Modern Thyroid and Wellness

What if chronic illness is rarely caused by just one thing?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Richard Horowitz, board-certified internist and longtime medical director of the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, to explore a very different way of thinking about chronic disease.

After more than four decades working with complex Lyme and tick-borne illness patients, Dr. Horowitz developed what he calls the MSIDS model, or Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome. His framework looks at multiple overlapping drivers of inflammation rather than assuming one diagnosis has one cause...

What if one of the simplest tools for supporting energy and recovery was something your body already depends on every second of the day—oxygen?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Brad Pizzelli, founder and CEO of 1000 Roads, to explore EWOT—Exercise With Oxygen Therapy—and the personal health journey that led Brad to build his own system.

Brad’s story began long before 1000 Roads. After years of dealing with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, severe pain, fatigue, brain fog, melanoma, and eventually a Lyme disease diagnosis, he found himself trying treatmen...

GLP-1 medications have become synonymous with weight loss—but what if their impact on women’s health goes far beyond the number on the scale?

Recorded live at SXSW in Austin, this special panel brings together experts in thyroid and metabolic health, fertility, menopause, and strength training to explore what women should really understand about GLP-1 medications.

Moderated by Dr. Shannon Ritchey, PT, DPT, the conversation features McCall McPherson, PA-C, Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, and Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD. Together, they discuss appropriate use, microdosing, insulin resistance, inflammation, thyroid disease, PCOS, fertility, perimenopause, menopause, muscle pres...

What if insulin resistance is quietly driving inflammation, weight gain, and thyroid dysfunction years before blood sugar ever looks abnormal?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with endocrinologist Dr. Alessia Roehnelt for an in-depth conversation about insulin resistance and why it can be such an important marker of long-term metabolic health.

Dr. Roehnelt explains how insulin functions in the body, what happens when insulin resistance develops, and why chronically elevated insulin can contribute to inflammation, weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, and disease progression.

They also explore the bidirectional...

What if the brain fog, forgetfulness, emotional overwhelm, anxiety, or difficulty getting things done isn’t simply stress—or even your thyroid?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson, PA-C sits down with Dr. Jolene Brighten, women’s health expert and bestselling author, to explore the often-overlooked connection between ADHD in women, thyroid function, hormones, perimenopause, inflammation, and brain health.

Dr. Brighten explains why so many women reach adulthood without an ADHD diagnosis and why hormonal transitions can suddenly make symptoms that were once manageable feel impossible to ignore.

She also explai...

What happens when you’re doing everything “right” for your health but still don’t feel like yourself?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Nicole Peterson Doran, co-founder of PUR-FORM, Humanaut Health franchisee, and host of The Healthspan Collective Podcast, to talk about her decades-long journey through PCOS, hypothyroidism, inflammation, fertility concerns, long COVID, mast cell activation symptoms, and ultimately finding a more personalized approach to health.

Nicole’s story began at just 16 years old when she rapidly gained weight, developed facial hair, experienced irregular periods, severe fatigue, and intense br...

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson, PA-C sits down with thyroid health expert and bestselling author Elle Russ to discuss why so many people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s continue experiencing symptoms even while taking thyroid medication—and what may be missing from conventional thyroid treatment.

They break down the limitations of relying on TSH alone, the difference between “normal” thyroid labs and actually feeling well, and why thyroid treatment may need to consider the bigger picture, including T4, T3, reverse T3, medication type, dosage, timing, symptoms, and the individual patient.

If you’v...

Could a simple neck self-check help you notice a thyroid concern earlier?

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and in this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Rashmi Roy, a fellowship-trained, board-certified endocrine surgeon specializing in thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Dr. Roy practices at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa and has performed thousands of thyroid and parathyroid procedures. Together, McCall and Dr. Roy have an important conversation about thyroid cancer risk, early detection, diagnosis, thyroid nodules, surgery, Hashimoto’s, and how patients can make more informed decisions about th...

What if thyroid dysfunction isn’t always an isolated thyroid problem, but a signal that the cells throughout your body are under too much stress?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Bill Rawls, physician, bestselling author, and co-founder of Vital Plan, for a fascinating conversation about cellular health, chronic illness, autophagy, microbes, stress, thyroid function, and the role herbs may play in supporting resilience.

Dr. Rawls’ perspective grew out of his own health crisis. After years of intense work and inadequate sleep as an OB-GYN, his health deteriorated dram...

With thousands of supplements promising more energy, better hair, improved thyroid function, and healthier aging, how do you know what your body actually needs?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Melissa “Mel” Afflerbach, Clinical Director of Weight Loss & Supplement Programs, for a practical conversation about the supplements they use and recommend within their thyroid and metabolic health programs.

They break down some of the most common concerns women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s experience—from persistent fatigue and low energy to hair loss—and explain why supplementation should support the bigger...

What if your thyroid symptoms aren’t an isolated problem, but one signal from a body asking you to pay attention?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Kelly McKenna, CEO and Co-Founder of End Chronic Disease, to explore thyroid health, autoimmunity, chronic stress, environmental exposures, nutrition, and what it really means to focus on prevention.

Kelly’s health journey began with a celiac disease diagnosis in high school, followed by nearly two decades of autoimmune and chronic health challenges. In her early 30s, thyroid labs disrupted her plans to free...

What if the foods, supplements, workouts, and hormone therapies that work beautifully for someone else are completely wrong for your biology?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Kashif Khan, bestselling author of The DNA Way, celebrity longevity coach, and two-time TEDx speaker, for a deep dive into functional genomics and personalized health. Kashif explains how DNA acts as an instruction manual for the body and why understanding those instructions may help explain why people respond so differently to the same foods, environmental exposures, exercise programs, supplements, and hormone therapies.

...

What if menopause wasn’t something to fear or simply endure, but a transition you could actively prepare for?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Lisa Jedan, creator and host of MenoPositive, to challenge the long-standing narrative that menopause automatically means decline. After a successful career in PR and marketing, where she helped build brands and shape stories, Lisa turned those same skills toward changing the conversation around women’s health and aging.

Lisa shares what she has learned from interviewing experts across conventional medicine, Chinese medicine, longevity, brea...

What if you've optimized your thyroid hormones, improved your nutrition, reduced inflammation, and addressed the underlying biochemistry, but you still don't feel fully well?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes chronic illness recovery educator Faith Ashenden for a fascinating conversation about the neuroscience of healing and how the brain may continue reinforcing chronic symptoms long after the body has begun to recover. After overcoming Graves' disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, panic attacks, and years of debilitating illness, Faith now teaches women how to retrain subconscious patterns, regulate the nervous system, and rebuild...

What if the key to better thyroid health, metabolism, and longevity starts at the cellular level?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson is joined by David Roberts and Dr. John Gildea, the founders of Mara Labs, to explore the science behind chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, detoxification, and why bioavailability is one of the most overlooked factors in nutritional supplementation.

David shares the deeply personal story that inspired Mara Labs after his wife Mara's battle with breast cancer, while Dr. Gildea explains how his own scientific research led him to develop innovative...

What if PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, chronic inflammation, fertility concerns, and post-viral illness aren’t completely separate health problems, but connected chapters of a much bigger story?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Nicole Peterson Doran, co-founder of PUR-FORM and host of The Healthspan Collective podcast. Nicole shares her personal journey from being diagnosed with PCOS at just 16 and later hypothyroidism to discovering functional and integrative medicine, preparing for pregnancy, navigating long COVID and mast cell activation syndrome, and ultimately helping build businesses focused on personalized health optimization and regenerative medicine.

What if one of the most overlooked causes of fatigue, joint pain, thyroid dysfunction, and even heart disease wasn't iron deficiency, but iron overload?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes Christy Sutton, chiropractor, functional medicine clinician, educator, and author of The Iron Curse. Inspired by her husband's diagnosis with hereditary hemochromatosis, Dr. Sutton has dedicated her work to helping patients recognize and address iron overload before it leads to serious long-term health complications.

Together, McCall and Dr. Sutton explore why hereditary hemochromatosis is far more common than many people realize...

What if autoimmune disease isn't something you're destined to live with forever, but a signal that your body needs help addressing deeper root causes?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes longtime mentor, friend, and functional medicine pioneer Amy Myers. A two-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized functional medicine physician, Dr. Myers shares her personal journey from being diagnosed with Graves' disease during medical school to becoming one of the leading voices in autoimmune and thyroid health.

Together, they explore why autoimmune diseases continue to rise, why women...

What if one of the most powerful ways to support your thyroid, hormones, gut, and long-term health isn't another supplement or medication, but improving the air you breathe and the water you use every day?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes Helen Christoni, Senior Vice President of Ideal Living, the parent company behind AirDoctor and AquaTru. Helen shares her personal health journey, including experiencing early menopause and severe osteoporosis in her early forties, and how that experience led her to become passionate about reducing environmental toxins in the home.

Together...

What does it really take to build a thriving business while navigating personal loss, single motherhood, medical challenges, and starting over from scratch?

In this special episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson steps away from her usual role as interviewer as she's joined by her longtime friend and Modern Thyroid Clinic's Weight Loss Program Director, Melissa Afflerbach. Together, they share the deeply personal story behind the creation of Modern Thyroid Clinic and the challenges, setbacks, and pivotal moments that transformed a tiny one-room practice into one of the nation's leading virtual thyroid clinics.

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What if the secret to looking younger isn't doing more treatments, but choosing the right treatments at the right time?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Prem Tripathi, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Bay Hills Plastic Surgery, to discuss the rapidly evolving world of aesthetics. From filler migration and fat grafting to facelifts, lasers, skincare, and social media beauty trends, Dr. Tripathi shares his expert perspective on what works, what doesn't, and how to make informed decisions when it comes to facial rejuvenation.

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What if the reason you're still struggling with fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, gut issues, or hormone imbalances isn't because your treatment isn't working—but because you're being exposed to mold every single day?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Philip Oubre to explore one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic illness: mold exposure. Drawing from years of clinical experience treating complex chronic conditions, Dr. Oubre explains why mold is often missed, how it disrupts nearly every system in the body, and why many patients continue struggling despite doing "all th...

What if the reason you still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unlike yourself isn't because you're lazy, aging, or doing something wrong—but because no one has truly listened to your story?

In this special Modern Thyroid and Wellness VIP Retreat episode, McCall McPherson and the Modern Thyroid Clinic team sit down with three inspiring women from their founding VIP cohort: Jennifer, Allison, and Natalie. Each shares her personal journey through thyroid dysfunction, chronic fatigue, medical frustration, and ultimately finding hope through personalized, root-cause care.

Their stories may be different, but the themes are remarkably similar: ye...

What happens when women who have spent years feeling dismissed, exhausted, and unheard finally find answers—and community?

In this special Modern Thyroid and Wellness VIP Retreat episode, McCall McPherson and the Modern Thyroid Clinic team sit down with several women from the founding VIP cohort to share their deeply personal thyroid healing journeys.

These are not celebrity stories or perfectly polished transformations.

These are real women:

What if GLP-1 medications are not just changing weight loss—but completely transforming the future of women’s health?

In this special SXSW panel discussion, Shannon Ritchey moderates an eye-opening conversation with leading experts McCall McPherson, Natalie Crawford, and Jessica Shepherd about the rapidly evolving role of GLP-1 medications in fertility, thyroid health, inflammation, menopause, longevity, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention.

This conversation goes far beyond weight loss. The panel explores how GLP-1 medications may reduce systemic inflammation, improve insulin resistance, support fertility outcomes, influence hormone health during perimenopause and menopause, protect cardiovascular health, and...

What if the reason you still feel exhausted, inflamed, and stuck despite “doing everything right” is because no one ever taught you how to truly eat for your thyroid?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Ginny Mahar, functional medicine health coach, chef, and author of the THYROID30 Cookbook, to explore the overwhelming world of thyroid nutrition and how to make healing feel realistic, sustainable, and empowering.

After struggling for years with debilitating fatigue, brain fog, immune dysfunction, and weight resistance following her hypothyroidism diagnosis, Ginny discovered that food and...

What if you could see exactly what a thyroid expert actually does for her own health—no filters, no perfection, just real life?

In this solo Ask Me Anything episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson opens up in a way she never has before—sharing her personal wellness routine, supplements, medications, beauty treatments, and the honest reality behind maintaining health during a difficult season of life.

From navigating grief and mental health challenges to optimizing energy, hormones, and inflammation, this episode offers a raw and unfiltered look at what it really takes to stay...

What if your fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalance, and inflammation aren’t separate issues—but signs that your body is missing something fundamental?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Caroline Alan, co-founder of BEAM Minerals, to uncover one of the most overlooked root causes of modern health struggles: mineral depletion.

Caroline shares her personal journey from severe health challenges—including autoimmune issues, gut inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and chronic fatigue—to full recovery through mineral replenishment. This conversation reveals why even health-conscious individuals may still be mineral deficient, how modern f...

What if the symptoms you’re experiencing in your 30s, 40s, and beyond aren’t just about hormones—but about your gut?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Cynthia Thurlow, nurse practitioner, TEDx speaker, and metabolic health expert, to explore how gut health, hormones, and metabolism are deeply interconnected—especially during perimenopause and menopause.

Drawing from over 25 years of clinical experience and her new book The Menopause Gut, Cynthia shares why menopause should be viewed as a full-body systems shift, not just a decline in hormones. This conversation dives in...

What if the fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation you’ve been blaming on aging… is actually something you can reverse?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Shivani Gupta, Ayurvedic practitioner, turmeric researcher, and author of The Inflammation Code, to explore a completely different perspective on inflammation.

Blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science, Dr. Gupta explains how chronic inflammation is at the root of many modern health issues—from thyroid dysfunction to gut imbalance—and how small, daily rituals can dramatically shift your health without extreme diets or complica...

What if your symptoms aren’t because your hormones are “wrong”—but because your body can’t actually use them?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, board-certified endocrinologist and Chief Medical Director at Modern Thyroid Clinic, to uncover the powerful connection between gut health, inflammation, and hormone function.

Dr. Smith shares why so many women continue to feel exhausted, inflamed, and out of balance—even when their labs look “normal.” This conversation reveals how gut dysfunction drives inflammation, blocks hormone activity at the cellular level, and creates a cy...

What if your fertility challenges weren’t random—but your body signaling deeper imbalances that can actually be addressed?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Natalie Crawford, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility expert, to break down the real drivers behind fertility struggles.

Dr. Crawford shares a powerful, root-cause approach to fertility, explaining how your menstrual cycle acts as a vital sign, how thyroid health and inflammation play a major role, and why modern lifestyle factors are significantly impacting fertility outcomes. This conversation is both eye-opening and deeply empo...

What if the future of medicine isn’t about managing symptoms—but actually helping the body rebuild and heal itself?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Karolynn Halpert, a regenerative medicine specialist at BioXcellerator, to explore the powerful and rapidly evolving world of stem cell therapy.

Dr. Halpert shares her journey from emergency medicine to regenerative care, and explains how stem cells and exosomes are being used to reduce inflammation, restore function, and support healing in conditions ranging from spinal cord injuries to autoimmune disease, infertility, and neur...

What if sauna therapy supports more than relaxation, influencing detoxification, circulation, and long-term health?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten, to unpack the science, strategy, and real-world benefits of sauna therapy. Connie shares the deeply personal story that led her and her husband to leave careers in pharmaceutical sales and build Sunlighten after seeing infrared therapy transform her brother’s health. Connie and her husband started Sunlighten more than 20 years ago after her brother’s life changed through infrared light therapy, and the company continues to f...

What if the reason many thyroid patients struggle is not the condition itself, but how thyroid care is traditionally approached?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson continues the clinician interview series by introducing three more members of the Modern Thyroid Clinic team: Yari Tran, PA-C, Melody Volz, FNP-C, and Nikki Abelow, APRN. Yari earned her psychology degree at Texas A&M and her physician assistant training at Texas Tech, then began in neurosurgery and pain management before shifting into root-cause thyroid and hormone care. Melody trained at the University of Texas at Austin...

What if the reason you still feel tired after optimizing hormones is not your hormones at all?

In this episode, Michael sits down with Patrick Sullivan Jr. and Ashley Sullivan, the executive producers behind the new documentary Breaking Big Food: How the American Food System Went Rotten and How It's Being Revived. Their mission to expose the problems within the modern food system began with a deeply personal experience: Patrick’s thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Patrick shares the emotional journey of discovering a lump in his neck, navigating multiple biopsies, and ultimately undergoing thyroid surgery. The ex...

What if the reason many thyroid patients still feel unwell is not their labs, but how their symptoms are being interpreted?

Today’s episode is the first installment of a multi-part clinician interview series on the Modern Thyroid Clinic podcast. Host McCall McPherson sits down with three of the clinic’s clinicians, Brandy Valentino, RN, WHNP, CNM, Jessica Strauss, DNP, FNP-C, and Krystal Adams, MSN, FNP-BC, LSO, to help listeners get to know the people behind the care.

Together, they share their personal journeys into medicine, what led them to thyroid and hormone work, and why...

What if GLP-1 medications work best not at higher doses, but with slower, personalized microdosing?

In this solo Ask Me Anything episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson answers your most pressing questions about GLP-1 medications. Drawing from clinical experience and current research, she breaks down how these medications actually work, why microdosing matters, and how to minimize side effects while protecting metabolism, muscle, and long-term health.

McCall explores the connection between GLP-1s and inflammation, thyroid function, fertility, cancer risk, longevity, and metabolic recovery. She also explains when patients may need long-term therapy...

What if the answers to chronic illness are often missed because medicine focuses on symptoms instead of root causes?

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes Dr. Aaron Hartman, functional medicine physician, clinical researcher, and author of UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds. Dr. Hartman shares how his daughter’s complex medical challenges transformed his understanding of healthcare, pushing him beyond conventional medicine and into a root-cause, patient-centered approach.

The conversation explores medical blind spots, medical gaslighting, and the limitations of symptom-focused care. Dr. Hartman ex...

What if the reason thyroid eye disease feels so confusing is because it requires more than one specialist to treat it well?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, host McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Sean Paul, a board-certified oculoplastic and orbital surgeon based in Austin, Texas, to explore thyroid eye disease (TED) from diagnosis through advanced treatment.

Dr. Paul explains what thyroid eye disease really is, why it is often underdiagnosed, and how it impacts both vision and quality of life. The conversation covers medical therapy, biologic treatments like Tepezza (teprotumumab), surgical...