The Joyous Health Podcast

Latest Episodes:

100: Exploring the World of Medicinal Mushrooms with Brandi Garden, Co-Founder of Eversio Wellness Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Brandi Garden, the co-founder of Eversio Wellness, a family-owned and operated, Canadian mushroom wellness company. Together with her husband, her hope is to foster a world that seeks natural options to help treat the root cause of health problems and to upgrade everyday moments. She loves mushrooms because they can change natural ecosystems and people's lives in so many meaningful ways. She looks forward to a day when our education systems will include the importance of fungi as a part of the curriculum.

In this episode Brandi shares her vast knowledge on all things medicinal mushrooms and how you can incorporate them into your routine to improve everything from stress resilience to sleep quality to immunity. She also highlights what to look for when it comes to purchasing high quality supplements that actually work so you're not wasting your money. You'll finish this episode feeling educated and empowered to start incorporating these functional fungi into your life.

If you want to understand how medicinal mushrooms can support lasting health, then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a calming cuppa tea and get ready to soak up Brandi's mushroom wisdom!

Episode Highlights:

Brandi's health journey that led her to discover a passion for medicinal mushrooms.
How her psoriasis evolved into psoriatic arthritis.
Her experience with immuno-suppressant drugs.
Why she finally decided to stop taking pharmaceuticals.
How she made over her diet and lifestyle to get to the root cause of her health issues.
The importance of gut health for autoimmune disease.
The empowerment of neurogenesis.
Scientific research on lion's mane for brain health.
The difference between mycelium and fruiting bodies.
How to grow potent mushrooms vs. cost cutting methods.
The importance of taking extracts for health benefits.
Health benefits of cordyceps mushrooms.
Why dual extraction is important for medicinal mushrooms.
The molecules that pass the blood-brain barrier for nerve growth.
The rigorous testing process all Eversio products go through.
Everything you need to know about reishi.
What you need to know about cordyceps and fertility (learn more here).
The importance of voting with your dollar and paying for quality.
What it's like working with her husband every day.
Why she wants to see fungi incorporated into school curriculums.
How much more there is to learn about the health benefits of mushrooms.

Resources:

Eversio on Instagram

Brandi on Instagram

Eversio's Website–Use code JOYOUS to save 15%!

Eversio on Facebook

Eversio on TikTok

Eversio on YouTube

More about Joyous Health:

Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health
Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks
Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter
Follow Joyous Health on Instagram
Find Joyous Health on Facebook
Learn more about The Joyous Health Business Program
Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.
Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge
Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

99: Gut Health & Chronic Disease in Children with Dr. Elisa Song, Holistic Pediatrician Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Dr. Elisa Song, a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained holistic pediatrician. She integrates conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. She founded Whole Family Wellness, an integrative pediatric practice in Belmont, CA – one of the first and most highly regarded holistic pediatric practices in the country. She has helped thousands of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to heal their children from the inside out using an integrative pediatric approach.

In this episode Dr. Song shares tons of incredible tips and actionable steps that you can take to support the microbiome and overall health of your kids. But even if you don't have kiddos, this episode is still great to listen to since anyone can benefit from making the same dietary and lifestyle shifts, no matter their age. You'll walk away feeling empowered to make the changes you need for you and your family to thrive!

If you want to learn about the connection between your child's gut health, immune system, and the development of chronic childhood disease, then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a cuppa gut-nourishing tea and get ready to be inspired to heal your child's gut, naturally.

Episode Highlights:

What being a holistic, integrative pediatrician means to Dr. Song.
How she became interested in a holistic approach to pediatrics.
Why she's moving away from the term "chronic" in her practice.
The roadmaps she's found to help children recover from illness.
The shocking stats around persistent childhood illnesses and mental health.
Why our children are expected to have a shorter life expectancy than us.
The power of epigenetics for changing our future health.
Markers that can predict risk of autoimmune disease.
The importance of the microbiome in the development of autoimmunity.
How kid's microbiomes develop from birth to teenage years.
Dr. Song's process for examining gut health in kids.
How to support the microbiome after antibiotic or medication exposures.
The gut-brain connection and the vagus nerve.
How to strengthen the resilience of the microbiome through the vagus nerve.
The power of breath & mindfulness for vagus nerve health.
Tips for fun mindful moments to practice with your child.
How the gut and immune system are connected.
Why babies get reflux & why antacids are not the best treatment.
How mom's stress can impact baby's reflux.
Dietary tips to support kid's microbiomes and keep them happy and healthy.
Lifestyle changes that can support a healthy microbiome.

Resources:

Dr. Song on Instagram

Healthy Kids, Happy Kids Website

Dr. Song on Facebook

Tiny Health: At Home Gut Test

Colbie Caillat, Common, & Elmo Breathing Video

Free Guides:

The 5 Rs to Heal Your Child's Leaky Gut

Choosing Your Child's Probiotic

Food as Medicine for Immune Resilience

More about Joyous Health:

Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health
Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks
Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter
Follow Joyous Health on Instagram
Find Joyous Health on Facebook
Learn more about The Joyous Health Business Program
Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.
Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge
Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

98: Exploring Spirituality & Plant Medicines with Samantha Gladish, Hormone Nutritionist Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Samantha Gladish, a Hormone Nutritionist, with a speciality in metabolic and thyroid health. She is author of the Amazon bestseller, The 30-Day Hormone Solution and the host of one of Canada's top-rated podcasts, The Wellness Witch. She is the founder of HolisticWellness.ca; a website dedicated to helping women optimize their health and hormones. In her spare time, you can find her baking up delicious healthy treats in her kitchen and getting woo-woo with tarot cards, plant medicine and diving into spiritual growth.

In this episode Samantha dives deep into plant medicines such as ayahuasca and psilocybin and how they can be used to access your intuition and spirituality. She shares her experiences in ceremony with these plant medicines and the amazing lessons she has learned along the way. You'll love how Samantha weaves the scientific with the experiential in this episode!

If you have ever been curious about plant medicines and whether they might be right for you, then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with your favourite cuppa tea and get ready to dive into the mystical world of plant medicines.

Episode Highlights:

Why Samantha evolved her focus from solely hormonal health to embodying the woo woo of the Wellness Witch.
Her relationship with spirituality and astrology.
How slowing down and blocking out the noise helped her connect with spirit.
The power of nature for soothing the nervous system.
An explanation of ayahuasca, DMT, and spiritual experiences.
How ayahuasca can physically support the body as well as spirit.
Samantha's experiences in ayahuasca ceremony.
Why each ceremonial experience is unique to the individual.
The connection between DMT and plant medicine healing.
How ayahuasca allowed her to access parts of herself to deeply heal.
Why integrating what comes up in ceremony is crucial for healing.
The biggest lesson she learned from ceremony.
Plant medicine safety.
Why ayahuasca medicine needs to be passed down through a lineage.
What is psilocybin and how it's used as plant medicine.
How psilocybin is prepared in ceremony & Samantha's experiences with it.
How psilocybin & ayahuasca affect the body differently.
The difference between taking psilocybin in ceremony or as a microdose.
Her experience in ceremony with her husband.
The importance of finding a safe person to guide your ceremonies.
How her experiences with plant medicine have allowed her to connect to her intuition more deeply.
Who shouldn't take plant medicines.

Resources:

Samanatha on Instagram

Samantha's Website

The 30 Day Hormone Solution Book

Wellness Witch Podcast

Hormone Healing Programs

Samantha on Facebook

Samantha on YouTube

More about Joyous Health:

· Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health

· Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks

· Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter

· Follow Joyous Health on Instagram

· Find Joyous Health on Facebook

· Learn more about The Joyous Health Business Program

· Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.

· Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge

· Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

97: Improving Air Quality with Mike Feldstein, Founder of Jaspr Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Mike Feldstein, CEO of Jaspr and a seasoned air quality expert and entrepreneur. He leveraged his experience in wildfire restoration and air quality consulting to found Jaspr, a premium air purifier company, to innovate in air science and technology. His purpose is to protect air quality and boost human health using the latest in air quality science and tech.

In this episode Mike shares his vast knowledge on all things indoor and outdoor air quality. He provides tons of actionable steps you can take to improve the air in your home, which can have big impacts on your sleep quality and overall health. We breathe roughly 17 000 litres of air per day and Mike's information will help you improve every breath

If you want to learn how to improve the air quality in your home, then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a gently detoxifying cuppa tea and get ready to be inspired to improve the air that you breathe for long lasting health!

Episode Highlights:

How outdoor air impacts indoor air quality long-term.
Mike's journey to becoming an air quality expert.
His experience cleaning homes after the Fort McMurray fire.
How long the air can stay contaminated after a wildfire.
What inspired him to create a high quality at home air purifier.
How nose blindness can trick you into thinking your indoor air is clean.
The top things to be concerned about when it comes to indoor air quality.
How outdoor pollution varies from region to region.
How pets can impact air quality & how to improve it.
The relationship between mold and air quality.
Why cooking decreases air quality.
Why home energy efficiency is at odds with air quality.
How to optimize your home to promote health.
How using an air purifier can improve sleep & health issues.
Why we're unable to recover during sleep if air quality is poor.
The impact of clean bedroom air on seasonal allergy symptoms.
How to clean your air without an air purifier.
Why size does matter when it comes to air purifiers.
How often to clean your car filter annually.
When you should open your windows to optimize air quality.
How to lower CO2 levels in your home.

Resources:

Jaspr on Instagram

Jaspr Website Use code JOYOUS to save $200!

Jaspr on Facebook

Mike on Instagram

IQ Air Quality App

More about Joyous Health:

Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health
Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks
Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter
Follow Joyous Health on Instagram
Find Joyous Health on FacebookLearn more about The Joyous Health Business Program
Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.
Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge
Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

96: Understanding Osteoporosis with Dr. Lisa Weeks, ND and Liz Stark Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

95: Blood Sugar, Inflammation, & Skin Health with Bianca Osbourne, Holistic Nutritionist Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

94: Detox Your Bedroom with Laura Di Lorenzo, Founder of Sunshine Mattress Co. Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

93: Quieting the Ego to find Your Higher Self with James McCrae, Author & Creative Strategist Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with James McCrae, author, poet, meme artist, and creative strategist based in Austin, Texas. In his writing and art, he applies the principles of mindfulness and Eastern philosophy to modern life with humor and candor. As the founder of Re-Creation Studio, James offers coaching and consultation services and teaches classes on conscious creativity. He also hosts Sunflower Club, a podcast that explores the intersection of creativity, consciousness, and culture.

In this episode James shares his unique take on the relationship between creativity and spirituality. He discusses the difference between your ego and higher self and how ego-death, or breakdowns, can lead to some of our biggest breakthroughs. You will love his unique take on creativity, meme creation, communication, and art!

If you want to tap into your intuition to figure out how to cultivate curiosity, intuition, and creativity in your life then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a calming cuppa tea and get ready to be inspired to tap into your own creative intuition!

Episode Highlights:

How he built his community around meme creation.
The importance of staying a student of life to cultivate wisdom.
His creative process for making memes and his connection to the muse.
The different forms his creativity has taken over the years.
How spirituality and creativity are interconnected.
The artists, poets, and creators who inspire his work.
The difference between the ego and the higher self.
How to tap into higher self and quiet the ego.
How he navigates the political landscape online.
Why breakdowns can sometimes lead to breakthroughs.
The important role of pain and grief in opening up our capacity to feel.
Why we as a society are so afraid of sadness and pain.
Our place in the universal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
The power of embracing your cringe in everyday life.
Why you should accept the great unknown to connect to the magic of life.
His most popular meme and how he created it.
Why triggering responses in people can sometimes be good for growth.
How the themes of his work evolve over time to help him make sense of the universe.
What he hopes others gain from his work.
Why he believes memes are a relevant form of art and communication.

Resources:

James on Instagram

Re-Creation Studio Website

Work With James

Sunflower Club Podcast

Sh#t Your Ego Says Book

How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis Book

Embrace Your Cringe Post

When I Remember Post

More about Joyous Health:

Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health
Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks
Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter
Follow Joyous Health on Instagram
Find Joyous Health on Facebook
Learn more about The Joyous Health Business Program
Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.
Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge
Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

92: A Deep Dive into Phthalate Exposure & Fertility with Dr. Shanna Swan, Reproductive Epidemiologist Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., one of the world's leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologists. She is a Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City where she is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Center on Early Environmental Exposures. For over twenty years, Dr. Swan and her colleagues have been studying the dramatic decline in sperm count around the world and the impact of environmental chemicals and pharmaceuticals on reproductive tract development and neurodevelopment.

In this episode Dr. Swan shares her first hand research results on the impact of phthalate exposure during pregnancy on reproductive health. She is a wealth of knowledge on this topic and shares her top suggestions for avoiding exposure to these chemicals in everything from your food and drink to the air we breathe. You will be blown away by her extensive knowledge and clear communication.

If you want to learn how common everyday chemicals can impact fertility and reproductive health you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a cuppa delicious, liver-loving detox tea and get ready to be empowered to take simple steps to improve your health.

Episode Highlights:

The varied path Dr. Swan took from child actress to world-renowned epidemiologist.
An explanation of what reproductive & environmental epidemiology is.
A breakdown of her current epidemiological study on phthalates & pregnancy.
The suggestive conclusions found on the impacts of Tylenol and pregnancy.
What phthalates are and how they're used across various industries.
The definition of non-persistent chemicals.
How phthalates consistently enter the body.
How phthalates leach out of plastics and into the environment.
The impact of phthalate ingestion during pregnancy.
What is phthalate syndrome?
The impact of phthalates on male reproductive organs.
The relationship between phthalates and fertility.
How phthalate exposure impacts sperm counts.
The connection between perineum length and reproductive function in males.
How phthalates may impact libido and sexual satisfaction.
Her top tips for avoiding phthalate exposure.
Other chemicals in plastics to avoid for optimal health.
How to avoid phthalates in food shopping, storage, and cooking.
The way Dr. Swan treats her water to remove chemicals.

Resources:

Million Marker Test Kits

More about Joyous Health:

Check out our award-winning blog Joyous Health
Check out Joy's bestselling cookbooks
Sign up for the Joyous Health newsletter
Follow Joyous Health on Instagram
Find Joyous Health on Facebook
Learn more about The Joyous Health Business Program
Check out our full line of Natural & Organic Haircare and Body Care.
Join Joy's Hair Care Challenge at Natural Hair Care Challenge
Explore Joyous Health Kids at Joyous Health Kids

91: Getting to the Root of Autoimmunity with Andrea Nakayama, Functional Medicine Nutritionist Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

This week, Joy chats with Andrea Nakayama, a Functional Medicine Nutritionist and educator. After losing her young husband to a brain tumor in 2002, she discovered a passion for using food as personalized medicine and is now regularly consulted as the nutrition expert for the toughest clinical cases in the practices of many world-renowned doctors. Since then she has led thousands of clients, and now teaches even more coaches and clinicians around the world in a revolution reclaiming ownership of both their own and their clients' health.

This episode is packed with vulnerability as Andrea shares how her husband's life, illness, and death has inspired her work and passion for nutrition. She also outlines the three root causes of autoimmunity that she sees in her practice and how to differentiate between signs and symptoms so you can make the best decisions for your health. You will love her raw honesty and personalized approach to healing.

If you want to learn how genes, gut health, and blood sugar balance are connected to autoimmune conditions, then you won't want to miss this episode. So settle in with a cuppa your favourite radiant tea and enjoy soaking in Andrea's hard won wisdom.

Episode Highlights:

How her young husband's brain tumour diagnosis kickstarted her health journey.
The long medical journey to her diagnosis with autoimmune Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.
How autoimmune conditions can manifest with different symptoms.
The importance of individualizing diet based on specific conditions.
How the medical system isn't necessarily set up to investigate early stages of chronic illness.
The differences between a sign and a symptom.
Her breakdown of the triggers of autoimmunity–the three roots, many branches systems.
How immune cell memory impacts the management of autoimmune diseases.
What is functional nutrition vs. other types of nutrition.
The importance of a systems-based approach to managing autoimmunity.
Her non-negotiables for addressing any health condition.
Some helpful dietary recommendations for supporting gut health & managing autoimmunity.
How Andrea helps her patients fall in love with whole foods through education.
Why we need to leave the sympathetic nervous system state to heal.
Developing your yes, no, maybe list of foods to connect with your body's needs.
How pregnancy can trigger autoimmunity.
How managing autoimmunity changes depending on the decade of your life.
Her advice for single parents trying to juggle their health and parenting needs.
How her late husband's life, illness, and death inspires her work to this day.
The importance of finding the spaces where you feel accepted.