The Nourishment Mindset

Happy Transformation Tuesday, y’all! It’s admittedly been way too long. I took a summer pause to take my son to camp and decompress for awhile with the hopes that this time would inform future creativity. I have also been busy serving clients. On that note, if you would like a complimentary 20 minute consult to discuss any health improvement goals and see if we’re a fit for working together, I’m here to listen. Simply connect with me at FavorFat@gmail.com.In this episode #68, we begin with a question from listener, Mary Ellen, who asked me about su...

In today’s solocast and episode #67 of The Nourishment Mindset, I touch on four topics that recently caught my attention. It’s admittedly a hodgepodge but there is one consistent thread and that’s the critical importance of knowing the INGREDIENTS in our food.

We evolved eating real, whole single ingredient foods and that’s where we should focus for optimal health given nutrient density. As Dr. David Lustig, author of Metabolical says, “if it has an ingredient label, it’s suspect.” Bien dit (well said), as the French say. The problem is that the majority of Americans cons...

I met Cheesemonger Raymond Hook 20 years ago when we worked together to design a Port and cheese program for high end restaurants. We embarked on a cheese and Premium Port tasting journey that ultimately led to visits to and partnerships with Sweet Grass Dairy and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. There are plenty of big personalities in the fine wine and culinary world, and Raymond’s vast knowledge and humble manner immediately impressed me. I have learned a shocking amount about food and farming from this gentleman.In today’s episode #66 we discuss his “aha” cheese moment, world travels to well...

Filming this videocast was a true honor because I had the pleasure of interviewing someone I respected and admire. Her organization helped me improve my health and vitality after a traumatic birth experience AND regain some sanity during the events of 2020 and beyond. Please meet Sally Fallon Morrell, founding president of the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF), an organization inspired by the work of a 20th century dentist and author who traveled the world for a decade studying traditional cultures and diets. She is the author of numerous books including my favorite, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically...

EPISODE #64If you’re a Mom, you may be aware of the concept of “Mom fails,” which is just a part of the job. We learn from them and move on. In general, I believe that learning from “fails” is a super important part of being an evolving human.In today’s episode #64 — audio only, I’m drawing a parallel between making metabolic health improvements and a very challenging project I took on eight months ago. Specifically, I’m offering seven lessons learned from “acting fails” after a return to acting stage after a 33-year hiatus.In May of 2024 I auditioned for a sig...

What percentage of Americans do you think lose sleep fretting about money matters in the middle of the night? (Hint, it’s well over the majority!) When I was livin’ it up in San Francisco working in the wine industry, I managed to rack up some impressive debt, and it frequently impacted my slumber. Over the years there were other financial issues such as worry over estate planning once my son was born and then Covid came and tanked the stock market and subsequently sent interest rates up and inflation especially sky high.Sleep is a critical factor in the...

Am I 100% sugar-free? Heck no! But I’m 95+% sugar-free, and this is sayin’ a lot for someone who in her teen years used to compulsively binge on the stuff. (Turns out when you remove all dietary fat from your diet, you crave sugar.)Today’s Nourishment Mindset episode #62 guest, Michael Collins of SugarAddiction.com has climbed many addiction and health journey mountains, and he’s come out on top with a simple message: if you’re addicted to sugar, he can help you detox. For the last 12 years, he’s helped people heal and recover their vitality and mental clarity.Duri...

Before I dive into our main topic, I want to highlight something I find truly ridiculous: the “Beefless ground beef” I saw on a Trader Joe’s shelf. If someone wants to eat plants infused with toxic seed oils and preservatives, that’s their call, but let’s call it what it is, and that ain’t beef! I also am not personally shopping for cheese-less cheese, grape-less wine nor olive-less olive oil. What is it with humans?!! Why do we take what Nature perfectly made, much with it, and listen to those who claim it’s healthier?

Another mini...

Santé and happy transformation Tuesday, y’all! Today’s solocast is a topic I’m particularly passionate about and the root cause of all metabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity, and many cancers and serious brain disorders like dementia. It’s also something whose effects we can “see” happening (and therefore take measures to prevent) 10-20 years before they manifest with a very simple blood test that almost no physician orders. Why?!! Well, dive into the episode for some sassy commentary on that piece and to learn what to do about it.In this episode #60, Root Cause Revolution: Unveiling the Cause & Cure...

One of my favorite quotes is from Jocko Willink, a retired Navy SEAL commander, podcaster, co-author of New York Times Best Seller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and author of Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual among other works. He states, “Don’t expect to motivated to get out there every day and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on discipline.”

YES! I love discipline. Because even when I don’t feel like doing X or Y, 95% of the time, I’m just get ‘er done anyway. I learne...

Today’s episode #58 -- Awe Heals & You've Gotta be Weird to be Well, was inspired by a gentleman who asked me for some parting words of advice. It truly touched me — his vulnerability and desire to heal, and I wrote to him the following (which is not mentioned in the audio portion of the podcast):If there is one thing I can leave you with, it's intention. Some would call it discipline. Diet culture/mentality tells us we can be on/off "track" or the "wagon," but the real, genuine truth is that we shouldn't and can't if we want...

From picky eater to offal and parasympathetic pause champion! Today’s episode #57 features celebrity chef, author and entrepreneur James Barry. I "met" his culinary creation — Pluck, a grass-fed regenerative and organic seasoning featuring offal — highly nutrient rich organs alongside organic spices and Redmond Real Salt, some years ago and have been in love ever since. It was a true pleasure to learn the story and motivation behind his chosen life path as a nourisher extraordinaire and organ champion, and I’m thrilled to share his health promoting tips with you. Chef James reveals that he wasn’t born with a refined...

It's ALL about the INGREDIENTS y'all!

We’ve all been taught to look at the calories and the now gi-hugic nutrition label, but the real nutrition story is told in the INGREDIENTS! Today’s episode is about tossing out those frames from the 70’s (when this government interference in nutrition started) and putting on some modern lenses to evaluate food based on what it gifts to your brain and body.

A diet is about restriction; it also rhymes with riot. Nourishment is about healing and vitality; it’s a lifestyle. On a diet, 100 calories of gummy be...

This is our third show about nourishing kids inspired by an article in my French village’s newsletter featuring the three chefs of the elementary school who strive to serve balanced, locally sourced, organic lunches with variety! (Previously, we aired episode 3, Kid Food, and episode 27, Let’s Cook.) Warning if you watch the episode on YouTube: got Florida wet hair and just don’t care!

Here are links to example menus at the elementary school in Châteauneuf du Pape and my local school distract in Collier County. Please note the French menu is made with fresh ingredi...

The first time I spoke with Michael, I felt like I was reconnecting with a friend. Like a mental health counselor should be, he is warm, genuine, content and a particularly good listener. Michael is also funny and extremely well read. (Reminds me of another Pitt grad I know — my husband, Patrick Huey: maybe there’s somethin’ to studying in Pitt’s iconic Cathedral of Learning.) And like a good, long-time friend he is unapologetic about his awesome quirks like raising Nigerian dwarf goats and jumping on couches. (Watch the Youtube version to see his agility, y’all!).

In today...

Happy Transformation Tuesday y’all, and welcome to the final Nourishment Mindset episode of 2023! Today’s we’re talking about the ills of diet culture, which has a nasté grip on most of us and leads to a perpetual cycle of restrict-overindulge-shame/guilt-restart. Diet culture is polarizing and devoid of the pleasure food is meant to bring to our tables, but it sure does make the industry beaucoup bucks.Here I offer a new lens through which to view the way you nourish yourself: nutrient richness. This is where you focus your food choices on what each item brings to your...

This episode #52 features Chelsie Ward, a holistic nurse, wellness guide and author who wants to help people become happy, healthy and whole. I particularly appreciate her transformation from traditional nursing to focusing on the mind, body and spirit to address root cause issues.

Chelsie shares her story of healing and reminds us that we need to become our own health advocates. She likens symptoms to the “whispers of the body” and encourages us to pause and reflect when something is off or painful versus the knee jerk reaction of medicating it away. And reminds us that one of t...

Today’s episode #51 features me on Craig Lane’s Health Alkemy channel. During our time together we chat about a range of subjects including how we as a culture define health (spoiler alert: it’s a low bar), cultivating presence and mindfulness, nutrition, vices and much more.

Before we go there, I give thanks to a reviewer and do a mini rant on Haaaaavard’s ridiculous latest “study.” The thanks goes to Michael Sisley of North Carolina who was kind enough to purchase a number of copies of The Nourishment Mindset including a handful to give to his counseli...

Did y’all know you are like a bottle of fine (or not so fine) wine? In this 50th mini solo episode inspired by my two decades in the wine industry, I share an article I wrote for holistic health site, Selene River Press, “Your Terroir: Viewing Metabolic Health Through the Lens of Fine Wine.Fine wine requires cultivation: all inputs are carefully selected, tended, bottled and aged; a true labor of love. It takes years – decades really, to grow fine wine. Doing so requires a continual process of discovery, refinement, risk reward analysis, plenty of prayers to a higher...

Y’all, I’m gonna be real honest here on a couple of points. First, I skipped this past Tuesday. And I don’t have an excuse other than laziness and a desire to watch a weekend movie on my couch and just tune out the world. This is so not my normal vibe — completely uncharacteristic, and after some time chastising myself, I just gave in and said, Dixie needs a freakin’ break! Since this pod’s inception, I’ve not broken a publishing promise to myself. So there it is. And we’re movin’ on.Second, my guest today shouldn’t be...

Today I feature Brian Gryn, a trainer and coach who studied with the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and focuses on helping people achieve their best. He is also the host of the Get Lean Eat Clean podcast. Gryn’s book, The Step Ladder System, identifies six steps to lifelong health and vitality: 1) creating clarity; 2) creating small wins and identifying important habits; 3) activity upgrade; 4) sleep like a superhero using a simple evening routine; 5) stress management with a mindful practice; and 6) nutrition and meal timing.

In this episode we discuss his love of golf, the children’s book he wrot...

In late August I had the pleasure of being a guest on Brian Gryn’s Eat Clean Get Lean podcast. I’m featuring the interview here for episode #47 of The Nourishment Mindset pod/videocast. Brian and I discuss my book, The Nourishment Mindset, the importance of table side traditions, health benefits and risks of wine consumption (and why all wines are not created equally), nutrient dense foods, mindful eating, tips for generational transfer of food knowledge more! Check it out and let me know what you think.

In the next Nourishment Mindset episode coming out on Tuesday, Octo...

We’ve had a lot of wonderful guests on The Nourishment Mindset, and today’s Terry Tucker is truly inspiring. His story of perseverance and survival is incredible, and his presence is extremely calming. Terry reminds me of a giant yogi, and I could tell within minutes of meeting him that he has high integrity and is a phenomenal husband and father. To top it off, he reveals not one, but two super rad encounters with the great Mike Krzyzewski. (If you don’t know who Coach K is, please don’t admit this to me!)

Terry is the f...

Today’s Nourishment Mindset podcast #45 features an interview I did with holistic nutrition publisher Selene River Press’ Danielle LeBaron, a lovely lady and mom of four(!) nourished children including a recently born daughter. She is positively glowing throughout the interview despite being in infant mode, which speaks to the power of nourishing yourself with real whole foods and living a holistically focused life!

We discuss my motivation in writing the book, why it’s focused on the pleasures of the table and the fact that I’m targeting real, everyday people. In America, we do a lot of drivi...

Have you ever played “practitioner ping pong,” a term I coined while listening to Rick describe our current medical industry’s approach to treating pain? Or perhaps you’re in pain right now? Maybe you just want to understand the mechanics behind “manspreading;” why dudes tend to sit with their legs wide, often encroaching upon others’ personal space? Then this episode of The Nourishment Mindset is definitely for you!Meet Rick Olderman, farm boy turned healer who joins me on today’s episode to discuss how to leave your chronic pain in the dust. As someone who has healed from chronic ank...

Big Food and Big Pharma are at it again, y’all! Well, to be fair, they’re always at it. In today’s episode #43 of The Nourishment Mindset videocast, I share my recent article for Selene River Press, Health Washing: Big Food Marketing Tricks & Traps. You’ll learn how to avoid paying more for faux products acting as though they’re healthier, as well as how to spot some of the most egregious marketing trickery when you’re shopping.I also break down a particularly ridiculous headline found recently in the UK Telegraph, Almost two thirds of women suffering from dangero...

The number 1 thing you can do for your dog or cat to prevent diabesity and cancer!

It’s not just we humans who suffer from metabolic dysfunction: our canine and feline companions are sick as well. Today’s straight talkin’ guest, Daniel Schulof, Founder of Keto Natural Pet Foods, author of Dogs, Dog Food and Dogma and fellow giant breed lover, discusses why this is happening and most importantly, what we pet parents can do about it. Tune in to hear how he is disrupting the Big Pet Food industry! As well as my pre-episode rant on the FD...

Why are we talkin’ about breathing, something we do automatically? There are a lot of different types of breathing. What is your breath like when you’re nervous? Contrast that with how you’re breathing at the end of a delicious meal filled with laughter and pause. Or as you’re reading and beginning to doze off.

It’s true that most of the breaths we take are autonomic unconscious processes. And true that we can improve our cardiovascular, immune and psychological functioning with intentional breath work. I started researching breathing techniques while pregnant with my son, specifical...

Happy Transformation Tuesday, y’all! Has anyone ever told you to eat multiple small meals throughout the day to help you maintain your energy and lose weight? In today’s 40th episode, you’ll learn why this is bad advice for most people and how you can elevate and optimize your metabolic health by eating in harmony with your hunger hormones.Enter ghrelin, leptin and insulin: these three work in concert to tell you when to eat, when to stop and regulate blood sugar levels, respectively. When you’re grazing all day, you’re recruiting them frequently, constantly ringing the bell l...

Yo y’all! Even though it’s not technically summer, it sure feels like it with the kids out of school. Speaking of kids, the “meat” of this week’s episode #39 is a critique of an article sent to me by listener who wished to remain anonymous: “What If You Weren’t Scared of Your Kid Being Fat?”

While I certainly agree that we shouldn’t teach kids to restrict nutrition or body shame them, I am not at all on point with the article’s subject who thinks children should be allowed unrestricted access to junk food. We have an at...

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Michael Kaye. He is an author, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and AutoImmune Paleo Coach, and owner of The Center for Functional Health near Philadelphia, PA. He’s also a fellow Nutrition Network alumni. Dr. Kaye shares his health journey, which began when he decided he no longer wanted a fat kid nickname, and began voraciously study health and nutrition. He’s been a body builder, tried many different diets and landed in the world of real, whole foods. Today, he focuses on his mission of guiding his patients “to the best health...

Last week the always awesome Ben Azadi joined me for episode 36 of the Nourishment Mindset podcast. This week’s episode #37, I’m featuring my interview on his Keto Kamp podcast a few weeks ago. We talk about the back story and motivation behind my new book, The Nourishment Mindset, discuss weight loss from a nourishment perspective — i.e., no calorie counting, and debunk some of the myths out there surrounding health, exercise and more. I also added some beginning bonus material regarding the importance of dopamine fasting — in other words, why you should be BORED some of the time and defi...

Y’all, Ben Azadi is one of my holistic health and low carb, real food idols. He is the author of four best selling books, creator/host of the Keto Kamp educational program and podcast, frequent featured speaker, fellow Floridian and a genuinely nice dude. Plus, he’s a true dog lover! His German Shepherd Lab mix, Ziggy Stardust, is as spoiled as Travis McGee the Newfie: they both enjoy a carnivore diet, filtered water and practice intermittent fasting!

During our conversation, we learn how Ben transformed himself from an obese, depressed and suicidal young man into a le...

There are weirdos out there who brag about not needing sleep. In my early twenties I dated a dude who said, “You can sleep when you’re dead.” This ain’t right, y’all! Sleep is critical for immune function, mental health, vitality and more. What’s the quickest way to drive someone mad? Deprive them of sleep! Over fifty million Americans have sleep disturbances — most undiagnosed, and one third of adults do not get enough sleep. SleepHealth.org has a 10 Commandments for good sleep, but I’ve narrowed mine down to a 0:10:2:1 method: 0: Rise & GroundA good night’s rest starts the mo...

I met Aaron 10 years ago while shooting extra virgin olive oil (yes, like taking a shot in a bar but this is liquid gold) at Durant Olive Mill, and I remember thinking he was quite driven and mindful. Our paths crossed several times before my family and I left the Pacific Northwest to move to Florida in 2018, and I was thrilled to hear he’d become an entrepreneur in what I like to call “the west coast hippie” space.Today, he and his life partner, MacKenzie Saunders, run Fender’s Blue Hemp, a company they founded to share th...

Dr. Michael Kaye owns The Center for Functional Health near Philadelphia, PA and reached out to me after reading my new book, The Nourishment Mindset. We’re fellow alumni of The Nutrition Network, a program founded by Dr. Tim Noakes to help educate healthcare professionals in low carb, high fat nutrient dense nutrition. I was thrilled to be interviewed on his livecast last week and am sharing it here for episode number 33 of The Nourishment Mindset podcast. We talk about my eating disorder origin story — anorexia and then butt and exercise bulimia, how I pulled myself back together and aban...

Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to meet someone by chance and your interaction — even if short, has a significant impact on your life. When I happened upon Tom Scannell in May of 2020 during a family trip to Pine Island, Florida, I knew I’d found a fellow freedom fighter in this humble yet extremely driven lifelong, extremely fit farmer. He gave us a tour of his Pineshine Farms, patiently answered my barrage of questions and very generously gave me a book that is now one of my favorite reads: Everything I Want to do is Illegal by Joel Salatin, owner...

Today’s episode is one of those real life, s**t hits the fan realities. I had planned to work on/ air an episode I recorded with a local Florida farmer, but my kid woke up sick and our plans changed. I decided instead to address a recent apropos question by listener Joe: “Do health coaches get off track?”Yes, man! We get off track, too. Because we’re not robots. And because one of two things can happen: something completely unplanned wrecks your well intentioned plans, or there’s a downward slow progression of a problem over time.

I add...

Y’all, I am still sparkling — and frankly shaking a little, from my super early morning conversation with Goo Close! I can’t believe I actually pulled it off! I’ve been trying to book him through his not so friendly publicist for months, and used my interview with the wonderful Vinnie Tortorich to help convincer her I could pull it off. (I might as well put my prior 20 year marketing and PR career to work here at The Nourishment Mindset.) She called me in the middle of the night — 3:58 am EST and said, “You can have Goo right f’ing now or...

Time to get stroooong, y’all! There are plenty of reasons… ahem, excuses, not to strength train. “Reasons” like work, family, travel, no gym membership, lack of knowledge, injury, fear of building too much muscle, sweaty weirdos in the gym, etc. I’ve heard ‘em all including “I don’t like lifting weights.” Fair enough.

How many of us truly loooove brushing our teeth? Taking out the trash? Paying taxes and fees galore? Sitting through meetings? Picking up after the dog? (I have a Newfoundland so that’s a big job.) We all do plenty of s**t — pun intended, we...