Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching

What if a diagnosis didn’t mean decline—but a chance to build something stronger? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by Amy Behimer, pharmacist, board-certified health and wellness coach, and founder of the Habit Hub for Autoimmune Health, to talk about thriving with autoimmune disease, rethinking chronic care, and coaching as a powerful path to resilience and well-being.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/amy-behimer-127/

What if your everyday environment was quietly impacting your health in ways you never realized? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes back integrative rheumatologist and environmental health expert Dr. Aly Cohen for an eye-opening conversation about toxins, immune health, and what we can do to reduce our exposures. Dr. Aly shares insights from her new book, Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them, and explores how the growing prevalence of synthetic chemicals is contributing to immune dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/aly-cohen-126/

Can you really reverse your biological age—and feel better than you did in your 30s? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi sits down with Leslie Kenny , Oxford-based CEO of Oxford Healthspan and co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, to explore the science of longevity, immune modulation, and one intriguing compound that’s making waves in the wellness world: spermidine. Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/leslie-kenny-125/Leslie is offering Health Coach Talk listeners a special discount to try "Primeadine" at OxfordHealthspan.com with the code SANDI15.

Is it ever too late to embark on a new, purpose-driven career? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Charlette Plinneke, a former middle school science teacher who, at 64, transitioned into the field of health coaching. Now a nationally board-certified Functional Medicine Health Coach with a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, Charlette shares how this career shift has revitalized her life and enabled her to guide others toward improved health and well-being.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/charlette-plinneke-124/

What does it take to truly rebuild yourself—body, mind, and spirit—after life’s hardest moments? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by Col. Martha McSally, a retired combat veteran, former U.S. Senator, and author of Dare to Fly, for a raw and uplifting conversation about overcoming adversity, redefining resilience, and how true transformation happens with the right support—much like the teammate role a health coach plays in someone’s health journey.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/martha-mcsally-123/

Is everything we’ve been told about cholesterol wrong? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Jonny Bowden, PhD, a renowned expert in nutrition and functional medicine, to challenge conventional wisdom about cholesterol. As the co-author of The Great Cholesterol Myth, Jonny explains why the outdated “good vs. bad cholesterol” model falls short and what we should focus on instead for true heart health.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/jonny-bowden-122/

What does it mean to “win broken”? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Whitney Jones, a three-time Fitness Olympia champion, world-class athlete, and author of Win Broken, to explore the mindset that has fueled her success. Despite facing numerous injuries and setbacks—including 18 surgeries—Whitney has refused to let obstacles define her, proving that resilience and determination can shape a life of achievement and fulfillment.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/whitney-jones-121/

Could the key to preventing heart disease be found in your gut? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes cardiologist and bestselling author Dr. William Davis to explore how conventional medicine has overlooked the real drivers of heart disease—and how diet, gut health, and probiotics play a far greater role than previously thought. Dr. Davis, known for Wheat Belly and Super Gut, shares how his personal and professional experiences led him to rethink everything he once believed about heart health and prevention.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/william-davis-120/

What drives someone to leave a stable career in conventional medicine for a path focused on holistic wellness? In this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes FMCA graduate and former pharmacist Adriana Shuman to share her journey from pharmacy school in Slovakia to building a thriving health coaching practice in the U.S. Adriana’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and a deep passion for helping others achieve vibrant health.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/adriana-shuman-119/

What role does strength training play in women’s health, especially through midlife? On this episode of Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Dr. Stephanie Estima, chiropractor, author, and expert in women’s metabolic and hormonal health, to discuss how exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle choices impact female physiology. Their conversation explores the importance of muscle preservation, the hormonal shifts that influence body composition, and how women can adapt their training and nutrition to optimize their health at every stage of life.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/stephanie-estima-118/