Sparking Wholeness

Alexander Martinez is the CEO and Co-Founder of Intrinsic Medicine and a former Silicon Valley corporate lawyer turned biotechnology entrepreneur. His thorough understanding of the industry and areas for improvement, in parallel with his own patient journey, inspired him to make a public health impact and seek novel medicines for broad patient populations that have been previously underserved by the traditional pharmaceutical industry. Intrinsic Medicine is a therapeutics company leveraging human milk biology to transform irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) disorders.

Key Topics:

- The gut microbiome and ecosystem of bacteria that lives there

- How our understanding of “bad bacteria” is changing

- Germ theory and the harm of overusing antibiotics

- The gut-brain connection and understanding the vagus nerve

- How the microbiome modulates genetics

- How the gut lining is broken down by physical and emotional stress

- New treatments for IBS and other gut-brain issues using human milk oligosaccharides

- Ways to improve your microbiome now

Learn more about these new gut health developments at intrinsicmedicine.com

Sally K. Norton, MPH holds a nutrition degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Public Health. Her path to becoming a leading expert on dietary oxalate includes a prior career working at major medical schools in medical education and public health research. Her personal healing experience inspired years of research that led to her forthcoming book, Toxic Superfoods, which was released on December 27 everywhere books are sold. 

As a leading expert on oxalates in food, Sally’s work has been featured by podcasters, radio shows, and several online and print journals.

In this episode, we discuss the research behind oxalate overload, the problems with promoting superfoods that contain these toxins, and how to learn to start your own low oxalate journey.

Key Topics:

- What are oxalates and why are they so bad?

- What oxalates are in which foods?

- How can you know you’re having issues with oxalates?

- The gut health connection to the toxicity in these superfoods

- The way oxalates deplete your body of nutrients

- How to taper off oxalates

- What foods to include to start to feel better now

Learn more about Sally and her book at sallyknorton.com/toxic_superfoods/

Jake Eagle, LPC, is a psychotherapist, mindfulness instructor, fellow/member/trainer of the International Association of Neuro‑Linguistic Programming. After thirty years in private practice, he now works part-time as a meta-therapist, working with people who want to go beyond the bounds of traditional therapy.

He is co author of the new book, THE POWER OF AWE: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose—In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day

Key Topics:

- The three levels of consciousness model Jake uses as a meta-therapist

- The premise of the new book, The Power of Awe

- The one question you should ask yourself every morning

- The scientific research done for this awe method using frontline workers in the pandemic

- How to enter a state of awe at home

- How to reduce depression by 24% in 21 days

- The way awe reduces inflammation and improves vagal tone

To learn more and get the book, go to thepowerofawe.com or the new page, Moments of Awe.

Sponsor: proven, quality sleep is life changing sleep. Find new offers at sleepnumber.com/wholeness

Happy new year! It's the time of year when people are setting goals, creating self-improvement plans, and looking forward to change that sticks.

As a health coach, I know that creating changes that stick have to do with small, sustainable habits. In this episode, I break down the five things I'm going to be doing for my mental, spiritual, and physical health this year.

Contact me for one on one coaching or upcoming programs at sparkingwholeness.com.

For the three day reset kit mentioned in the episode, head to plexusworldwide.com/erinkerry

Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She graduated from Princeton University with her PhD in Neuroscience and Psychology, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at Rockefeller University in NYC. She is a research neuroscientist and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet and addiction, with a special focus on nutrition during early life and pregnancy, and women’s health.

Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In addition to over 100 peer-reviewed scholarly publications, Dr. Avena has written several books, including What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler and What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant. She has the #2 most watched TED-ED Health talk, How Sugar Affects Your Brain, with over 13 million views and counting.

Key Topics:

- Why is sugar bad for you?

- How sugar affects a developing brain

- The addictive properties and the way the brain adapts to more and more

- Withdrawal symptoms of quitting sugar

- What the science says about the argument that sugar isn’t addictive

- Practical ways to reduce sugar intake

- Artificial sweeteners and the affect on the brain

- How to read labels for hidden sugar

- How to have a healthier relationship with sugar

Learn more about Dr. Nicole and get her new book, Sugarless, on DrNicoleavena.com. Follow her on Instagram @drnicoleavena

Dr. Nicole Beurkens is a leading holistic child psychologist, as a licensed clinical psychologist with advanced degrees in psychology, education, and nutrition. She has dedicated her 25-year career to providing parents with research-based strategies that get to the root of children’s attention, anxiety, mood, and behavior challenges so they can reach their highest potential. She founded and runs a multi-disciplinary evaluation and treatment clinic in Grand Rapids, MI, and is a best-selling author, published researcher, award-winning therapist, media expert, scientific advisor, and experienced mother of four.

Key Topics:

- the connection between mental health and physical health in kids

- The impact of adult stress on kids’ stress

- Basics of bedtime and sleep hygiene

- Why kids shouldn’t have electronic devices in their bedrooms

- Nutrition and kids’ mental health

- How to model good nutrient dense practices with kids

- Swaps for healthier family eating

- The power of connection

Learn more about Dr. Nicole at DrBeurkens.com and Instagram at @drnicolebeurkens

Sandra Beck is owner of Beck Multimedia and Motherhood Incorporated. She is the host of Military Mom Talk Radio, Motherhood Talk Radio, and Coach Talk Radio.

In this episode, Sandra and Erin discuss how stress impacts our physical health and ways to manage the constant load.

Key Topics:

- How stress manifests in our lives

- The distinction between what is urgent/important/emergency

- When stress becomes normal

- How our thoughts impact stress

- Finding breaks to breathe and manage stress

- How to tell if you are chronically stressed and to check in with yourself

Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998, created the first three globally celebrated happiness holidays, and is the author of Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life. She was an award-winning salesperson for American Express and Staples, and now helps leaders and teams create happier workplace cultures.

- Why is the Society of Happy People even more important today than it was in 1998?

- How happiness isn’t the “absence of challenges”

- How to identify happiness zappers

- Happiness zappers in the holidays

- Why Practical Happiness is different from other happiness books

- The four principles of happiness

Free gift! Go to sohp.com/gift to download Pamela’s 31 types of happiness!

Sponsors:

Proven, quality sleep is life-changing sleep. Go to sleepnumber.com/wholeness for special offers.

Get 20% off your at home lab test at everlywell.com/spark.

Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998, created the first three globally celebrated happiness holidays, and is the author of Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life. She was an award-winning salesperson for American Express and Staples, and now helps leaders and teams create happier workplace cultures.

- Why is the Society of Happy People even more important today than it was in 1998?

- How happiness isn’t the “absence of challenges”

- How to identify happiness zappers

- Happiness zappers in the holidays

- Why Practical Happiness is different from other happiness books

- The four principles of happiness

Free gift! Go to sohp.com/gift to download Pamela’s 31 types of happiness!

Sponsors:

Proven, quality sleep is life-changing sleep. Go to sleepnumber.com/wholeness for special offers.

Get 20% off your at home lab test at everlywell.com/spark.

Dr. Brent Turnipseed is the Co-Founder of Austin-based Roots Behavioral Health. Dr. Brent Turnipseed, Roots’ Medical Director, is a board-certified psychiatrist with a deep interest in innovative approaches to providing behavioral healthcare. Brent is on the Scientific Advisory Board for Ninnion Therapeutics and previously practiced psychiatry in clinical and law enforcement settings in Texas.

Key Topics:

- Description of holistic psychiatry and what distinguishes it from more traditional forms of psychiatry

- Why we are seeing an increase in ADHD and how digital use plays a role

- Overuse of ADHD medications and the dangers

- New healing modalities for mental health, including Botox for depression, and when medication are needed

- Ketamine treatments, the benefits, and what the research tells us

- How ketamine works at the brain level

- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and how to increase it

Learn more about Dr. Turnipseed’s practice at rootsbehavioralhealth.com.