Shift work isn’t “just a schedule.” It’s a full-body stressor that can quietly rewire your circadian rhythm, metabolism, immune function, hormones, and even the way your genes express. And if you’re a first responder, medical professional, or anyone grinding through nights or rotating shifts, this episode is for you.

Susan shares her personal experience working graveyard shift as a police officer (and how fast it affected her body), then breaks down what’s happening beneath the surface: circadian misalignment, blood sugar disruption, inflammation, immune suppression, and the mental health ripple effects that too many people normalize as “part of the job.”

This isn’t doom-and-gloom, it’s empowerment. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to reduce the epigenetic impact of shift work, protect your sleep, support your metabolism, and stay sharp (because your work, and your life, deserve that kind of support).

In This Episode

• Why shift work is a major disruptor of circadian rhythm, and how that impacts gene expression
• The metabolic fallout: insulin resistance, weight gain, cravings, and late-night eating traps
• Immune and mental health effects: increased illness risk, anxiety/depression vulnerability, and brain fog
• Sleep strategies that actually help (blackout curtains, temperature, stimulant timing, nervous system downshifts)
• Shift-worker nutrition basics: what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to simplify meal prep
• Support tools Susan recommends for resilience (hydration, key nutrients, immune support habits)
• A breakdown of how shift work affects each pH360 health type, and the most supportive adjustments for each
  Why labs matter before symptoms show up (and how often to monitor if you’re on shifts)

RESOURCES:

St. Michael Farms: https://www.stmichaelsfarms.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/02/23/episode112/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if your “age” isn’t just the number on your driver’s license? In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable, Susan Robbins pulls back the curtain on epigenetic age testing, what it measures, why it matters, and how it can be one of the most empowering tools in your optimization toolbox. Joined by Dr. Lauren Clark of TruDiagnostic, Susan breaks down epigenetics in a way that finally makes sense: your genes are the hardware, but your epigenome is the software, shaped by stress, sleep, movement, nutrition, environment, and the life you’ve lived.

Then Susan brings you behind the scenes of her own TruAge results with Jess Bonthius (medical science liaison at TruDiagnostic), including a real-time walkthrough of her report and what it means for longevity, healthspan, and the pace at which you’re aging. If you’ve ever feared what a test might reveal, or assumed results would be doom-and-gloom, this conversation offers a different lens: data as a guide, not a verdict. You’ll leave understanding how these markers can help you make better decisions now, without panic, perfectionism, or expensive “biohacking” extremes.

In This Episode

• A clear “Epigenetics 101” explanation (and what DNA methylation actually is)
• Genetics vs. epigenetics: why your DNA isn’t your destiny
• What epigenetic age testing measures, and why different tests can give different insights
• The three key TruAge clocks: biological age, healthspan-focused aging, and pace of aging
• Susan’s personal results walkthrough (and why lifestyle still matters especially during a hard season)
• Why low percentile can be a good thing in biological age reporting
• How inflammation, recovery, and training load can show up in epigenetic biomarkers
• The truth about “optimization”: simple lifestyle changes vs. expensive protocols
  
  

Learn more about our guests in the show notes below!

Jessica Bonthius and Loren Clarke, M.D.

RESOURCES:

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/02/16/episode111/

Discount code: https://shop.trudiagnostic.com/discount/SUSANGENES

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Is walking really exercise, or just something we do between workouts?

In this Raw, Real, Relatable mini episode, Susan tackles one of the most common (and damaging) fitness myths out there: that walking “doesn’t count.” And she’s not holding back.

In a culture obsessed with intensity, sweat, and punishment-style workouts, walking is often dismissed as too easy or ineffective. But science, and real-world results, tell a very different story.

From clients with chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions to high performers and endurance athletes, Susan has seen firsthand how walking can dramatically improve health, metabolism, mood, blood pressure, blood sugar, and longevity. And research backs it up.

This episode reframes walking not as a fallback, but as one of the most accessible, powerful, and personalized forms of movement we have — especially when done with intention.

Susan also explores how walking works differently depending on your unique biology and health type, why “no pain, no gain” thinking is outdated, and how walking can complement, not replace, other forms of exercise.

If you’ve ever said “I only walk”… this episode might completely change how you see movement.

In this episode:

• Why walking absolutely qualifies as exercise
• How walking lowers heart disease risk, blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation
• Why intensity-obsessed fitness culture overlooks powerful daily movement
• The science behind steps, pace, and long-term health benefits
• How walking supports mental health, mood, and cognitive clarity
• Why walking works differently for different health types and nervous systems
• When walking is enough, and when it should be paired with other training
• Simple ways to make walking more effective and intentional

RESOURCES:

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/01/26/episode108/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast