How To Be WellnStrong

Think running marathons is the secret to longevity and heart health? Think again.

Today, I’m joined by Mark Sisson — a pioneer in ancestral health, NYT bestselling author, former elite endurance athlete, founder of Primal Kitchen, and creator of Peluva barefoot shoes.

In this episode, we unpack why more cardio isn’t always better, how walking may actually be one of the best things for longevity, fat loss, metabolic health, and joint health, and why chronic endurance training can sometimes leave you feeling more inflamed, depleted, and prone to injury. We also dive into metabolic flexib...

Inflammation can manifest itself in the form of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and more. Typically, inflammation has been wreaking havoc inside one's body well before it leads to noticeable symptoms. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ryan Greene, an osteopathic physician with many years of experience in human performance, sports medicine, nutrition, and the most cutting-edge recovery methods. Dr. Greene is also the co-founder and medical director of Monarch Athletic Club, a medically centered health club. In today's conversation, Dr. Greene and I discuss the biggest drivers of inflammation, the difference between acute vs chronic inflammation, early...

Join me as I sit down with Lily Nichols, a renowned Registered Dietitian and author, to explore the essential nutrients for fertility, preconception, and pregnancy. Drawing from her books, "Real Food for Pregnancy" and "Real Food for Gestational Diabetes," Lily debunks common nutrition myths and highlights the importance of protein, organ meats, and key vitamins for embryo development. We discuss how to optimize fertility, especially for women with PCOS, and why managing blood sugar is vital for a healthy pregnancy. Lily also shares the ideal nutrition plan for preconception and pregnancy, how modern diets are affecting fertility, and offers...

Join me in today’s episode as I sit down and speak with Isabella Wentz as we dive deep into the world of thyroid health, specifically Hashimoto’s, and the often-overlooked role of adrenal health. We talk about practical, evidence-based ways to support your body’s natural healing processes—things like nourishing your gut, balancing hormones, and making lifestyle changes that truly work. If you’re tired of quick fixes and want to understand how to address these complex issues from a root-cause perspective, this episode is for you. Dr. Wentz is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist...

Emilie Toups is a mom of five, homesteader, and founder of Toups & Co Organics — a skincare line rooted in truly clean, ancestral ingredients. Her journey began when she healed her daughter’s eczema using tallow balm, sparking her passion for creating safe, effective products straight from nature. In this episode, we talk about what a non-toxic lifestyle really looks like, ingredients to avoid, how to nourish your skin from within, and nature-inspired solutions that support all skin types. Use code wellnstrong10 for 10% off at Toups & Co!

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I'm so excited to share today's episode with you because it's about a topic I've become very passionate about—integrating therapy with theology. Join me as I sit down with Jo Hargreaves, a psychotherapist, writer, and speaker based in the UK. Jo focuses on the gifts, potential, and purpose of every individual through a holistic approach that looks at spirit, soul, and body. In this episode, Jo and I discuss how to address anxiety with a faith-based approach, how to overcome intrusive thoughts, how to regulate our nervous systems, and how to shift your state at a neurobiological level. 

Did you know that regular infrared sauna use can boost heart health, detoxify your body, and even support longevity? Join me as I sit down with Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten Sauna and one of the world's leading experts on infrared light therapy. Connie shares 25 years of experience pioneering infrared technology, offering practical insights and science-backed advice for anyone looking to feel better, live longer, and heal from the inside out. Connie shares how infrared light targets inflammation and boosts immunity, offers tips for maximizing your sauna routine, and breaks down the red, near, mid, and far-infrared wavelengths—what th...

When trials befall us, we’re often tempted to question God’s goodness or power, and because we want an end to our pain, we try to figure out why God has allowed particular trials into our lives. We reason that if we can just understand what God is doing, we can work towards a way out of our suffering. I am so excited to share with you guys my conversation today with Pastor Matt Howell, as we discuss some profound questions about suffering. Pastor Matt grew up in Dallas, TX and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2003. Afte...

Today I’m joined by author, artist, and GraceLaced founder Ruth Chou Simons to talk about trusting God in seasons that feel slow, hidden, or uncertain. Ruth shares how some of the most meaningful work of her life was formed during the ordinary years of raising six boys, creating art during nap times, and learning to recognize God’s faithfulness in everyday moments. We talk about navigating waiting seasons, quieting anxious thoughts, discerning God’s timing, and what it looks like to live faithfully without rushing ahead. This conversation is a grounded reminder that even when life feels slow or unc...

Creatine used to be something people mainly associated with athletes or bodybuilders—but lately it’s been having a major moment in the wellness space. And it turns out the benefits may go far beyond muscle. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Dan Pardi, PhD to explore what creatine actually is, how it works in the body, and why researchers are now studying its role in brain health, energy production, and cognitive performance.

Dr. Pardi is the Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life Sciences, where he leads education around healthspan and human performance. He holds...

If you’ve ever hit 6 p.m. and thought, what am I even making for dinner?—or saved a “healthy” recipe that looked amazing… then skipped it because it had 27 ingredients - this episode is for you.

Today I’m joined by recipe developer and content creator Jazz Leaf (who I jokingly call the Air Fryer Queen). She’s known for 30-minute meals with 10 ingredients or less, and her approach is simple, protein-forward, and genuinely doable in real life- especially if you want to feel better without cooking becoming a second job.

In this conversation, we break down...

Today we’re talking about how understanding your personality type can help you grow in your relationships. If you’re not familiar with this assessment, it’s a tool designed to help you better understand your core motivations, emotions, and patterns at a deeper level. It also equips you to connect more intentionally with the people you love — whether that’s friends, family, coworkers, or your spouse. That’s why I’m so excited to welcome my new friend Meredith Boggs to the show today. Meredith is an expert on this framework and the author of The Journey Home: A Biblical Gui...

In today’s episode, I’m excited to welcome back my wonderful friend Stephanie May Wilson to talk about her new book, Create a Life You Love—and this conversation couldn’t have come at a better time. We unpack why “one right answer” is often a myth and how to make big decisions without feeling like you’re about to ruin your life. Stephanie shares how to tell the difference between a closed door and normal fear, how to build a wise “cabinet” (because not everyone gets a vote on your life), and why confidence is really about trusting yourself...

I’m so excited to throw it back to one of my favorite and most encouraging episodes with my friend Nicole Zasowski — a Marriage & Family Therapist and the author of What If It’s Wonderful?, From Lost to Found, and Daring Joy.

In this conversation, we talk about why joy can feel so vulnerable, why our minds often jump to worst-case scenarios, and how to find the courage to fully receive the good in our lives instead of bracing for what might go wrong. So many of us feel safer preparing for disappointment than letting ourselves experience joy —...

Have you ever noticed how much the words you hear — and the ones you repeat to yourself — shape the way you live? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Sharon Jaynes, author of The Power of a Woman’s Words. We talk about what it really means to take your thoughts captive, how to recognize the lies you’ve been carrying, and how to gently replace them with truth that brings peace instead of pressure. Sharon also shares how one voice of encouragement changed the direction of her life, and offers simple, faith-rooted ways to start speaking to yourself w...

Today’s episode is a little different. There’s no outline, no clear agenda — just a conversation where my friend Jim Mann and I are shooting from the hip. He has quite the background: longtime (low-key famous) radio host, cancer survivor, and one of the funniest people I know. Jim is the reason I moved to Greenville. He’s the reason I learned how to edit a podcast. And he’s been part of my life through some really formative seasons — even before this show existed. I call him my Greenville dad. In this conversation, we talk about everything from his ear...

Have you ever felt burned out in your faith—or like your relationship with God feels a little flat? In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, author and speaker Asherita Ciuciu, to talk about burnout, joy, and why spiritual rhythms matter more than rigid routines. We discuss the story behind her book Delighting in Jesus, how to reconnect with God when your faith feels dry, how to discern whether a thought is from God or not, and simple practices for releasing anxiety and mental overload.

If you’re craving a more grounded, sustainable way to w...

Do you find yourself constantly replaying past events—or feeling like your mind is in a state of chaos?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Caroline Leaf, PhD to explore why anxiety, overwhelm, and intrusive thought patterns aren’t signs that something is broken—but signals of how the mind is responding to stress, experiences, and unresolved patterns. We break down what thoughts actually are, how experiences are wired into “thought networks,” and why the mind controls the brain—not the other way around. Dr. Leaf also explains how it’s possible to redesign a memory—not by erasing the pa...

Ever feel angry at God—but afraid to admit it?

In today’s episode, I sit down with Jon Noyes of Stand to Reason, a former atheist who once believed faith in God was intellectually unwarranted. After examining the evidence for Christianity, everything changed. Drawing from his background in the legal field, Jon shares how to engage doubt with clarity and compassion—and what it looks like to wrestle honestly with God through grief, loss, anger, and unanswered prayers, without letting bitterness take root.

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Lindsay Etemadipour was among the very first wellness content creators I followed when I started WellnStrong’s Instagram, and she’s been in the wellness space curating content as a holistic herbalist for over ten years. Having grappled with an array of autoimmune diseases and chronic conditions spanning two decades, Lindsay spent years in and out of doctors' offices, finding no relief. Her experience led her to pursue alternative modalities and discover the power of herbalism. Lindsay’s passion led to her founding Symbi, a loose-leaf tea brand providing ancient remedies for modern ailments. In this episode, Lindsay and I disc...

I’m very excited to welcome Dr. Joey Muñoz to the show today. Dr. Muñoz holds a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from Florida State University, and his research explores the connection between specific foods and the prevention of diseases like osteoporosis and diabetes. In this episode, we discuss some powerful ways to maximize muscle growth and sustain weight loss, the habits stopping you from losing fat and getting lean, the best hack to satisfy hunger throughout the day,  and how to be sure you’re hitting your protein targets. And perhaps most importantly, we talk about t...

I am so excited to kick off the first episode of the new year with someone I recently met but already consider a dear friend: Heidi Lee Anderson. If you’ve ever wrestled with anxiety about the future, this episode is for you.

We all know how it feels when fear keeps circling, no matter how much Scripture we memorize, how loudly we play worship, or how earnestly we pray. We know the Bible says "Do not fear" — but how do we actually live that out when our hearts still feel heavy?

When Heid...

Emilie Toups is a mom of five, homesteader, and founder of Toups & Co Organics — a skincare line rooted in truly clean, ancestral ingredients. Her journey began when she healed her daughter’s eczema using tallow balm, sparking her passion for creating safe, effective products straight from nature. In this episode, we talk about what a non-toxic lifestyle really looks like, ingredients to avoid, how to nourish your skin from within, and nature-inspired solutions that support all skin types. Use code wellnstrong10 for 10% off at Toups & Co!

Suggested Resources: