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

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

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

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

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

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

Reintroduction is often the most misunderstood—and most powerful—phase of the Autoimmune Protocol. While elimination helps calm inflammation, reintroductions are what allow you to build a personalized, sustainable way of eating that supports your long-term health. In this episode, Mickey explains why reintroduction is not optional, how it’s changed with recent AIP updates, and why staying in elimination too long can actually work against healing.

As part of the AIP Deep Dive series, this episode focuses on Phase 3 of the updated Autoimmune Protocol: the Reintroduction Phase. Mickey walks through how to know when you’re ready to begin, how to reintroduce foods safely, and how to interpret your body’s feedback so you can expand your diet with confidence.

This episode provides a clear, step-by-step framework for navigating reintroductions without fear or confusion—helping you move from a structured healing phase into a flexible, personalized approach to eating that works for your body and your life.

1. What the AIP Reintroduction Phase is and why it matters
2. Why elimination is never meant to be permanent
3. How to know when you’re ready to begin reintroductions
4. The updated, evidence-based food reintroduction procedure
5. How to track and interpret immediate and delayed food reactions
6. The Core AIP reintroduction stages and food order
7. How Modified AIP reintroductions differ from Core AIP
8. What “gray area foods” are and how to handle them
9. How to build your personalized, long-term AIP template

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 – Why reintroductions are the most powerful phase of AIP

02:34 – What the Reintroduction Phase is—and why it matters

04:27 – When to begin reintroductions

08:34 – The updated food reintroduction procedure

13:18 – Core AIP reintroduction stages

16:46 – Modified AIP reintroduction stages

19:29 – Tracking and interpreting food reactions

22:21 – Navigating “gray area foods”

24:27 – Immediate vs. delayed food reactions

27:12 – Life after reintroductions & your personalized AIP template

29:36 – Wrap-up & AIP Foundation Series

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

For many people, the Elimination Phase is what comes to mind when they think about the Autoimmune Protocol—but it’s also the most misunderstood part. Conflicting food lists, outdated advice, and fear of restriction have left many people unsure how to approach elimination in a way that’s effective and sustainable. In this episode, Mickey clarifies what the Elimination Phase actually looks like today, following the 2024 update to the Autoimmune Protocol.

As part of the AIP Deep Dive series, this episode focuses on Phase 2 of the updated framework: the Elimination Phase. Mickey explains why elimination is meant to be temporary, how it fits into the larger AIP process, and how the introduction of Core AIP and Modified AIP makes the protocol more accessible without compromising its effectiveness.

This episode provides a clear, practical roadmap for navigating elimination with confidence—covering what to remove, what to include, how long to stay in this phase, and how to troubleshoot common challenges—so you can move forward without overwhelm or guesswork.

1. What the AIP Elimination Phase is—and what it isn’t
2. Why elimination is a temporary learning phase, not a lifelong diet
3. How Core AIP and Modified AIP differ and why both exist
4. Which foods are avoided on Core AIP
5. Which foods are included on Modified AIP and why
6. What foods to focus on adding for nutrient density and healing
7. How long the Elimination Phase typically lasts
8. How to troubleshoot fatigue, cravings, digestive changes, and overwhelm
9. Practical meal planning and batch cooking strategies to make elimination easier

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 – Introduction to the Elimination Phase and AIP updates

02:38 – What the Elimination Phase is—and isn’t

04:18 – Core AIP vs. Modified AIP explained

06:20 – Foods to avoid on Core AIP

11:05 – Foods included on Modified AIP

15:29 – Foods to include on both Core and Modified AIP

20:17 – How long to stay in the Elimination Phase

23:32 – Troubleshooting symptoms during elimination

27:57 – Meal planning and batch cooking strategies

32:18 – Wrap-up & AIP Foundation Series

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

In the early days of the Autoimmune Protocol, there was no Transition Phase—you simply jumped straight into elimination. For many people, that approach was overwhelming and unsustainable. In this episode, Mickey explains why preparation, not willpower, is the biggest predictor of success with AIP.

As part of the AIP Deep Dive series, this episode focuses on Phase 1 of the updated Autoimmune Protocol: the Transition Phase. Mickey walks through why this phase was added, what’s changed in the updated framework, and how thoughtful preparation can reduce burnout, increase confidence, and make AIP work in real life.

This episode lays the groundwork for the Elimination Phase by helping you slow down, build supportive systems, and approach AIP as a sustainable learning process—not an all-or-nothing challenge.

1. Why the original “jump straight into elimination” approach often led to burnout
2. What the AIP Transition Phase is and why it’s now considered essential
3. How preparation—not discipline—determines long-term success
4. The five steps of the AIP Transition Phase
5. How to track baseline symptoms and why it matters
6. How to create a personal health vision that supports motivation
7. What a confidence assessment is and how it helps you plan realistically
8. How to choose the right start date for elimination
9. Common Transition Phase pitfalls and how to avoid them

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 – Why the Transition Phase was created

02:33 – The Transition Phase explained in five steps

04:14 – Step 1: Track your baseline symptoms

07:47 – Step 2: Create your personal health vision

10:09 – Step 3: Perform a confidence assessment

14:58 – Step 4: Choose your start date

18:32 – Step 5: Take action on preparation tasks

24:04 – Common Transition Phase pitfalls

26:42 – Wrap-up & AIP Foundation Series

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

There’s a lot of confusion about the Autoimmune Protocol—what it is, what it isn’t, and whether it actually works. In this episode, Mickey cuts through the noise to share the real story behind AIP and how it’s evolved in 2026.

As someone who’s been part of the AIP movement since the very beginning, Mickey explains how AIP grew from a grassroots experiment into a research-backed framework used worldwide to support people living with autoimmune disease. She also breaks down the major 2024 update to AIP, including the introduction of Core AIP and Modified AIP, and how to decide which approach is right for you.

This episode kicks off the AIP Deep Dive series and lays the foundation for using AIP as a temporary, educational process—not a lifelong restrictive diet.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What the Autoimmune Protocol really is (and what it’s not)
2. How AIP evolved from patient experimentation to published research
3. The three phases of AIP: Transition, Elimination, and Reintroduction
4. The difference between Core AIP and Modified AIP
5. How AIP supports gut health, immune regulation, and inflammation
6. What the science says about AIP and autoimmune disease
7. Common myths and misconceptions about AIP
8. How to know if AIP is the right tool for you

Resources:

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

AIP Certified Coach Program – Advanced training for licensed healthcare providers who want to use AIP safely and effectively in clinical practice, or find a coach in the worldwide directory.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction: Why AIP is misunderstood

02:45 – Autoimmune disease overview & Mickey’s story

05:06 – The origins of the Autoimmune Protocol

07:06 – What AIP is and how it works

08:01 – Phase 1: The Transition Phase

10:32 – Phase 2: Elimination (Core AIP vs. Modified AIP)

16:45 – Phase 3: Reintroduction

19:49 – How AIP supports gut health, immunity, and inflammation

22:29 – Recovery stories & medical research

25:10 – The 2024 update: Core vs. Modified AIP

27:32 – Myths and controversies about AIP

29:51 – Is AIP right for you?

30:15 – Wrap-up & what’s coming next

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

After a pause, the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast is back—and this episode marks the beginning of a new chapter. In Episode 50, Mickey officially relaunches the podcast and shares a clear, compassionate update on the current state of the Autoimmune Protocol as we head into 2026.

Mickey reflects on how AIP has evolved from a grassroots, patient-led experiment into a mature, research-informed framework used by patients and practitioners around the world. She also explains why this moment matters, what’s changed in recent years, and how the podcast will support the autoimmune community moving forward.

This episode sets the stage for the AIP Deep Dive series and offers grounding, context, and direction for anyone navigating autoimmune disease—whether you’re brand new to AIP or have been part of this community for years.

1. Why the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast is being relaunched now
2. How AIP has entered a new “maturity” stage
3. What’s changed in the AIP landscape since 2022
4. Why Modified AIP has been a game-changer for sustainability and access
5. The current state of AIP research and what’s coming next
6. How the AIP Certified Coach community has grown globally
7. What the AIP community looks like today
8. What to expect from upcoming podcast episodes and series

1. AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with over 60 pages of resources, food lists, and beginner guides.
2. AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Learn more about becoming certified or find an AIP-trained provider.

Subscribe to the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast to stay up to date with the AIP Deep Dive series, research-focused episodes, and community conversations.

00:00 – Welcome back & podcast relaunch

01:48 – About Mickey & the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast

04:37 – The State of AIP in 2026

05:30 – AIP enters its “maturity” stage

08:48 – Why Modified AIP has been a game-changer

10:23 – Research momentum and what’s ahead

11:21 – Growth of the AIP Certified Coach community

12:41 – The AIP community today

13:54 – What’s coming on the podcast

14:13 – January: AIP Deep Dive Month

15:59 – Personal health update preview

17:02 – February: Science Month

17:56 – Introducing “Small Bites”

18:48 – Looking ahead: mixed formats & community input

20:09 – AIP Foundation Series & wrap-up

Mentioned in this episode:

The New Autoimmune Protocol Live YouTube Event - Saturday January 31st at 11AM PST

Link to YouTube Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOQMXcFzXE

Donate to the Team AIP fundraiser here: http://autoimmunewellness.com/donate

Get your Team AIP hat here: http://autoimmunewellness.com/aiphat

 Hi, friends. I'm Mickey Trescott, co-founder of Autoimmune Wellness, and today I'm here with a special bonus episode to share some exciting news, a big vision for the AIP community, and an invitation for you to join me in making a difference.

 On October 12th, 2025, the Autoimmune Association is hosting its annual Hope Journey Walk in Washington, D.C., I will be there in person, joining forces with my friends and colleagues, Jamie Hartman and Marie Noelle Marquis of the AIP Summit PoD.C.ast. Together, we've created team AIP, a community driven fundraiser to raise awareness for autoimmune disease and show the power of diet and lifestyle in healing.    Our team goal for the fundraiser is to raise $10,000.

We've already made it almost 10% of the way there, but we can't do it without you. Here's how you can join us. First, come walk with us in D.C. if you're local, or if you can travel to the D.C. area, I would love to meet you in person, connect with other members of the AIP community and we can all walk side by side at this inspiring event.

Two, you can walk with us virtually. So wherever you are in the world, you can register for the walk, walk in your own community and be a part of Team AIP from afar. You can even organize your own small group in your community to walk together and get some of that community support.

Three, support our fundraiser. You can help us reach our $10,000 goal in two ways. First, you can purchase a team AIP hat at autoimmunewellness.com/aiphat. This is a really great way to show your AIP pride and a hundred percent of the proceeds go to the fundraiser. We also will be wearing these hats as a group on the D.C. walk.

So if you are planning to attend in D.C. make sure that you get your order in, in time for the event so that you can match. if that's something that you wanna do. You can also donate directly at autoimmunewellness.com/donate. Every dollar counts and brings us closer to our goal in supporting the Autoimmune Association's mission.

So why are we doing this? The Autoimmune Association is the leading national organization dedicated to autoimmune awareness, advocacy, education, and research. Greater funding means more progress and understanding autoimmune diseases, more support for patients like us, and more recognition of how approaches like AIP can fit into the larger conversation about autoimmune care.

At this point, you should be very familiar about the work that we do here at Autoimmune Wellness to spread the word about diet and lifestyle therapy and especially the medical studies that are starting to come out, helping those of us with autoimmune disease figure out different things that are gonna help us live our best and healthiest lives despite autoimmune disease. This walk is about more than fundraising. It's about visibility. It's about showing the strength of the AIP community, meeting each other, gathering and raising our voices together so that people living with autoimmune disease are seen, supported, and better understood.

And before I wrap up, I wanna give a big shout out to the incredible AIP business sponsors who are helping make team AIP possible. The brands that are gonna be supporting this include SIP Herbals, Get Saucy, Eat Gangster, Urban AIP, Eve's Wellness and  Autoimmune Vault. These businesses are not only providing delicious and healing AIP friendly foods and resources to the community all the time, but they're also standing shoulder to shoulder with us to raise awareness and funds for autoimmune disease.

So I'm hoping that you will join me, and Jamie, Marie Noel, and everyone else who decides to attend, live in D.C. walking from your own hometown, donating or simply just spreading the word. Together, we can raise awareness, these funds and raise hope. And thank you so much for being a part of the movement links.

To register, donate, and grab your Team AIP hat are all in the show notes. I can't wait to see you in person or in D.C. or I can't wait to see the pictures of you walking virtually from wherever you are.

The 6th Annual AIP Summit kicks off on January 13, 2025 – make sure to register for this event right now, and scroll to the bottom of this post to hear a short podcast episode from the founder, Jaime Hartman!

The AIP Summit began in 2019 and is presented by AIP Certified Coaches from around the world, representing a broad array of practitioners from across the conventional and holistic medical spectrum. The mission of the AIP Summit is to provide accurate and reliable information to the general population so that more people are able to access the life-changing power of the Autoimmune Protocol on their own.

Over five days (January 13-17, 2025), sessions are presented live with the recordings available for free viewing for 24 hours post-broadcast, and then archived for members-only access.This year’s agenda includes AIP cooking demonstrations as well as discussions on self-care, lifestyle factors like sleep and stress, gut health, fitness, and much more.

If you are not able to attend during the summit week or wish to support the AIP Summit so that we can continue to spread about AIP to autoimmune patients and practitioners throughout the world, consider becoming a supporting member!

The post The 6th Annual AIP Summit! appeared first on Autoimmune Wellness.