Organization.  

By taking on these challenges, Katie helps raise funds for organizations such as Run4Water and Lifewater International who work to transform lives by providing clean water, and at the same time, she reminds us all that we’re all capable of making a difference in the world.

You can connect with Katie via Instagram @katiespotz, Facebook @hellokatiespotz and her website.

Related Episodes:

Ep 94 - Danica Patrick on Trailblazing and Shifting Gears

Ep 101 - Building a Champion Mindset with Dr. Joe Janesz

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns

At a very young age, Jess Esch became aware that her shape and size did not fit in amongst her friends.  She struggled with years of shame and insecurity and fell into a pattern of starving herself, followed by large binges.  By 16, her weight peaked at 220 lbs, and her doctor began discussing the potential for gastric bypass surgery.

Jess was devastated by the idea, and instead turned to her faith to re-frame her mindset.   She began to recognize that her value and worth are not determined by her weight.  This was the first step in her healing journey.  Over time, Jess’s small, consistent changes have resulted in a huge weight loss, and even more importantly, in the discovery that she truly loves living a healthy lifestyle.

In this episode, she shares how she was able to change her mindset from shame to self-love and the tools she used to develop the discipline to change her nutrition and exercise habits.

You can connect with Jessica via Instagram @joyfilledjess

Related Episodes:

Ep 95 - Optimizing Your Nutrition with EC Synkowski

Ep 173 - Small Steps, Big Results: Carrie McCall

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every Tuesday.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns