Healing stories are often told after everything makes sense—but autoimmune life is usually lived in the middle of uncertainty.

In this episode, Mickey talks with AIP Certified Coach Lynn Rester about navigating an active flare while balancing work, health, and daily life. Lynn shares what it’s been like to move through recurring infections, deep fatigue, and disrupted sleep—and how she’s staying grounded while healing unfolds in real time.

This conversation offers reassurance for anyone who’s doing the work but still waiting for things to shift.

1. What it’s like to navigate an autoimmune flare in real time
2. How recurring infections can impact autoimmune health
3. Why sleep and stress became Lynn’s main focus
4. How to stay grounded when symptoms don’t resolve quickly
5. Why healing often happens slowly and quietly

1. Healthy Eating and Life Plans: Lynn's Website
2. Follow Lynn on Facebook and Instagram.
3. AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and a worldwide directory to find AIP-trained support.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introducing real-time healing conversations

01:20 – Meet Lynn Rester

01:57 – Balance, fatigue, and recurring infections

03:20 – When healing doesn’t happen quickly

05:54 – Staying mentally grounded during a flare

07:25 – Lifestyle shifts supporting this season

09:15 – Advice for feeling stuck in the middle

10:17 – Reflections and takeaways

11:03 – Share your Flare to Flow story

11:29 – Where to connect with Lynn

What happens inside the body when someone follows the Autoimmune Protocol—and how does AIP actually feel to people using it in real life?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott reviews two important follow-up studies from the Scripps research team, led by Dr. Gauree Konijeti, that expand our understanding of AIP for inflammatory bowel disease beyond symptom improvement alone.

The first study examined gene expression changes in intestinal tissue after an AIP intervention in ulcerative colitis. The second explored real-world patient experiences using AIP for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis through a large survey. Together, these studies shed light on both the biological shifts and the lived experience of AIP for IBD.

1. Why researchers examined gene expression changes after AIP
2. What the RNA substudy revealed about immune and healing pathways
3. Why these findings matter despite a small sample size
4. How people with IBD experience AIP outside of clinical trials
5. Common patterns in symptom improvement and medication use
6. How personalization and reintroduction typically unfold in real life
7. What these studies add to the growing AIP research landscape

Scripps RNA Gene Expression Study (2019): An Integrative Clinical Pilot Study to Evaluate RNA Expression Changes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following the Autoimmune Protocol Diet

AIP IBD Patient Experience Survey (2021): Experience Using the Autoimmune Protocol Diet in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Patient Survey

AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable guides, meal plans, and beginner resources.

The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – Updated research, Core and Modified AIP guidance, and step-by-step meal plans (available for pre-order).

00:00 – Introduction: looking beyond symptoms

02:23 – Overview of the RNA and patient experience studies

03:42 – RNA substudy participant profile

06:51 – The AIP intervention used in the RNA analysis

07:41 – Clinical outcomes observed in the RNA subgroup

10:32 – How RNA gene expression was analyzed

13:07 – Results: gene expression and immune pathways

16:47 – Introducing the IBD patient experience survey

20:21 – Survey results: symptom changes and medication use

24:00 – Survey results: food reintroductions

28:08 – Recap: what these studies add to AIP research

Many people start the Autoimmune Protocol with a clear understanding of the rules—what foods to include, what to avoid, and which phase they’re in. But knowing the rules and feeling well on AIP are not always the same thing.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott introduces a new practical series called Meal Plan Makeover, where she walks through real-life AIP meal plans to explore what’s working, what might be getting in the way, and how small, strategic changes can dramatically improve energy, satisfaction, and sustainability.

Using a real (anonymized) three-day diet journal from a former client living with Hashimoto’s and rheumatoid arthritis, Mickey demonstrates how AIP can sometimes be applied too minimally—leading to under-eating, low energy, constant hunger, and meals that look “right” on paper but don’t feel supportive in the body.

This episode is not about perfection or criticism. It’s about learning how to apply AIP more strategically by focusing on protein balance, nutrient density, carbohydrates, flavor, and realistic capacity—so the protocol actually supports healing instead of creating new challenges.

1. Why following the AIP rules isn’t always enough to feel your best
2. How under-eating and low variety can sneak in during Elimination
3. Why fatigue and constant hunger are common signs of undernourishment
4. How to build more balanced breakfasts and snacks on AIP
5. Why starchy vegetables are essential for energy and sleep
6. How smoothies can work—and where they often fall short
7. Simple ways to improve satiety without cooking more
8. Why seafood and protein variety matter for autoimmune health
9. How sauces and flavor boosters improve both enjoyment and nourishment
10. Why calorie restriction can backfire during the Elimination phase
11. Small, realistic changes that can make AIP feel easier and more sustainable

AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable food lists, meal plans, and beginner guides.

The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – Updated research, practical tools, and meal plans for Core and Modified AIP (available for pre-order).

00:00 – Introduction: why AIP implementation matters

02:18 – Introducing the Meal Plan Makeover series

04:10 – Debbie’s background and context

05:36 – Reviewing the three-day meal plan

06:43 – Where strategy (not effort) is missing

07:04 – Smoothies: strengths and protein gaps

08:31 – A protein-forward breakfast that works

09:10 – Why snacks need balance

09:55 – The missing piece: starchy vegetables

11:12 – Bringing in more seafood

11:54 – Flavor matters: sauces and satisfaction

12:55 – Protein variety and fullness

13:21 – Calories, weight loss, and Elimination

14:59 – The big-picture meal plan takeaway

15:43 – Simple experiments to try this week

16:57 – Submitting your own meal plan & wrap-up

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune disease in the world—and yet many people continue to struggle with fatigue, brain fog, pain, and mood symptoms even when their thyroid labs look “normal.”

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott continues the AIP Medical Research Review series with a deep dive into the very first clinical study ever conducted on the Autoimmune Protocol for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This community-supported pilot study, led by Dr. Rob Abbott and published in 2019, examined whether a structured AIP diet and lifestyle intervention could improve quality of life, inflammation, and symptom burden in adults with Hashimoto’s who were already medically stable.

Mickey walks through the full story behind the study—from the chance meeting that sparked the research, to the grassroots crowdfunding effort that made it possible. She breaks down the study design, participant profile, intervention structure, clinical measures, and results, including detailed case reports that offer rare insight into individual experiences.

This episode highlights a critical and often overlooked reality in Hashimoto’s care: meaningful improvements in how people feel and function can occur even when thyroid hormones and antibodies remain largely unchanged.

1. How the first AIP study for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis came to be
2. Why Hashimoto’s patients often struggle despite “normal” thyroid labs
3. Who participated in the Abbott pilot study and why that matters
4. What the AIP intervention looked like in a clinical research setting
5. How diet, nutrient density, and lifestyle practices were integrated
6. Which clinical measures were used to assess symptoms, inflammation, and quality of life
7. What the study revealed about fatigue, pain, mood, and daily functioning
8. Why improvements occurred even though thyroid hormones stayed stable
9. What happened with thyroid antibodies and systemic inflammation
10. Why some participants required lower doses of thyroid medication
11. What the individual case reports reveal beyond group averages
12. Why this study remains a milestone for Hashimoto’s research today
13. Practical takeaways for using AIP to support Hashimoto’s now

Abbott Pilot Study (2019): Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as a Part of a Multidisciplinary Supported Lifestyle Intervention for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable food lists, meal plans, and beginner guides.

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Advanced training for practitioners and a worldwide directory to find AIP-trained support.

Pre-Order The New Autoimmune Protocol – Mickey's forthcoming complete guide to the updated Autoimmune Protocol, including both Core and Modified AIP.

00:00 – The meeting that sparked the Hashimoto’s study

02:51 – Overview of the Abbott AIP Hashimoto’s study

04:01 – Understanding Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and standard treatment

06:27 – Why study AIP for Hashimoto’s

08:37 – Study participant profile

10:09 – The AIP study intervention

13:17 – Clinical measures and assessments

16:20 – Results: quality of life improvements

18:02 – Results: inflammation (hs-CRP)

19:03 – Results: thyroid hormones and antibodies

21:09 – Results: thyroid medication use

22:36 – Adherence and safety

23:29 – Case reports and individual outcomes

26:02 – Why this study still matters

28:25 – Practical takeaways for listeners

32:16 – Recap, resources, and what’s coming next

If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen thinking, I know what I should eat, but I just don’t know what to make, this episode is for you.

In this Kitchen Confidence Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott kicks off a new mini-series called Behind the Recipe—conversations that go beyond instructions to explore why certain recipes work so well for healing, how to adapt them, and what they teach us about cooking in a sustainable, real-life way.

Mickey is joined by Ginny Mahar, creator of Hypothyroid Chef and author of the newly released Thyroid30 Cookbook, to talk through one of those quietly powerful, repeat-worthy recipes: Veggie-Packed Meatloaf Muffins. Together, they discuss what makes this recipe so supportive for people navigating autoimmune and thyroid conditions—from batch cooking and freezing to substitutions, flavor boosters, and family-friendly design.

This episode is less about perfection and more about practicality: how to build meals that are nourishing, flexible, and realistic on both good days and hard ones.

1. Why some recipes become long-term staples during healing
2. What makes the Veggie-Packed Meatloaf Muffins so supportive for AIP and thyroid health
3. How veggie-forward, protein-rich meals support energy and consistency
4. Tips for batch cooking, freezing, and reheating with minimal stress
5. Smart substitutions for meat, vegetables, and flavor boosters
6. How to adapt AIP recipes for families and mixed dietary needs
7. Why accessibility and simplicity matter when cooking with chronic illness
8. How flavor, texture, and portioning impact real-life sustainability
9. What inspired the Thyroid30 Cookbook and who it’s designed for

Veggie-Packed Meatloaf Muffins Recipe – Full recipe from the Thyroid30 Cookbook

The Thyroid30 Cookbook by Ginny Mahar

Hypothyroid Chef Website

Ginny Mahar on Instagram

00:00 – Why some recipes truly stick

01:18 – Introducing the Behind the Recipe mini-series

01:18 – Guest introduction: Ginny Mahar, Hypothyroid Chef

03:31 – Why this meatloaf muffin recipe works so well

04:04 – Visual description & real-life use

04:52 – Ingredients, binders, and flavor strategy

07:04 – Portioning, batch cooking, and meal pairing

09:05 – Freezing, storage, and reheating tips

10:57 – Substitutions and variations

15:14 – Serving ideas, sauces, and flavor upgrades

17:06 – Veggie-forward cooking and accessibility

19:28 – The Thyroid30 Cookbook overview

21:21 – Wrap-up and where to find the recipe

For years, people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have asked whether diet can meaningfully impact inflammatory bowel disease. Until recently, there was very little clinical research to help answer that question.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott kicks off a new AIP Medical Research Review series by walking through the very first clinical studies ever conducted on the Autoimmune Protocol. These groundbreaking studies—led by gastroenterologist Dr. Gauree Konijeti and her team at Scripps—examined the effects of AIP in adults with longstanding, active inflammatory bowel disease.

This episode reviews two landmark papers: the 2017 Scripps pilot study on AIP for IBD and the 2019 follow-up study examining patient-reported quality of life. Mickey explains how the studies were designed, who participated, what the AIP intervention looked like in a clinical setting, and what the results actually showed—both in symptoms and in day-to-day functioning.

Along the way, this episode clarifies why these studies still matter nearly a decade later, how they helped shape today’s Core and Modified AIP approaches, and what they reveal about the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune care.

1. How the first AIP research study began with a single ulcerative colitis patient
2. Why Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis fall under the IBD umbrella
3. Who participated in the Scripps pilot study and why the results were so striking
4. What the AIP intervention looked like in a clinical research setting
5. Which foods were eliminated and which nutrient-dense foods were emphasized
6. How lifestyle support and coaching were integrated into the study
7. What clinical remission meant in the context of these trials
8. How AIP affected inflammatory markers and gut-specific biomarkers
9. What the quality of life study revealed beyond symptom improvement
10. Why these findings helped pave the way for Modified AIP
11. Key safety considerations for people with IBD, including strictures
12. Practical takeaways for applying AIP to IBD today

Scripps Pilot Study (2017): Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scripps Quality of Life Study (2019): An Autoimmune Protocol Diet Improves Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable guides and beginner resources

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and global support directory

00:00 – The patient story that sparked AIP research

02:35 – Overview of the IBD and quality of life studies

03:46 – Understanding IBD and standard treatments

05:10 – Why study AIP for inflammatory bowel disease

06:13 – Study participant profile

08:19 – The AIP study intervention

11:41 – Clinical endpoints and biomarkers

13:58 – Results: clinical outcomes

17:19 – Medication changes during the study

19:05 – Safety considerations

20:54 – Quality of life study results

23:53 – Why these studies still matter

27:15 – Practical takeaways for listeners

31:03 – Recap and wrap-up

When most people struggle with AIP, it’s not because they don’t care or don’t know what to eat. It’s because their food plan only works on “good” days—when energy is high, stress is low, and life is predictable.

In this Kitchen Confidence Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey introduces a simple, flexible framework designed for real life: the AIP 3-Meal Safety Net. This approach helps you stay nourished through fluctuating energy, stress, flares, and changing capacity—across every phase of AIP.

Rather than focusing on recipes, perfection, or willpower, this episode reframes kitchen confidence as having reliable options that work on your worst days, not just your best ones. Mickey explains how planning for different capacity levels reduces decision fatigue, lowers stress, and makes consistency possible over time.

This episode breaks meals into three practical categories—low capacity, medium capacity, and higher or supported capacity—and offers concrete examples of what each looks like in real life. The goal is not cooking more, but building a system that supports you when cooking feels hard.

1. Why most AIP plans break down on low-energy or high-stress days
2. What “kitchen confidence” really means (and what it doesn’t)
3. Why AIP needs to be built for real life—not ideal conditions
4. How the AIP 3-Meal Safety Net supports fluctuating capacity
5. What low-capacity meals look like when cooking feels impossible
6. How to approach simple, repeatable meals on busy or tired days
7. Why medium-capacity meals carry most people through the week
8. How higher or supported cooking helps future you
9. Why freezer meals and leftovers reduce stress and decision fatigue
10. How to let go of guilt and build a sustainable AIP approach

The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – Updated research, practical tools, recipes, and real-life strategies for sustainable AIP (available for pre-order).

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and a worldwide directory to find AIP-trained support.

00:00 – Kitchen confidence & building AIP for real life

02:17 – Why AIP plans fail on “bad” days

04:51 – Introducing the AIP 3-Meal Safety Net

05:42 – Type 1 meals: low-capacity, no-cook options

09:03 – Type 2 meals: medium capacity, light cooking

12:17 – Type 3 meals: higher or supported capacity

16:08 – Recap: building a flexible, sustainable system

17:20 – Book announcement & closing reflections

Living with autoimmune disease is deeply personal—but the forces that shape diagnosis, care, and long-term outcomes extend far beyond any one individual. Research priorities, advocacy efforts, and community education all influence who gets seen, supported, and served within the autoimmune landscape.

In this first Quarterly Community Update episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott steps back to look at what’s happening across the broader autoimmune community right now. These quarterly episodes are designed to help listeners stay informed and oriented—without overwhelm, fear, or chasing headlines.

This episode introduces a new recurring structure focused on three areas that directly shape autoimmune care: advocacy, research, and community education. Mickey is joined by three regular contributors who bring both professional expertise and lived experience to these conversations.

First, Jamie-Nicole Martin, chronic illness advocate and founder of the AIP BIPOC Network, joins Mickey to discuss autoimmune awareness, systems-level advocacy, and community-based initiatives designed to improve equity, access, and representation in autoimmune care.

Next, Sybil Cooper, PhD, immunologist and AIP Certified Coach, breaks down recent research shaping the autoimmune landscape, including a major Mayo Clinic study on autoimmune disease prevalence and the significance of the 2025 Nobel Prize recognition of regulatory T cells (Tregs).

Finally, Jaime Hartman, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, host of the AIP Summit, and co-teacher of the AIP Certified Coach Program, shares updates from across the AIP community, including emerging education trends, Summit highlights, and professional training opportunities.

Together, these conversations highlight why systemic change matters, what the latest science is actually telling us, and how community-centered education continues to evolve to support people living with autoimmune disease.

1. Why autoimmune care is shaped by advocacy, research, and education—not just individual choices
2. How Jamie-Nicole Martin and the AIP BIPOC Network support both personal healing and systems-level change
3. Upcoming advocacy events, including the ROCK Summit and ROCK Community Expo
4. How monthly AIP BIPOC Roundtables create safer spaces for dialogue and collective insight
5. Key findings from a large Mayo Clinic study explained by Sybil Cooper, PhD
6. The difference between prevalence and incidence—and why that distinction matters
7. Which autoimmune conditions are most common and how patterns differ by sex
8. Why having multiple autoimmune diagnoses is more common than most people realize
9. What the Nobel Prize recognition of regulatory T cells (Tregs) signals for the future of autoimmune research
10. How Jaime Hartman sees AIP education expanding beyond food into lifestyle, hormones, athletics, and life-stage support
11. How to access ongoing AIP education, community connection, and trained practitioner support

1. AIP BIPOC Network – Advocacy initiatives, community events, and monthly roundtables
2. ROCK Wellness Weekend – ROCK Summit & ROCK Community Expo (Houston, TX)
3. AIP BIPOC Network Donation Link - Help fund their programs for the autoimmune community
4. Mayo Clinic Autoimmune Disease Prevalence Study
5. Nobel Prize 2025 Press Release - Team discovering T-regulatory cells
6. AIP Summit – Annual event, replays, and ongoing community access
7. AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and global directory of AIP-trained support

00:00 – Introduction to the Quarterly Community Update series

01:21 – Overview of advocacy, research, and community education

02:29 – Autoimmune awareness & advocacy with Jamie-Nicole Martin

04:41 – ROCK Summit & ROCK Community Expo

06:32 – AIP BIPOC Roundtables and global community support

08:45 – How to support advocacy work

11:15 – Research update with Sybil Cooper, PhD

15:48 – Most common autoimmune conditions and diagnostic patterns

17:45 – Sex differences and multiple autoimmune diagnoses

20:20 – Nobel Prize recognition of regulatory T cells (Tregs)

23:32 – AIP community updates with Jaime Hartman

24:31 – AIP Summit recap and emerging trends

26:35 – Lifestyle, hormones, and life-stage support in AIP

31:23 – AIP Certified Coach Program overview

35:13 – Wrap-up and closing reflections

Healing with autoimmune disease is rarely a straight line. Even after long periods of stability, new symptoms, diagnoses, or life transitions can ask us to slow down, reassess, and adapt. In this deeply personal episode, Mickey shares an honest update on her health after more than a decade of relative stability—including a new autoimmune diagnosis she never expected.

This episode reflects on what it looks like to live well with autoimmune disease through different seasons of life. Mickey walks through how her health has evolved over the past year, what she’s learned about stress, hormones, and perimenopause, and how she’s adapting her wellness routine now—not from a place of perfection, but from lived experience.

In the second half of the episode, Mickey shares a long-held announcement: the official reveal of her new book, The New Autoimmune Protocol. She explains why she felt called to write it now, how AIP has evolved over the years, and what makes this resource different from anything she’s created before.

This episode is for anyone navigating change in their health, feeling blindsided after years of doing “everything right,” or wondering what sustainable healing really looks like over the long term.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why healing with autoimmune disease is rarely linear
2. What led to Mickey’s recent health changes and new diagnosis
3. How stress, workload, and hormonal shifts can influence autoimmune flares
4. The connection between uveitis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis
5. How Mickey approaches wellness and self-care in her current season of life
6. What her personalized diet, movement, and supplement routine looks like now
7. Why foundational habits matter more than wellness trends or “hacks”
8. Why The New Autoimmune Protocol was written—and what makes it different
9. How AIP has evolved into a more flexible, research-backed framework
10. How to support the book through pre-orders and upcoming events

1. The New Autoimmune Protocol – Available for pre-order wherever books are sold
2. Live Cover Reveal Event – January 31st at 11:00 AM PT on YouTube

00:00 – Why healing isn’t linear & what this episode covers

02:28 – Mickey’s original autoimmune story and early AIP journey

08:38 – Building strength, stability, and resilience over time

10:53 – A reminder that ongoing support still matters

13:06 – A year of integration, reflection, and new ideas

15:53 – Book production, overexertion, and the first uveitis flare

20:50 – A second flare and the search for answers

24:13 – A new diagnosis and reframing the past

27:05 – Stress, hormones, perimenopause, and autoimmune disease

32:17 – Mickey’s current wellness routine

32:45 – How she eats now

36:32 – Medications and supplements

37:34 – Movement, strength training, and recovery

39:43 – A foundational approach to long-term health

42:09 – Introducing The New Autoimmune Protocol

46:15 – Live cover reveal event & giveaways

47:14 – Closing reflections and gratitude

When most people think about the Autoimmune Protocol, they focus on food elimination—but lasting healing requires much more than dietary change alone. In this episode, Mickey explains the two essential pillars that support every phase of AIP: nutrient density and lifestyle practices.

As part of the AIP Deep Dive series, this episode expands beyond the three formal phases of the Autoimmune Protocol to explore how deeply nourishing foods and supportive daily habits work together to promote repair, resilience, and long-term healing. Mickey breaks down what nutrient density really means, why deficiencies are common in autoimmune disease, and how strategic food choices help regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.

This episode also explores the four lifestyle foundations that influence autoimmune health just as powerfully as food—sleep, stress management, movement, and connection—and how to apply them consistently in every phase of AIP without striving for perfection.

1. Why AIP requires more than food elimination to support lasting healing
2. What nutrient density really means and why it matters for autoimmune health
3. Which nutrient-dense foods support repair in every phase of AIP
4. Practical ways to include nutrient-dense foods without overcomplicating meals
5. Why sleep is a foundational healing tool for immune regulation
6. How stress affects inflammation and how to manage it sustainably
7. How to approach movement safely with autoimmune disease
8. Why connection and community are essential for long-term healing
9. How to integrate food and lifestyle changes without burnout

1. AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable food lists, meal plans, and beginner resources.
2. AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Advanced training for licensed healthcare providers and a worldwide directory to find AIP-trained support.

00:00 – Nutrient density & lifestyle as pillars of AIP

02:25 – What nutrient density actually means

05:07 – Nutrient-dense foods to include in all phases of AIP

08:29 – Practical ways to use nutrient-dense foods

12:48 – Lifestyle foundations that support healing

13:20 – Sleep and immune regulation

15:57 – Stress management and nervous system balance

18:50 – Movement and autoimmune recovery

22:39 – Connection and community support

25:09 – Integrating food and lifestyle changes

27:35 – Wrap-up & AIP Foundation Series