board-certified interventional cardiologist turned longevity-focused heart expert joins Kelly & Lori to pull back the curtain on what he really saw in the cath lab—and why today's biggest cardiovascular threat isn't just cholesterol, it's inflammation + insulin resistance.

We dig into:

• Why heart disease is an inflammatory condition (and what COVID revealed)
• The "new" pattern of diffuse, multi-vessel disease driven by blood sugar dysfunction
• The 80/20 anti-inflammation trio you can start this week: sleep, food, mindset
• How to use HRV (Oura/Woop/etc.) as a real-time clue for stress, alcohol, and food triggers
• Vagus nerve "boosters" that can move the needle: breathwork, humming, cold exposure, and more
• Why nitric oxide declines after ~35, and the surprising link between oral health, mouthwash, and blood pressure
• The supplements he leans on most often (and when): magnesium, fish oil, berberine, plus mitochondrial and membrane support

If you want practical, doable heart-health moves—without the fear tactics—this one's for you.

Description:

What if better blood sugar balance isn't just about what you eat or how much you move—but also about connection, safety, and your nervous system?

In this episode of the Synergee Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Rita Marie Laska, a functional medicine clinician, nutritional endocrinology expert, and founder of the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology. Dr. Rita Marie brings over 25 years of clinical experience helping patients and practitioners move beyond symptom management and into true root-cause healing.

Together, we explore the powerful — and often overlooked — role of oxytocin, commonly known as the "love hormone," and how it directly impacts cortisol, insulin resistance, metabolic health, thyroid function, adrenal resilience, and sex hormones.

This conversation connects the dots between stress, emotional safety, and blood sugar regulation, revealing why many people struggle with fatigue, weight gain, hormone imbalances, and insulin resistance—even when they're eating well and doing "all the right things."

In this episode, we discuss:

• What oxytocin really is and why it matters for metabolic health
• How chronic stress and elevated cortisol drive insulin resistance
• The hormone "crosstalk" between insulin, thyroid, adrenals, and sex hormones
• Why connection, touch, and emotional safety are biological necessities
• How nervous system regulation supports blood sugar balance
• A food-first foundation that supports hormones and reduces inflammation
• Simple, practical ways to shift out of fight-or-flight and into healing

If you've been stuck in a stress response, struggling with blood sugar, or feeling disconnected from your body, this conversation offers a refreshing, compassionate perspective on what real health restoration looks like.

A sudden MS diagnosis in 1999 became a turning point for Elizabeth Yarnell, launching her into a decades-long exploration of inflammation, autoimmunity, and food as medicine. In this episode, Elizabeth shares her personal journey, the foundational role of whole foods, and why gut health, clean water, and reducing everyday exposures matter more than most people realize. This conversation is a practical, empowering reminder that small, consistent food and lifestyle choices can create meaningful change over time.

In this episode, we cover:

• Elizabeth's MS diagnosis and the wake-up call that changed everything
• Why inflammation is a common driver in MS and autoimmune conditions
• The role of whole foods, gut health, and daily digestion as health signals
• Clean water, environmental exposures, and foundational lifestyle choices
• How small, consistent changes can create meaningful, long-term impact

If you've tried everything for fatigue, brain fog, and feeling stuck in survival mode—but you're still not better—this episode is for you.

On The Synergee Podcast, Kelly and Lori sit down with Dr. Sam Shea (aka the Friendly Lab Nerd) to unpack why "magic bullet" protocols often fail—and why healing requires a clear framework, not more guessing.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why chronic symptoms rarely come from just one issue
• The 10 Pillars of Health and how they guide real, sustainable healing
• How targeted lab testing (including mitochondria, gut, hormones, toxins, and genetics) creates a personalized roadmap forward

If you're exhausted, discouraged, or told your labs are "normal," this conversation will help you understand what your body is truly asking for—and how to start responding with clarity and confidence.

In this Best of The Synergee Podcast 2025 episode, we revisit the most powerful, most-shared, and most-loved moments from this year's episodes—featuring expert insights on functional medicine, nutrition, hormone health, nervous system regulation, trauma, inflammation, resilience, and whole-body healing.

From eye-opening breakthroughs to practical tools you can apply immediately, these clips highlight the conversations that resonated most deeply with our community and helped redefine what it means to take ownership of your health.

Whether you're new to The Synergee Podcast or a long-time listener, this year-in-review episode brings together the wisdom, inspiration, and science-backed strategies that shaped 2025—and sets the stage for what's coming next.

Inside this episode: • The most impactful health and healing insights of the year • Functional medicine strategies for real-life resilience • Expert perspectives on mindset, inflammation, hormones, and nervous system health • The clips our listeners saved, shared, and replayed

Thank you for being part of the Synergee community. We're honored to walk alongside you on your healing journey—and we can't wait to bring you even more transformative conversations in the year ahead.

If you've ever wondered why you're exhausted, overwhelmed, inflamed, or stuck in cycles of shutdown despite "doing everything right," this episode will change everything.

We're joined by Dr. Aimie Apigian, founder of The Biology of Trauma®, to break down how trauma is stored not just in the mind — but in the nervous system, hormones, gut, immune system, and the entire body.

Inside the episode:

• Why trauma = a biological injury (not a mindset issue)

• How the trauma response rewires your physiology

• Why so many midlife women jump straight into freeze

• The link between childhood attachment and adult chronic illness

• How to create inner safety and expand your capacity to heal

This conversation is essential for anyone navigating chronic symptoms, emotional shutdown, or a healing journey that feels stuck.

Your body remembers — but it can also repair.

In this episode of The Synergee Podcast, Kelly and Lori sit down with Michael Antonelli, founder of Health Devotee, to explore one of the most exciting breakthroughs in functional and regenerative medicine—peptides.

Michael shares how these small but mighty molecules support healing, energy, metabolism, and longevity, and how personalized peptide protocols are changing the future of health optimization.

If you've heard the word "peptides" but aren't sure what they do—or why everyone's talking about them—this episode is your guide to understanding their real potential for vitality and performance.

If you are interested in trying the products mentioned on today's show go to healthgev.com and use code Synergee at checkout for 10% off your entire order.

James Maskell joins Kelly and Lori to reveal why the next revolution in medicine won't come from Big Pharma—it'll come from empowered people and connected communities. In this inspiring conversation, they dive into how functional medicine, community care, and patient empowerment are reshaping healthcare from the ground up. Together, they explore what it means to move beyond symptom management and build a system rooted in prevention, purpose, and human connection.

If you believe the future of medicine is collaborative, compassionate, and community-driven—this episode will remind you that the movement has already begun.

In this empowering episode of The Synergee Podcast, Kelly and Lori talk with Dr. Susan Fox, a leader in women's health and functional medicine, about transforming the fertility journey from frustration to empowerment.

Dr. Fox shares how detoxification, hormone balance, nervous system regulation, and energetic alignment can optimize fertility, pregnancy, and long-term vitality. You'll learn why fertility challenges often signal deeper imbalances—and how addressing them supports not only conception but smoother transitions through perimenopause and menopause.

Tune in for practical tools, timeless wisdom, and renewed hope for every stage of womanhood.

✨ Download the free R2R App to explore weekly wellness content and resources that help you turn insight into action.

Stress feels heavier, sleep is harder, and your spark isn't what it used to be—but you're not broken. In this episode, Kelly and Lori tackle your top midlife questions on stress, hormones, sleep, and intimacy. Learn why adrenal health matters, how to reclaim restorative sleep, and what really drives weight gain in your 40s and 50s. With practical, food-first strategies and hormone-balancing insights, you'll discover simple ways to reset your energy, protect your health, and feel like yourself again.