A terrain-first explanation for ecological compression

You feel tight all the time.

Not just physically tight, though that too. Your fascia won't soften. Your shoulders live somewhere near your ears. Your middle back has been locked up for so long you've stopped noticing it.

You're tired but wired. You don't sleep as deeply as you used to. You don't recover the way you used to.

Foods you used to tolerate fine now create bloating, brain fog, or a mood shift you can't quite explain. You've become sensitive to chemicals, to environments, to other people's stress. Sometimes it feels like you're allergic to life.

You're functioning. Maybe even high-performing. But something feels off in a way that's hard to name. Like you're operating with less margin than you should have.

And you've probably tried a lot. You eat clean. You take your supplements. You've done the elimination diets, the gut cleanses, the protocols. You've seen practitioners. You've read the books, listened to the p...

Most people come to my work, Minerals & Microbes, when they're at an impasse.
___________________________________________________________________
If you’d rather listen than read, this conversation is also available on the Rewilded Wellness Podcast (Season 2, Episode 31) — you can tune in on:

Apple Podcasts — HERE
Spotify — HERE
YouTube — HERE
___________________________________________________________________

They’ve exhausted many other approaches: diet changes, practitioners, lab tests, protocols. Maybe years of it. And while some things helped, the approach has been wildly incoherent. They’ve been reacting to symptoms as they arise and chasing causes, but nothing has actually rebuilt the body in a way that feels stable or sustainable.

If you’re here, you’ve probably already tried a lot.

I know this because I’ve watched people arrive having been run through the same few loops the functional health world keeps people cycling through.

Some show up with 15+ bottles of supplements, taken ...

We’re living in a time where people have access to more health information than ever — and yet feel less clarity, confidence, and trust in their bodies than ever before.

That contradiction is not accidental.

In modern wellness culture, science has quietly shifted roles. What was meant to be a tool for exploration has started acting like authority — and when that happens, the body often gets lost in the process.

This episode continues a conversation I’ve been unfolding over the last few weeks. First, we talked about the shadow side of wellness culture: over-treatment, information overload, and the loss of containment. Then we looked at how oversimplified wellness narratives backfire in real bodies. Here, I’m pulling on the next thread underneath all of it: study obsession — and how it disconnects people from their own biology.

This isn’t an anti-science conversation.
It’s about misuse.

Studies were never designed to replace lived experience. They isolate variables on purpose. They r...

Your Evolution from Swimming Upstream to Flowing with Your Body's Wisdom

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: You can hear the complete story and all the details on iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube

I've been soaking up this magical Leo season, picking berries at local farms and making plant infusions that feel like exactly what my body needs. It got me thinking about flow versus force - and how we've all been conditioned to swim upstream against our bodies instead of working with their natural wisdom.

In this episode, I'm sharing what my garden taught me about healing, why I've made some bold boundary decisions in my practice, and how to move beyond the endless root cause hunting that keeps so many people stuck in health rabbit holes.

I dive into a powerful case study of a 49-year-old client whose previous functional medicine approach had her on hormone precursors to "fix" imbalanced labs, while completely missing the terrain story her body was telling. When we looked at her hair mineral analys...

Composting vs. Cleansing: Why Parasite Obsession Keeps People Stuck

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: You can hear the complete story and all the details on iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube

Recently I shared some things on Instagram about the dogma in the holistic health community and what the opposite of it is. The opposite of dogma is fluidity - staying open to new information and evolution. It's discernment - using wisdom rather than rigid rules. It's embodied knowing - trusting your body's intelligence over external authorities. It's adaptability - adjusting based on what's actually working. And it's curiosity - staying in questions rather than fixed answers.

And then I asked people what dogma - or things that they've been told they have to do to heal - are they confused by. And one of them was 'Do I have to do parasite cleanses?'

Which is a great topic, so I figured it was worthy of its whole entire own episode. Because let's be honest - parasites are being talked about everywhere these da...

The Hidden Connection: How Your Digestive Issues May Be Triggering Your Anxiety

Have you ever noticed that your anxiety seems to flare up alongside your digestive symptoms? This isn't a coincidence. What if I told you that the butterflies in your stomach, the knot in your throat, and the racing thoughts in your mind might all share a common origin?

The Gut-Brain Axis: Your Second Brain at Work

Scientists have discovered what many ancient healing traditions have known for centuries: your gut and brain are engaged in constant, intimate conversation. This communication highway, known as the gut-brain axis, is reshaping how we understand both digestive issues and mental health concerns.

Your digestive system houses what scientists call your "second brain" – an intricate network of over 500 million neurons called the enteric nervous system. This neural network produces many of the same neurotransmitters found in your brain, including a staggering 90% of your body's serotonin – the "happ...

The Vagus Nerve Connection: Beyond Simple Exercises

Highlights from my latest podcast episode exploring the functional approach to vagus nerve health

*Listen to the episode on the Rewilded Wellness podcast, available on: 

iTunes HERE 
Spotify HERE
On YouTube HERE 

While there's a lot of buzz about vagus nerve exercises lately - from cold plunges to humming - this podcast episode explores a deeper perspective. What if those simple exercises are only scratching the surface? What if your mineral patterns, gut dysbiosis, mold exposure, or even physical misalignments are blocking your vagal function?

Let's dive into the functional testing approaches that can reveal why your vagus nerve might be struggling, and what you can do about it.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis: The Mineral Connection

Your vagus nerve functions like your body's electrical system, and minerals are the conductors. Here's what we look for on an HTMA:

- Calcium/Magnesium Ratio: When calcium dominates excessively ov...

Episode #219: How maternal microbiomes charge immune health 

Listen on iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE
YouTube HERE

Exploring the Impact of Maternal Microbiomes on Immune System Function and Overall Health

In my previous episode, I emphasized how a mother’s health lays the groundwork for her children's well-being. Unfortunately, we often overlook the importance of preparing our bodies to ensure robust health for future generations. Today, I want to connect some vital themes that have surfaced recently, highlighting the necessity of prioritizing our microbiome health—even amidst our busy and stressful lives. This issue can no longer be placed on the back burner.

A staggering statistic shared at a recent event caught my attention: 80% of autoimmune diseases occur in women. While this figure pertains to diagnosed autoimmune conditions, many women remain undiagnosed. They may exhibit symptoms indicating they are on the path to developing autoimmune issues but are not receiving the app...

Episode #211: A Holistic Approach to Chronic Health Challenges: Using HTMA & BiomeFX

Listen on iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE. 
YouTube HERE


Embracing Transformation : A Journey to Sustainable Health

Hello, my friends! As I write this, we're graced with a Super Full Moon in Taurus, a time that invites us to reflect on the grounded energy of fall. The temperatures are dropping, leaves are carpeting the ground, and there's a cozy essence of home that's nestled deep within my soul. I've been delighting in preparing hearty meals that warm both body and spirit, and it feels like the perfect moment to share some insights about the transformative journeys of those I work with—individuals seeking a more sustainable and compassionate approach to their health.

The Power of Mineral Balancing

Many of my clients have recently discovered the wisdom of mineral balancing, piecing together the missing elements in their health puzzle. They’re moving beyond simply treating symptoms to seeking a holist...

Episode #207: The Microbiome Revolution: Why It’s Time to Rethink Gut Health

Listen on iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE. 


In recent years, we’ve learned so much about the microbiome and its impact on overall health. Our understanding of gut health has evolved dramatically, and with it, our approach to healing the gut. But what does it really mean to heal your gut? The answer lies in one simple truth: healing your gut means rebuilding your microbiome.

Microbes Matter More Than You Think

Our relationship with food and gut health has never been static. The way we eat and how food is produced has always evolved, driven by environmental changes, resources, and our ever-expanding understanding of what true health looks like. Yet, as humans, we cling to familiar patterns—especially when it comes to our health. We tend to defend our habits and resist change, even when they no longer serve us.

In the realm of gut health, this resistance often shows up in the form of rigid dietary protocols, q...