Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching

What happens to healthcare when artificial intelligence gets faster, smarter, and more accessible? In this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi speaks with Stanford professor and AI pioneer Dr. Ronjon Nag about the future of AI in medicine, why human connection still matters, and how coaches can embrace technology without losing their impact. With decades of experience building AI systems and now leading longevity science initiatives, Dr. Ronjon offers a unique perspective on where we’re headed and what it means for personalized care.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/ronjon-nag-148/

What if treating heart disease meant going beyond prescriptions and procedures to ask what truly matters? In this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a board-certified interventional cardiologist who found new purpose through functional medicine and personalized, lifestyle-based care.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/sanjay-bhojraj-147/

What role can health coaches play in addressing today’s mental health crisis? On this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes FMCA graduate Shelby Garay, Senior Manager of Coaching at the Headspace Training Institute, to talk about her journey from FMCA’s inaugural class to shaping the future of mental health coaching. Shelby shares her passion for dismantling health inequities, training new coaches, and integrating functional medicine principles into mental health care.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/shelby-garay-146/

What does it really mean to “stay in your lane” as a health coach? In this week’s episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes attorney and certified health coach Lisa Fraley to shed light on the legal side of coaching. Lisa blends her experience as a former healthcare lawyer with her background as a coach to help professionals understand scope of practice, protect their businesses, and feel confident about how they serve clients.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/lisa-fraley-145/

What does it take to be at the forefront of a profession that is transforming healthcare? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Karen Malkin, one of the first National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches in the United States. Karen has spent years weaving together nutrition, environmental health, and brain health into her coaching practice, helping clients create sustainable lifestyle changes and even guiding those working to prevent or reverse cognitive decline.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/karen-malkin-144/

Can cognitive decline be prevented or even reversed with the right approach? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi speaks with FMCA graduate and ReCODE 2.0 health coach Julie Luby and Apollo Health’s VP of Coaching Services, Chris Coward, about the groundbreaking work being done in brain health coaching. Together, they explore the ReCODE program developed from Dr. Dale Bredesen’s research, share inspiring client success stories, and discuss how health coaches can specialize in supporting clients facing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/julie-luby-chris-coward-143/

What would it mean to truly explore your limits, physically, emotionally, and spiritually? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi sits down with Akshay Nanavati, a speaker, author, and former Marine whose journey through trauma, addiction, and war led him to a life of intentional suffering, deep self-exploration, and global impact. From ultramarathons to solitude in Antarctica, Akshay shares what it means to live at the edge of human potential and how facing discomfort can lead to profound transformation.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/akshay-nanavati-142/

What if your best years weren’t behind you but ahead? In this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by midlife fat loss expert and bestselling author Natalie Jill to challenge cultural narratives around aging, strength, and what is truly possible for women over 40. With an empowering message rooted in resilience, mindset, and science-backed strategies, Natalie shares how women can feel stronger and more in control of their health, even in the face of pain, diagnoses, or discouragement.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/natalie-jill-141/

We often think of skin in terms of appearance, but what if it also reflects our internal health and serves as a predictor of chronic disease? In this fascinating episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by Kiran Krishnan, a research microbiologist and co-founder of Microbiome Labs, to uncover what most people are missing about the skin microbiome, joint health, and how artificial intelligence is advancing functional medicine.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/kiran-krishnan-140/

What makes a health coaching relationship truly transformative? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes board-certified functional health coach and author Anu Simh to explore how coaching that centers the client’s voice and lived experience can lead to powerful, lasting change. Anu is the founder of 9 Arms of Wellness, where she helps busy women heal their gut, reclaim their health, and stay off the diet roller coaster for good.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/anu-simh-139/