Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching

Could the products you use every day be affecting your health in ways you haven't considered? From laundry detergents and cosmetics to food packaging and household fragrances, potential sources of chemical exposure are woven into our daily routines. This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Kate Middleton, also known as KB, lifestyle expert and creator of Toxic Free with KB, to discuss how everyday environmental exposures can influence our well-being and how simple, intentional changes can support a healthier lifestyle.Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/kate-middleton-203/

Dr. Bob Weil, a sports podiatrist, radio host, and author with five decades of experience, explores lifelong athletic health. They discuss foot mechanics, balance, pickleball safety, injury prevention, early sports specialization, and training for stability. The conversation also turns to youth athletes’ mental health, sports psychology, smarter fueling, stress reduction, and collaboration among health professionals.

Dr. Courtney Conley, a chiropractic physician, gait specialist, educator, and author of Walk, explores why foot health is central to longevity. She discusses anatomy-friendly footwear, the drawbacks of excessive cushioning, big-toe alignment, barefoot drills, minimalist shoes, Pilates, dance, calf strength, balance, and walking as a powerful whole-body practice.

GLP-1 medications may quiet food noise, but lasting health requires more than weight loss. This conversation explores how health coaches support nutrition, strength, movement, emotional well-being, body image, and maintenance planning. It also examines proactive outreach, behavior-change prompts, medication bias, and the power of a collaborative care team.

What does being prepared have to do with living a healthy life? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes holistic nutrition professional, author, and “Ingredient Guru” Mira Dessy for a conversation about holistic emergency preparedness. From food and water to power outages and unexpected disruptions, Mira explains why preparedness can be approached as another part of supporting health, resilience, and peace of mind.Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/mira-dessy-199/

What if the traditional medical approach to menopause is completely missing the underlying root causes of hormonal imbalance? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes triple board-certified physician and bestselling author Dr. Anna Cabeca to discuss the true cardiometabolic foundations of perimenopause and menopause. Known affectionately as The Girlfriend Doctor, Dr. Anna sheds light on how addressing cellular health, insulin sensitivity, and the powerful "mother hormone" oxytocin can dramatically transform the menopausal transition from a clinical hurdle into a vibrant growth opportunity.Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/anna-cabeca-198/

Dr. Heather McKee, a behavioral scientist and health behavior change expert, explores why motivation fluctuates and how action can spark momentum. She discusses tiny habits, habit stacking, intrinsic motivation, and replacing “shoulds” with joy. The conversation also covers using wearable data wisely, designing technology that rewards effort, and coaching real people through imperfect lives.

Dr. Ken Sharlin, a board-certified neurologist and functional medicine practitioner, explores what fatigue may reveal about the brain. He discusses his Predictive Energy Allocation Model, neurodegeneration as a possible adaptive response, and the interconnected roles of inflammation, toxins, mitochondria, hormones, gut health, genes, and lifestyle. He also introduces his personalized Brain Tune-Up framework for supporting brain health.

Andrea Corleto, entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Altro Health, builds platforms that let wellness practitioners scale clinician-supervised longevity care. The conversation covers virtual longevity clinics, how coaches fit with labs and prescriptions, the risks of unsupervised peptides, and new models that combine coaching with clinical workflows.

Could health and wellness coaching be approaching one of the most significant turning points in the profession’s history? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes NBHWC leaders Deanna Fournier and Nicole Pope to discuss the proposed CMS reimbursement pathway, growing recognition of board-certified health coaches, and what these developments could mean for the future of the profession.Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/deanna-fournier-nicole-pope-194/