Dr. M's Women and Children First Podcast

Covid Update # 73: Omicron US strains: as of October 22nd data - variants make up: BA.4.6 is 11%, BA.2.75 is 2%, BF.7 is 7%, BA.5 is 62%, BQ.1 is 9%, BQ1.1 is 7% BA.5 is losing ground to many new Omicron variant offshoots. BF.7, BQ.1 and BQ1.1 are very interesting as they are apparently more infectious than BA.5. That is amazing. We look at new PASC Long Covid data as well as the world of vaccine effectiveness. And much more... Dr. M

This week, I sit down with Dr. Stephan J. Guyenet, a neuroscientist, thinker and educator. After earning a BS in biochemistry at the University of Virginia, he completed a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Washington, then went on to study the neuroscience of obesity and eating behavior as a postdoctoral fellow. He has over 12 years of history in the neuroscience research world studying neurodegenerative disease and the neuroscience of body fatness. His mission is to advance science and public health as a researcher, science consultant, and science communicator. Publishing a book, The Hungry Brain, in 2017, he laid out the framework for understanding how our brains work with food. It was named one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly and called “essential” by the New York Times Book Review. Finally, he is the founder and director of Red Pen Reviews, which publishes the most informative, consistent, and unbiased popular health and nutrition book reviews available. This hour long conversation is very stimulating as we dive headlong into the upstream targets of food choice and body outcome. Enjoy, Dr. M

Medication errors are a major risk for morbidity and mortality nationally. The number affected skyrockets into the hundreds of thousands when we look at the countless side effects that do not cause death but leave us miserable and harmed. When it comes to the children that we treat, physicians and care providers should refuse to give a medicine unless it is absolutely necessary. We explore these topics, a literature review and omega three fatty acids this week. Enjoy, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update 72 plus other stuff More data on the current Covid variants and how they are evading our immunity and vaccines. Morbidity and death remain completely reduced over the first 2 years of the pandemic. We tackle these and other topics this week. Enjoy, Dr. M

This weeks guest is Dr. David B. Allison. Dr. Allison is the third guest to tackle the topic of childhood obesity for us. He received his Ph.D. from Hofstra University in 1990. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a second post-doctoral fellowship at the NIH-funded New York Obesity Research Center at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center. He became Dean and Provost Professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington in 2017. He has authored more than 660 scientific publications and received many awards over his distinguished career. Dean Allison has provided regular service to the National Academies, including the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. His research interests include obesity and nutrition, quantitative genetics, clinical trials, statistical and research methodology, and research rigor and integrity. "Dr. Allison coined "It's about knowing" as the tagline for the School of Public Health Indiana University Bloomington for which serves as Dean, and the extended moto "It's about knowing. Because conjecture is good, but knowing is better." He conceived a book by the title "It's About Knowing" written principally by Susan Brackney and co-authored by Dr. Allison. More information about the book is available here." This week we tackle the difficulty of performing meaningful research in the Obesity landscape. This is a conversation primarily about the study process and the difficulties in teasing out the variables. Enjoy, Dr. M

Literature review 1) Looking for a new sweetener that is natural and less toxic to your body? Usher in Allulose which is the enantiomer of fructose, is much less sweet to taste and does not spike blood glucose or insulin levels. In the British Medical Journal we find: "This is the largest study assessing the effects of D-allulose in Westerners demonstrating an early dose-dependent reduction in plasma glucose and insulin levels as well as decreased postprandial glucose and insulin excursion in subjects without DM. These pilot observations set the basis for large-scale investigations to support the anti-DM effects of D-allulose." (Franchi et. al. 2021)..... Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #32 - David Katz, MD - Childhood Obesity Part II David L. Katz, MD, MPH is a specialist in Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, with particular expertise in nutrition. He earned his BA at Dartmouth College (1984); his MD at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1988); and his MPH from the Yale University School of Public Health (1993). He completed sequential residency training and board certification in Internal Medicine (1991) and Preventive Medicine/Public Health (1993). Katz is the founder and former director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center (1998-2019); Past President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine; President and Founder of the non-profit True Health Initiative; and Founder and CEO of Diet ID, Inc. The recipient of numerous awards for teaching, writing, and contributions to public health, Katz was a 2019 James Beard Foundation Award nominee in health journalism, has been a widely supported nominee for the position of U.S. Surgeon General, and has received three honorary doctorates. Katz has served as a nutrition columnist for O, the Oprah Magazine; an on-air contributor for ABC News/Good Morning America, and with appearances on most major news programs and contributions to most major magazines and leading newspapers, including OpEds in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. His most recent book, How to Eat, co-authored with Mark Bittman, is a 2021 IACP Awards finalist and is worth your time. I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak many times over the years and he is an amazing orator and I am blessed to have this hour with him. Enjoy, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #71 A look at the next pandemic From a recent article, we see a 10 point series of mitigation measures for a future pandemic based on rational thought: "A more realistic public health approach is to adjust current mitigation goals to be more data-driven and to minimize unintended harms associated with unfocused or ineffective control efforts." a) Accelerate vaccinations, b) ease restrictions as fast as possible based on science, c) emphasize education and harm reduction, d) Encourage outdoor activity, e) reopen schools, f) avoid lockdowns, g) deemphasize ineffective mitigation measures, h) reassess testing, i) expand treatment and prophylaxis, j) prepare for future pandemics. And more... Dr. M

Dr. Katz - "Human offspring come into this world much like the young of all other mammals, and like all the others, within minutes of our arrival, we are hungry. Food figures prominently in our lives ever after, but never is it more important than in childhood, when it serves as the literal construction material of those growing bodies and brains. The initial food choice for human babies should be self-evident, as it is for all other baby mammals: the milk of their mothers. The provision of that milk is among the defining characteristics of the mammalian class; it is part of what makes us what we are.... Also, we discuss marijuana and vaping as well as new work by Derek Sivers. Enjoy, Dr. M

This weeks guest is Dr. Sandra Hassink, an expert in pediatric obesity. Dr. Hassink has spent her career looking into the pathophysiology and social determinants of childhood obesity. Her career began at the Univeristy of Deleware where she studied Chemistry before heading off to Vanderbilt University to study medicine. After completing her training in Pediatrics at St Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Hassink began a long trailblazing road to treating childhood obesity, starting a weight management clinic in 1988 at Alfred I. duPont Children’s Hospital in Delaware well before most pediatricians even realized there was an issue to address. She is now internationally recognized as an expert in childhood obesity prevention, testifying before Congress and serving as chair of the Delaware Governor’s council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and directing the AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight. She has served as the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, chaired the AAP Obesity Leadership Workgroup, the AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight Advisory Committee, and the AAP Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. Hassink is the chair of the Institute for Medicaid Innovation Child and Adolescent Subcommittee and a member of the National Advisory Board. She authored numerous articles for parents and pediatricians and two books: “Pediatric Obesity: Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Strategies for Primary Care” and “A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Weight Management.” In a word, she is a teacher. Today, we have the privilege of learning. Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #70 GOOD NEWS: This information is so important to help us all understand risk. Stratified risk is the only true way to measure personal risk. Let us look at some CDC data from the spring Omicron BA.1 and .2 spikes versus the fall 2021 delta wave. Median age of hospitalization has increased from 60 years old with Delta to 64 with BA.1 and 71 with BA.2. Any underlying medical condition associated with hospitalization increased from 89% with Delta to 92% with BA.1 to 95% with BA.2 respectively. Length of hospital stay decreased from 4.8 to 3.9 to 3.3 days. ICU admission was down from 24% to 18% to 13% of admitted patients. Mechanical ventilation decreased from 14% to 8% to 6% of admitted patients. And Finally, death from 12% to 8% to 5% overall. What we can glean from this data set is very clear. With successive SARS2 mutations coupled to increased population based exposure to virus via infection or vaccine, we are now seriously in a reduced risk state unless you are older than 65 years with a comorbid disease or younger than 65 with a serious disease. 95% of hospitalizations were related to a comorbid disease regardless of age. The other big takeaway was this: if you are in this high risk group, getting every available booster is vital to your survival based on the risk reduction data. For everybody else, the data is clear, you are ok - to boost or not to boost is up to you. But, absolutely work on your general health. To your health, Dr. M

Loss has seemed to follow me more this year than any other. Whether it is a newborn baby that never had a chance to take a crack at life, an 86 year old who lived a rich life or now a 20 year old in his prime, the loss is profound each and every time. My exposure is clearly occupational as well. However, how do we continue to process this time and time again? Does it get easier? How do we talk about it with those that have lost? How do we keep the faith and live for our best selves as we are the ones left behind as the dead cannot suffer? Let's Explore, Dr. M

† Jamie Manirakiza is the Executive Director at the Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT). She is a Licensed and Masters level social worker who studied at the University of Pennsylvania before embarking on a career to shine a bright spotlight on human trafficking while helping those caught and released from that dangerous net. Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT) is a nonprofit organization that provides individuals with a pathway toward healing and independence through community outreach, residential recovery, and economic empowerment. In this episode, we discuss the realities of human trafficking, what can be done about it and the work to help the survivors. Dr. M

Coronavirus Update 69. Quick Hits and other musings - 1) In the interview with Dr. Offit there were a few big take aways: Boosters for non risk based teen and young adults are unlikely to provide benefit while offering a small but real level of risk from myocarditis Boosters are offering minimal benefit to the nation from a transmission perspective. At best 8-12 weeks of protection against symptomatic disease Dr. Offit voted against adding omicron antigens to this fall's booster as there was limited data that it would any benefit. He was in the minority at the FDA advisory meeting, thus this fall's booster will have new strain genetics in it The boosters could, not shown yet in humans, block future variant immunity to newer strains through viral immune imprinting A lot more this week to digest. Dr. M

A mother, wife, herbalist, educator, author, researcher, and medical doctor, Tieraona has trained hundreds of medical professionals as the Fellowship Director at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, chaired dietary supplement expert panels for the United States Pharmacopeia, and has been appointed to numerous scientific advisory boards. In addition, she has authored best-selling books (including 4 published by National Geographic) and written over 50 peer-reviewed articles and 25 book chapters. Tieraona was appointed by the President of the United States to serve on a White House policy commission, has received many awards from academia, public health, and industry, and has lectured at over 600 conferences. She is an incredible teacher with an equally incredible life story. In this episode, we discuss the world of maternal health as it relates to preparing for a healthy life and pregnancy setting the stage for a healthy child's life. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Low Dog, Dr. M

Biome Depletion Theory or Biota Alteration Theory When we look at risk of disease over time in humans, we need to take stock in what was supposed to be versus what is. If we become mismatched genetically to the environment that we find ourselves in, then we will begin to suffer disease. The work of Dr. William Parker and colleagues is very fascinating here. His understanding of our immune solvency takes us back to a time when macrobes like parasites lived with us in a semi-symbiotic way. Most of them were harmless where a few were pathogenic. This matters tremendously because as we are learning, the microbes that exist within us play a major role in tuning the immune system towards tolerance and effective pathogen killing. A lot to explore here, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #68 At this point the fundamentals completely point to a world of Covid mitigation based on personal risk tolerance and previous vaccination and/or disease. It no longer makes any sense for the entire population to be asked to change the way they live and exist. The messaging remains a struggle for me as people including the heads of major health organizations are pushing for measures beyond what is logical. Messaging continues to be unrealistic regarding Covid for society at large. Why? We tackle these questions and more this week. Dr. M

Joy Warner - An Educated Life Joy Warner is the founder and director of the Community School of Davidson in Davidson, North Carolina. She is a leader, educator, grower of children and a person with strong compassion. Joy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before obtaining a masters in education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her path was a deviation from the traditional model of school leadership leading to a heavy focus on emotional intelligence and growth through the understanding of problems as presented to be solved collectively. We touch on topics such as: Why such a focus on old mentoring young? Why is education more than the book work to you? The students really feel the anti-status quo of grades are everything? Why such a focus on arts? Why such a focus on service work? Why such a focus on leadership? What is the meaning behind the Standing O that is very unique to CSD ? I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Joy Warner, Dr. M

Issue 34 This week we look at The Truth About Lying, Acid Suppressors and Asthma Risk, Testicular Concerns and Obesity. Adults lie? Shocker. According to the research, most adults lie 1-2 times per day, but most lies are not damaging and often related to self inflation for ego or to spare another's feelings. That is great news. Most people are honest most of the time! Ok. Now that we understand that most people are good what are the realities of the others? What do our kids see in us? Over the coming months I am going to dissect Dr. Talwar's book for you in sections as I see them. You can get a big head start on all of this information by listening to the podcast #25 with Dr. Talwar herself. Have a great day, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update 67 Natural infection provides a much better route to transmission protection than intramuscular systemic vaccination because of the induction of mucosal immunity via IgA and tissue resident T cells. (Tang et. al. 2022) If you can tolerate a natural infection without much morbidity, this seems to be a reasonable choice at this time. This is especially important now with the immune escaping variants of Omicron lineage and the reality of the current vaccine booster pool is lackluster in its effect on transmission. This calculus may change dramatically with a newer Omicron BA.5 specific vaccine that is in the works. And much more this week! Dr. M

Dr. Paul A. Offit is Director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Offit is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of virology and immunology, and was a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a member of the Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, a member of the Institute of Medicine and co-editor of the foremost vaccine text, Vaccines. He is a scientist, a skeptic, a thinker and an individual deeply passionate about children's health. This week we sit down to discuss Covid, vaccines and children's health. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Offit, Dr. M

This is Bone Health week. As soon as you are conceived, the process of growing new bone begins in the map of DNA. The first bone cells are noted at the sixth week post conception. This process continues for many years peaking as a teenager and beginning to decline in the third decade of life. The peak decline starts in the sixth decade when sex steroids start to decline significantly. The natural process of bone development is very complicated with many hormones like vitamin D and parathyroid as well as micronutrients necessary for optimal function..... Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. Bonnie Kaplan is an emeritus professor in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. She is a research psychologist who has published widely on the biochemical etiologies of developmental disorders and mental health. She studied at Brandeis University, University of Chicago and Butler University. Her focus is the contribution of nutrition to brain development and brain activity. Dr. Kaplan is the recipient of the Dr. Rogers prize for excellence in complementary and alternative medicine. This week we sit down to discuss her research, her book, The Better Brain and the science of mental health. Her book is a treatise in how to overcome Anxiety, combat Depression and reduce ADHD and stress with nutrition. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Kaplan, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #66 This week is another close look at the current variants of the Omicron lineage, especially BA.5. What is the deal with this strain? Is it causing more heart ache in the United States or just an annoying highly infectious variant? In my opinion, when we have global flairs of Covid 19, there is clear evidence now that individuals that are immune compromised have unwittingly become breeding grounds for genomic mutations in SARS2 leading to variants of concern. These variants become our new circulating troublemakers. Thus, in my opinion, we should be making vaccines in this country that are high quality and targeted to the current strain. Then we should be releasing it worldwide very quickly to people in immune compromised states. This should have the effect of slowing down these emerging VOC's that are evading our natural and vaccine induced immunity. Finally, we end with a discussion of chronic rhino sinusitis. Enjoy, Dr. M

This week we look at breastfeeding, the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and some science related to the nutrients in breastmilk. Should we breastfeed our children past 1 year of age? Should we push the government to do more to support nursing babies? We also discuss curiosity and parenting. Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. Victoria Talwar is the Chair and a Professor of the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at The McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She is one of the preeminent thought leaders on the subject of lying. Working in the area of developmental psychology for over fifteen years with an emphasis on social-cognitive development, her research interests include children’s verbal deception, children’s moral development, theory-of-mind understanding and behaviour; children’s expressive display rule knowledge and behavior. In addition, she has investigated issues related to child witness testimony including child witness credibility and competence, lie detection and jury decision making. She is also interested in the influence of cross-cultural factors and attitudes to lying behavior. Recently, her research interests include children’s social interactions in cyberspace as well as the role of spirituality in children’s social development. This week we sit down to discuss her new book, The Truth About Lying. It is a wide ranging conversation about the state of lying currently as well as what we, the parents, can do to reduce it while helping children find their best moral and honest selves. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Talwar, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #65 This week we take another and deeper dive into PACS or long covid. What are the risk factors for it? How does the intestinal microbiome play out in this space? Are there certain bacteria that are associated with a negative outcome? Can we alter them to our advantage? We also take a closer look at the current variants of the Omicron lineage. Finally, we end with a discussion of social media concerns. Enjoy, Dr. M

Concussions: otherwise known as TBI or traumatic brain injury Concussion is an injury that is a trauma to the head where the skull stops rapidly and the inner brain gets rotationally or linearly moved beyond its normal confines leading to microscopic nerve injury and subsequent inflammation. The traumatic process occurs suddenly and can have unconsciousness as a consequence. Whether the patient is unconscious or not for a period of time, a full work up is necessary to understand the gravity of the injury and the subsequent therapy. This week we go deep into the pathophysiology of the head injury and Omega 3 fatty acids. Enjoy, Dr. M

My guest this week is Dr. Lindsey Albenberg. We sit down to discuss all things gastrointestinal as it relates to children, nutrition, inflammation and health. Dr. Albenberg is a physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and a member of the research team in the Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She primarily studies inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as they relate to nutrition, the microbiome and overall health. She has been published in top journals including Gut, Journal of Clinical Investigation and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. She is known for her teaching skills and has won many awards as a resident and an attending physician. We discuss many layers of the evolving understanding of where the touch points are in the development of a dysfunctional microbiome and subsequently inflammatory diseases. She gives us high quality dietary information based on the current data for how to approach food with children and adults. We delve into Covid 19 a little and some other tidbits of useful take home points. I hope that you will enjoy my conversation with Dr. Lindsey Albenberg, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #64 What is the current state of affairs? We have a highly contagious and mutational SARS2 virus that is present in the United States. The mutations usually occur overseas in vaccine naive areas. The landscape here has changed as most of us have some immunity as vaccine induced, viral induced or a hybrid combination. That reality has dramatically reduced the death and hospitalization rate so that my colleagues in the ICU feel little to no stress anymore from Covid despite relatively high circulating case volume compared to other waves except wave 4. We discussed boosters and much more this week. Enjoy, Dr. M

Depression has been a problem for humans for a very long time. It is the leading cause of suicide and lost vitality for life. It is a tricky disease that has been more prevalent and severe in the last few decades. the pandemic was not kind to people suffering from mood dysthymia. Traditional pharmacological and verbal based therapies have been useful for some while not so much for others. The treatment resistant group is the focus of a new series of studies with psychedelic medicines. These studies are offering hope for many individuals that previously had none. In this audiocast, we also cover critics and school start times. Best, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update 63 plus other stuff - Lots on boosters today while the persistent world of Covid exposure drags on. Omicron US strains: newer variant BA.2 makes up 35% of current case volume based on different parts of the country while omicron BA BA 1.1.529 is at 6% and B 2.12.1 is 59%. Delta is gone by competition. Cases are increasing in some cities with little increase in hospital morbidity and mortality. In essence we are still fairing quite well in the new norm. Quick Hits and other musings! Dr. M

Duey Freeman, MA, LPC is co-founder of the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies, director of the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies and owner of his psychotherapy private practice. After teaching for 24 years at Naropa University he has decided to move in a more creative direction. Most recently and in collaboration with Kimberly Beck M Ed he has created: The Coming Home Project and Relational Rewilding Retreats. Duey is a dispenser of wisdom for Men. He is a specialist in relationship and understanding the breakpoints and blindspots that people have to their relational problems. We go through discussions of connecting with others, consequences versus punishments, living in communication and general love. Enjoy my conversation with Duey Freeman, Dr. M

A subset of children may be more susceptible to respiratory infections of viral and bacterial varieties based on some new research. It appears that the microbiomes of the nasopharyngeal respiratory tract and host immune defenses play a major role here. We discuss some new research regarding infection risk. We also discuss snakes, post bite care and avoidance. More to learn, Dr. M

Journal Club #2 with Andrew Brackins MSIV Topic today - Traumatic brain injury or concussion is a significant problem in young adults and children. What do we know about the reasons why some people suffer longer term symptoms? What can we do to mitigate risk going forward? Fish oil is an omega 3 fatty acid that has recently gained attention as a possible therapeutic pre and post head trauma. Let us explore the head injury landscape together in this Journal Club episode. Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 12 Issue 22 An uncivilized Journey - What does it mean to go on a journey? Is it to leave home and see a new physical place and return home with a new perspective and memories. Is it to leave your body and travel through your mind through the eyes of another as in a book, poem or movie? Is it a shared experience? Is it solitary? Is it good for you and your future? Is it bad? Usher in Man Uncivilized. Enjoy, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #61 and 62 – This audiocast newsletter looks further into the new variants and other emerging data sets. More information on boosters, infection risks and opinions from Paul Offit and Monika Gandhi. Plus a look at Adenoviral hepatitis and formula issues. Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 12 Issues 18 and 20 This week we dive into prenatal multivitamins, screen usage, insect induced disease and much more. What can you do to support your teens with vitamins? What are the best mitigation measures for insect bites and their consequences? How are screens affecting our kids? .... Enjoy, Dr. M

My guest this week is Michael Gay. Michael is a therapist in private practice in Boulder, Colorado. He earned his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Naropa University with a focus in Transpersonal Psychology. Michael has worked in the field of counseling for the last 14 years as a guide, therapist, and trainer. He was a Wilderness Therapy guide for 6 years, leading and facilitating in deep transformational work with teens, adults, and families in the mountains and high desert. He has also worked extensively in the field of addiction and recovery. He specializes in work with depression, groups, trauma, PTSD, grief, and families. He currently co-creates with leaders in the field bringing men together for transformational experiences, brotherhood, healing, and empowerment. In addition to his M.A., Michael completed a 3 year training at the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies, and continues to train at the Gestalt Equine Institute. Michael is a deep thinker. I mean deeeeeep. We dive off of the deep end of the pool discussing men's health, therapy and living an authentic balanced life. Discussing the realities of men and their struggles is refreshing in a world of hidden truths. I hope that enjoy my conversation with Michael, Dr. M https://www.michaelgaycounseling.com

Coronavirus Update #59 and 60 – This audiocast newsletter is a quick hits look at the new variants and other emerging data sets. More information on boosters, infection risks and opinions.

What does it mean to be a man in modern times? To be in tune with and feel all aspects of one's life experiences? To be unapologetic, authentic and safe? To move past trauma and pain? In other words, to be a man uncivilized. To better understand these questions, I give you the words or Traver Boehm: "Men had to choose between two outdated and broken options....Be the Lone Wolf and die ALONE with a chest full of unexpressed emotions and a wake of broken relationships behind him. A man who thinks the feminine is weakness and weakness is unbearable. He misunderstands that within his weaknesses lie his greatest strengths. Or… Be the Sensitive New Age “Nice Guy” and have a million bestest girlfriends, now living as the wolf in sheep’s clothing. A man who thinks the masculine is terrifying and is forced to deny every aspect of his own manhood. If you are a “Nice Guy”— you are living someone else’s life. But the truth wasn’t in these two options, was it? I knew it. Most men knew it. We just couldn’t find it. And until you have your own back, you can’t truly have anybody else’s. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR MEN TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR CAGED LIVES AND BECOME FREE? A Good Man, a Strong Man, a WHOLE MAN." This podcast is an exploration of Traver and his thoughts on these topics. He is a man on a mission to help men become better men. He is a thinker, podcaster, writer and so much more. Enjoy my conversation with Traver Boehm, Dr. M

SPA Audiocast Newsletter Volume 12 Letters 14 and 16 In issue 14, we look at carbs and exercise. We take a deep look at how carbohydrates are utilized by our muscle cells and what the science says about optimization. In issue 16, we discuss hydration and sport. What is optimal for hydration? Is thirst the key signal for hydration? Are sports drinks useful? And more.... Enjoy, Dr. M

ADHD without Drugs Sandy Newmark, MD is the Director of Clinical Programs at the University of California at San Francisco's Osher Center for Integrative Health. He is an Integrative Pediatrician and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSF with the title of Osher Foundation Endowed Chair in Clinical Programs in Integrative Medicine. To me, he is an amazing teacher and onion peeler in the world of attention deficit. I met Sandy back in 2006 as he was the lead Pediatric teacher in the University of Arizona's Integrative Medicine Fellowship. He immediately made an impact in my career as a leader in this new way of seeing the world of medicine. His bio lists: Dr. Sanford Newmark specializes in integrative neurodevelopmental pediatrics including autism, ADHD, and related conditions. Dr. Newmark lectures widely on both autism and ADHD and has authored three chapters in integrative medicine textbooks. He is the author of the book “ADHD Without Drugs, a Guide to the Natural Care of Children with ADHD.” His online video, “Do 2.5 Million Children Really Need Ritalin? An Integrative Approach to ADHD,” has been viewed over 4.5 million times. Know this, this is an hour of your life that you will want to dedicate to Dr. Newmark's thoughts. Especially, if you or your child has ADHD. Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Newmark, Dr. M

Coronavirus Update #57 and 58 – This audiocast newsletter is a quick hits look at the new variants and other emerging data sets. We are in an endemic state with SARS2/Covid19. What are the new norms? Do you need a booster dose? Do we know why some people suffer neurological problems? What is affecting the blood brain barrier? These questions and a few others are explored this week. Be well, Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #19 – Dr. Alessio Fasano Intestinal Permeability, Microbiome and MIS In this podcast, I sit down with Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Alessio Fasano from the Massachusettes General Hospital Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology to discuss the current research on Intestinal Permeability, Microbiomes and MIS, Multi Inflammatory Syndrome in Children . Dr. Fasano also directs the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center and is associate chief for Basic, Clinical and Translational Research. Under his leadership, investigators are studying the molecular mechanisms of autoimmune disorders including celiac disease, and other-gluten-related disorders. He has been named visiting professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He authored the groundbreaking study in 2003 that established the rate of celiac disease at one in 133 Americans. Widely sought after by national and international media, Dr. Fasano has been featured in hundreds of interviews including outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal; National Public Radio; CNN; Bloomberg News, and others. He recently co authored an excellent book with Susie Flaherty called Gut Feelings. I highly recommend you purchase and read this book. It is an encyclopedia of information regarding gut health, the microbiome and much more. Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Fasano, Dr. M

SPA Audiocast Newsletter Volume 12 Letters 10 and 12 In issue 10, we look at effort and resilience. We take a look at non nutritive sweeteners and the microbiome. And finally, sugar and the risk of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. In issue 12, we discuss trauma and the epigenetic realities that follow these events. We look at some new research related to type 1 Diabetes following Covid infection as well as the effects that Maternal Gestational Diabetes on newborn offspring. Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #18 – Dr. Steve Borowitz – Children, Constipation and Cow's Milk Intolerance In this podcast, I sit down with Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Steve Borowitz from the University of Virginia Department of Pediatrics to discuss the current reality of constipation in children as well as cow's milk intolerance. Dr. Borowitz graduated from Tulane University and Rush Medical College before attending Vanderbilt University for his Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship. He is a wealth of knowledge and one of my favorite teachers. We dive into the deep end of the pool on these two topics specifically focusing on root causes and treatment. Enjoy, Dr. M

This week, I sit down with Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Larry Rosen as we dive into the world of children post Covid. What is happening to them and what do we need to do to right the ship? Dr. Rosen is the founder of the Whole Child Center in New Jersey. He is the co-author of “Treatment Alternatives for Children,” an evidence-informed guide for parents interested in natural solutions for common childhood ailments. He graduated from New York Medical College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then completed his residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Additionally, he is a founding member and former Chair of the AAP Section on Integrative Medicine, and he received the AAP’s Pioneer in Integrative Medicine award in 2015. He serves as Senior Advisor and Chair of the Health Advisory Board for WholeHealthED, a nonprofit devoted to bringing whole health learning to U.S. schools. Larry is an exceptional human, a thoughtful person and finally a teacher and leader in the healing space of children nationally. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Larry Rosen, Dr. M

Covid Pathophysiology Deep Dive, Death Risk and Disease Prevention In this weeks podcast we go very deep into the world of why Covid19 was able to produce so much mortality in the United States. Why were we so unprepared to survive as a culture? Why is this virus so capable of hijacking our immune physiology for it's benefit? What are the upstream risk factors for a bad outcome. But most importantly, we learn the immune based reasons why we are at risk at the micro level leading to concrete pathways to undoing the risk. Diving deep is sometimes necessary to find the treasure below. This week is one of those journeys. Dr. M

Podcast #16 – Dr. George Munoz – Covid Risk and Prevention Dr. George Munoz is a board certified Rheumatologist with over 30 years of experience with complex immune related disorders. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Columbia before heading to Mount Sinai School of Medicine for his medical degree. He pursued a Rheumatology fellowship at Harvard before we crossed paths during our Fellowship in Integrative medicine at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. George is a thinker and a gentleman whose mission has been to change the lives of individuals suffering from Rheumatologic disease. As Covid has been omnipresent in our lives, we decided to sit down and discuss the underlying risk factors of Covid disease and what can be done to reduce future risk. It is a wide ranging conversation that covers the gamut of lifestyle related factors predisposing us to disease. I hope that enjoy my conversation with Dr. George Munoz, Dr. M