The Genetic Coach Podcast

The Genetic Coach Podcast

By The Genetic CoachHealth & FitnessNutrition
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The Genetic Coach Podcast episodes

  • The Fit Athlete with Prediabetic Numbers: A Conversation with Dr. Harris Masket and Annelie Smith

    On this episode of The Genetic Coach, host Di White sits down with Dr. Harris Masket, a double board-certified physician in internal medicine and integrative medicine with sports medicine training, and Annelie Smith, Head of Health Impact and Integration at 3X4 Genetics.


    Dr. Masket practices at JYZEN, serves as team physician for the Oakland Spiders, and advises USA Ultimate. Together, he and Annelie work through a single anonymized case: a high-performing amateur athlete whose lab results didn't line up with his training. Glucose regulation and insulin dynamics take center stage, with genetics offering one layer of explanation for numbers that looked prediabetic despite a strong fitness history.

    A useful listen for any practitioner who's had a client with confusing metabolic labs and no clear reason why.

    35 min
  • "Your Labs Look Normal": The Genetic Answers Nobody Gave Dr. Amanda Sadler
    In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore what it takes to rebuild an elite athletic career when the body keeps breaking down and every lab result comes back "normal." Hosted by Di White, this episode features Dr. Amanda Sadler, a world-class endurance athlete and medical doctor who blended a triathlon career with functional and sports medicine, and whose own recovery from chronic GI issues and overtraining is rooted in finally understanding her genetics.

    Amanda arrived at the Olympic training center injury-free, then watched everything escalate: fatigue, recurring injuries, and a GI system so compromised she could not run more than a few minutes without stopping. For years the answer was that her labs looked fine and that pain was simply part of the sport. It took a coach grounding her mid-camp and a turn toward functional medicine and advanced testing to uncover what conventional workups missed. What her current self, armed with her 3X4 Genetics report, now understands is how her profile across detoxification, nutrient metabolism, and recovery explains a lifetime of dismissed symptoms.

    From her detoxification and methylation genetics reframing GI issues that were waved off since childhood, to her bone and vitamin D metabolism offering a real explanation for stress reactions blamed on being a "land-based athlete," to her recovery genetics turning fatigue from a source of guilt into usable information, Amanda maps how genetic insight cascades into smarter training and prevention. Whether you are an endurance athlete, someone rebuilding after overtraining, a clinician, or simply curious about how genetics is changing personalized medicine, this episode argues that health is the foundation fitness is built on, and that knowing your genes gives you permission to stop pushing through and start working with your biology.

    Key talking points:
    • How Amanda went from an injury-free athlete to chronically fatigued and injured at the Olympic training center, and why "your labs look normal" kept her stuck for years
    • Why fatigue is a far earlier warning sign than injury, and the iceberg model of what is happening under the surface before an athlete breaks down
    • The "badge of honor" mindset around pushing through pain, and why normalizing dysfunction delays real answers
    • How her 3X4 detoxification and methylation profile reframed years of dismissed GI issues and a gallbladder she now wishes she had kept
    • Why bone metabolism and vitamin D genetics could have explained the stress reactions she was told came simply from too much impact
    • How recovery genetics turn fatigue into information rather than failure, especially for younger athletes and the parents trying to understand them
    • The health-versus-fitness lesson from mentor Dr. Phil Maffetone, and why building health first changed the way Amanda trains and treats
      • 42 min
    • Genetic Empowerment: Dr. Dana Elia's Journey Through Cancer and Li-Fraumeni syndrome

      In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore what it means to rebuild health after three cancer diagnoses when your genes predict more are coming. Hosted by Di White, this episode features Dr. Dana Elia, an integrative and functional nutrition expert with over 30 years of experience, whose recovery from breast cancer is rooted in her Li-Fraumeni diagnosis.


      At age 48, Dana discovered breast cancer on a routine mammogram, which revealed a TP53 variant confirming Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare condition that changes everything about treatment and recovery. Her original plan shifted from lumpectomy and radiation to bilateral mastectomy, because Li-Fraumeni patients must avoid radiation. What her current self, armed with her 3X4 Genetics report, now understands is how her genetic profile across activity, recovery, and nutrient metabolism became her recovery blueprint.

      From her TP53 mutation steering treatment away from radiation, to her medium-impact endurance and high recovery demands reshaping her fitness approach, to her detoxification SNPs informing supplement strategy, Dana maps how genetic insight cascades into clinical decisions. Whether you are a cancer survivor, someone with a hereditary condition, rebuilding fitness after illness, or curious about how genetics changes personalized medicine, this episode argues that knowing your genes gives you permission to honor what your body actually needs.

      Key talking points:

      • How Li-Fraumeni diagnosis mid-treatment completely changed Dana's course and why proactive genetic testing matters before crisis hits

      • Why Dana's TP53 variant ruled out radiation and forced bilateral mastectomy, showing how one gene changes everything

      • The shift from high-intensity orange theory to rebounder, yoga, and walking, driven by her genetic recovery profile and frozen shoulder aftermath

      • How Dana's 3X4 activity panel revealed medium-impact endurance and high recovery demands, validating what she already suspected

      • The tension between conventional advice (breakfast, high intensity) and what her genetics showed actually works (keto cycling, slow movement, 14/10 fasting)

      • Practical nutrition strategies today: keto cycling, fasting-mimicking protocols, far-infrared sauna, high-dose vitamin C infusions

      • Why self-advocacy and genetic knowledge gave Dana permission to stop fighting her biology and start honoring it
        • 47 min
      • Traumatic Brain Injury

        In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore a topic that often gets reduced to "a knock to the head" but, for those who have lived it, represents a clear before and after — traumatic brain injury. Hosted by Di White, this episode features Natalie Gauger, a certified nutrition specialist based in Charleston, South Carolina, with a degree in biology and genetics and a master's in clinical nutrition from Sonoran University Health Sciences, whose passion for nutrigenomics is rooted in personal experience. At 17, Natalie sustained a severe concussion during a high school softball game — an injury that reshaped her cognition, her grades, her energy, and her understanding of what recovery actually looks like. In this conversation, she walks us through the symptoms that lingered long after the initial hit, the limited support available at the time, and the ADHD diagnosis that eventually helped her regain academic footing. More importantly, she reflects on what her current self — armed with her 3X4 Genetics report — would have done differently, from inflammation and histamine management to gut-brain axis support and targeted supplementation. From a high-impact inflammation pathway and elevated oxidative stress, to histamine overload and gut inflammation markers not typically addressed in concussion care, Natalie reveals how the 3X4 genetic blueprint could have transformed her recovery trajectory had it been available 14 years ago. Whether you are an athlete navigating concussion recovery, a parent whose child has suffered a head injury, a practitioner supporting clients through TBI, or simply curious about how deeply our genetics shape brain resilience, this episode offers a moving and practical look at why one-size-fits-all concussion care is leaving recovery outcomes on the table. Key talking points:

        • What a high school softball concussion taught one nutrition specialist about the long after-effects of TBI
        • Why the "pre-concussion and post-concussion" framing captures an experience that scans and CT imaging often miss
        • The limited support and information provided around TBI recovery a decade ago — and how much the landscape has changed
        • How Natalie's high-impact inflammation pathway and elevated oxidative stress could have guided a very different recovery protocol
        • The role of histamine overload, gut inflammation SNPs, and the gut-brain axis in post-concussion inflammation cascades
        • Why the cupcakes, fried foods, and high-histamine diet of Natalie's teen years worked directly against her genetic profile
        • How genetic insight into BDNF, neurotransmitters, and mood and behavior pathways can shape targeted recovery interventions
        • Practical nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle shifts Natalie uses today — from SPMs and omega-3s to histamine-degrading foods like dill
        • Why box breathing, sound baths, and tech-free walks are core to her ongoing stress and inflammation management
        • How combining traditional medical care with nutrigenomics delivers the most complete picture of TBI recovery
        • Why a single genetic test becomes a lifelong reference point that supports recovery across decades and evolving health contexts
          • 35 min
        • From Burnout to Breakthrough: Genetics in Practice
          In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we move beyond theory and into practice, exploring what precision nutrition and functional health actually look like in the real world. Through two compelling case studies - one female, one male - we examine how genetic insights can unlock root causes that standard care often misses, and how targeted interventions can produce life-changing results.

          Hosted by Di White, this episode features Timothy Garrett, a registered dietitian nutritionist and integrative and functional nutrition certified practitioner specializing in personalized, root-cause approaches to health and performance. Tim walks us through two distinct client journeys - a woman in her 50s struggling with anxiety, brain fog, and stalled body composition, and a high-volume male lifestyle athlete battling post-exercise migraines, neurological fatigue, and slow recovery - revealing how the 3X4 Genetics report brought clarity where years of effort had fallen short. From methylation dysfunction and oxidative stress overload to phase 1 and 2 detox impairments and catecholamine clearance issues, Tim breaks down how genetic architecture shapes daily physiology, and how precisely targeted nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle adjustments can restore balance where generalized advice never could.

          Whether you are a client curious about your own biology, a practitioner looking to deepen your toolkit, or simply someone who has been doing all the right things and still not feeling right, this episode offers powerful, evidence-grounded perspective on why understanding your genes can be the missing piece.

          Key talking points:
          • What functional and integrative nutrition looks like in practice and how it differs from conventional care
          • How MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, and PEMT variants disrupted methylation, neurotransmitter production, and stress regulation in a female client
          • The role of oxidative stress genes (MnSOD, NQO1, GSTP1) in mood, inflammation, and recovery
          • How a woman in her 50s achieved an 11% body composition shift after methylation and choline support — post-plateau
          • How GSTM1 deletion, COMT slow activity, and CYP1B1 variants compounded oxidative and detox burden in a high-volume male athlete
          • The gut-brain axis and how reducing systemic stress improved GI symptoms without direct gut intervention
          • Why self-supplementing without genetic and lab guidance can backfire — and what titrating correctly looks like
          • The long-term value of a single genetic test as a lifelong reference point for evolving health contexts
            • 52 min
          • Hormones, Genetics, and Injury Risk in Athletes with Marina Shanafelt

            In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore the powerful but often overlooked relationship between hormones, genetics, and injury risk in athletes. While hormones are frequently discussed in the context of reproduction, this conversation shifts the focus to how steroid hormones influence muscle strength, connective tissue integrity, bone resilience, recovery, and long-term performance in both female and male athletes.

            Hosted by Di White, this episode features 3X4 Genetics expert Marina Shanafelt, a certified nutrition specialist and nutrigenomics mentor, who breaks down how estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol interact with training load, stress, and energy availability to shape injury vulnerability across different life stages. Through real-world case studies, Marina explains how genetic insights can reveal hidden risks related to stress response, hormone metabolism, inflammation, bone health, and tissue repair, allowing athletes and clinicians to move from generalized advice to targeted, high-impact interventions.

            Whether you are a developing athlete, elite performer, coach, or clinician, this episode provides practical, science-backed insights into how understanding hormonal balance through a genetic lens can support smarter training, better recovery, and long-term athletic resilience.

            Key talking points:

            • The role of steroid hormones in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone health

            • How hormonal shifts across puberty, menstrual cycles, and aging influence injury risk

            • Differences in injury patterns between female and male athletes

            • The impact of low energy availability and chronic stress on hormone balance and tissue resilience

            • How genetics reveal individual vulnerabilities in hormone metabolism and stress response

            • Case studies showing how DNA-guided nutrition and training adjustments reduce injury risk

            • Using genetic insights to personalize recovery, fueling, and long-term performance strategies

              48 min
            • Celiac Disease and Sports Performance: What Athletes Need to Know

              In this episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we explore the connection between celiac disease, genetics, and athletic performance, and why many athletes experience fatigue, injuries, and stalled progress without understanding the underlying cause.

              Hosted by Di White, this conversation features Registered Dietitian and nutrigenomics expert Nikki Grant, who explains how genetic predisposition to celiac disease can disrupt gut health, nutrient absorption, immune function, and recovery in athletes.

              Through clear explanations and real-world examples, the episode unpacks how specific HLA gene variants influence celiac risk, why symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed in sport, and how genetic insights help athletes move beyond trial-and-error nutrition. From smarter carbohydrate choices to rebuilding gut integrity and managing training load, this discussion highlights how DNA-informed strategies support sustainable performance and long-term resilience.

              Whether you are an athlete, coach, or clinician, this episode offers practical, science-backed insights to help you train and recover in alignment with your biology.

              Key talking points:

              • What celiac disease is and why it matters in athletic performance

              • Genetic predisposition and the role of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 variants

              • Common signs of undiagnosed celiac disease in athletes

              • Why celiac is often misdiagnosed as overtraining or IBS

              • The impact of gut health on energy, endurance, and recovery

              • Nutrition strategies for athletes with celiac risk or diagnosis

              • Using genetic insights to support long-term performance and resilience

                44 min
              • Inside Elite Beach Volleyball: Evan Cory and Sarah Amidon on Genetics, Nutrition & Recovery

                In this exciting new episode of The Genetic Coach Podcast, we delve into the elite world of Pro Beach Volleyball Player and FIVB medalist, Evan Cory, and Sports Genomics Dietitian Sarah Amidon of Root & Fruit Nutrition.


                Hosted by Di White, they reveal how personalized genetic insights have transformed Evan's approach to recovery, inflammation, nutrition, and optimized performance as a professional athlete in the ultra-competitive realm of Elite Beach Volleyball. 

                Whether you're a competitive athlete or simply intrigued by the future of genetics in sports performance, this episode is filled with practical and inspiring insights on data-driven strategies, mental resilience, and recovery science that can reshape your athletic journey.

                Key talking points:

                Introduction to Evan Cory: FIVB medalist and professional beach volleyball athlete navigating a demanding global circuit.

                Genetics in Sport: How personalized genetic testing revealed Evan's heightened inflammatory risk and shaped his recovery strategies.


                Nutrition Evolution: Transitioning from generic nutrition to a tailored, DNA-informed anti-inflammatory diet, including the role of gluten sensitivity, omega-3s, sulforaphane, and timing.

                Recovery as a Competitive Advantage: Why understanding individual genetic pathways can elevate recovery, prevent injury, and improve adaptation.


                The Role of Mindset in Elite Sport: Insights on mental strategies, mentorship, and the psychological intensity of solo/team competition in high-stakes environments.


                Wearables & Data Synergy: Integrating genetic data with tools like WHOOP and Oura Ring to contextualize performance metrics.


                Challenges of Global Travel: Balancing performance nutrition with regional food risks; strategies for packing smart and supplementing effectively.

                 

                Team Collaboration in Genomic Sports Medicine: How dietitians, coaches, and strength professionals can use DNA data to personalize training.


                The Future of Performance & Prevention: Using genomics to reduce overtraining, optimize NIL investment outcomes, and prevent costly injuries.

                49 min
              • Making Waves: Olympian Emma Chelius on Sprint Swimming & Personalised Science

                In this episode of The Genetic Coach, host Di White sits down with Olympian Emma Chelius. Emma reflects on her incredible journey as a competitive swimmer, from her early days in KwaZulu-Natal all the way to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In this compelling episode, listeners gain insight into the role of genetics, mental resilience, and recovery strategies in elite sport. Emma also takes the opportunity to open up about her training evolution, challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she balanced talent with hard work to reach her peak. Discover how genetic insights could revolutionize personalized athletic performance.


                Key Talking Points:

                Olympic Experience
                Emma shares the highs and lows of competing at the Olympics, and how the experience shaped her both personally and professionally.

                Sprint Training Demands
                A look into the unique intensity and precision required for sprint swimming, from training structure to mindset.

                Recovery & Marginal Gains
                Discussion on how elite swimmers optimise recovery through sleep, nutrition, and tracking the smallest performance gains.

                DNA & Personalised Performance
                How Emma uses data-driven testing to personalize training and the potential she sees in leveraging genetic insights for recovery and performance.

                Mental Resilience
                Techniques Emma uses to stay focused and composed under competitive pressure, including mindfulness and visualisation.

                Support Network
                The role of coaches, medical teams, and family in sustaining elite performance and wellbeing.

                Beyond the Pool
                Emma opens up about finding balance, identity, and purpose beyond the world of high-performance sport.

                46 min
              • The Future of Training: Leveraging Genetics for Athletic Success

                In this episode of The Genetic Coach, host Di White sits down with endurance athlete Jeff Hsu, an early adopter of Genefit. Jeff, a lifelong cyclist and software development manager, shares how genetic insights have reshaped his approach to training, nutrition, and recovery - leading him to shave 30 minutes off his marathon time. Discover how personalized genetic data, paired with technology and smart wearables, can optimize performance and prevent injuries. If you’ve ever wondered how genetics can fine-tune your training, this episode is for you!


                Key Talking Points:

                Jeff Hsu’s Background & Training Journey

                •Former high school athlete turned endurance cyclist and now a marathon runner.

                •Balancing training with a full-time tech career at companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and PayPal.

                •Transitioned to running for efficiency—easier to fit into a busy schedule than cycling.

                Genetic Testing & Key Insights

                •Initially interested in 23andMe-style testing, but discovered the power of sports genetics.

                • Test revealed strong endurance genes and fast recovery ability, yet Jeff wasn’t recovering well due to deficiencies.

                • Identified B-vitamin & vitamin D deficiencies, leading to a personalized supplementation strategy.

                Data-Driven Training & Recovery

                •Early adopter of power meters & wearables to track training load.

                •Used GeneFit run program to train for his second marathon—improving by 30 minutes.

                •Session Scores & Load Balance from GeneFit helped fine-tune daily workouts.

                Preventing Injuries & Overtraining

                •Struggled with cramping issues, tried different nutrition strategies.

                •Monitored connective tissue injury risk through GeneFit and adjusted training.

                •Incorporated yoga & cross-training (tennis, hiking, cycling) to maintain fitness while reducing injury risk.

                The Future of Personalized Training

                •Genetic insights validate and refine traditional training plans.

                • Genetic data helps personalize nutrition, recovery, and workout intensity.

                •Advocates for more athletes integrating genetic testing & wearable tech into their training for sustainable performance improvements.

                33 min

              About The Genetic Coach Podcast

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              Join Di White as she digs into how genetics is revolutionizing our understanding of human athletic potential and traditional fitness practices.