Evolution of Medicine Podcast

In this solo episode, I'm diving into a concept that's been coming up again and again—in my work, in the data, and in conversations with practitioners around the world: network insufficiency. Put simply, when connections break down—whether in the body, in our communities, or in our healthcare systems—things stop working. I share highlights from my recent talk at the Bevan Commission, where I explored why chronic disease is rising, why healthcare systems are under pressure, and what we can actually do about it. This is also the foundation of my upcoming book, The Great Reconnection. - - - - - About the Host: James Maskell is the founder of the Evolution of Medicine and has spent the last decade helping practitioners build scalable, root-cause healthcare practices. His work focuses on community-based care, functional medicine, and creating systems that actually reverse chronic disease.strategies. - - - - - Register for the Reversing Alzheimer's 2.0 Summit, running from April 11, 2026 – April 15, 2026. Join us at https://drtalks.com/summits/alzheimers - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ X: https://x.com/mrjamesmaskell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FreedomPracticeCoaching - - - - - PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

Host James Maskell interviews Dr. Izabella Wentz, a leader in thyroid health and functional medicine, about her new work on IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). The conversation explores how IBS is often misunderstood as a standalone diagnosis when it is actually an umbrella term with multiple root causes. Dr. Wentz shares her personal journey from IBS to Hashimoto's, explains the connection between gut health and autoimmunity, and outlines the many drivers of IBS—from medications and food sensitivities to infections and stress. The episode highlights how functional medicine practitioners can achieve high success rates by identifying and addressing root causes, using targeted diagnostics, personalized interventions, and lifestyle strategies to restore gut health and prevent chronic disease progression. - - - - - About the Guest: Dr. Izabella Wentz is a pharmacist, functional medicine expert, and bestselling author known for her work on thyroid health and Hashimoto's disease. After overcoming her own autoimmune condition, she has dedicated her career to helping patients identify and address the root causes of chronic illness, with a strong focus on gut health, autoimmunity, and personalized healing strategies. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izabellawentzpharmd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThyroidLifestyle/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web# Website: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/ Thyroid Pharmacist Podcast: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ - - - - - James Maskell Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell - - - - - PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

In this episode of The Evolution of Medicine, host James Maskell interviews Seth Conger, COO of Freedom Practice Coaching and long-time functional medicine practitioner and mentor. The conversation explores the structural burnout many practitioners experience when running their own clinics, wearing multiple hats as clinician, CEO, marketer, and manager. Seth shares practical strategies for avoiding burnout, including proactive business management, deliberate reconnection with patient outcomes, effective hiring and delegation, and schedule design. The episode also dives into how coaching, mentorship, and technology—including AI—can help functional medicine practices scale while maintaining practitioner freedom, team efficiency, and patient impact. - - - - - Seth Conger is the Chief Operating Officer of Freedom Practice Coaching, where he mentors functional medicine practitioners on building scalable, sustainable practices. He has built, scaled, and sold a functional medicine clinic and now shares his expertise in operations, hiring, delegation, and schedule design to help other practitioners avoid burnout and achieve long-term success. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethconger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conger.seth/ - - - - - James Maskell Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell - - - - - Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

In this episode of The Evolution of Medicine, host James Maskell interviews Dr. Ryan Arnold, founder of Clava Health and a former emergency and critical care physician who transitioned into functional medicine. The conversation explores Dr. Arnold's journey from hospital-based medicine to building a scalable functional medicine clinic focused on root-cause care, longevity, and brain health. He shares how frustration with traditional disease-focused medicine pushed him to pursue functional medicine training and eventually launch a cash-based practice. Dr. Arnold explains why brain health is emerging as the central pillar of longevity medicine and how cognitive decline can often be reversed through comprehensive functional medicine protocols that address metabolism, sleep, inflammation, and lifestyle factors. The episode also dives into the importance of program-based care models, multidisciplinary teams, practitioner collaboration, and how new technologies like relational AI can help clinics scale patient education and engagement. - - - - - About the Guest: Dr. Ryan Arnold, MD is the founder of Clava Health, a functional medicine clinic focused on longevity, metabolic health, and cognitive optimization. Originally trained in emergency and critical care medicine, Dr. Arnold transitioned to functional medicine after recognizing the limitations of traditional disease management. He now leads a program-based practice that integrates personalized medicine, lifestyle interventions, multidisciplinary care teams, and emerging technologies to help patients prevent and reverse chronic disease—particularly cognitive decline. Website: https://clavahealth.com/about-us Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ryanarnoldmd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.arnold.925/ - - - - - James Maskell Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell - - - - - Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

In this episode of The Evolution of Medicine, host James Maskell interviews Debbie Silber, PhD, founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute and author of Unstuck. The conversation explores why betrayal is a distinct and often overlooked root cause of chronic physical and mental health conditions. Dr. Silber shares her groundbreaking research on Post-Betrayal Syndrome (PBS), the predictable 5 stages of healing, and why so many patients remain "stuck" despite functional or conventional care. This episode reframes betrayal not as an emotional inconvenience—but as a physiological event that reshapes the brain, nervous system, immune function, and digestive health. About the Guest: Debbie Silber, PhD is the founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute and creator of the PBT® (Post-Betrayal Transformation) Certification Program. After experiencing multiple betrayals herself, she completed a PhD study on how betrayal impacts health, work, and relationships. Her research identified Post-Betrayal Syndrome and the 5 stages of healing. She is the author of Unstuck and works with both individuals and healthcare practitioners worldwide. Website: https://thepbtinstitute.com/about-debi-6/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debisilber/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspireEmpowerTransform/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debisilber/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DebiSilber James Maskell Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

In this episode of The Evolution of Medicine, host James Maskell interviews registered dietitian Ashley Koff about her new book Your Best Shot. The conversation explores the seismic impact of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy—and how functional medicine can pivot from a "weight loss" mindset to a "weight health" approach. Koff reframes these medications not as magic bullets, but as biosimilar hormone replacement tools that "switch on" receptor sites—without repairing the underlying ecosystem. She outlines a five-part Weight Health Hormone assessment and introduces a Physician–Dietitian–Health Coach triad to ensure sustainable outcomes. The episode challenges practitioners to stay "agnostic about the agonist" and instead focus on metabolic repair, patient education, and structured team-based care. About the Guest: Ashley Koff, RD is a registered dietitian and functional nutrition expert focused on metabolic health, personalized nutrition, and hormone signaling. She is the author of Your Best Shot and advocates for a "Weight Health" approach that integrates assessment, repair, and team-based implementation. Ashley Koff, RD Website: https://thebetternutritionprogram.com/your-best-shot/#Order?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn0Q9_BL_AVS4TE9ropSLtTkwP2y5sIOqKsbxZaaKPv3nNMm0Tq8QuWidcGUk_aem_U9Z5knW9eqsiMjw19fzflA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleykoffapproved/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleykoffapproved/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-koff/ James MaskellWebsite: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

In this episode of The Evolution of Medicine, host James Maskell outlines a pivotal shift for functional medicine practitioners. He argues that the era of the "artisan" solo practitioner is ending—and that survival in 2026 and beyond requires building scalable clinical infrastructure. Maskell explains how AI-powered platforms, venture-backed telehealth companies, and direct-to-consumer lab brands are redefining patient expectations around speed, convenience, and affordability. To compete, functional medicine clinics must evolve into "full stack" models—combining objective data, team-based care, defined outcomes, and recurring membership structures. This episode also launches a new initiative designed to help clinics operationalize that shift. James Maskell is a healthcare entrepreneur and founder of The Evolution of Medicine. For over 20 years, he has worked to scale functional medicine through community-driven models, group visits, and practitioner infrastructure. His work focuses on moving medicine upstream—toward prevention, lifestyle intervention, and systems-based care. Website: https://www.jamesmaskell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmaskell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesedwardmaskell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmaskell Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/