Get to the Root Podcast

Ep 22: Breaking Down the New Dietary Guidelines With Amy Masterson, MS, RDN

What do the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans really mean for everyday health? On this episode of Get to the Root, Dr. Erica Armstrong sits down with Amy Masterson, Lead Dietitian at Root, to break it all down. They dive into the big updates on protein, vegetables, fats, and grains, as well as what the guidelines still miss. You’ll learn why personalization and tools like the Root Plate™ matter when applying population-wide guidance. Tune in to learn how to interpret the guidelines in a way that actually works in real life. Resources: * Connect with and follow Amy Masterson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybloom/]. * Follow Root Functional Medicine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/root-functional-medicine/] and visit their website [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/]. * Get your own Root Cause Panel to uncover root potential causes and optimize health here [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/product/root-7].

EP 21: Engineering the Future of Root Cause Care with Allen Ahner

In this episode, we talk with Allen Ahner, Root’s VP of Engineering, about how technology makes root cause medicine scalable for employers. We explore why functional medicine needs a dedicated platform, how RootOS supports consistent, protocol-driven care, and how we track engagement and outcomes at scale. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure powering preventative and chronic condition care. Resources: * Connect with and follow Allen Ahner on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenahner/]. * Follow Root Functional Medicine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/root-functional-medicine/] and visit their website [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/]. * Get your own Root Cause Panel to uncover potential root causes and optimize health here [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/product/root-7]!

EP 20: How Root gets to ROI for people and companies with Emily Cordes

Healthcare ROI starts with addressing what actually drives costs. Nearly 90% of employer healthcare spend comes from chronic conditions, many of which are preventable. In this episode, Dr. Emily Cordes, CMO at Root, explains how Root delivers real ROI for self-funded employers by reducing high-cost medications, cutting fragmented specialist care, and treating root causes through a doctor–dietitian care model—resulting in healthier employees and lower overall costs. Resources * Connect with and follow Dr. Emily Cordes on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-cordes-do-ifmcp-a4363423b/]. * Follow Root Functional Medicine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/root-functional-medicine/] and visit their website [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/]. * Get your own Root Cause Panel to uncover root potential causes and optimize health here [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/product/root-7]! * Check out Dr. Emily Cordes’s previous episode on the Get to the Root podcast here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-01-why-functional-medicine-is-the-future-of-health/id1791782868?i=1000691074723]!

EP 19: Nutrition Myth Busting with the Root Dietitians with Amy Masterson, Lauren Hanson, and Stephanie Nielsen

The loudest nutrition claims online often leave out the facts. In this myth-busting episode, Root dietitians Amy Masterson, Lauren Hanson, and Stephanie Nielsen cut through the noise with practical, science-based insights you can actually use. They share why quick fixes and viral trends spread so easily—and what really works instead. From the idea that all smoothies are healthy to confusion around seed oils, protein needs, and “sugar-free” foods, the team breaks down common myths with clarity and humor. A fast-paced Q&A covers even more hot topics like gluten-free diets, frozen produce, healthy fats, and coffee. Tune in to separate fact from fiction and build a balanced, sustainable way of eating that truly supports your health. Resources: * Connect with and follow Amy Masterson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybloom/]. * Follow Lauren Hanson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hanson-07864b267/]. * Connect with and follow Stephanie Nielsen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-nielsen/]. * Follow Root Functional Medicine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/root-functional-medicine/] and visit their website [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/]. * Get your own Root Cause Panel to uncover potential root causes and optimize health here [https://rootfunctionalmedicine.com/product/root-7]!

EP 18: Insights from a Self-Funded Expert with Spencer Smith

In this episode, Spencer Smith, host of Self-Funded with Spencer and Senior Vice President of Sales at Pareto Health, shares how curiosity led him from insurance sales to a passion for self-funding. He reflects on insights gained from interviewing innovators and working with employers to design better health plans, highlighting why many are moving away from traditional insurance. Spencer also explores the cost crisis, the rise of captives, and how he sees root cause strategies, like functional medicine, reducing costs and creating healthier workplace cultures. Follow Spencer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/] Subscribe to Self Funded with Spencer [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286]