

The Vitalist
Dr. Keiko Finnegan & Dr. Sera Sheppard
Welcome to The Vitalist Podcast, where we take a vitalistic-powered approach to optimal living. This is your space to gain transformative knowledge, deepen your mind-body connection, and awaken your human spirit.
Join us as we explore the art and science of healing through thought-provoking conversations with practitioners, scientists, creatives, and visionaries. Driven by awe and wonder, we deepen the conversation around health and healing. Here, we believe human beings are healable, thrivable, and adaptable.
Our mission is to provide a vitalistic framework to help you reconnect with your innate healing potential, embrace the wisdom of your body, and trust the process of life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking to enhance your well-being, or embrace a deeper perspective on healing, our mission is to help you experience moments of profound discovery that change how you see yourself and the world.
The Vitalist Podcast invites you to slow down, be moved by beautiful questions, and live like a true vitalist.
Join us as we explore the art and science of healing through thought-provoking conversations with practitioners, scientists, creatives, and visionaries. Driven by awe and wonder, we deepen the conversation around health and healing. Here, we believe human beings are healable, thrivable, and adaptable.
Our mission is to provide a vitalistic framework to help you reconnect with your innate healing potential, embrace the wisdom of your body, and trust the process of life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking to enhance your well-being, or embrace a deeper perspective on healing, our mission is to help you experience moments of profound discovery that change how you see yourself and the world.
The Vitalist Podcast invites you to slow down, be moved by beautiful questions, and live like a true vitalist.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 23, 2025 • 39min
Music as Medicine: How Your Heart Can Rewire Your Nervous System at 60 BPM with Barry Goldstein
What if music isn’t just something we hear, but something our bodies remember? In this powerful episode of The Vitalist, Grammy-winning composer, producer, and sound healing pioneer Barry Goldstein joins us to explore music as medicine. From heart coherence to brainwave entrainment, Barry breaks down how rhythm, intention, and vibration interact with the nervous system, emotions, and even the cells of the body. He shares his journey from burnout as a mainstream record producer to becoming a “musitarian”, someone who uses sound to uplift humanity. Through personal stories, scientific insight, and practical tools, Barry reveals how the right music at the right tempo (especially 60–70 bpm) can activate deep healing, coherence, and states of flow. You'll learn: Why our earliest experience of sound begins in the womb How specific tempos and frequencies entrain the brain and heart How to become your own sound healer What it really means to “raise your vibration” Real-life stories of people using music to process grief, illness, and transformation Barry also shares the intention behind three of his most loved tracks, including Heart Codes and Hallelujah Amen, and explains how music can create a “field effect” that influences not just the listener, but the space around them. Whether you’re healing from stress, seeking emotional regulation, or simply curious about the intelligence of sound, this conversation will change how you listen, forever. HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in the Bronx, Barry witnessed music’s power to shift moods and uplift spirits across cultures long before he knew the science behind it. (1:26) Barry became a successful music producer, but success brought burnout eventually fading his passion for music. (3:16) Curious about heart coherence, Barry began composing music at the rhythm of a relaxed heartbeat, 60–70 beats per minute. What followed changed everything. (5:20) His hour-long ambient compositions began being used in massage therapy—and soon, in dental chairs, delivery rooms, hospice care, and more. (6:30) Parents of children on the spectrum gravitated toward Ambiology 5: Eden. Alzheimer's patients responded too. The music was helping, but the question became: how? (7:42) When the heart synchronizes with music, the brain follows. Barry explains how rhythmic sound brings the body into healing alpha brainwave states. (8:07) Long before the ear forms in utero, we feel vibration. Our first music is the heartbeat and breath of our mother, imprinting a deep, embodied memory of rhythm. (10:35) The heart literally sets the tempo for every other system in the body, guiding regulation and coherence. (11:20) Barry leads a grounding, integrative breathwork practice designed to restore inner harmony and reconnect to your unique frequency. (12:48) Frequencies aren’t one-size-fits-all. Barry encourages us to become our own sound healers and discover what truly resonates with our ever-changing inner landscape. (15:45) Music carries information. But it’s the emotion behind the intention that delivers healing. (17:31) Quincy Jones said it best: “Melody is a gift from God.” And it’s more powerful than any tech we try to layer on top. (18:06) Science is catching up. Studies now explore how frequencies can support cancer treatment. (19:16) Barry shares insights from Dr. Bill Tiller and Stephen Hawking: love and compassion literally vibrate higher than shame and fear. When we shift emotionally, we shift biologically. (19:36) Barry breaks down three powerful tracks, Heart Codes, Hallelujah Amen, and Om Shalom Home, and the intentional frequencies behind them. (21:19) Hallelujah Amen was composed with this intention: “The healing is already done.” (22:33) Om Shalom Hom channels the primordial sound “Om”—said to contain every frequency in the universe. (23:18) Real story: A man drove into the desert, intending not to return. But something made him hit play on Barry’s track Lay Down in Love. He said, “Your music saved my life.” (24:41) Barry calls his work Acousticeuticals. Like food, we can nourish ourselves with sound intentionally, morning, noon, and night.(26:42) He breaks down how binaural beats work and how to use them to target specific brain states. (29:27) His Ambiology series and Heart Codes are all set to 60 bpm—the tempo your body instinctively trusts for rest, repair, and coherence. (30:07) Research shows music can spark autobiographical memories and neuroplasticity—making it a powerful tool in Alzheimer’s care. (30:44) His wife once felt the music he was composing, through a wall, with Barry wearing headphones. “Music creates a field beyond itself.” (31:16) The more you play a song with intention, the stronger its energetic field becomes. Music magnifies presence. (32:04) Barry is exploring with researchers how music may impact cellular structures like mitochondria. (33:07) Barry now calls himself a musitarian, someone who uses music to uplift humanity. (34:29) RESOURCES Learn more at barrygoldsteinmusic.com @barrygoldsteinmusic Explore sound branding at sonic-signatures.com Book: The Secret Language of the Heart by Barry Goldstein Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jul 16, 2025 • 49min
Turn Toward the Fear: Why Stillness Is the Hardest (and Most Healing) Thing You’ll Ever Do with Akshay Nanavati
Let us be real with you: most people aren’t actually afraid of failure, pain, or fear itself. They’re afraid of being still long enough to feel any of it. In this episode, Dr. Keiko sits down with Akshay Nanavati, a former Marine, ultra-endurance athlete, and author of Fearvana, who went from addiction and self-harm to attempting the first ever solo ski crossing of Antarctica, pulling a 420lb sled. And no, this isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about building the courage to face the parts of yourself you’ve been running from. We talk about: Why fear isn’t your enemy, it’s your access point. How to stop distracting yourself every time fear speaks Why stillness is the most terrifying (and healing) thing you’ll ever do The neuroscience behind labeling emotions How Akshay went from drug addiction to becoming the most isolated life form on Earth What Antarctica taught him about presence, suffering, and spiritual strength This episode is packed with wisdom to help you face your fears and finally feel the stuff that’s been trying to get your attention for years. Because the moment you stop performing and start feeling, you begin healing. So, if you’re ready to do the hard thing? Be still. Listen. Feel. Fear is not here to break you. Fear is here to reveal you. HIGHLIGHTS: Akshay’s journey from addiction and self-harm to joining the Marines (1:50) How “Fearvana” was born and why it’s not the antithesis of nirvana, but the access point. (4:17) What most people get wrong about “irrational fears” (4:59) How to engage with fear to build the muscle of courage (5:53) From avoiding stillness to becoming the most isolated person on Earth—how Akshay trained for fear, one small step at a time (7:24) The “two darts” of suffering, and how to stop adding to your pain (10:13) Neuroscience-backed tools to create space between you and fear (12:15) Akshay’s method for preparing like an astronaut (13:39) The quote that changed everything for him: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” (15:03) How moving to three different countries pulled Akshay into drugs, self-harm, and the identity of “the crazy one” (18:01) How becoming a Marine revealed the purity and paradox of human suffering (19:35) What makes suffering alone so different from suffering with others (21:38) The uncomfortable truth: most of us do anything to avoid being alone with ourselves (25:43) The biggest fear no one talks about: stillness (27:28) You don’t need a cave, start training your stillness in a closet (28:11) The mission: 1,750 miles solo across Antarctica, dragging 420 lbs for 115 days (30:02) Why too much challenge blocks flow (32:21) How snow, pain, and presence shaped his mindset, and the mantra that kept him going (33:38) The real barrier to consistency? Knowing you have to do it again tomorrow (35:24) Day 58: gut pain, possible death, and the moment he finally had to stop (36:17) How to be with the emotional weight you carry, grief, guilt, shame, and how to stop minimizing it (38:40) The truth about the past: you don’t have to live in a story you didn’t choose (40:23) Pushing the edge of identity and why opposites can (and must) coexist (43:06) Akshay’s most powerful mantra: “I am awakened to the truth that all of reality is an illusion.” (45:16) His #1 advice if you want to step into your next level: “Be still with yourself.” (48:17) RESOURCES: @fearvana www.fearvana.com Order your copy of Fearvana Watch Blackhawk Down Read Blackhawk Down Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jul 9, 2025 • 37min
From Overwhelm to Inner Wisdom: The Get Quiet Method Explained with Elaine Glass (009)
In a world that praises the hustle and drowns us in noise, what if the most rebellious thing you could do… is get quiet? In this soulful conversation, Dr. Keiko sits down with Elaine Glass, author of Get Quiet, transformational coach, and former dental hygienist, to explore what actually happens when we stop doing and start listening. Elaine has sat with over 40,000 people. She’s heard their fears, their stress, their longing for peace. And what she’s found is something we all need to hear: healing doesn’t happen in the noise. It happens in the stillness. You’ll hear the story of the day Elaine’s life shifted when, in the middle of a painful divorce and autoimmune burnout, she stumbled upon a labyrinth just half a mile from her home. That walk changed everything. It wasn’t just a path through the desert. It was a path back to herself. Whether you're a mom, healer, high-achiever, or human just trying to hold it together, this episode will meet you where you are. Because in a world that constantly asks for more, choosing to slow down, listen in, and get quiet? That’s not weakness. That’s your quiet rebellion. And honestly? It might be the most powerful thing you do all week. HIGHLIGHTS: How a heavy metal-loving, high-energy woman learned to get quiet. (1:30) What inspired Get Quiet and Elaine’s journey in reclaiming her inner peace. (2:20) Can you get quiet at a rock concert? The role of nature, environment, and embracing change. (3:27) The insight gained from 40,000 dental chairside conversations: “I just want people to get quiet.” (4:33) The moment Elaine found the labyrinth that would change her life. (6:09) What is a labyrinth and why are more people building them in their backyards? (7:41) How to enter the labyrinth (and life) with childlike innocence. (8:48) The first message Elaine heard in the labyrinth: Surrender. (9:11) Reconnecting to intuition after losing it to life’s noise and how the labyrinth woke her up. (11:29) Why the labyrinth always delivers a message and how it helps women release what they’re carrying. (14:06) How hearing these soul-messages changed Elaine as a woman. (15:16) The first path of the Get Quiet method: Nurturing your body. (15:48) Why women disconnect from their bodies and how to come back through movement and breath. (16:50) “For the first time, I heard myself breathing.” The rebellious simplicity of getting quiet. (17:54) The trap of “more, more, more” and how it numbs us from what really matters. (20:06) The second path: clearing your physical environment. (21:30) Letting go of memory clutter and finding safety in your body instead of your belongings. (23:03) Two truths every woman needs to hear about putting herself first. (24:37) Elaine’s surprising parenting advice: focus on your relationship, not just your kids. (25:12) From the sideline-yelling mom to the grounded, present one, what her boys noticed. (26:05) What becoming a life coach taught Elaine about healing herself (and her kids). (27:16) From autoimmune issues to vitality; how “getting quiet” allowed Elaine to feel 20 years younger. (29:47) Why “retirement” isn’t the end; Dr. Jeffrey Bland’s beautiful reframe. (30:52) The most difficult (and essential) path: quieting the mind. (32:01) What’s next: Elaine’s vision for building a labyrinth retreat and teaching others to live from soul. (34:26) RESOURCES Order your copy of Get Quiet Explore more of Elaine’s work here. Download Elaine’s 6-minute visualization here. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jul 2, 2025 • 27min
What No One Tells You About Your Cycle, Your Gut, and Getting Pregnant with Dr. Samantha Ess (008)
If you’ve ever wondered why your cycle feels off, what your gut has to do with your fertility, or how to actually prepare your body to conceive, this episode is for you. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sammie pulls back the curtain on what most women were never taught about their bodies. From cycle literacy and hormone balance to gut health, environmental toxins, and the truth behind “unexplained infertility,” we dive into the real, root causes that impact your ability to get pregnant and how to heal them. Whether you're just starting to think about having a baby or you've been trying for months (or years), this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and more connected to your body than ever before. HIGHLIGHTS: Natural medicine transformed Dr. Sammie’s childhood health from daily oxygen treatments for asthma to thriving as an athlete with no inhalers. (1:50) From food to environment to emotional load, what you put in your body changes everything. (2:32) Dr. Sammie’s calling was written in her family's generational story of conception challenges. (3:20) Most women are never taught the three phases of their cycle, follicular, ovulation, and luteal, yet these phases govern everything from energy to conception. (4:30) The surprising truth? Many women don't know if they’re ovulating. Learning the rhythm of their body creates deep empowerment. (6:20) How to tell if your cycle is truly “regular” and why the luteal phase holds keys to your hormonal harmony. (7:00) PMS may be common, but it isn’t normal. Cramps, mood swings, and cravings are data, here’s Dr. Sammie’s advice. (8:00) Dr. Sammie’s foundational prescription: quality sleep, Mediterranean-style eating, hydration, and daily movement. (8:30) The biggest threat to hormone balance? The questions no one’s asking, especially around stress, emotions, and suppression. (9:40) How plastics, pesticides, even K-cups are hijacking hormonal balance. (10:40) Your labs are not just numbers, they’re a map showing how your body responds to stress, inflammation, and resilience. (11:30) Debunking ‘Unexplained’ Fertility. There’s always a reason. It may not be obvious, but it’s not ‘unexplained.’ (12:45) 70% of your immune system lives in your gut and it directly impacts your ability to conceive. (14:30) Your fertility window begins 3–6 months before conception. That’s when your body is setting the stage. (15:30) Coming off birth control isn’t one-size-fits-all. Endometriosis? Wait. PCOS? Start now. Strategy matters. (16:30) Menstrual cycle irregularity is normal in adolescence, but pain, nausea, or vomiting may signal something deeper like endometriosis. (17:55) Epigenetics proves it: what your grandmother ate, felt, or endured shapes your body today. (19:30) Dr. Sammie’s favorite tracking method: The Fertility Awareness Method. (21:40) The story of how one woman paused IVF to heal her gut and conceived twins naturally. (23:00) The liver can regenerate from the brink of cirrhosis. What else might be possible when we trust the body’s wisdom? (24:30) When a woman says, “I don’t trust my body,” Dr. Sammie helps her ask: Is my body failing me—or is it trying to communicate something deeper? (25:00) RESOURCES: Connect with Dr. Sammie Ess @walkthenaturalpath www.walkthenaturalpath.com Youtube Channel Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jun 25, 2025 • 38min
Longevity Starts at Your Feet: Dr. Emily Splichal on Barefoot Science, Mobility & What Most People Get Wrong About Walking (007)
Dr. Emily Splichal is a functional podiatrist and barefoot science expert, known for her innovative work at Naboso. In this conversation, she uncovers how our feet are essential for posture and overall health. Discover why single-leg balance tests could predict your lifespan and how foot mechanics affect your body's alignment. Emily also explains the connection between feet, pelvic floor, and even the tongue. Plus, learn how your shoes might hinder your mobility and why walking is more about neurological function than just cardio.

Jun 18, 2025 • 37min
From Himalayan Caves to Healing Chocolate: Lisa Reinhardt on Meditation, Mindfulness, and Cacao as Medicine (006)
What if the most powerful meditation practice didn't require a cushion, app, or even quiet, but a single piece of chocolate? After 11 years in the Himalayas, living in a cave and studying with Tibetan masters, Lisa Reinhardt returned to the modern world with a mission: to demystify meditation and make presence feel deliciously accessible. In this insightful episode, Lisa shares how she founded Wei of Chocolate and discovered that something as simple as intentionally eating chocolate could soften the nerve system, awaken the senses and reconnect us to our fundamental goodness. HIGHLIGHTS: Daily life in a remote cave, immersed in silence and Tibetan teachings. (1:21) A messenger arrives at her cave with an invitation that leads to rare teachings from a Tibetan master. (2:45) From growing up in a small town to living in a cave. (5:53) Meditation isn’t about “emptying the mind.” Lisa reframes it as a grounded, embodied practice accessible to anyone. (6:49) Most people won’t live in a cave, but everyone eats. Lisa found that chocolate could open the same door to presence. (8:11) Lisa describes traditional Tibetan practices that have been done for hundreds of years and engage the whole body. (9:35) Lisa shares how she prepares for her meditation practice by first noticing the space in the room. (11:12) Lisa invites you to “try on” your fundamental goodness. (13:52) How daily meditation practice softens any defensiveness. (15:43) We explore how meditative, tonal chiropractic and meditation complement each other. (16:18) Lisa shares a teaching from Brene Brown on softening difficult emotions. (17:56) Fluent in Tibetan, Lisa explains how language shapes perception and why certain meditative states are hard to access in English. (20:02) Lisa explains how in the Tibetan lineage, teachings were passed down human to human, not through an app or book. (21:04) How mind blown concepts are condensed into one syllable in Tibetan. (22:07) The meaning behind the name “Buddha” and how every Tibetan name means something. (22:59) Back in the U.S., Lisa discovered that chocolate was the secret to teaching the West about meditation. (25:03) Lisa’s first experience of chocolate as a meditation. (26:13) How to use Wei of Chocolate as a 2.5 minute meditation to shift your day. (26:45) How chocolate can be good for you, and the secret to what makes it healthy. (28:45) She unpacks what’s often hidden in mainstream chocolate, like soy lecithin, processed sugar, and pesticide residues. (33:05) Like water, chocolate holds intention. Lisa reveals the science of cacao’s crystalline structure and how it transmits energetic healing. (34:53) Lisa’s current favorite? Cherry Bomb. She shares how to connect with her in Phoenix or online. (35:46) RESOURCES: Wei of Chocolate - use code THEVITALIST for 10% off your first order San Center in Phoenix @lotuswei @weiofchocolate @sancenterphx Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jun 11, 2025 • 44min
Your Skin Is Smarter Than Your Products: Dr. Michelle Jeffries on the Skin’s Clock, Hormones, and Light (005)
What if your skin could tell time, and was trying to tell you something deeper? In this mind-shifting episode of The Vitalist Podcast, Dr. Michelle Jeffries, triple board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Skin Clock Method, blows open everything you thought you knew about skin. She takes us on a journey through integrative dermatology showing how your skin is more than just a barrier. It’s a messenger. A memory keeper. A sensory organ that reflects your stress, emotions, rhythms, and story. We talk trauma, time, hormones, fascia, light, and the daily rituals that help your skin reset and regenerate. You’ll learn why breakouts might be messengers, why sunrise is medicine, and how syncing with your body’s internal clocks could change everything. If you’ve ever felt like your skin was trying to tell you something… it probably is. This episode will help you listen. Highlights: How Dr. Jeffries became a triple-board certified dermatologist and why it’s anything but traditional (1:35) What most dermatologists are missing when it comes to our skin (4:51) The wild connection you never learned about the skin and our nerve system (7:23) Why your skin is a sensory organ that remembers your story (7:41) How your skin expresses what’s beneath the surface (8:36) Can skin hold memory? And what that means for scars, trauma, and healing (10:53) Your cells can tell time: How light, rhythm, and clocks affect your skin (12:07) Want better skin? Start syncing with Chrono Beauty and your body’s natural rhythms (13:58) Your skin makes serotonin, dopamine, AND oxytocin (16:02) Stress on your face: What cortisol is doing to your skin texture + tone (18:20) Skin as an emotional map: How anger, frustration, and identity show up on the surface (20:00) How natural light heals and artificial light disrupts your biology (21:00) Ditch the sunglasses: Why sunrise needs your eyes (24:52) Supplements, sunscreen truths, and how to actually reverse sun damage (26:30) Why everyday sun might be healthier than intermittent exposure (32:27) Your skin protects more than your body, it protects your story (34:01) The Luminous Clock: Dr. Jeffries’ daily rhythm reset for radiant skin and whole-body healing (40:00) Resources: @drjeffries Dr. Michelle Jeffries Skin Clock Method Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Jun 4, 2025 • 28min
Your Ring Isn’t Smarter Than You: Dr. Jen Huberty on Intuition, Hormones & Health (004)
Just because your tracker says it, doesn’t mean your body agrees. Dr. Jen Huberty reminds us: intuition is data too. What if the key to better health isn't another wearable, protocol, or “science-backed” trend, but learning to trust your inner wisdom? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Dr. Jen Huberty, behavioral research scientist, former Head of Science at Calm, and founder of Fit Minded, to explore the intersection of science, self-worth, and spirituality. With over 190 peer-reviewed publications and $10M+ in research funding under her belt, Dr. Jen’s insights are as rigorous as they are refreshingly human. Highlights Is tracking helping or hurting your mental health? (1:53) Your ring says you slept badly, but you feel rested. Who do you trust? (2:44) The only meditation app Dr. Jen still uses and how she uses it differently. (3:19) Does waking up to a “bad” sleep score have a psychological impact? (3:36) Spirituality vs. Science? Why Dr. Jen believes we need both. (4:33) Why personalized health decisions must go beyond the research to consider your genetics, preferences, and intuition. (5:36) A powerful lesson from her 12-year-old on how to build habits that actually last. (6:46) How to spot real science vs. BS in wellness products. (8:13) Her unfiltered take on GLP-1 weight loss drugs and why it feels like déjà vu from the 80s. (9:08) What’s actually stopping people from lasting changing? (10:42) Dr. Jen’s early research revealed a missing link in most wellness approaches: emotional, social, and intellectual self-worth. (11:05) A book club that changed women’s health, without ever talking about weight. (13:21) How personal tragedy led Jen to yoga and meditation. (14:28) Dr. Jen’s personal experience navigating hormones, supplements, sleep, and learning to trust her body through perimenopause. (16:45) What Dr. Jen has learned from 250+ digital health companies. (18:23) Why daily meditation might be overrated, according to science. (19:06) What’s the minimum effective dose for meditation? (20:06) Dr. Jen shares how folding laundry or doing dishes can be a powerful practice—if you're aware. (21:32) From yoga to private meditation teachers, how Dr. Jen’s practice has evolved over time. (22:04) The 2 most powerful tools for lasting change: goals + asking for help. (23:25) The communication tool that helps you actually get the support you need. (25:11) The question that keeps Dr. Jen up at night and why you should ask it too. (26:34) Resources: Dr. Jen Huberty on LinkedIn Fit-Minded.com Insight Timer App MyFitnessPal Flow App I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

May 28, 2025 • 41min
The Science of Flower Essences and What Nature Knows That We Don't with Katie Hess - Ep 003
In this episode of The Vitalist, we’re joined by Katie Hess—flower alchemist and founder of LOTUSWEI—for a rich conversation about the subtle yet powerful world of flower essences. We explore what flower essences are, the science behind the intelligence of plants, and how flowers communicate with us, often beneath the threshold of our awareness. Katie shares how nature speaks in quiet, potent ways, inviting us to slow down, tune in, and access our deepest gifts. This episode is a call to remember our connection to the natural world and to let it guide us back to our own innate wisdom. HIGHLIGHTS: When she met her mentor, he shared two transformative truths. (2:15) “If 3% of the world took flower essences, it would change the future of this planet.” (2:25) Dandelions aren’t weeds, they are medicine. A reminder that nature often gives us exactly what we need, right when we need it. (3:13) The difference between herbs, essential oils, and flower essences. (4:40) How flowers express themselves as crystals in water. (7:21) The unseen ways flowers communicate with us, down to the electrical charges bees detect. (8:51) The emotional uses of each flower. (9:41) Collecting flower essences blends science, spirit and deep intentionality (10:37) Indigenous people communicated to plants, altering their chemistry within 24 hours. (11:13) The go-to flower essence for stress, overwhelm, and burnout. (13:13) Flower essences clear up to 7 generations of inherited, acquired and collective patterns. (14:48) Flower essences create a 3 second delay to process emotional triggers. (19:42) Personal client transformations using flower essences. (21:48) Katie does a live flower card reading for Dr. Keiko. (22:39) The essential oils to pair with the flower essences. (26:45) The Flower Revolution program that Katie uses for personal growth. (26:45) Flower essences are our only bioenergetic tool for healing. (30:24) The science of energy transfer and how flower essences ripple through families. (32:02) The crystals in our bodies magnify the flower vibration. (33:04) The flower Katie is still looking for. (34:38) The research of Cleve Backster and how plants can feel and respond to your intentions. (43:19) A closing invitation to remember the gifts within, and how we can use flower essences to grow and evolve. (46:21) RESOURCES: LOTUSWEI - use code THEVITALIST for 10% off your first order San Center in Phoenix @iamkatiehess @lotuswei @sancenterphx Flowerevolution book by Katie Hess Stephen Harrod Buhner Flower Revolution Program - LOTUSWEI Dr. Masaru Emoto - Hidden Messages in Water Cleve Backster Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

May 21, 2025 • 44min
The New Blood Test Is in Your Mouth: Flying, Stress, and the Secret Language of Saliva with Dr. Patti Milligan - Ep 002
What if the key to understanding your health, mood, and even how well you age can be measured in your saliva? In this fascinating episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Patti Milligan, a pioneer in the field of salivary science. Dr. Patti unpacks the groundbreaking world of saliva research. Join us as we cover how emotional states change your saliva composition and how it can help diagnose diseases years before symptoms arise. You’ll learn how air travel impacts your nervous system, and more importantly what you can do to support your body to mitigate jet lag. Plus, practical tips on foods and movements to boost nitric oxide and saliva production. HIGHLIGHTS How saliva shifts with emotion — 42 types tied to your nervous system! (3:33) Saliva’s 4 Superpowers: digestion, disease detection, nutrient levels, and immune defense. (4:38) Saliva can spot disease years ahead — including heart, inflammation & even breast cancer. (5:42) How one child reversed “failure to thrive” just by boosting saliva. (9:02) Low saliva = choking risk for elders — and why it’s more common than you think. (12:17) What your saliva says about your nervous system (14:39) How much saliva you produce every year (16:21) How goji berries and lemon drops help children emotionally reset. (17:11) The top foods that stimulate saliva naturally. (20:02) A simple 4-move tongue routine to boost your saliva flow. (24:19) How driving and flying suppress saliva—and what to do about it. (28:23) The Renewal Kit: The 3 ingredients that protect your body mid-flight. (32:18) The two groups leading the saliva research frontier (37:21) Easy ways to measure salivary biomarkers like nitric oxide. (38:16) Boost Your Longevity in 4 Minutes; Dr. Zach Bush’s movement hack to elevate nitric oxide fast. (41:13) RESOURCES AND LINKS Patti Milligan Patti Milligan TedX "Your Saliva is Talking to You. Listen!" Renewal Kit for Travelers Everlywell Saliva Testing Dr. Zach Bush’s Nitric Oxide Movement HumanN Dr. Paul Slowey Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com