What If It's NOT Depression? Podcast

What if symptoms like depression, anxiety, fatigue, inflammation, or food sensitivities were signs that your body and environment were not working well together?

In this episode of the What If It’s Not Depression podcast, we explore how genetics can help us better understand mental health, nutrition, inflammation, and overall wellness. This conversation shows how learning about your genetic makeup may help you make more personalized choices for your health and lifestyle.

Dr. Sam Shay is a functional medicine expert, genetics educator, speaker, and creator of the DNA Decoded Program and Neuro Harmony Model. After struggling with chronic fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, and food sensitivities, he used genetics and functional medicine to better understand his own health. Today, he helps others use genetics as a practical tool to improve their health and well-being.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dr. Sam's Story
• Truth About Genetics
• The Perfect Storm for Depression
• Using Genetics to Find the Right Diet for You
• How Genetics Influences Eating Behaviors

🎓 Dr. Sam is also offering a free master class where you can learn more about personalized genetics and health: 👉 https://drsamshay.com/masterclass/

🎭 Beyond his work in medicine and genetics, Dr. Sam is also a stand-up comedian. He created a one-hour comedy special called NeuroSpicy: Love, Life & Comedy on the Spectrum, where he shares his personal experience with neurodiversity through clean, observational comedy: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/tenpointwellness

Connect with Dr. Sam:

• Website: http://www.DrSamShay.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.shay.792/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsamshay/

Mental health is influenced by many factors, including genetics, nutrition, inflammation, stress, sleep, and environment. Understanding your unique biology can help support a more personalized and grounded approach to healing.

We hope this episode gives you a new perspective on mental health and reminds you that healing is not one-size-fits-all.

To your health and wellness,

In this episode of What If It’s Not Depression, I explore a different possibility: your thyroid. When the thyroid is not working well, it can affect your mood, energy, focus, and overall mental health in a big way.

I’m joined by Dr. Amie Hornaman, also known as “The Thyroid Fixer.” She is the founder of the Advanced Thyroid and Hormone Clinic and has helped many people uncover hidden thyroid issues that were driving their symptoms. In this conversation, she also shares her personal journey and why she is so passionate about helping others get to the root cause of their health struggles.

We break down how thyroid problems can look like depression and what to look for so you can better understand your body and your symptoms.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Dr. Amie’s story
• Depression-like symptoms of hyperthyroidism
• Labs needed to fully understand thyroid health
• Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism
• Proper diet and nutrition for thyroid support
• Thyropause
• Why going gluten-free is not just a fad
• A controversial but important view: many people may need thyroid hormone, especially for mood

Connect with Dr. Amie:

• Facebook: Just Fix Your Thyroid | Hormones, Metabolism & Weight Loss with Dr. Amie
• Instagram: @dramiehornaman
• TikTok: Dr. Amie Hornaman
• YouTube: Dr. Amie Hornaman
• Website: www.dramie.com

Dr. Amie also offers a simple 7-Day Thyroid Kickstart to help you begin improving your thyroid health with easy, practical steps you can follow right away. Get her 7-Day Thyroid Kickstart: https://fixyourthyroid.com/7daykickstarter

This is a reminder that your symptoms are real. If you’ve been struggling with mood, energy, or focus, there may be a deeper thyroid connection worth exploring. Understanding this can be a powerful first step toward feeling like yourself again.

On this episode of the What If It’s Not Depression? podcast, we explore a topic that deeply affects emotional and physical health but is often misunderstood: betrayal. Betrayal can shake our sense of safety, trust, and identity, leaving many people feeling stuck in therapy or in their healing journey. In this conversation, we look at why betrayal is a unique form of trauma and why it requires a different path to recovery.

My guest is Dr. Debi Silber, PhD, founder and CEO of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute and an internationally recognized expert in betrayal recovery. Dr. Silber is a two-time #1 international bestselling author, award-winning speaker, and host of the From Betrayal to Breakthrough podcast. Her groundbreaking PhD research uncovered new insights into betrayal trauma and led to the development of a structured model for healing. What makes her work especially powerful is that her research grew from her own personal experience with betrayal, which inspired her to dedicate her career to helping others heal.

In our discussion, Dr. Silber explains why betrayal affects the mind and body differently from other forms of trauma and why many people remain stuck for years without the right framework for healing. We also talk about how trust can be rebuilt and what predictable stages people move through as they recover. In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• What betrayal really is and why it impacts us so deeply
• Where to begin when reestablishing trust after betrayal
• The 5 Stages of Betrayal and how healing progresses
• What healing can look like for a patient with long-term betrayal experiences
• How recovery may differ for someone who has experienced repeated betrayals

If you found this conversation helpful, you’ll be glad to know that many of the insights and frameworks we discuss in this podcast are explored in even greater depth in Dr. Silber’s new book, Unstuck. In the book, she explains the research-backed process of moving from survival after betrayal to transformation and healing.Learn more about the book here: https://thepbtinstitute.com/unstuck. Dr. Silber has also written several other books focused on betrayal recovery and personal transformation. You can explore her other titles here: https://thepbtinstitute.com/store.

Connect with Dr. Debi Silber

• Website: https://thepbtinstitute.com/
• Facebook: Debi Silber - Inspire, Empower, Transform
• Instagram: @debisilber
• Dr. Silber’s New Book: Unstuck

Betrayal can affect our mental health, relationships, and even our physical well-being. Understanding the patterns and stages of betrayal recovery can help people realize that feeling stuck is not a personal failure; it often means the right framework for healing hasn’t been applied yet. I hope that this conversation brings clarity, validation, and practical guidance to anyone navigating the difficult path of rebuilding trust and reclaiming their well-being.

To your health and happiness

Why is being healthy so hard, even when you know exactly what you “should” be doing? In this episode of What If It’s Not Depression?, I dive into one of the most common struggles I see in my patients: food cravings and the complicated relationship we have with food. This conversation goes far beyond diets, willpower, and discipline, and looks at what’s really happening in the body and brain when change feels overwhelming.
I’m joined by Gina Worful, founder of the Mastering Mindfulness Institute. Gina is a former registered dietitian who, despite having advanced training in nutrition, struggled herself with cycles of motivation, restriction, and self-sabotage. Through her own journey and years of working with clients, she realized that traditional diet approaches often miss the root cause. Her work now focuses on mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and rebuilding trust with the body.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why being healthy feels like such a struggle for so many people
• Gina’s personal story and how it shaped her approach to healing
• What’s actually happening in the body during low energy, emotional numbness, or overeating
• How to uncover the deeper root causes behind food cravings
• How your relationship with food can lead to deeper self-discovery and healing

Connect with Gina Worful:

• Website & Free Training: masteringmindfulness.institute

• Instagram: @gina.worful
• Facebook: Mastering Mindfulness Institute

If you’ve ever felt stuck with your health, know this: it’s not about willpower or failure. Your body is trying to help you. By paying attention and being curious, real change can happen. I hope this episode helps you see food and yourself with more kindness and understanding.

Many chronic health conditions, including those affecting mood, energy, and cognition, are connected to what is happening at the cellular level. When our cells lose their ability to repair and communicate properly, symptoms can begin to appear throughout the body and brain.
In this episode of What If It’s Not Depression?, I spoke with Dr. Edward Park about an emerging area of regenerative medicine that is gaining a lot of attention: stem cells, exosomes, and cellular healing.
Dr. Edward Park is a Harvard-trained physician and a leader in the clinical use of stem cell exosomes. His work began with a personal desire to understand aging and illness at a deeper level. Over time, this led him to focus on telomeres, stem cells, and exosomes, and how they may support healing, recovery, and longevity. He now teaches other medical professionals how to use this science thoughtfully and responsibly.
We discussed:

• Dr. Park’s personal and professional journey
• What telomeres are and why they matter
• What stem cells and exosomes are, in clear and simple terms
• How exosomes are produced
• Health conditions where exosomes are being explored
• When exosomes may not be appropriate, and important safety considerations

Learn more about Dr. Edward Park:

• Website: https://www.rechargebiomedical.com
• Facebook: Recharge Biomedical
• YouTube: @drpark65
  

Books by Dr. Edward Park:

• EXOSOMES: Songs of Healing
• The Telomere Miracle: Scientific Secrets to Fight Disease, Feel Great, and Turn Back the Clock on Aging
• Telomere Timebombs: Defusing the Terror of Aging: Discover the true cause of aging

I hope this episode helps you better understand the science behind healing and why looking deeper than symptoms truly matters.

Dr. Trupti Gokani is an award-winning, board-certified neurologist, Ayurvedic expert, and mindset coach who blends ancient wisdom with modern science to help people transform stress and live in alignment. She’s best known for her integrative approach to migraine and for creating the Three Brain Optimization Program™, which helps high performers shift from survival mode to thriving.

Her new book, The StressRx, draws on both neuroscience and Ayurveda to guide readers toward authentic health and purpose. Dr. Gokani has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Huffington Post, and has served as faculty for The Shift Network and Metagenics.

We discussed:

✅ Why she turned to Ayurveda after a successful career in neurology

✅ What stress really is—from an Ayurvedic and neuroscience perspective

✅ How the Three Brain Model helps people break unconscious patterns

✅ The core message behind The StressRx

✅ Practical ways to move from survival to thriving

Dr. Trupti also shared her free cookbook: https://tinyurl.com/4n5nyvy4

You can find her at

✅ Website: www.truptigokanimd.com;

✅ Instagram: @drgokani;

✅ Facebook: Trupti Gokani, MD

Are you stuck in modern fight/flight? If so, did you know you could make small changes in habits that can make big shifts in how you feel? It can literally take only minutes to do. 
Dr. Husmillo discusses the importance of improving poor vagal tone to address a variety of symptoms in this episode.
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We focused on:

• The differences between conventional neurology, functional (chiropractic) neurology, and functional medicine neurology
• How poor vagal tone can show up in your life
• Understanding the Vagus Nerve and its role in overall health
• The little things you can do to shift your nervous system

Dr. Michael Husmillo earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and holds board certification as a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. A graduate of UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology with a focus on neuroanatomy, his early research explored the link between the immune system and the brain. He has advanced training in functional neurology, neurochemistry, and functional medicine, blending these disciplines to offer a comprehensive, brain-based approach to patient care. 
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You can find him: 

• Website: ⁠www.ocncenter.com⁠
• IG: ⁠@drmikehusmillo⁠

Located in Troy, Michigan, he is happy to offer a free 15-minute consultation and does see patients virtually. 
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As he said, "Happy Vagus, Happy Life!"

Have you ever been in years of psychotherapy and thought, "This is not working - we keep talking about the same thing over and over again"? The reason is that cognitive work does not inform the body in the way it needs to RESET. It has its own operating system which is still largely ignored by the conventional world. In my latest What If It’s NOT Depression podcast episode, I talk with Elisabeth Kristof, an expert in applied neurology and somatic practices, about a holistic path to nervous system retraining—beyond brain retraining and vagal nerve stimulation.In this episode, we discuss:✅ The role of the nervous system in mental health✅ How trauma creates present-day patterns✅ Practical strategies for nervous system resilience✅ The importance of emotional processingAbout Elisabeth KristofElisabeth Kristof is the founder of the Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI) coaching certification program and Brain-Based Wellness, a membership platform for nervous system health. She specializes in trauma resolution and nervous system regulation and co-hosts the Apple Top 100 podcast Trauma Rewired.She is generously offering two free weeks of neurosomatic training at rewiretrial.com.

You can also connect with her on Instagram (@brainbased.wellness) and Facebook (@neursomaticintelligence).

Have you heard of Carbon 60 or C60? It’s one of the most powerful antioxidants that works on a cellular level. It’s a product that I myself have been using initially for my skin, but I am noticing some results that I didn’t expect, and I wanted to share it with you.
I’ve asked Jess to join me on the podcast to discuss its wonderful effects. Jessica MacNaughton is a trailblazer in health innovation, serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of C60 Power.
Under her visionary leadership, C60 Power has become a leading advocate for the health-enhancing properties of the Nobel Prize-winning molecule, Carbon 60. After experiencing significant personal health improvements from incorporating Carbon 60 into her daily routine in 2017, Jessica embarked on a mission to share these benefits with the world. Her company specializes in crafting anti-aging products that combat inflammation, enhance mitochondrial health, fortify immune function, and boost overall energy for both humans and pets.
With a diverse professional background spanning over 30 years, Jessica has held leadership roles in both global Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial startups. Her experience includes an 18-year tenure in commercial real estate, a field she left to pursue her passion for holistic wellness after a transformative health crisis.
You can discover more about the revolutionary benefits of C60 at shopc60.com and at whatisc60.org.
If you are interested in ordering some for yourself, here is the link for that: https://go.shopc60.com/64M2B6/KMKS9/. Jess kindly provided a code HEALTHYSELF for a 10% discount.
I hope you enjoyed the episode.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Robert Bransfield, MD, DLFAPA, a pioneering psychiatrist whose decades of clinical experience have led him to groundbreaking insights on the connection between infectious disease and treatment-resistant mental illness. Dr. Bransfield is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, past president of both ILADS and the New Jersey Psychiatric Association, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers RWJ Medical School and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.For over a century, psychiatry has wrestled with the mystery of what causes mental illness. Dr. Bransfield's work builds on this legacy and offers hope for a paradigm shift: that by understanding the role of infection and immunity, we may transform how we treat chronic, persistent mental disorders and neurodegenerative disease.In this conversation, we explored the multifactorial nature of chronic disease and mental illness, including:✅ How over 60 different infectious diseases have been linked to psychiatric conditions through immune-mediated pathways.✅ The evolving understanding of tick-borne infections like Borrelia and Bartonella in the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression.✅ The historical arc of psychiatry’s view on infection as a contributor to mental illness—from syphilis and the slow virus theory to modern psychoimmunology.✅ Why addressing susceptibility genes and intervening early in disease progression can break the vicious cycle of chronic psychiatric disorders.You can learn more about Dr. Bransfield and his work at www.MentalHealthandIllness.com or connect with him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.bransfield.1/.