Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn

123: A Family’s Fight Through Childhood Cancer with Ryan Sternagel

In this powerful episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Ryan Sternagel, founder of The Stern Method, to share the story that reshaped his life: his son’s cancer diagnosis and the desperate search for answers that followed.  What began as a parent’s nightmare became a deep dive into integrative medicine, environmental toxicity, nutrition, and the healing power of community. Ryan opens up about navigating a rigid medical system, facing pressure from institutions, and refusing to ignore his intuition. He and Dr. Jenn explore what happens when families question conventional recommendations, how holistic therapies can support traditional treatment, and why creating a healing environment is essential. This is a conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the belief that healing requires more than protocols. It’s about parents becoming empowered, finding the right team, and discovering hope in the darkest moments. In This Episode, You Will Learn: * How Ryan’s son’s diagnosis launched his mission in integrative health * The challenges families face when questioning conventional treatment * Why intuition and research matter in medical decision making * How nutrition and alternative therapies support cancer care * The emotional and practical realities of navigating the system * The importance of community, mindset, and family support * Why no single therapy is ever a silver bullet * How environment and lifestyle shape healing * The role of supplements within a comprehensive plan * What it means to build a truly healing home 💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And share this story with someone who needs strength and hope. Episode Timeline Highlights:  02:46 Awakening to holistic health 06:00 The diagnosis and early decisions 09:00 Navigating hospitals and seeking answers 15:01 Nutrition and alternative therapies 17:55 Challenges with the medical system 20:58 Finding integrative oncology support 24:09 A family’s commitment to healing 30:08 Intuition, research, and advocacy 33:08 Bridging conventional and holistic approaches 36:02 Resilience and transformation 41:04 Purpose through adversity 48:35 Integrative and conventional treatment insights 56:39 Ivermectin and alternative therapies 01:01:27 Mindset in the healing process 01:13:44 Key supplements and holistic practices Where to Find Ryan Sternagel: Social: @thesternmethod Website: ourhealthnaturally.com Member Community: goingintegrativeplus.com To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK [https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/time-to-talk] To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide [https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide] To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ [https://auria.care/] and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ [https://www.realhealthmd.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons [https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons]

122: Revolutionizing Women's Health with Dr. Austin Lake

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons is joined by Dr. Austin Lake. Together, they explore how chronic disease became normalized, why the Flexner Report reshaped modern medical training, and what it really takes to take ownership of your health in today’s world. Dr. Lake shares why environmental toxins, stress, and lifestyle choices are driving so much illness, and how personal responsibility and community support can radically change health outcomes. He and Dr. Jenn break down the vaccine debate, the future of medical autonomy, and why true healing requires questioning long-held assumptions. They also dive into the role of diet and detoxification, the nuances of hormone replacement therapy, why foundational lifestyle work must come before hormones, and how faith and spiritual grounding help guide healing. This conversation empowers listeners to understand their bodies, advocate for their choices, and take back control in a healthcare system that often overlooks the root cause of disease. In This Episode, You Will Learn: • How the Flexner Report reshaped modern medicine • Why chronic disease is not inevitable • How environmental toxins and stress fuel illness • Why personal responsibility is essential for healing • How community support strengthens health outcomes • Why vaccines remain a complex and evolving conversation • How diet and detoxification support metabolic health • Why hormones cannot replace foundational lifestyle changes • How elimination diets uncover hidden sensitivities • Why stress is a major driver of metabolic dysfunction • How women experience and carry stress differently • Why faith and mindset support physical healing • Why understanding your own body leads to better care • Why healing requires education, empowerment, and curiosity Episode Timeline Highlights: 03:01 The evolution of medical education and practice 06:09 The Flexner Report and its impact on medicine 08:59 Challenging conventional wisdom in healthcare 11:58 The role of environmental factors in health 15:00 The importance of personal responsibility in health 18:06 The future of healthcare and community support 20:49 The vaccine debate and public health 27:06 Innovative approaches to breast cancer screening 33:00 The importance of diet and detoxification 35:51 Hormones as a tool, not a solution 42:52 The nuances of hormone replacement therapy 49:42 The role of diet in hormonal health 55:24 The connection between stress and metabolic health 01:00:05 The role of faith in health and healing Where to find Dr. Austin Lake: Social: @dr.austin.l To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK [https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/time-to-talk] To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide [https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide] To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ [https://auria.care/] and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ [https://www.realhealthmd.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons [https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons]

121: Plant Based Simplicity and Building a Healthier Relationship With Food with Healthy Emmie

In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons is joined by Emmie Keefe, also known as Healthy Emmie, a guiding voice in plant based nutrition. Together, they explore what it truly means to build a healthy relationship with food and why simplicity matters more than perfection. Emmie shares her personal journey into plant focused eating, how it transformed the health of her entire family, and why food addiction is one of the biggest unspoken challenges many people face. Dr. Jenn and Emmie break down the fears, resistance, and emotional attachments that keep people stuck, and why three weeks can be enough to create real, sustainable change. They also dive into intuitive eating, the pitfalls of calorie and macro counting, how to build a nourishing plate, and why weight training is essential for women at every age. This conversation empowers listeners to rethink their daily choices, understand the role of emotional and spiritual healing, and embrace the truth that health happens at home long before the doctor's office. In This Episode, You Will Learn: • Why everyone benefits from eating more plants • How food addiction shows up and why it is so hard to break • Why the brain can adapt quickly to new eating habits • How simplicity supports long term health • Why half your plate should be vegetables • How fear of losing comfort blocks change • Why three weeks can reset habits • The difference between weight loss and real disease prevention • Why intuitive eating reduces stress • How to build a nourishing plate with balance • Why weight training is critical for women • Why age should never stop you from lifting weights • How to simplify meal prep when overwhelmed • Why fasting is not right for everyone • How eating order impacts blood sugar • Why knowledge is empowerment • Why health is built daily in your home Episode Timeline Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to plant based nutrition and behavioral change 07:15 Emmie's journey into plant focused eating 17:06 Food addiction and convenience challenges 24:42 Resistance, comfort, and why change feels hard 32:30 Weight loss vs disease prevention 34:44 Intuitive eating vs counting macros 37:03 Building a simple, nourishing plate 40:12 The role of weight training for women 44:29 Knowledge, confidence, and empowerment 50:01 Simplifying healthy eating for real life 56:22 Fasting and metabolic considerations 01:02:55 Eating order and blood sugar control Where to find Healthy Emmie: Social: @healthyemmie To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK [https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/time-to-talk] To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide [https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide] To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ [https://auria.care/] and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ [https://www.realhealthmd.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons [https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons]

120: Hormones, Holistic Health, and Women's Empowerment with Dr. Taz Bhatia

In this illuminating episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Taz Bhatia, board-certified physician, integrative medicine pioneer, and champion for women’s health, to explore the intricate world of hormones through every season of a woman’s life. Dr. Taz shares her personal hormonal journey, the gaps she witnessed in conventional medicine, and why personalized, root-cause driven care is essential. Together, she and Dr. Jenn break down how birth control, stress, gut health, and generational patterns shape hormonal balance. They also dive into innovative diagnostic approaches, including the auria test, and discuss why hormones are often misunderstood, and mismanaged, in modern medical systems. This conversation empowers women to understand their physiology, challenge outdated narratives, and take an active role in their health across puberty, fertility, perimenopause, and beyond. In This Episode, You Will Learn: * Why hormonal changes form a lifelong continuum * How birth control can mask deeper imbalances * The role of gut health and liver detoxification in hormone balance * Why progesterone deficiency is so common today * How stress and cortisol impact young women’s hormones * The importance of personalized hormone therapy * Why patients must advocate for their own health * How hormonal patterns can be passed through generations * Why breast cancer is often linked to hormone deficiency, not excess * How innovative tools like the auria test may revolutionize screening Episode Timeline Highlights: 00:00 Introduction & Dr. Taz’s personal hormonal journey 02:45 Why traditional hormonal treatments fall short 06:02 How experience reshaped her integrative practice 09:06 Birth control concerns & long-term impacts 11:57 How hormonal suppression affects whole-body health 14:58 The value of holistic, root-cause approaches 17:53 Cultural resistance to new medical paradigms 20:57 Innovations in breast cancer screening (auria test) 23:50 Why change is so hard in established medicine 27:00 Understanding hormonal patterns & testing 29:51 The need for comprehensive hormone education 33:39 Hormonal shifts from puberty to menopause 43:53 Personalized hormone therapy done right 01:01:29 Gut health, the microbiome & hormonal balance 01:04:47 Empowering patients to own their health journey Where to find Dr. Taz Bhatia: Website: holplus.co Social: @DrTazMD To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK [https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/time-to-talk] To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide [https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide] To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ [https://auria.care/] and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ [https://www.realhealthmd.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons [https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons]

119: Overcoming Terminal Cancer and Redefining Healing with Dr. Pete Sulack

In this deeply inspiring episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons welcomes Dr. Pete Sulack—chiropractor, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Unhealthy Anonymous—for a powerful conversation about defying the odds after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Dr. Sulack shares how he turned a death sentence into a journey of hope, healing, and renewal. Through faith, nutrition, and lifestyle transformation, he reclaimed his health and now guides others to do the same. Together, he and Dr. Jenn challenge conventional cancer paradigms, exploring how mindset, personalized nutrition, and spiritual alignment can unlock the body’s innate capacity to heal. This episode invites listeners to rethink what’s possible in cancer recovery and beyond. It’s a story of courage, resilience, and faith in both science and spirit—reminding us that health is not something we outsource but something we build from within. In This Episode, You Will Learn: * How Dr. Sulack overcame a terminal brain cancer diagnosis * Why functional medicine focuses on healing the whole person, not just treating disease * The crucial role of personalized nutrition in recovery * How food sensitivities and gut health shape overall wellness * Why conventional medicine often overlooks the importance of diet * The link between faith, mindset, and the body’s innate ability to heal * How to take proactive responsibility for your health * Why empowerment and education can change the cancer care paradigm 💬 If this episode resonates, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Episode Timeline Highlights: 00:00 Overcoming the Impossible: Dr. Pete Sulack’s Journey  03:11 The Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Event  05:58 Creating a New Path: Functional Medicine and Resilience  09:06 The Role of Diet in Cancer Treatment  12:05 Understanding Food Sensitivities and Gut Health  14:50 The Importance of Personalized Nutrition  18:05 Challenging Conventional Wisdom in Cancer Care  20:51 Proactive Health Management: A Call to Action  31:35 Rethinking Health Responsibility  34:19 Personalized Health Regimens  39:35 The Role of Faith in Healing  43:37 Hope and Healing Perspectives  48:07 Creating a Healing Environment  51:56 Empowering Cancer Care  54:41 Changing the Cancer Care Paradigm Where to find Dr. Pete Sulack: Instagram: @drpetesulack Website: https://drpetesulack.com/ To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working privately with RHMD, visit: https://jennsimmons.simplero.com/page/377266?kuid=327aca17-5135-44cf-9210-c0b77a56e26d&kref=vOKy0sAiorrK [https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/time-to-talk] To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide [https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide] To purchase the auria breast cancer screening test go here https://auria.care/ [https://auria.care/] and use the code DRJENN20 for 20% Off. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.realhealthmd.com/ [https://www.realhealthmd.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons [https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons]