Underground Wellness Radio

Josh Trent — digital health coach, founder of WellnessForce.com and host of Wellness Force Radio — stops by to share his story. He talks about his personal wellness journey, the many ups and downs that finally led him go all in on pursuing his passions, and what it really takes to break free of limiting beliefs that hold us back from being our best self. 

Cynthia Pasquella - clinical nutritionist, author and founder of The Institute of Transformational Nutrition - returns to the podcast and candidly opens up about her past. She shares the story of her own personal traumas, how she has used them to transform her own life, and how she helps others do the same.  Here's what we talked about:    3:28 Where Cynthia’s long journey to success started, and the reason why she decided to tell her story. 7:09 No running water? The details of Cynthia’s childhood living conditions and the many tragic events that left her parents struggling. 12:53 How Cynthia learned to be a good mom despite growing up without a positive mother figure. 20:41 The reason Cynthia never invited friends over, and why they probably wouldn’t have even been allowed to visit if she had! 27:28 Raising parents and being a referee: Cynthia takes on much of the responsibility for her family and herself. 31:09 The opportunity that got Cynthia out of the south and to LA, and how it she found herself going from “a crazy situation to a completely insane one.” 38:32 The modeling industry, “Latte Diet” and numbing out with drugs and alcohol takes a major toll on Cynthia’s body, health and psyche. 49:08 The important message Cynthia received that stopped her from taking her own life. 57:17 Cynthia bets on herself–with 3 credit cards!–to learn how to regain her own health, and starts to help other people do it, too. 1:05:59 How a cheeseburger left Vegan Cynthia in tears and gives her freedom from the food fight. 1:16:01 Money matters: Why it’s not about the amount of money, but what you do with it that matters. 1:29:01 How to use your own experience and story to make some extra money or even start a whole new career! Want the written version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Kevin Gianni -- author of Kale and Coffee: A Renegade's Guide to Health, Happiness, and Longevity -- returns to the podcast to discuss his journey from a food-obsessed, raw vegan YouTube celebrity to a healthier, happier version of himself.  Here's what we talked about:  5:03 How Kevin’s time as a vegan, raw foodie YouTube celeb led him to an unhealthy obsession with food.  12:14 The reason why good intentions don’t always equal good health and how anything taken to the extreme will eventually make us sick.  15:14 The one thing Kevin’s doctor told him he needed to do to save his health – and why Kevin didn’t do it right away. 18:13 Is it helping or hurting? Kevin transitions to eating meat and deals with the thin line between helping people and hurting people in the health space.  22:51 Kevin runs into another health challenge (by eating only organic foods!) and the most important thing he learned from not being able to button his pants.  27:45 Kale, coffee and kids: Finding a more reasonable, realistic way to be healthy without going off the deep end.  30:38 The health expert reality TV show: How we get stuck on only part of the story and why health studies, gurus and experts should never be the be-all, end-all for our health information.  35:05 “If you lose the mental game, you lose the physical one.” Advice from Kevin’s 93 year old grandfather about keeping your mind and attitude in good shape.  38:57 What we can learn from some of the longest living humans on earth and how you can apply it to your own life.  42:36 The simple, sensible solution to how much meat, carbs and fat we should be eating.  46:38 Keeping stress in check: Kevin’s recommendations for managing stress day to day and in the gym.  Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com! Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness.

David Zappasodi, author of Immovable Heart Unstoppable Mind, discusses the 6 essential practices for living a healthy and fulfilling life.   Here's what we talked about:   3:00 – How David’s desire to get client results in the fitness industry led him down a path to meditation and mindfulness.    8:52 – The power of personal responsibility and paying careful attention to your own body, triggers and intuition.    13:59 – The two parts of every goal and which one you must focus on if you want long-term success.    18:19 – The importance of the process and how to make sure you don’t get stuck when working towards a goal.    23:02 – Are your goals generous enough? How generosity can help you get results in all areas of your life.    27:14 – How focusing on the future might be hindering your progress, and how to build a better relationship with the present.    32:04 – Thoughts vs. feelings: how to break out of the vicious cycle of aggression and avoidance to experience lasting fulfillment.   51:18 – The certainty of uncertainty and David’s best practices to have patience with our progress.    56:58 – Can you take action by taking a time-out? Creating sustainable practices to keep you inspired and moving forward.      Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com!     Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness.

Chef Pete Evans — author and co-star of My Kitchen Rules — discusses how and why he’s changing the food climate in Australia.   Here's what we talked about:    2:25 – How Pete went from being a cook at McDonalds to an influential high-profile celebrity chef.    4:51 – Why don’t people cook anymore? Why being a good cook probably isn’t as difficult as many people may think.    8:10 – The best ways to overcome your fears and controversy and why it’s so important to do so.    14:12 – The common sense approach Pete has used to find the best diet, how he was finally “outed” as paleo and why he doesn’t regret causing a stir in the media.    23:53 – How Chef Pete stays positive among all the negativity and how you can, too.    28:57 – Paleo politics: What “paleo” means to Pete and why what we call a diet doesn’t really matter.    38:50 – Why paleo doesn’t have to be perfect and the mindset to help you stress less about food and diet.    41:20 – Pete’s perpective on “paleo-fying” and the role dietary guidelines play in the world of nutrition, today and in the future.    45:38 – All about Chef Pete’s books and his paleo-packed program The Paleo Way.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Gluten expert Dr. Tom O’Bryan returns to the podcast to respond to recent skepticism regarding gluten sensitivity and gluten-free diets.   This one is by popular demand. A few weeks ago, my podcast interview with Alan Levinovitz, author of The Gluten Lie, caused quite a stir.   Due to a few controversial statements made during Alan’s show, my inbox nearly blew up with requests for a rebuttal episode with Dr. Tom O’Bryan, host of The Gluten Summit.    Dr. Tom was more than happy to give his take on The Gluten Lie. In fact, he was FIRED UP!   Here's what we talked about:    4:13 – Do YOU need to avoid gluten? Dr. O’Bryan tells us exactly who should avoid gluten and why.    9:21 – The one test that you should take to test for gluten sensitivity, and why the other tests might not give you the results you need.    16:15 – Are ancient grains really better for you? An interesting study tells us what all gluten is doing to all humans.    17:59 – Is gluten-free just a fad? The reasons why Dr. O’Bryan thinks gluten-free is here to stay.    24:33 – What we know about what gluten does to the body, why we don’t always know what’s going on, and why we still have a lot more to learn.   33:54 – The one thing guaranteed to damage your gut, a few other culprits to watch out for and why positive results of going gluten-free are probably NOT from the gluten.   39:27 – What Dr. O’Bryan thinks is really behind the nocebo effect. Plus, his beef with sensationalism and bunk studies.    47:30 – Weighing the benefits of wheat: why indigestible fiber doesn’t do damage like gluten does.    49:47 – The European wheat myth that could be harming you – even if you don’t feel it!    52:57 – Why you can’t avoid gluten 100%, what you can do to protect yourself from gluten contamination, and why it’s so important.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Functional medicine practitioner Dr. Jill Carnahan reveals how molds and their mycotoxins can trigger common conditions including asthma, allergies, fatigue, neurological conditions, and sick building syndrome.    Here's what we talked about:    4:06 – Dr. Carnahan’s remarkable story of overcoming serious illness and how it has influenced her outlook on her life and her work.    16:28 – The importance of mindset, curiosity and taking responsibility when it comes to your own health.    17:41 – Why molds and mycotoxins aren’t being learned in med school and why doctors can be so far behind the times.    18:32 – How Dr. Carnahan’s most recent run in with health issues left her literally breathless and what she had to do to figure out what was really going on.    21:56 – The key to recovering from mold exposure and why some people might be suffering more than others.    24:56 – How water damage can make a building “sick” and the sneaky way molds can make you sick, too. Plus, exactly what NOT to do to get rid of mold.    28:37 – Survival of the fittest: find out why (and where!) molds and fungus are becoming stronger and more toxic to our bodies.    31:36 – Some of the crazy effects molds can have on your immune system and the specific immune biomarkers you can look at to check for mold exposure.    37:09 – What your genetics have to do with molds and mycotoxins and what you can use to help your body detox.    42:01 – How to have a healthy home: the most common sources of mold, the best ways to keep your air clean, and what to do if you’re feeling sick.    50:34 – Where Dr. Carnahan thinks the success of the paleo diet really comes from, and exactly what foods to avoid to stay safe from mold.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Jim Rendon — author of Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth — discusses exciting, new research on how traumatic experiences can be opportunities for personal transformation.    Here's what we talked about:    2:15 – The amazing story of Jim’s father and how it got him interested in what happens to us after we survive trauma.    11:37 – The surprising responses from prisoners of war and combat veterans that started the study of post-traumatic growth, and why it hadn’t really been studied before.    15:46 – The 5 distinct areas of post-traumatic growth, why they’re so hard to measure and the ways we try to measure them anyway.    20:29 – PTSD: what goes on in the brain and the body after trauma, and how we can manage it to help post-traumatic growth.    25:47 – What is trauma? The complicated nature of trauma and why we never think it’s going to happen to us.    29:31 – Deliberate rumination: how to turn a traumatic ordeal into an opportunity for transformation.    36:13 – The importance of social support in healing, what to do if you aren’t getting the kind of support you need and how to give better support to loved ones.   40:35 – Alternative therapies: the many different paths to healing and understanding trauma.    44:05 – A real life story about the power of perseverance and a positive attitude in post-traumatic growth.    55:32 – Your life story: why who we are has changed and will change again over time…whether it’s with trauma or without.    57:49 – Do we need post-traumatic growth to be happy? How trauma gives our lives more meaning, even when it doesn’t happen directly to us.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Heart attack prevention specialist Joel Kahn, M.D. — author of Dead Execs Don’t Get Bonuses — reveals the truth about standard heart-specific lab tests and bloodwork.   Here's what we talked about:    2:21 – Why heart disease is know as “the silent killer”, and just how many Americans are affected by it (many unknowingly).    6:32 – Coronary heart disease defined. How the heart takes care itself first and why that means you should take care of it, too.    10:44 – Surprising signs and symptoms of heart disease. Check those earlobes!   14:02 – Testing vs. common sense: why you might be getting a inaccurate clean bill of health with commonly ordered lab tests – and what you should be looking for instead.    18:14 – The calcium connection: when scoring a zero on a test is a GOOD thing!   23:32 – Why the best heart care tests are NOT covered by insurance?   25:44 – How old are your arteries? THIS test will tell you.   31:22 – The best way to eat for heart health.    39:21 – Why the American Heart Association isn’t making more aggressive recommendations to heart patients … and why Dr. Kahn IS.    41:17 – What “moderate” exercise really means and the reasons we need to stop thinking that if a little bit is good then a lot must be better.    44:51 – The many benefits of meditation and mind-body practices – in just 12 minutes a day!    48:09 – An unexpected effective therapy for your heart – and how you can do it on your own.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Alan Levinovitz stops by the podcast to discuss his controversial book The Gluten Lie and Other Myths About What You Eat.    Here's what we talked about:    3:25 – Why a philosopher and religion professor wrote a nutrition book and how food and religion have more in common than you might think!   8:15 – Are modern times really so bad? The myth of paradise past and how food technologies might be helping us more than they hurt.    11:15 – What paleo is, what it isn’t, and why “eat in moderation” doesn’t work.    12:50 – Where is the science? Why it’s so hard to get clear evidence on food and nutrition and whether or not we’ll ever have any answers.    19:25 – Science vs. sensationalism: mis-reporting in the media and what the scientists really have to say about their nutrition studies.    24:48 – Is it really just the gluten? The real reasons people might feel better off gluten and how to figure out if it will make you feel better, too.    28:44 – All about the nocebo effect and how your mind might be a bigger problem than the gluten.    33:15 – When “too healthy” becomes unhealthy and why we sometimes stick with something that doesn’t really work for us anymore.    38:05 – The problem with getting ahead of the scientific evidence. Plus, why the truth about food and nutrition probably isn’t as exciting as some people would lead us to believe.    45:35 – Does morally good = physically good? Why we associate feeling good with being “bad.”    50:30 – The money and marketing behind nutrition: figuring out who really has your best interest at heart and why being an equal opportunity skeptic might be good for your health.    56:19 – Are we addicted to health? What holistic health really is, How Alan finds balance in his own life, and what he’s up to next!    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Licensed psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Brogan states a compelling case for why Depression is NOT a Serotonin Deficiency. Discover what she calls the “flawed logic” in our current understanding of how antidepressants work. And, learn what the science really says about these drugs.   Here's what we talked about:    3:03 – How the monoamine hypothesis of depression got started and why its logic is flawed.    7:23 – What is a normal brain anyway? How serotonin levels may or may not be a factor in depression.    10:39 – Antidepressant adaptation: what happens to your brain and your body when you take (or stop taking!) an antidepressant.    15:29 – What the studies REALLY say about antidepressant medications and the profound power of placebo.    22:45 – Does time heal all? How treatment could be turning some problems into big ones, when “doing nothing” might be the best treatment of all, and why Dr. Brogan does not prescribe medications to her patients.    30:32 – How one major study showed antidepressant medications might not work the way we think they do and why nobody is talking about it.    35:37 – Could the effects of antidepressants really just be anti-inflammatory? All about the cytokine theory of depression and sickness syndrome.    39:42 – Specific inflammation markers you can test for (with optimal ranges!)    42:44 – Dr. Brogan’s best tips for reducing inflammation with food and lifestyle changes. Plus, real life patient stories of how they work.    50:38 What the cytokine model of depression means for Big Pharma … and for the people taking their medications.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com   Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness.    

Dr. Datis Kharrazian — author of Why Isn’t My Brain Working? — reveals his clinical perspective on what exactly is causing depression and what to do about it.    Here's what we talked about:    * Why there’s more to correcting mood disorders than just boosting neurotransmitter levels with amino acid supplements. A lot more!    * Why traumatic brain injuries often show up as depression … years down the road.   * How chronic gut inflammation can cause brain inflammation, leading to depression.   * What the “other symptoms” presenting with depression (anxiety, insomnia, blood sugar problems, and brain fog) can reveal about its cause.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

The Depression Sessions are just around the corner. Today, I share 14 of my favorite clips from our hand-picked panel of presenters.   Here's what we talked about:    1:10 – All about The Depression Sessions and why you should sign up NOW!    2:48 – Are you a “flatliner?” Dr. Datis Kharrazian talks about an often overlooked cause of depression.    7:08 – Why is your serotonin low in the first place? Tom Malterre tells us what might be going on in our bodies.    12:43 – Is it in the genes? Dr. Ben Lynch explains why some people might be burning through serotonin like crazy … and why you might want to put down the 5-HTP.    16:44 – Can you rewire your brain? How to overcome depression with Neurofeedback from Nora Gedgaudas.    20:05 – What we can learn from studying floating mice and valium-like bacteria! Dr. Jill Carnahan gives us the details on stress and our gut.    23:17 – Can depression just go away on it’s own? Dr. Dan Kalish tells us why some people are better off NOT taking a drug.    26:08 – What the research really says about antidepressant drugs and what might really be the reason people feel better from Dr. Kelly Brogan.    32:51 – The Gift of Depression: How to listen to what your depression is telling you with Marc David.    38:36 – Why isn’t any of this taught in medical schools? Dr. Ann Childers gives us her take on the pharmaceutical industry’s power in doctor’s educations.    41:58 – Is the low-fat craze to blame? Gerald Roliz lets us know why we need fat and what it has to do with depression.    44:27 – Trudy Scott tells us why we might owe red meat an apology and how it can even help improve your mood!   46:33 – SSRI addiction: What’s really going on in your brain when you take a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor and what you can do to help yourself get off them with Dr. Jillian Teta.    50:21 – The hormone-depression connection: Dr. Hyla Cass and Alisa Vitti give us need to know info about hormone and mood management.    55:41 – What else to expect during The Depression Sessions including how to get registered for the event and get lifetime access to all 22 interviews!    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com.    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Sayer Ji, founder of GreenMedInfo, reveals a new paradigm in human energy production. Can humans derive energy from sunlight?    Here's what we talked about:    4:03 – The process of finding credible info and how to become a better researcher.    9:15 – Biology 101! How we might be more like plants than we originally thought.    13:30 – Evolution and energy: why it’s only common sense that we can use sunlight for energy and why it might even be better for our bodies to do so.    16:09 – Exactly what and why you need to know about CoQ10 to give you more energy (with less oxidative stress!)   20:18 – Hairless humans: The evolutionary side of losing our hair to capture more light and energy from the sun.   26:16 – The many sides of melanin and skin pigment.   29:50 – Can we live without food? Pseudo-science versus significant studies.    31:43 – Sunbathing, burning, cancer and chlorophyll, internal sunscreen. Sunlight is toxic if there isn’t enough chlorophyll, how we can use the sun to protect ourselves   34:16 – Why you should eat more greens … no matter what type of diet you eat.    36:26 – Recommendations for sunlight exposure. The best times to be in the sun and what to eat for the best benefits.   39:04 – Are we being unfair to the food? When the benefits of food outweigh the burden of naturally occurring toxins and why it’s never just about energy.    44:45 – How to get more awesome information from Sayer Ji!   Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com!    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness. 

Rich Roll, co-author of The Plantpower Way and host of The Rich Roll Podcast, stops by to share his incredible story of overcoming alcoholism and food addiction, and how he transformed himself into one of the fittest people on the planet.   Here's what we talked about:    3:08 – How Rich went from being awkward, insecure little guy picked last for kickball to an alcoholic attorney headed towards death or jail.    13:55 – Rich spends his 30s sober, medicating with work, food and the Window Diet until he finally gets a reality check to make a change.    18:59 – The first thing Rich did to turn things around and how he “accidentally” got to a plant based diet.    22:49 – Debunking the debunking of The China Study: it’s influence on Rich’s new lifestyle and what he thinks we can take away from the book.    28:44 – Can an old school food cause brand new disease? Why these issues are much more complicated than we’d like to believe and how we can start to simplify it so people aren’t so confused about what to eat.    38:34 – Taking personal power and responsibility for your health and how to really figure out the best diet for you.    40:20 – Will giving up animal products alone make you immune to disease? How to avoid being a junk vegetarian or vegan.    43:25 – How Rich tested the resiliency of the human body with five Iron Man competitions in one week!   48:42 – The big difference between training for performance and training for longevity and why Rich’s participation in endurance events is more about his soul than it is about his body.   56:03 – Addictions and extreme personalities: some wise words on what we can all do to keep ourselves in check and make choices that will lead us to becoming better versions of ourselves.   59:49 – All about The Plantpower Way and Rich’s podcast.    Want the Written Version? Join The Transcribe Tribe for FREE transcripts at www.undergroundwellnessradio.com!    Hosted by Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness.