In this powerful episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Taylor Dukes, former ICU nurse, functional health advocate, and founder of Taylor Dukes Wellness, to explore what happens when conventional medicine stops asking deeper questions.

Taylor shares her journey from the ICU to facing her own brain tumor diagnosis, an experience that reshaped her understanding of health, healing, and the healthcare system. Together, she and Dr. Jenn discuss the emotional and spiritual toll carried by front line providers, the limitations of modern medical education, and why chronic and childhood illness have become increasingly normalized.

This conversation highlights the role of nutrition, detoxification, stress management, and faith in healing, while emphasizing personal responsibility and advocacy in a toxic world. Taylor also shares how her family became part of her mission, creating accessible wellness solutions rooted in foundational health.

💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why many providers leave conventional medicine seeking root cause answers
• The emotional and spiritual impact of ICU nursing
• How a brain tumor diagnosis changed Taylor’s approach to healing
• Why functional medicine focuses on cause, not symptom management
• How faith and mindfulness support recovery
• Why childhood conditions like fatty liver disease are increasing
• The foundational role of nutrition and detoxification
• Why “normal” labs do not always mean optimal health
• How to advocate for yourself within the healthcare system
• Why healing can be accessible and practical

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 From conventional medicine to functional healing
03:12 Life inside the ICU
05:50 Personal health crisis and awakening
09:13 Discovering functional medicine
11:54 A brain tumor diagnosis
14:59 Integrative treatment decisions
18:01 Faith and mindfulness in healing
20:47 Life after surgery
23:59 From patient to provider
26:51 Education and prevention
37:06 Childhood health concerns
39:59 Nutrition and detoxification
44:33 Stress and healing
49:14 Building wellness products
56:05 Integrative medicine in practice

Where to find Taylor Dukes:

Instagram: @taylordukeswellness
Website: https://shop.taylordukeswellness.com

To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit:
https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK

To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide

To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.

Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons

In this powerful episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Ryan Sternagel, founder of The Stern Method, to share the story that reshaped his life: his son’s cancer diagnosis and the desperate search for answers that followed.
What began as a parent’s nightmare became a deep dive into integrative medicine, environmental toxicity, nutrition, and the healing power of community.

Ryan opens up about navigating a rigid medical system, facing pressure from institutions, and refusing to ignore his intuition. He and Dr. Jenn explore what happens when families question conventional recommendations, how holistic therapies can support traditional treatment, and why creating a healing environment is essential.

This is a conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the belief that healing requires more than protocols. It’s about parents becoming empowered, finding the right team, and discovering hope in the darkest moments.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Ryan’s son’s diagnosis launched his mission in integrative health
• The challenges families face when questioning conventional treatment
• Why intuition and research matter in medical decision making
• How nutrition and alternative therapies support cancer care
• The emotional and practical realities of navigating the system
• The importance of community, mindset, and family support
• Why no single therapy is ever a silver bullet
• How environment and lifestyle shape healing
• The role of supplements within a comprehensive plan
• What it means to build a truly healing home

💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And share this story with someone who needs strength and hope.

Episode Timeline Highlights:

02:46 Awakening to holistic health
06:00 The diagnosis and early decisions
09:00 Navigating hospitals and seeking answers
15:01 Nutrition and alternative therapies
17:55 Challenges with the medical system
20:58 Finding integrative oncology support
24:09 A family’s commitment to healing
30:08 Intuition, research, and advocacy
33:08 Bridging conventional and holistic approaches
36:02 Resilience and transformation
41:04 Purpose through adversity
48:35 Integrative and conventional treatment insights
56:39 Ivermectin and alternative therapies
01:01:27 Mindset in the healing process
01:13:44 Key supplements and holistic practices

Where to Find Ryan Sternagel:

Social: @thesternmethod
Website: ourhealthnaturally.com
Member Community: goingintegrativeplus.com

To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit:
https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK

To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide

To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.

Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons is joined by Dr. Austin Lake. Together, they explore how chronic disease became normalized, why the Flexner Report reshaped modern medical training, and what it really takes to take ownership of your health in today’s world.

Dr. Lake shares why environmental toxins, stress, and lifestyle choices are driving so much illness, and how personal responsibility and community support can radically change health outcomes. He and Dr. Jenn break down the vaccine debate, the future of medical autonomy, and why true healing requires questioning long-held assumptions.

They also dive into the role of diet and detoxification, the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, why foundational lifestyle work must come before hormones, and how faith and spiritual grounding help guide healing. This conversation empowers listeners to understand their bodies, advocate for their choices, and take back control in a healthcare system that often overlooks the root cause of disease.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
• How the Flexner Report reshaped modern medicine
• Why chronic disease is not inevitable
• How environmental toxins and stress fuel illness
• Why personal responsibility is essential for healing
• How community support strengthens health outcomes
• Why vaccines remain a complex and evolving conversation
• How diet and detoxification support metabolic health
• Why hormones cannot replace foundational lifestyle changes
• How elimination diets uncover hidden sensitivities
• Why stress is a major driver of metabolic dysfunction
• How women experience and carry stress differently
• Why faith and mindset support physical healing
• Why understanding your own body leads to better care
• Why healing requires education, empowerment, and curiosity

Episode Timeline Highlights:
03:01 The evolution of medical education and practice
06:09 The Flexner Report and its impact on medicine
08:59 Challenging conventional wisdom in healthcare
11:58 The role of environmental factors in health
15:00 The importance of personal responsibility in health
18:06 The future of healthcare and community support
20:49 The vaccine debate and public health
27:06 Innovative approaches to breast cancer screening
33:00 The importance of diet and detoxification
35:51 Hormones as a tool, not a solution
42:52 The nuances of hormone replacement therapy
49:42 The role of diet in hormonal health
55:24 The connection between stress and metabolic health
01:00:05 The role of faith in health and healing

Where to find Dr. Austin Lake:

Social: @dr.austin.l

To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit:
https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK

To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide

To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off.

Connect with Dr. Jenn:
Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons