The Health Investment Podcast with Brooke Simonson

EPISODE 170 - Dr. Matthea Rentea is a board certified Internal Medicine physician specializing in metabolic health. She is the founder of The Rentea Metabolic Clinic and the co-host of the Weight Loss for Life podcast. In the episode, Dr. Rentea shares why weight loss medications can be the appropriate intervention, why you should be the scientist of your body, why it’s important to balance your blood sugar…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/170

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK DR. RENTEA IN THE EPISODE:

When trying to lose weight, what do you see people doing that’s a waste of their time, money, and/or energy?

After years as a weight management physician, have you changed your mind about anything?

Should everyone with obesity try to lose weight, or can you be “healthy at every size”?

When are weight loss medications the right intervention?

In one of your TikTok videos, you said "being the scientist of your body" is IN. What do you mean by that?

Your best tips for someone having constant hunger and intense cravings? Emotional eating tendencies? Difficulty staying consistent?

What are your favorite books about weight loss/maintenance and healthy habit building?

How can decluttering support weight loss?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Dr. Rentea's website, listen to her podcast, subscribe to her newsletter, and connect with her on Instagram and TikTok

Books and articles mentioned in the episode:

Book: How To Lose Weight For The Last Time by Katrina Ubell

Book: The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Book: Words To Eat By by Karen Koenig

Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear 

Article: “Willpower Doesn’t Work. Here’s How To Actually Change Your Life” by Benjamin Hardy

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 169 - Lindsay Miller is a kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not playing catch with her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes. In the episode, Lindsay shares the 3 keys of mindfulness, how mindfulness differs from meditation, how to incorporate mindfulness strategies with toddlers and teenagers…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/169

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK LINDSAY IN THE EPISODE:

What is mindfulness?

What are the 3 keys of mindfulness?

What are the research-based benefits of mindfulness?

Why is mindfulness important for kids?

Why are a lot of families hesitant to implement mindfulness strategies?

What happens when kids learn mindfulness?

Can little kids learn mindfulness?

How can mindfulness help teens communicate better?

Can you share a couple of success stories of kids you've helped go "from frazzled to flourishing"

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Lindsay's website, listen to her podcast, connect with her on Instagram, and download her FREE guide, "Mindfulness At Any Age"

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 168 - When I interviewed Peg Sadie about postpartum tips for episode #156, we became fast friends! Off air, we chatted about our mutual obsession with decluttering and organizing, which is why I invited Peg to come back on The Health Investment Podcast! Peg—a trained psychotherapist & resilience coach (BA PSY + MA Professional Counseling PSY), wife of 19 years, and boy mom x 2—founded Resilient Mom Academy to realize her vision and bridge the gap between therapy and thriving for struggling moms. She has been featured in over 50 media outlets, including Instyle, Parents, and Women's Health. In this episode, Peg and I chat about how we organize our own closets, how to handle the excessive toy clutter that comes with having kids, 3 D’s of decluttering…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/168

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

TOPICS PEG & I DISCUSS IN THE EPISODE:

Decluttering and organizing tips for closets

Decluttering and organizing tips when you have kids

Birthdays and holidays (What to do with all the stuff? What to ask for instead of stuff?)

What to save and what to toss? (What if you may need it someday?)

Mindset shifts to adopt for lasting change, re: decluttering and organization

The 3 D’s of decluttering

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Peg's website, connect with her on Instagram, and get the "Resilient Mom Starter Kit"

Listen to my previous interview with Peg about the postpartum period

Read the article Peg references, "10 Unexpected New Year's Resolutions That Will Actually Make Your Life Better"

Read Peg's Instagram post, "5 Reasons Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying Your Kids Another Toy"

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 167 - In August 2001, Phil Barth wandered into a Toastmasters meeting in West Chester, Ohio. He joined that night and has been talking non-stop ever since. In 2011 Phil finished in the Top 10 (out of 30,000 competitors) in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. In 2018 he finished in the Top 20. In 2015 he finished in the cardiac wing of Bethesda North Hospital in Montgomery Ohio. The trip to the cardiac wing didn’t help his 2015 speech contest performance, but it did help him learn how to manage stress, which in turn led him to becoming a two time (so far) author. Phil is the author of the International best (sort of) selling book Great Things Happen Every Day—a book about recovery from a heart attack, banana milkshakes and rummage sales. For his 15 minutes of fame, Phil won $32,000 on the TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in 2002. Phil, his wife Beth, three sons, three dogs, and cat live in the greater Cincinnati area. In the episode, Phil shares stress-reducing mindset shifts he’s adopted after his “small” heart attack in 2015, how a daily gratitude practice can be an antidote to stress, why you actually CAN’T do it all…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/167

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK PHIL IN THE EPISODE:

How does someone know if they're too stressed? Is it obvious, or is it common to think you're not stressed when really you are?

What are some of the most common misconceptions about stress?

Can we really “manage” stress? What are some things people turn to in their attempts to “manage” stress that don’t work well, in your opinion.

What routines do you use to start your day in a low-stress frame of mind?

What is the number one way to lower stress? 

What music do you recommend to lower stress?

Do you ever have a bad day?

What book(s), other than your own, do you recommend most?

How do you step out of your comfort zone?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Phil's website, read his books, and connect with him on Facebook

Read Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 166 - Dr. Cynthia Bailey, MD, is back with more tips! Dr. Bailey is a Board Certified Dermatologist in California with over 35 years of clinical experience. Over the course of her career, she’s done 200,000+ skin exams! She founded Dr. Bailey Skin Care in 2009 to make professional quality skin health and skin care information accessible to everyone—trusted physician skin care to help you love the skin you're in. Her practical skin care advice can be found on her website and blog at drbaileyskincare.com, across the web, and in numerous international print publications. Dr. Bailey is also a wife, mother, organic gardener, wellness expert, and BRCA breast cancer survivor. In this episode, Dr. Bailey discusses facials (are they necessary?), exfoliation, slugging, blackhead strips, face masks…and more! (Listen to PART 1 here.)

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/166

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK DR. BAILEY IN THE EPISODE:

Is it better to see a dermatologist or an esthetician for skincare concerns (like anti-aging)? What about for botox?

How can you know if an esthetician is good? What’s the difference between a facialist and an esthetician? Are regular facials necessary?

Is exfoliation necessary? Should we be using some type of salt/sugar scrub or brush to exfoliate our face? An exfoliating acid? Our body? If not, what’s the best way to exfoliate?

On TikTok, Dr. Whitney Bowe recommends “skin cycling”: night 1 = exfoliating acid, night 2 = retinol/retinoid, nights 3 & 4 = hydrating serum (like hyaluronic acid). Does this regimen have merit?

Can you explain what “slugging” is? Do you recommend slugging?

Blackhead strips: yay or nay?

Do Korean sheet masks work? What about other masks (clay, seaweed, etc.)?

Can you really “reduce pore size,” or is this a marketing tactic?

What are some tips for maintaining healthy skincare on a budget? Do you have any favorite drugstore products/brands?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Listen to PART 1 here.

Visit Dr. Bailey's website and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 165 - After graduate school in clinical psychology, Dana Skaggs worked in community mental health for seven years then served at Woodridge Psychiatric Hospital, Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital (manager of Psychological services), as well as seven school districts. She’s been a board member of Inter-Mountain Psychological Association for four years. After having her third child in 2001, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom and was able to do that for over 6 years. When her youngest went to first grade, she started back to work, conducting disability evaluations. She was grateful for that experience, after having been home for years, but discovered her desire was for private practice, which she has done for over 15 years. Dana has taught several classes on boundaries, which led to the development of her podcast, Phoenix and Flame. In the episode, Dana shares why it’s important to set boundaries, how enabling can backfire, tips for setting healthier boundaries, and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/165

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK DANA IN THE EPISODE:

Can you start off by telling us a bit about your background? (Specifically, what led you to become a psychotherapist and to focus on boundaries?)

What are boundaries and why do they matter?

Why do people have trouble setting healthy boundaries?

What are the “3C’s” to keep in mind when setting boundaries?

What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about setting boundaries?

How can someone know if they need to set healthier boundaries? What are some clear signs?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Dana's website and connect with her on LinkedIn

Listen to the first four episodes of the Phoenix and Flame Podcast on boundaries: episode 1, episode 2, episode 3, episode 4

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 164 - Dr. Terri Bacow is a widely known expert in cognitive behavioral therapy, an evidence-based therapy approach. A Brown and Boston University graduate, she has authored several peer-reviewed papers based on her research, and sees clients in her private practice on the Upper West Side. She is a media contributor and has been featured in Women’s Health and Shape magazines, Scary Mommy, and various blogs and podcasts. Dr. Bacow supervises trainees in psychology and psychiatry at NYU and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She is the author of Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry. In the episode, Dr. Bacow shares practical strategies for managing stress, anxiety, overwhelm, uncertainty, and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/164

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK DR. BACOW IN THE EPISODE:

Can you start off by telling us a bit about your background? (Specifically, what led you to become a therapist and write Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry?)

Are we really more stressed and anxious these days than people used to be? If so, why?

How are stress and anxiety related? How are they different?

When do stress and anxiety become cause for concern?

Can we really “manage” stress? What are some things people turn to in their attempts to “manage” stress that don’t work well, in your opinion.

How can people set better boundaries?

What are some of the most common misconceptions about anxiety? About stress?

Where does anxiety come from? Does it run in families?

What are some of your favorite practical strategies for managing anxiety?

As a parent, how can you best support an anxious child?

What is the best thing we can do when we feel overwhelmed?

Can journaling be a powerful coping strategy? Why?

What are some tools for coping with uncertainty?

What is your book about?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Dr. Bacow's website, connect with her on Instagram, and buy her book Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 163 - Hormones Demystified (aka "HD") is a semi-retired endocrinologist who spent his clinical career treating patients in a large, multi-specialty practice. He has trained at two Ivy League institutions, among other well-regarded programs. He's been named a Regional Top Doctor multiple times, determined by a survey of area physicians that asks, “Who would you send your family members to for their health care?” HD blogs anonymously at www.HormonesDemystified.com. He has chosen to keep his identity a secret, mainly because his writing is unfiltered and could be perceived as offensive. Out of respect for his employer, as well as for his patients about whom he cares deeply, he prefers to keep his professional and blogging lives separate. HD emphasizes that he blogs because he cares intensely about helping people, and he hopes that the message of caring is received despite his irreverent writing style. In the episode, HD debunks myths relating to perimenopause, menopause, thyroid hormones, testosterone, cortisol, functional medicine, naturopathy…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/163

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK HD IN THIS TWO-PART SERIES:

Can you start off by telling us a bit about your background? (Specifically, what led you to become an endocrinologist? And what led you to start Hormones Demystified, where you "separate endocrinology from quackery"?)

Why have you chosen to remain anonymous?

What are some of the most common misconceptions that people spread, re: hormones?

Hormone replacement therapy: does it work?

Which hormonal issues do people believe affect weight gain/management but actually don't?

Should we discount TSH results in favor of T3 and reverse T3 levels?

Should we trust that our primary care physicians are ordering the correct labs and interpreting them correctly? When should someone seek out an endocrinologist?

Often, when people feel frustrated that they aren't getting the proper care from their primary care physician, they turn to functional medicine doctors. Why would you advise against this?

Ordering your own blood work: yay or nay?

Are there certain diet and lifestyle habits that help hormones function properly? Supplements?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Click here to listen to PART 1

Send HD an email ([email protected]), read his Hormones Demystified blog, and visit the Naturopathic Diaries blog

Read HD's popular blog post "Everything You Never Needed To Know About Reverse T3"

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 162 - Hormones Demystified (aka "HD") is a semi-retired endocrinologist who spent his clinical career treating patients in a large, multi-specialty practice. He has trained at two Ivy League institutions, among other well-regarded programs. He's been named a Regional Top Doctor multiple times, determined by a survey of area physicians that asks, “Who would you send your family members to for their health care?” HD blogs anonymously at www.HormonesDemystified.com. He has chosen to keep his identity a secret, mainly because his writing is unfiltered and could be perceived as offensive. Out of respect for his employer, as well as for his patients about whom he cares deeply, he prefers to keep his professional and blogging lives separate. HD emphasizes that he blogs because he cares intensely about helping people, and he hopes that the message of caring is received despite his irreverent writing style. In the episode, HD debunks myths relating to perimenopause, menopause, thyroid hormones, testosterone, cortisol, functional medicine, naturopathy…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/162

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK HD IN THIS TWO-PART SERIES:

Can you start off by telling us a bit about your background? (Specifically, what led you to become an endocrinologist? And what led you to start Hormones Demystified, where you "separate endocrinology from quackery"?)

Why have you chosen to remain anonymous?

What are some of the most common misconceptions that people spread, re: hormones?

Hormone replacement therapy: does it work?

Which hormonal issues do people believe affect weight gain/management but actually don't?

Should we discount TSH results in favor of T3 and reverse T3 levels?

Should we trust that our primary care physicians are ordering the correct labs and interpreting them correctly? When should someone seek out an endocrinologist?

Often, when people feel frustrated that they aren't getting the proper care from their primary care physician, they turn to functional medicine doctors. Why would you advise against this?

Ordering your own blood work: yay or nay?

Are there certain diet and lifestyle habits that help hormones function properly? Supplements?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Click here to listen to PART 2

Send HD an email ([email protected]), read his Hormones Demystified blog, and visit the Naturopathic Diaries blog

Read HD's popular blog post "Everything You Never Needed To Know About Reverse T3"

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 161 - Maia Monell is the Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of the Nav.it Money App. Nav.it's the fitness app for finances, providing personalized financial coaching to build good habits and live financially well. When she's not pitching, selling, and creating for Nav.it, Maia's working with her family's two foundations. She's devoted to closing wealth gaps perpetuated by a system not built for the majority of America and believes financial wellbeing is an integral part of creating a healthier and more equitable society. Maia is an avid tennis player, skate skier, and runner with an obsession for physical, nutritional, and financial health. In the episode, she shares actionable tips to stop stressing about money, why outcomes-based solutions are critical when it comes to your finances, how to set up “money dates” with your partner…and more!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/161

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK MAIA IN THE EPISODE:

Can you start off by telling us a bit about your background? (Specifically, what made you want to start Nav.it, "the fitness app for your finances"?)

Why is financial wellness important? How does it play a role in overall health? 

What are "outcomes-based solutions," and why are they important?

On the Nav.it homepage, it reads, "Financial well-being is a daily practice, and no matter what path you feel you're on, Nav.it is here every step of the way. It's time to practice money mindfulness" and further down you mention a "resilient mindset." What do you mean by "money mindfulness" and financial "resilience"? How does Nav.it help people with that?

Aside from financial mindfulness/resilience, what other results can users expect after using Nav.it?

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Download Nav.it on iOS or Android, connect with Maia on LinkedIn, visit Nav.it's website, and follow Nav.it on Instagram

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)" - and save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here!

Click here when you're ready to lose 5-50 pounds permanently

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)