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

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons is joined by Emmie Keefe, also known as Healthy Emmie, a guiding voice in plant based nutrition. Together, they explore what it truly means to build a healthy relationship with food and why simplicity matters more than perfection.

Emmie shares her personal journey into plant focused eating, how it transformed the health of her entire family, and why food addiction is one of the biggest unspoken challenges many people face. Dr. Jenn and Emmie break down the fears, resistance, and emotional attachments that keep people stuck, and why three weeks can be enough to create real, sustainable change.

They also dive into intuitive eating, the pitfalls of calorie and macro counting, how to build a nourishing plate, and why weight training is essential for women at every age. This conversation empowers listeners to rethink their daily choices, understand the role of emotional and spiritual healing, and embrace the truth that health happens at home long before the doctor's office.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
• Why everyone benefits from eating more plants
• How food addiction shows up and why it is so hard to break
• Why the brain can adapt quickly to new eating habits
• How simplicity supports long term health
• Why half your plate should be vegetables
• How fear of losing comfort blocks change
• Why three weeks can reset habits
• The difference between weight loss and real disease prevention
• Why intuitive eating reduces stress
• How to build a nourishing plate with balance
• Why weight training is critical for women
• Why age should never stop you from lifting weights
• How to simplify meal prep when overwhelmed
• Why fasting is not right for everyone
• How eating order impacts blood sugar
• Why knowledge is empowerment
• Why health is built daily in your home

Episode Timeline Highlights:
00:00 Introduction to plant based nutrition and behavioral change
07:15 Emmie's journey into plant focused eating
17:06 Food addiction and convenience challenges
24:42 Resistance, comfort, and why change feels hard
32:30 Weight loss vs disease prevention
34:44 Intuitive eating vs counting macros
37:03 Building a simple, nourishing plate
40:12 The role of weight training for women
44:29 Knowledge, confidence, and empowerment
50:01 Simplifying healthy eating for real life
56:22 Fasting and metabolic considerations
01:02:55 Eating order and blood sugar control

Where to find Healthy Emmie:

Social: @healthyemmie

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 illuminating episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Taz Bhatia, board-certified physician, integrative medicine pioneer, and champion for women’s health, to explore the intricate world of hormones through every season of a woman’s life.

Dr. Taz shares her personal hormonal journey, the gaps she witnessed in conventional medicine, and why personalized, root-cause driven care is essential. Together, she and Dr. Jenn break down how birth control, stress, gut health, and generational patterns shape hormonal balance. They also dive into innovative diagnostic approaches, including the auria test, and discuss why hormones are often misunderstood, and mismanaged, in modern medical systems.

This conversation empowers women to understand their physiology, challenge outdated narratives, and take an active role in their health across puberty, fertility, perimenopause, and beyond.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why hormonal changes form a lifelong continuum
• How birth control can mask deeper imbalances
• The role of gut health and liver detoxification in hormone balance
• Why progesterone deficiency is so common today
• How stress and cortisol impact young women’s hormones
• The importance of personalized hormone therapy
• Why patients must advocate for their own health
• How hormonal patterns can be passed through generations
• Why breast cancer is often linked to hormone deficiency, not excess
• How innovative tools like the auria test may revolutionize screening

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 Introduction & Dr. Taz’s personal hormonal journey
02:45 Why traditional hormonal treatments fall short
06:02 How experience reshaped her integrative practice
09:06 Birth control concerns & long-term impacts
11:57 How hormonal suppression affects whole-body health
14:58 The value of holistic, root-cause approaches
17:53 Cultural resistance to new medical paradigms
20:57 Innovations in breast cancer screening (auria test)
23:50 Why change is so hard in established medicine
27:00 Understanding hormonal patterns & testing
29:51 The need for comprehensive hormone education
33:39 Hormonal shifts from puberty to menopause
43:53 Personalized hormone therapy done right
01:01:29 Gut health, the microbiome & hormonal balance
01:04:47 Empowering patients to own their health journey

Where to find Dr. Taz Bhatia:

Website: holplus.co
Social: @DrTazMD

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 deeply inspiring episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons welcomes Dr. Pete Sulack—chiropractor, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Unhealthy Anonymous—for a powerful conversation about defying the odds after a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Sulack shares how he turned a death sentence into a journey of hope, healing, and renewal. Through faith, nutrition, and lifestyle transformation, he reclaimed his health and now guides others to do the same. Together, he and Dr. Jenn challenge conventional cancer paradigms, exploring how mindset, personalized nutrition, and spiritual alignment can unlock the body’s innate capacity to heal.

This episode invites listeners to rethink what’s possible in cancer recovery and beyond. It’s a story of courage, resilience, and faith in both science and spirit—reminding us that health is not something we outsource but something we build from within.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Dr. Sulack overcame a terminal brain cancer diagnosis
• Why functional medicine focuses on healing the whole person, not just treating disease
• The crucial role of personalized nutrition in recovery
• How food sensitivities and gut health shape overall wellness
• Why conventional medicine often overlooks the importance of diet
• The link between faith, mindset, and the body’s innate ability to heal
• How to take proactive responsibility for your health
• Why empowerment and education can change the cancer care paradigm

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

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 Overcoming the Impossible: Dr. Pete Sulack’s Journey
03:11 The Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Event
05:58 Creating a New Path: Functional Medicine and Resilience
09:06 The Role of Diet in Cancer Treatment
12:05 Understanding Food Sensitivities and Gut Health
14:50 The Importance of Personalized Nutrition
18:05 Challenging Conventional Wisdom in Cancer Care
20:51 Proactive Health Management: A Call to Action
31:35 Rethinking Health Responsibility
34:19 Personalized Health Regimens
39:35 The Role of Faith in Healing
43:37 Hope and Healing Perspectives
48:07 Creating a Healing Environment
51:56 Empowering Cancer Care
54:41 Changing the Cancer Care Paradigm

Where to find Dr. Pete Sulack:

Instagram: @drpetesulack
Website: https://drpetesulack.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 enlightening episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Staci Whitman, founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry and a pioneer in functional and holistic oral health. Together they uncover how the mouth serves as the gateway to the body—and why what happens there reverberates through every system.

Dr. Whitman explains how chronic disease begins long before symptoms appear and how functional dentistry offers a path toward true prevention. From the oral microbiome and nutrition to mercury fillings, x-ray exposure, and the ongoing fluoride debate, she brings clarity and compassion to topics often overlooked in conventional care.

Listeners will gain an understanding of biocompatibility in dental materials, the emotional toll of traditional dentistry, and how early-life oral care can shape a lifetime of wellness. This is an empowering look at how modern medicine and dentistry can finally come together to support whole-body 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 chronic disease often begins in the mouth
• How root canals can influence systemic health
• The principles of functional and holistic dentistry
• How nutrition impacts teeth, gums, and the microbiome
• What to know about x-rays, mercury fillings, and safe removal
• Why biocompatibility testing for dental materials matters
• The crucial role of saliva and the oral microbiome
• The mental-health challenges many dentists face
• How pediatric oral care shapes lifelong wellness
• Why dentistry’s future depends on integration and education

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 The Epidemic of Chronic Disease
03:11 Holistic Dentistry: A New Approach
06:12 Root Canals and Systemic Health
08:50 The Shift to Functional Dentistry
12:03 The Role of Nutrition in Oral Health
15:07 Integrating Dentistry and Medicine
18:12 The Importance of Oral Microbiome
21:00 Testing and Monitoring Oral Health
23:59 X-Rays and Radiation Concerns
27:04 Mercury in Dentistry
30:07 Safe Removal of Mercury Fillings
42:16 Biocompatibility in Dentistry
45:07 Mental Health in Dentistry
49:03 The Importance of Pediatric Dentistry
51:05 The Evolution of Oral Health
57:55 The Fluoride Debate
01:10:55 Heroes in Functional Dentistry
01:13:56 Finding Biologic Dentists
01:18:59 The Future of Dental Education

Where to find Dr. Staci Whitman:

Website: https://doctorstaci.com
Social Media: @doctor_staci

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 empowering episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons welcomes Dr. Will Cole, a leading functional medicine expert, to explore what it truly means to find the root causes of disease and take back ownership of your health.

Dr. Cole shares his path from conventional to functional medicine and how telehealth revolutionized his ability to connect with patients worldwide. Together, he and Dr. Jenn unpack the modern health landscape—from the rise of autoimmune conditions and hormonal imbalances to the challenges of medical politics and social media’s influence on health narratives.

The conversation highlights why empowerment, collaboration, and bioindividuality are the future of medicine—and how you can become an active participant in your own healing journey.

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

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Dr. Will Cole’s journey shaped his functional medicine philosophy
• Why understanding root causes is the key to true healing
• How telehealth changed the patient–practitioner relationship
• The double-edged nature of social media in modern health discussions
• Why autoimmune and hormonal disorders are rapidly increasing
• How politics and profit can distort healthcare priorities
• What bioindividuality means for your health choices
• How collaboration across medical disciplines creates better outcomes

Episode Timeline Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Will Cole
05:30 The Power of Root-Cause Medicine
11:24 Telehealth & Patient Empowerment
17:04 Challenges in Mystery Illnesses
19:47 Social Media’s Impact on Health Messaging
29:33 Awakening to Health Awareness
34:38 Introducing AURIA: A New Screening Tool
36:53 Questioning the Medical Dogma
44:07 Autoimmunity & Modern Health Crises
52:01 Hormones and Metabolic Health
01:00:16 When Health Meets Politics
01:06:56 The Medical Industrial Complex
01:13:53 Finding Common Ground & Progress
01:17:45 Fasting and Metabolic Flexibility
01:22:34 Making Health Accessible for Everyone

Where to find Dr. Will Cole:

https://drwillcole.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