Rooted in Wellness with Mona Sharma

What if the biggest shift in your health came not from supplements or diets, but from the way you sleep? In this grounding episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Breus, known worldwide as The Sleep Doctor, to explore how sleep impacts every part of our well-being. A clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, Dr. Breus brings decades of research and real-world experience to show us that better sleep isn’t about complicated hacks, it’s about rhythm, consistency, and understanding your body’s natural design. Together, we uncover how aligning with your chronotype (Lion, Bear, Wolf) can transform your energy, why a consistent wake-up time is the true 80/20 of sleep, and how breathwork and HRV can quiet nighttime anxiety. We also dive into the connection between sleep, hormones, and weight, debunk common myths about melatonin, and highlight five free daily shifts that reset your rest and resilience. Dr. Michael Breus is a clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, author of multiple bestselling books, and a trusted voice on platforms like The Today Show and Oprah.  We Also Discuss: (00:00) Rooted Wellness & Why Sleep Comes First (03:52) Simplicity Over Hacks: The Real 80/20 of Rest (09:49) Consistent Wake Times & Anxiety-Calming Tools (20:05) Chronotypes Explained: Lions, Bears & Wolves (38:39) Sleep, Hormones & the Cost of Deprivation (51:00) Melatonin, Cannabis & Supplement Myths (01:04:45) Creating a Restful Sleep Environment (01:15:14) Ancient Wisdom & the Future of Sleep Wellness Thank You to Our Sponsors: Bon Charge: Go to boncharge.com/mona and use the code MONA to treat yourself to this incredible mask and get 15% off today. Rooted Academy: Join Rooted Academy by Mona Sharma, a science-backed, community-driven wellness platform designed to help you heal from within. Start your journey to balance, vitality, and lasting transformation. https://www.monasharma.com/rooted Stress Quiz: The way you react to stress isn’t random—it’s rooted in your biology and lived experience. Discover your unique stress type + get a personalized healing plan to help you feel more calm, clear, and resilient. Take the quiz now:monasharma.com/quiz Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Dr. Michael Breus:  Instagram: @thesleepdoctor Website: https://sleepdoctor.com/ 

When it comes to weight loss, most of us have been taught the same formula: eat less, move more, and work harder. But the truth is, lasting weight release isn’t about punishment or restriction, it’s about alignment, safety, and balance within your body. In this episode of Rooted in Wellness, I share five often-overlooked factors that influence your ability to release weight, blending ancient wisdom with modern science. You’ll learn why your self-talk directly impacts your biology, how syncing with your circadian rhythm resets metabolism, and why addressing hormones may be the missing link. I also explain how strength training just two to three times per week supports sustainable health, and why restorative movement can sometimes do more for your body than endless hours of cardio. If you’ve felt stuck despite “doing everything right,” this conversation offers a gentle, empowering path to create true balance and lasting change. I Also Discuss: (00:31) The surprising reason your body resists weight loss (12:17) What your internal clock has to do with your metabolism (24:17) The overlooked factor that could be stalling your progress (43:55) Why “pushing harder” might be backfiring on your goals (48:17) The mindset shift that changes everything Thank You to Our Sponsors: Stress Quiz: The way you react to stress isn’t random—it’s rooted in your biology and lived experience. Discover your unique stress type + get a personalized healing plan to help you feel more calm, clear, and resilient. Take the quiz now: monasharma.com/quiz iFit: Movement is medicine—iFIT makes it personal, science-backed, and ready for you anytime, anywhere. Explore more at iFIT.com Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at @monasharma

What does it mean to truly live after hardship?  In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Dawn Mussallem, an integrative physician whose story is as extraordinary as her work. A stage 4 cancer survivor who lived with heart failure for over two decades before receiving a heart transplant, Dawn brings a rare perspective on resilience, healing, and hope. Together, we explore how mindset and gratitude shape recovery, why prevention and screening can be empowering instead of fear-driven, and how food, movement, and rest become powerful daily medicine. Dawn also shares how spirituality and science meet in her own healing journey, reminding us that health is about so much more than the absence of disease, it’s about vitality, grace, and purpose. Dr. Dawn Mussallem is an integrative physician at the Cleveland Clinic, specializing in lifestyle and preventive medicine. A stage 4 cancer survivor and heart transplant recipient, she brings rare personal insight into resilience and healing.  We Also Discuss: (00:00) A story of survival that redefines what healing really means (03:43) The moment Dawn’s life took a turn, and the resilience that followed (13:51) Where science meets spirituality in the healing journey (18:15) Facing life-threatening illness: what loss can teach us about living (23:15) Near-death as a doorway to transformation and grace (34:38) Daily practices that turned hardship into healing (41:59) Why mindset may be the most powerful medicine of all (47:26) Gratitude as biology: how it rewires the heart and body Thank You to Our Sponsors: Sunlighten: Experience it for yourself. Visit https://get.sunlighten.com/monasharma and use code MONA to save up to $1,400 on your sauna today. Rooted Academy: Join Rooted Academy by Mona Sharma, a science-backed, community-driven wellness platform designed to help you heal from within. Start your journey to balance, vitality, and lasting transformation. https://www.monasharma.com/rooted  Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Dr. Dawn Mussallem: Instagram: @drdawnmussallem 

What if your health is shaped just as much by the culture you work in as it is by what you eat or how you move? In this episode of Rooted in Wellness, I sit with my friend John Lufburrow to explore the hidden impact of workplace environments on our well-being. John shares the three forces that keep him grounded: faith, family, and frequency. He opens up about how simple practices like affirmations, mindset shifts, and energy awareness create ripple effects that extend far beyond personal wellness. Together we explore burnout, the roots of our current “sick care” system, and why prevention and culture are essential for lasting health. John Lufburrow is the CEO and co-founder of Revive Health, a company reimagining how employers support the well-being of their people. With a career rooted in health care innovation, John brings a deep understanding of where our system falls short, and a clear vision for what’s possible when prevention, access, and culture come first. We Also Discuss: (00:00) Faith, Family, and Frequency: The Foundations of True Wellness (11:48) Why the U.S. Healthcare System Leaves So Many Behind (23:45) How Companies Can Build a Real Culture of Care (34:55) From Burnout to Balance: Empowering Employees in the Workplace (46:01) Beyond Perks: What Actually Works in Corporate Wellness (56:37) Values in Action: Turning Culture Into Lasting Change (01:06:32) The Future of Well-Being at Work and at Home (01:12:15) The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Parents While Raising Kids Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about John Lufburrow Instagram: @revive.health.members Website: https://www.revive.health/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lufburrow 

What if your body held a built-in reset button for stress, energy, and digestion? In this episode, I sit down with Povilas Sabaliauskas, CEO and co-founder of Pulsetto, to explore the fascinating world of the vagus nerve, the communication highway between your brain and body.  Together, we dive into why so many of us feel “stuck” in fight-or-flight, how vagus nerve activation supports sleep, mood, and recovery, and the ways both ancient practices and modern technology can bring us back into balance. Povilas shares insights on stress resilience, the science behind vagal tone, and why even four minutes of daily activation can shift how you feel and function. Povilas Sabaliauskas is the CEO and co-founder of Pulsetto, a wellness technology company creating innovative tools to support vagus nerve stimulation and nervous system balance. We Also Discuss: 00:00 – The Surprising Link Between Hormones and Aging Gracefully 15:08 – How Hormones Secretly Shape Your Energy, Mood, and Health 25:32 – The Breakthrough Changing the Future of Hormone Therapy 29:38 – Women’s Hormones Explained: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You 40:00 – Hormone Care From Home: The Rise of Online Therapy 50:00 – What Your Diet Isn’t Telling You About Your Hormones 01:04:19 – Your Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Hormones for Vitality Thank You to Our Sponsors: Pulsetto: If you’ve been feeling anxious, burnt out, or disconnected from your body, Pulsetto is a gentle, wearable tool that supports your vagus nerve—the gateway to your rest-and-restore state. Try it for 10% off at pulsetto.sjv.io/MONA with code MONA. Rooted Academy: Join Rooted Academy by Mona Sharma, a science-backed, community-driven wellness platform designed to help you heal from within. Start your journey to balance, vitality, and lasting transformation. Subscribe here! Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Povilas Sabaliauskas and Pulsetto: Website: https://pulsetto.tech/ Instagram: @pulsetto.tech

What if the secret to deep, restorative sleep begins at sunrise, not bedtime? In this grounding episode, I sit down with sleep educator and former insomniac Mollie Eastman to explore why rest is a skill, and how light, food, temperature, and mindset shape the way we sleep. Together, we uncover why so many of us feel tired but wired, how morning sunlight and meal timing set the stage for deep rest, and what to do when you wake up at 3 a.m. Mollie shares compassionate, science-backed insights on alcohol, blue light, circadian rhythms, and the nervous system, showing us that sleep isn’t about perfection, but about remembering how to work with our bodies instead of against them. If you’re ready to restore your nights and reclaim your energy, this episode is for you. Mollie Eastman is the creator of Sleep Is a Skill, a podcast and platform dedicated to helping people transform their sleep through science and circadian wisdom. We Also Discuss: 00:00 – Welcome & Why Sleep Is a Skill 09:40 – Morning Light and Circadian Rhythm Basics 19:20 – Sleep Anxiety, Mindset, and Nervous System Health 29:00 – Sleep Apnea and Common Sleep Disorders 38:40 – Alcohol, Food Timing, and Deep Sleep Quality 48:20 – Blue Light, Scrolling, and Sleep Disruption 58:00 – Hormones, Cortisol, and Restorative Sleep 01:07:40 – Wearables, Sleep Metrics, and Biohacking Rest 01:17:20 – Sleep Positions, Ancient Wisdom, and Final Takeaways Thank You to Our Sponsors: iFit: Movement is medicine—iFIT makes it personal, science-backed, and ready for you anytime, anywhere. Explore more at iFIT.com.Pulsetto: If you’ve been feeling anxious, burnt out, or disconnected from your body, Pulsetto is a gentle, wearable tool that supports your vagus nerve—the gateway to your rest-and-restore state. Try it for 10% off at pulsetto.sjv.io/MONA with code MONA.Stress Quiz: The way you react to stress isn’t random—it’s rooted in your biology and lived experience. Discover your unique stress type + get a personalized healing plan to help you feel more calm, clear, and resilient. Take the quiz now:monasharma.com/quiz Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Mollie Eastman Instagram: @mollie.eastman Website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/ 

What if the key to healing emotional trauma, reducing inflammation, and reconnecting with yourself isn’t another quick fix, but ancient wisdom and simple daily rituals? In this heart-opening episode, I sit down with healer, musician, and soulful guide Shayoon Alexander to explore the intersection of emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and embodied living. Together, we unpack how trauma gets stored in the body, how discipline can be a gentle act of self-respect, and why regulation, not restriction, is the new foundation for lasting wellness. Shayoon shares powerful tools from both ancient lineages and modern neuroscience to help you release emotional wounds, return to your body, and live a life anchored in love, purpose, and peace. Whether you're navigating stress, chronic symptoms, or just feeling disconnected from your inner self, this episode is for you. Shayoon Alexander is a musician, a trauma-informed healer and co-founder of the LightForce Center, where she combines neuroscience, somatic therapy, and quantum healing to help people release emotional trauma and regulate their nervous system.  We Also Discuss: (00:00) – Self-Healing Journey and Ancient Wisdom for Wellness (07:30) – Daily Rituals, Discipline, and the Power of Saying No (15:00) – Healing Emotional Trauma and Releasing Stored Pain (22:30) – Nervous System Regulation and Emotional Processing Tools (30:00) – From Fear to Self-Healing and Living with Purpose (37:30) – Overcoming Resistance and Doing the Inner Work (45:00) – Transforming Wellness through Pain to Purpose Awakening (55:00) – Ancient Remedies, Health Misconceptions, and True Healing Thank You to Our Sponsors: Pulsetto: If you’ve been feeling anxious, burnt out, or disconnected from your body, Pulsetto is a gentle, wearable tool that supports your vagus nerve—the gateway to your rest-and-restore state. Try it for 10% off at pulsetto.sjv.io/MONA with code MONA. 12 tips: Small shifts, big energy—feel clearer, brighter, and more like you.Download my 12 wellness tips with Dr. Mark Hyman: monasharma.com/12tipsStress Quiz: The way you react to stress isn’t random—it’s rooted in your biology and lived experience. Discover your unique stress type + get a personalized healing plan to help you feel more calm, clear, and resilient. Take the quiz now:monasharma.com/quiz Find out more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Find out more about Shayoon Alexander:  Instagram: ​​@shayoon The Light Force Center: @thelightforcecenter Website: https://www.thelightforcecenter.com/ 

What if your immune system isn’t attacking you… but protecting you in ways we’ve only just begun to understand? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine, to explore why autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation are on the rise, and how shifting the story we tell about our health can transform the way we heal.  Dr. Bland shares why 70% of our immune system begins in the gut, how our immune age may be a more powerful marker of vitality than our actual years, how some colorful foods can help rejuvenate our cells and more! Dr. Jeffrey Bland, PhD is widely celebrated as the “father of functional medicine.” He’s authored best-selling books and over 120 peer-reviewed studies and launched Big Bold Health. For more than four decades, Dr. Bland has been pioneering a systems-based, personalized approach to healing, what we now call functional medicine.  What's Discussed: (04:33) What if disease labels are holding us back from true healing? (14:48) Why your immune system may actually be protecting you, not attacking you. (24:19) How colorful plants can literally rejuvenate your immune system. (33:49) Discover why your immune age matters more than birthdays. (40:02) When high achievement pushes the immune system into overdrive. (47:16) Simple choices that help your body return to balance. (01:04:25) What soil, farming, and human health teach us about resilience. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Pendulum: Nourish your gut, support your whole body—head to pendulumlife.com and use code MONA for 20% off your first membership order. iFit: Movement is medicine—iFIT makes it personal, science-backed, and ready for you anytime, anywhere. Explore more at iFIT.com. 12 tips: Small shifts, big energy—feel clearer, brighter, and more like you.Download my 12 wellness tips with Dr. Mark Hyman: monasharma.com/12tips Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Dr. Jeffrey Bland: Website: https://bigboldhealth.com Instagram Big Bold: https://www.instagram.com/bigboldhealth/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjeffreybland/

What if the secret to better digestion, deeper sleep, balanced hormones, and lasting longevity isn’t in the latest supplements, but in ancient wisdom you can apply today? In this episode, I sit down with Ayurvedic wellness expert and Ayurgamaya founder, Salila Sukumaran, to uncover how simple morning rituals, seasonal lifestyle practices, and herbal remedies can transform your health. We explore how aligning with your circadian rhythm reduces inflammation and bloating, why your doshas influence metabolism and menopause symptoms, and how mindful eating supports synergy between body and mind. From tongue scraping to oil massage, from optimizing digestion to empowering women through holistic healthcare. Salila Sukumaran is an Ayurvedic wellness practitioner, yoga educator, and founder of Ayurgamaya, where she helps clients around the world restore balance through time-honored Ayurvedic principles.  What's Discussed: (00:00) Ancient wisdom that transforms health today (11:12) How modern life disrupts digestion and how to fix it (16:32) Discover your Ayurvedic body type and what it means (31:31) Simple lifestyle shifts that spark deep healing (37:46) Morning rituals that fuel your energy all day (43:02) Ayurvedic tools to navigate menopause with vitality (53:41) Herbal remedies for everyday health issues (01:01:47) Creating mind-body synergy through Ayurveda Thank You to Our Sponsors: Pulsetto: If you’ve been feeling anxious, burnt out, or disconnected from your body, Pulsetto is a gentle, wearable tool that supports your vagus nerve—the gateway to your rest-and-restore state. Try it for 10% off at pulsetto.sjv.io/MONA with code MONA. Rooted Academy: Join Rooted Academy by Mona Sharma, a science-backed, community-driven wellness platform designed to help you heal from within. Start your journey to balance, vitality, and lasting transformation. https://www.monasharma.com/rooted Learn more about Mona Sharma: Download Your FREE Guide - 12 Wellness Tips to Unlock Your Best Health Now: Ready to reclaim your vitality? Download Mona’s 12 Wellness Tips and take actionable steps to transform your health, energy, and mindset. Get started now at https://monasharma.com/12tips.  Visit Mona's website: https://monasharma.com – Unlock powerful tools and wisdom rooted in wellness to elevate your health, energy, and clarity. Mona blends ancient healing practices with modern science to help you achieve lasting transformation. Follow Mona on Instagram: Stay connected with Mona for daily inspiration, holistic health tips, and personal growth. Join the conversation on Instagram at https://instagram.com/monasharma. Learn more about Salila Sukumaran: Website: https://www.ayurgamaya.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salila.ayurveda/

In this engaging discussion, Ben Azadi, the founder of Keto Kamp and author of Metabolic Freedom, shares insights on why traditional dieting may not work. He highlights the importance of mindset and taking responsibility for one's health. Topics include metabolic flexibility, the crucial role of mitochondria in energy levels, and how gratitude can influence our DNA. Ben also critiques common myths around snacking and emphasizes shifting from sugar to fat burning for better health. Tune in for a fresh perspective on achieving true wellness!