The Wellness Mama Podcast

Episode Highlights With Katie
Why I never even thought to question college when I was 17... and why I’m rethinking it now with my own kids.
How college became the default safe choice, and why that may no longer be true in today’s world. 
The emotional side of this decision for parents: fear, social pressure, and wanting to  do right by our kids.
The hidden  avoidance pattern of using college to delay the hard question: What do I actually want?
Why the social promise of college is so compelling  ... and how real community can be built outside of a campus.
The financial reality of college: debt, lost working years, and why earnings don’t matter if debt owns your future.
The downsides of spending 4–5 years in a homogenous group of same-age peers.
How college can delay maturity, responsibility, and real-world skill-building.
The added complexity when sports and scholarships are in the mix, and how I’m navigating that with my kids.
The exceptions: when college still makes sense (and why this is not an anti-college  rant).
What I’m encouraging my own kids to explore instead: apprenticeships, work, entrepreneurship, travel, and real-world learning.
The questions I’m asking my kids (and myself) to help them choose intentionally... whether that leads to college or not
My personal opinion and what I might do if I had to do it all over again
Resources Mentioned
Reclamation Radio: Why You Shouldn't Send Your Kids to College
Degree Free
Bioptimizers
I love and use so many products from them, but I especially love the magnesium (Magnesium Breakthrough) and digestive enzymes (Masszymes). Visit bioptimizers.com/wellnessmama to get the best deal!
LMNT
I talk often about the health benefits of salt and electrolytes and I am a big fan of LMNT canned drinks and packets. Go to drinklmnt.com/wellnessmana for a special offer.

Episode Highlights With Ann
Key ways to future proof fertility and protect mitochondria to have healthy pregnancies, even as we get older
New studies show mitochondria in eggs are preserved better than other parts of the body
How minimizing toxins is protective of fertility in a major way
Ways to lower inflammation to protect fertility 
The dramatic decline in sperm quality and count in the last few years
Male infertility and how health of sperm can impact the pregnancy 
Why there are often many other things couples can do even if they’ve been told they can only do IVF
In most cases, it's possible to help the body get to a place of health and thriving without IVF to conceive naturally
A few situations where IVF does make sense as a first resort 
The most important factors to focus on to future proof fertility
How protein and movement come into play for optimal fertility 
A message of hope and incredible stories of how the body can heal and thrive at any age
Resources Mentioned
The Preconception Revolution book
Her website
Follow Ann on Facebook or Instagram
Hiya
Hiya created a super powered chewable vitamin for kids that packs twelve organic fruits and vegetables plus fifteen essential vitamins and minerals into every dose. Try it at hiyahealth.com/wellnessmama for 50% off your first order.
Just Thrive:
Just Thrive Health has been one of my longtime favorite brands for gut health and they have an amazing Daily Gut Detox. Your immune system, gut barrier, and digestion get the support they need to stay strong and healthy. You can find this and their probiotics at justthrivehealth.com/wellnessmama or use code wellnessmama for 20% off your order.

Episode Highlights From Ann
Why she decided to write this book on preconception health
Surprising thing she’s found in her work as a functional medicine doctor 
Decline in fertility isn’t just about age, there are some major biological and lifestyle factors behind the fertility decline 
Top nutrients for building a healthy baby and for fertility 
How the buildup of environmental toxins affects both fertility and children’s health long-term
What we now know about epigenetics and how we can positively impact our children by dialing these things in before conception and during pregnancy 
The way toxins can have a dramatic impact on the health of a baby and their future fertility 
How plastic affects kids dramatically and why avoiding them is so helpful
Sneaky sources of plastic exposure that can add up really quickly 
Hidden sources of PFAS to watch out for 
How we can optimize our mitochondrial function and why this piece is so important
Resources Mentioned
The Preconception Revolution book
Her website
Follow Ann on Facebook or Instagram
My posts on plastic dangers and alternatives
Xtrema cookware
BONCHARGE
I like so many of their products - from their red light products to their sauna blankets. Red light has been so helpful for me during my recovery from Hashimoto's. To find out more, go to boncharge.com/wellnessmama and use code wellnessmama for 20% off!
LMNT
I talk often about the health benefits of salt and electrolytes and I am a big fan of LMNT canned drinks and packets. Go to drinklmnt.com/wellnessmana for a special offer.

Episode Highlights With Katie
How all minerals form your body’s electrical field
Why minerals are the foundation for hormones, sleep, detox, digestion & mood
The 4 layers of the Mineral Matrix: Sodium = the charger
Potassium = the stabilizer
Magnesium = the conductor
Humic/Fulvic = the activators

How mineral depletion affects blood sugar, stress, PMS, and metabolism
Why modern life drains minerals faster than any time in history
How minerals determine your state of fight, flight, or rest
The symphony analogy: why you need all the minerals, not just one
How minerals increase cell voltage and make healing possible
Your personal mineral routine: what you use daily and why
How mineral replenishment becomes a powerful safety signal for the body
Why rebuilding minerals is one of the fastest ways to feel better
Resources Mentioned
Salt I use
Magnesium Breakthrough supplement
BEAM minerals
The Body Electric - book
Microplastics In Salt and How to Avoid Them
Mitochondrial Mastery course from Justine Stenger
LMNT electrolytes
Salt tablets
LMNT
I talk often about the health benefits of salt and electrolytes and I am a big fan of LMNT canned drinks and packets. Go to drinklmnt.com/wellnessmana for a special offer.
Just Thrive:
Just Thrive Health has been one of my longtime favorite brands for gut health and they have an amazing Daily Gut Detox. Your immune system, gut barrier, and digestion get the support they need to stay strong and healthy. You can find this and their probiotics at justthrivehealth.com/wellnessmama or use code wellnessmama for 20% off your order.

Episode Highlights With Dr. Tony Ebel
The perfect storm of what is affecting our kids
We are our own primary healthcare provider, and that of our children 
His background work in genetics and how it led to his current work
Where he starts with the top triggers in addressing these conditions in kids
Nervous system, gut, and other important triggers, especially in children
The link he discovered between birth interventions and neurological issues in kids
Diving really deep into nervous system health and healing, especially for kids
What's the perfect storm for these conditions for kids: emotional stress.
How to help resolve issues from birth interventions
Vagus nerve- and how this cranial nerve is so vital for nervous system health
Ways to support the vagus nerve through movement, breath, and lifestyle 
The most potent and important vagus nerve stimulator for most people 
The endocrine system is very intimately connected to the nervous system and why neurological adjustments can be beneficial
Number one thing the nervous system is sensitive to: emotions
Resources Mentioned
The Experience Miracles Podcast - The Wellness World Says “Do More”… The Nervous System Says “Do Less” w/ The Wellness Mama
Tony's website pxdocs and his Instagram
His resources on vagus nerve 
Dr. Tony Ebel & The PX Docs Network on Facebook
Just Thrive:
Just Thrive Health has been one of my longtime favorite brands for gut health and they have an amazing Daily Gut Detox. Your immune system, gut barrier, and digestion get the support they need to stay strong and healthy. You can find this and their probiotics at justthrivehealth.com/wellnessmama or use code wellnessmama for 20% off your order. 
Hiya
Hiya created a super powered chewable vitamin for kids that packs twelve organic fruits and vegetables plus fifteen essential vitamins and minerals into every dose. Try it at hiyahealth.com/wellnessmama for 50% off your first order.