Episode 101: Navigating Health Information Online with Dr. Guillermo Ruiz

Health information has never been easier to access—and somehow, it’s never felt harder to know what to trust. Between new research, expert opinions, personal stories, social media, supplement claims, and the latest wellness trends, it can be difficult to separate what’s plausible, what’s promising, and what’s actually been demonstrated.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Guillermo Ruiz, a naturopathic physician who practices naturopathic endocrinology with a focus on metabolic health. His work centers on bringin...

Episode 100: AIP Community Q4 Update — Research, Advocacy & Community

Autoimmune wellness doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s shaped by the research being published, the advocacy happening on behalf of patients, and the communities that help turn information into something meaningful in everyday life.

In this Q4 Community Update—and the 100th episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast—Mickey Trescott catches up on some of the developments happening across the autoimmune landscape, with a focus on research, advocacy, and community.

First, immunologist and AIP Certified Coach Sybil Cooper, PhD, joins Mickey to discuss a newly publ...

Episode 99: ADHD, Women’s Health, and Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Jolene Brighten

What if the brain fog, overwhelm, forgetfulness, trouble focusing, or emotional intensity you’ve been blaming on hormones or autoimmune disease has another layer to it?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and bestselling author Dr. Jolene Brighten for a conversation about ADHD through the lens of women’s hormones, brain health, and autoimmune disease.

Together, they explore why ADHD can look different in women and why so many women aren’t...

Episode 98: Food Sensitivity Testing: What Tests Can and Can’t Tell You

Food sensitivity tests promise something incredibly appealing: send in a sample, receive a personalized list of reactive foods, and skip the uncertainty of elimination and reintroduction. But can these tests actually tell you which foods are causing your symptoms?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott takes a closer look at the science behind commercial food sensitivity testing, including IgG panels, MRT, ALCAT, and other commonly marketed approaches. She explains the important difference between a test being able to measure so...

Episode 97: Integrative Rheumatology: Bridging Medicine, Nutrition & Lifestyle with Dr. Micah Yu

For many people living with autoimmune disease, seeing a rheumatologist can bring up a lot of uncertainty—especially if you want to incorporate nutrition and lifestyle alongside conventional medical care.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Micah Yu, a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in rheumatology, internal medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Yu also lives with autoimmune arthritis himself, giving him a unique perspective as both physician and patient.

Together, they explore what in...

Episode 96: Understanding Food Reactions: Why Foods Affect People Differently

One of the central goals of the Autoimmune Protocol is figuring out which foods work for you and which ones don’t. But when a symptom appears after eating a food, what actually counts as a food reaction—and does every reaction mean the same thing?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott explores the science of food reactions and why they can look so different from person to person. She breaks down the major categories of reactions, including food allergies, celiac disease and...

Episode 95: Understanding Perimenopause: A Beginner’s Guide with Dr. Mariza Snyder

Perimenopause can feel especially confusing when you’re already living with autoimmune disease. Changes in sleep, mood, energy, inflammation, cognition, and even how your body responds to familiar strategies can leave you wondering: Is this an autoimmune flare, perimenopause, or both?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by functional medicine practitioner, bestselling author, and women’s hormone health expert Dr. Mariza Snyder for a Perimenopause 101 conversation designed to help women understand what’s actually happening during this transition.

Tog...

Episode 94: Food Nomad — Navigating the Emotional Journey of Autoimmune Disease with Imei Hsu

For many people, changing the way they eat because of autoimmune disease can feel like losing more than food. It can affect family traditions, cultural connection, travel, restaurants, and the simple feeling of belonging around a shared table.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Bernice Imei Hsu, registered nurse, licensed mental health counselor, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and AIP Certified Coach, to explore the emotional and cultural journey of living with dietary restrictions.

Episode 93: Beyond the Studies — Results from the New Autoimmune Protocol Community

What happens when people put the Autoimmune Protocol into practice—not in a clinical trial, but in real life?

To celebrate the launch of The New Autoimmune Protocol, hundreds of readers joined a guided online community where they worked through the new Transition Phase, completed 30 days of either Core or Modified AIP, tracked their symptoms, and supported one another along the way.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott shares the results from this unique community experience. While this wasn...

Episode 92: Fiber, Gut Health & the Microbiome with Farzanah Nasser

Fiber is having a moment—but for people with autoimmune disease, digestive symptoms, or a history of restrictive diets, it can also feel confusing.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by UK-based naturopathic nutritionist, certified functional medicine practitioner, and author Farzanah Nasser to explore why fiber is one of the most overlooked nutrients in modern nutrition—and why it's so important for gut, immune, and overall health.

Together, they discuss how fiber nourishes the gut microbiome, supports immune func...

Episode 91: Understanding Hair Loss and Autoimmune Disease with VJ Hamilton

Hair loss is one of the most common symptoms people experience with autoimmune disease—but it's also one of the most misunderstood. While many people assume it's simply part of having an autoimmune condition, hair loss can actually have many different causes, from immune dysfunction and nutrient deficiencies to hormone changes, chronic stress, and scalp inflammation.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by registered nutritionist, AIP Certified Coach, and founder of the Autoimmunity Nutrition Clinic, VJ Hamilton, to explore th...

Episode 90: Gut Healing on AIP — What’s Really Happening | Deep Dive

When most people start the Autoimmune Protocol, they naturally focus on the food: what to remove, what to eat instead, and how to navigate all of the planning that comes with a major dietary change.

But one of the most important things happening during AIP is often something you can’t actually see—changes happening inside the gut itself.

Because AIP isn’t just designed to remove potential food triggers. It’s also designed to support systems commonly affected in autoimmune disease, including th...

Episode 89: The Future of Autoimmune Research with Victoria Shanmugam, Director of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research

Autoimmune disease affects an estimated 50 million Americans, yet for decades these conditions have often received less attention, coordination, and funding than other major chronic diseases.

That landscape is beginning to change.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Victoria Shanmugam, rheumatologist, physician-scientist, and Director of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR) at the National Institutes of Health. Created by Congress in 2023, the OADR was established to coordinate autoimmune...

Episode 88: The First AIP Pilot Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Julianne Taylor

Can dietary change meaningfully improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

A recently published pilot study investigating the Autoimmune Protocol diet in adults with rheumatoid arthritis found improvements in patient-reported disease activity, pain, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life measures—with several participants reaching remission-level scores by the end of the intervention.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by registered nutritionist, AIP Certified Coach, and PhD candidate Julianne Taylor to discuss the first clinical trial investigating the Autoimmune Pr...

Episode 87: Celebrating NAIP Launch Week & Creating Through Chronic Illness with Alaina Moore of Tennis

What does it take to keep creating when your body is struggling? How do you continue making meaningful work while navigating uncertainty, limitations, and chronic illness in real time?

In this special episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott celebrates the launch of The New Autoimmune Protocol with a deeply personal conversation featuring her longtime friend Alaina Moore—vocalist and songwriter of the indie band Tennis.

Instead of interviewing a guest, Mickey takes the guest seat herself as Al...

Episode 86: What Joy Can Survive? Chronic Illness and Healing with K.J. Ramsey

What if healing isn’t about getting rid of pain—but about learning how to remain fully alive within it?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by K.J. Ramsey, trauma-informed therapist, author, and chronic illness advocate. Her new memoir, The Place Between Our Pains, explores life with chronic illness, medical trauma, and the complicated relationship many of us have with our bodies when healing doesn’t look the way we expected.

Together, Mickey and K...

Episode 85: Developing Your Personal Health Vision with Jaime Hartman

When starting the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to focus on the details—what to eat, what to remove, and how to do everything “right.” But there’s a deeper question that often gets overlooked: what are you actually working toward?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Jaime Hartman, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, educator, and co-teacher of the AIP Certified Coach Program, to explore the concept of a personal health vision.

This conversation introduces a foundation...

Episode 84: Troubleshooting AIP — How to Identify What’s Going Wrong | Deep Dive

When you start the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to expect a fairly straightforward path: remove certain foods, focus on nutrient density, support your lifestyle—and over time, feel better.

And for some people, that’s exactly what happens.

But for many others, the process feels more complicated. You might feel worse when you begin, struggle to stay consistent, stop seeing progress after a few months, or feel confused during reintroductions.

If you’ve ever wondered, What am I doing wrong...

Episode 83: The Menopause Gut — A Gut-Centered Approach to Perimenopause with Cynthia Thurlow, NP

What if the return of symptoms in midlife isn’t a setback—but a signal? What if shifting hormones during perimenopause and menopause are actively reshaping your gut, your immune system, and your resilience?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by Cynthia Thurlow, nurse practitioner, bestselling author, and expert in perimenopause and metabolic health. Her new book, The Menopause Gut, explores how hormonal changes in midlife impact the microbiome, immune regulation, and inflammation—and what women can do to adap...

Kitchen Confidence: The Lazy Person’s AIP Meal Template (Small Bite) | Episode 82

If you’ve ever felt like AIP requires too much thinking in the kitchen, you’re not wrong.

Between figuring out what to cook, how to combine ingredients, and whether you have what you need, relying on recipes for every meal can quickly become overwhelming.

But AIP doesn’t have to feel that complicated.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott introduces a simpler approach: flexible meal templates that take the guesswork out of cooking...

Episode 81: AIP Community Update — Events, Advocacy & Research

Living with autoimmune disease is deeply personal—but the systems that shape diagnosis, treatment options, and long-term outcomes extend far beyond the individual. Research advancements, policy decisions, and community-led initiatives all play a role in what care looks like today—and what becomes possible in the future.

In this second Quarterly Community Update episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott zooms out to explore what’s currently unfolding across the autoimmune landscape. These quarterly conversations are designed to keep you informed and grounded—without overwhelm—so you can better u...

Episode 80: From Flare to Flow — Emmitt Henderson III on Lupus, Identity, and Advocacy

Healing stories are often told once there’s a clear path—but autoimmune life is often lived in uncertainty, advocacy, and difficult decisions.

In this episode, Mickey talks with Emmitt Henderson III, lupus patient and founder of Male Lupus Warriors, about navigating life with a complex and often misunderstood condition. Emmitt shares his decades-long journey to diagnosis, his experience living with lupus as a man, and what it’s like to face stage four kidney failure while continuing to advocate for others.

Thi...

Episode 79: Ask Mickey Anything — Your Biggest AIP Questions, Answered

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing AIP right,” you’re not alone.

From navigating the early days of elimination to troubleshooting plateaus, managing low energy, and figuring out how to make this work in real life—there are so many questions that come up along the way.

In this special Q&A episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey answers listener-submitted questions from across the community, covering both the practical and emotional sides of the Autoimmune Protocol.

She walks through common...

Kitchen Confidence: 5 AIP Flavor Boosters That Make Everything Taste Better (Small Bite) | Episode 78

If you’ve ever started AIP and thought your meals taste a little flat or repetitive, you’re not alone.

One of the biggest challenges—especially early on—is learning how to create satisfying, flavorful meals with a more limited ingredient list. And when food isn’t enjoyable, it becomes much harder to stay consistent.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott breaks down five simple, practical ways to build flavor in your AIP kitchen—without comp...

Episode 77: How to Build a Nutrient-Dense Plate | Deep Dive

If you’ve spent any time learning about the Autoimmune Protocol, you’ve probably heard the phrase nutrient density come up again and again. But knowing that nutrient density matters—and actually putting it into practice—are two very different things.

Because when you’re in your kitchen, planning meals or staring into your fridge, the real question isn’t what is nutrient density? It’s: What does a nutrient-dense plate actually look like?

In this episode of the AIP Deep Dive series, Mickey breaks down ho...

Episode 76: AIP in Real Life — Eating Differently Without Making It a Big Deal

Eating differently can feel like a much bigger deal than it actually is.

Not because of the food itself—but because of the social dynamics around it. Dinner parties. Work lunches. Family holidays. First dates. Travel. The subtle pressure to explain. The awkwardness of declining. The internal negotiation about how much to share and how much to keep private.

In Episode 76 of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott begins a new Small Bite series called AIP in Real Life—conversations about...

Episode 75: Life After AIP — Building Your Long-Term Maintenance Plan | Deep Dive

What does life actually look like after you complete the Autoimmune Protocol?

Once you’ve moved through Transition, Elimination, and Reintroduction, it’s natural to ask: Now what? Are you supposed to eat this way forever? What happens if your health shifts? And how do you apply what you’ve learned to real-life situations like stress, travel, celebrations, or aging?

In this Deep Dive episode, Mickey explains what it really means to “finish” AIP and how to build a long-term maintenance plan that is flex...

Episode 74: Beyond the Recipe — Magic Chili with Marie-Noelle of Urban AIP (Small Bite)

If you’ve ever thought starting AIP meant saying goodbye to your favorite comfort foods forever, this episode is for you.

In this Beyond the Recipe Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott continues the mini-series exploring how AIP recipes actually work in real life—not just on paper. These conversations go deeper than ingredients and instructions to unpack why certain recipes succeed, how to adapt them, and what makes them sustainable long-term.

Mickey is joined by Marie...

Episode 73: What I’d Do Differently If Starting AIP Today

If Mickey were starting the Autoimmune Protocol today—not in 2011 during the middle of a health crisis, but now with more than a decade of lived experience, research, and clinical insight—there are several things she would approach differently.

Not because AIP doesn’t work, and not because she regrets the path she took. In fact, AIP was the turning point that helped her regain her health after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and celiac disease. But over the years, her understanding of healing has evolved. T...

Episode 73: Mind-Body Minute — Beginner Meditation with Michele Spring

Meditation is one of those practices that almost everyone recommends—especially in the autoimmune world. We know nervous system regulation matters. We know stress impacts inflammation. We know slowing down is important.

And yet, actually sitting down to meditate can feel surprisingly difficult. Instead of calm, you might feel restless. Instead of clarity, your thoughts get louder. Instead of relaxation, your body feels uncomfortable.

For many women living with autoimmune disease, this makes perfect sense. When your nervous system has been on high alert for a lo...

Episode 71: The Root Cause of IBS — Interview with Izabella Wentz, PharmD

What if IBS isn’t a true diagnosis—but a placeholder? What if bloating, cramping, urgency, constipation, diarrhea, and food reactions aren’t signs that your body is “too sensitive,” but clues that something specific and treatable is being missed?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Izabella Wentz, integrative pharmacist, bestselling author, and longtime leader in the root-cause approach to chronic illness. Many of you know her work in the Hashimoto’s community—but her newest book turns that same in...

Practitioner Perspectives: Autoimmune Flares & Gut Issues with Mariu Cabral (Small Bite) | Episode 70

When you’re navigating autoimmune disease and IBS at the same time, it can feel confusing fast.

You clean up your diet. You follow AIP carefully. And yet you’re still bloated, constipated, dealing with urgency, or wondering whether what you’re experiencing is an autoimmune flare, a gut flare, or something else entirely.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and AIP Certified Coach Mariu Cabral for a grounded conver...

Episode 69: Core vs. Modified AIP Elimination Phase — How to Choose | Deep Dive

If you’re learning about the Autoimmune Protocol for the first time—or revisiting it after trying it years ago—one question almost always comes up during the Elimination Phase:

Should I start with Core AIP or Modified AIP?

It sounds like a simple choice, but for many people it feels loaded. Some wonder which version will “work better.” Others worry about sustainability, cost, cultural fit, or whether they can realistically maintain the structure long enough to see results.

In this epis...

Episode 68: Beyond the Recipe — Creamy Cilantro Chicken and Rice with Mary (Small Bite)

If you’ve ever looked at a nourishing AIP-friendly recipe and thought, this sounds great, but I don’t have the energy for multiple pans and a sink full of dishes, this episode is for you.

In this Kitchen Confidence Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott continues the Beyond the Recipe mini-series—conversations that go beyond instructions to explore why certain recipes work so well in real life, especially on low-energy days, and how they help reduce friction around f...

Episode 67: Starting an Autoimmune-Friendly Movement Routine — Interview with Beth Connor, PT

Movement can feel complicated when you’re living with autoimmune disease—especially if your body no longer tolerates exercise the way it once did. Questions like how much is enough, what’s too much, and how to start safely can leave many people stuck between doing nothing and overdoing it.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by Beth Trimark-Connor, a licensed physical therapist, certified personal trainer, and lifelong athlete who specializes in helping people rebuild strength safely after illness, injury, an...

Kitchen Confidence: Your AIP Kitchen Starter Kit (Small Bite) | Episode 66

If you’re starting AIP — or refining your approach — it’s easy to assume you need to buy new ingredients, new tools, or completely overhaul your kitchen before you begin.

But sustainable success on AIP doesn’t start with buying more. It starts with clarity.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott walks you through how to set up your kitchen in a way that supports you through Transition, Elimination, Reintroduction, and long-term maintenance.

From clearing out visual...

Episode 65: AIP for Hashimoto’s – The Polish Study on Nutrient Density, Symptoms & Thyroid Health

What happens when researchers outside the AIP community independently decide to study the Autoimmune Protocol in an academic setting? In this episode, Mickey breaks down a 2023 research trial from Poland that evaluated AIP for people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who were euthyroid on paper—but still highly symptomatic.

As part of the AIP Medical Research Review Series, this episode explores the second published clinical study on AIP for Hashimoto’s. The Polish research team examined not only symptoms and thyroid labs, but also n...

Episode 64: From Flare to Flow — Lynn on Staying Grounded While Healing Takes Time

Healing stories are often told after everything makes sense—but autoimmune life is usually lived in the middle of uncertainty.

In this episode, Mickey talks with AIP Certified Coach Lynn Rester about navigating an active flare while balancing work, health, and daily life. Lynn shares what it’s been like to move through recurring infections, deep fatigue, and disrupted sleep—and how she’s staying grounded while healing unfolds in real time.

This conversation offers reassurance for anyone who’s doing the wo...

Episode 63: AIP for IBD — The Gene Expression Study & Patient Experience Survey

What happens inside the body when someone follows the Autoimmune Protocol—and how does AIP actually feel to people using it in real life?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott reviews two important follow-up studies from the Scripps research team, led by Dr. Gauree Konijeti, that expand our understanding of AIP for inflammatory bowel disease beyond symptom improvement alone.

The first study examined gene expression changes in intestinal tissue after an AIP intervention in ulcerative colitis. The second expl...

Episode 62: Meal Plan Makeover — Improving Energy and Satisfaction (Small Bite)

Many people start the Autoimmune Protocol with a clear understanding of the rules—what foods to include, what to avoid, and which phase they’re in. But knowing the rules and feeling well on AIP are not always the same thing.

In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott introduces a new practical series called Meal Plan Makeover, where she walks through real-life AIP meal plans to explore what’s working, what might be getting in the way, and how small, strategi...