Episode 24: May Recap - The Biggest Lie in Medicine? ‘Your Labs Are Normal.

Episode 25: Bonus Episode - Be the Man: Faith, Health & Leading with Purpose | Men’s Health Month with Pastor Zeus Vital

In this special Men’s Health Month episode of The Flourishing Life Podcast, Jackie and Tad are joined by returning guest, Pastor Zeus Vital, for a powerful and honest conversation about what it means to be a man in today’s culture. Together, they tackle the challenges modern men are facing—from distraction and comparison to isolation, burnout, and a loss of purpose—and explore how faith, physical health, and intentional living are deeply connected. This episode is a call for men to reject passivity and embrace biblical masculinity: leading with courage, serving with humility, caring for their bodies as God’s temple, and showing up fully for the people they love. The conversation also addresses why so many men silently struggle with exhaustion, emotional numbness, addictions, and disconnection, and offers practical encouragement for taking the next step toward healing and flourishing. In This Episode: * The crisis of masculinity and what biblical manhood really looks like * Why so many men struggle with purpose and comparison * The impact of distraction, technology, and hustle culture on men’s health * How spiritual health influences mental, physical, and relational well-being * Why men often ignore symptoms and wait too long to ask for help * The importance of brotherhood, mentorship, and community * Why strong men of integrity are essential for families and society * Practical habits that help men thrive spiritually, mentally, and physically * How caring for your body increases your capacity to serve others and fulfill your God-given purpose Key Takeaway: You were not created to merely survive, cope, or stay distracted. You were created to live with purpose, lead with integrity, and become the man God designed you to be. Flourishing starts by intentionally stewarding your faith, your health, and your relationships—one choice at a time. For more information about foundational medicine, hormone optimization, metabolic health, and longevity-focused care: Website: ⁠Flourish Medical + Wellness⁠ [https://www.flourishmedicalwellness.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Socials: flourishmedicalwellness Follow along for educational content, podcast updates, and upcoming events.

Episode 24: May Recap - The Biggest Lie in Medicine? ‘Your Labs Are Normal.

In this month's episode of The Flourishing Life Podcast, Jackie and Tad tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in healthcare today: the difference between being normal and being healthy. From hormone myths and outdated medical advice to stress, blood sugar, and environmental toxins, this conversation challenges conventional thinking and encourages listeners to become informed advocates for their own health. The discussion begins with practical summer wellness strategies, including the benefits of morning sunlight, movement, grounding, and creating a sustainable seasonal health plan. Jackie and Tad then dive into a powerful conversation about laboratory testing, explaining why "normal" lab values often represent the average American—not necessarily optimal health. They also unpack a real patient story involving outdated hormone recommendations that many women are still hearing today, including myths surrounding hormone replacement therapy and testosterone use in women. The episode explores newer research supporting long-term hormone optimization and healthy aging. Additional topics include: * Why morning sunlight is one of the most powerful free health tools available * Grounding: science versus skepticism * The connection between stress, cortisol, and blood sugar regulation * How continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are helping patients better understand their metabolic health * Why treating lab numbers alone can miss the bigger picture * The importance of individualized medicine versus one-size-fits-all recommendations * Key takeaways from the ECO Conference, including advances in cognitive health, longevity medicine, peptides, and nervous system regulation * The surprising reality of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, and environmental toxin exposure in the United States * Practical men's health strategies for optimizing energy, metabolism, and hormone health naturally Throughout the episode, Jackie and Tad emphasize a core Flourish principle: health isn't about chasing perfect lab numbers—it's about helping your body function the way it was designed to function. True wellness comes from building a strong foundation through nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and personalized care. "Normal does not automatically mean healthy." Many people are told their labs are normal while still struggling with fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, hormone symptoms, anxiety, or declining health. Understanding what your numbers actually mean—and how they fit into the bigger picture of your health—is critical to achieving lasting wellness. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." 3 John 1:2 For more information about foundational medicine, hormone optimization, metabolic health, and longevity-focused care: Website: Flourish Medical + Wellness [https://www.flourishmedicalwellness.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Socials: flourishmedicalwellness Follow along for educational content, podcast updates, and upcoming events.

Episode 23: Bonus Episode - From Burnout to Purpose: Healing Women Through Faith & Functional Medicine with Dr. Tabatha Barber

In this powerful and deeply faith-filled episode of The Flourishing Life Podcast, Jackie sits down with women’s health expert and functional medicine physician Dr. Tabatha Barber — known online as @gutsydoctabatha — for a conversation that will encourage, challenge, and inspire you. Dr. Tabatha vulnerably shares her incredible story of going from a teenage pregnancy and traumatic birth experience to becoming a successful OB/GYN surgeon… only to find herself completely burnt out, unhealthy, exhausted, and disconnected from the life God was calling her to live. After a life-changing health crisis and spiritual awakening, she shifted from conventional medicine into root-cause healing, functional medicine, and faith-centered wellness. Together, Jackie and Dr. Tabatha discuss: * The hidden root causes behind hormone imbalance, fatigue, inflammation, and chronic illness * Why gut health and nervous system regulation are foundational to healing * The connection between stress, adrenal dysfunction, and symptomatic perimenopause/menopause * The importance of mindset renewal and healing emotionally & spiritually — not just physically * Why women are more overwhelmed and hormonally depleted than ever before * The danger of “infobesity” in the wellness world * How faith, surrender, and purpose transformed both of their healing journeys * The beauty of women supporting women in health and healing Dr. Tabatha also shares exciting details about her upcoming fall tour with Candace Cameron Bure and how God opened doors in ways she never expected. This episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, practical health insight, and reminders that true healing involves mind, body, and spirit. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, stuck, inflamed, anxious, disconnected, or simply “not like yourself,” this conversation is for you. About Dr. Tabatha- Dr. Tabatha Barber is a former OB/GYN surgeon turned functional medicine physician, speaker, educator, podcast host, and founder of Fast to Faith. After years in conventional medicine and her own personal health struggles with burnout, Hashimoto’s, IBS, depression, and chronic inflammation, Dr. Tabatha transformed her approach to women’s healthcare by focusing on root-cause healing and whole-person wellness. Today, she helps women heal through functional medicine, hormone balancing, gut health optimization, fasting education, nervous system restoration, and faith-centered health coaching. She is passionate about empowering women to understand their bodies, reclaim their health, and live fully aligned with God’s purpose for their lives. * Instagram: @gutsydoctabatha * Website: DrTabatha.com [https://drtabatha.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Fast to Faith: FastToFaith.com [https://fasttofaith.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Podcast: Fast to Faith Podcast [https://fasttofaith.com/podcast/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Facebook: Dr. Tabatha Barber on Facebook Dr. Tabatha will be joining Candace Cameron Bure this fall for an exciting multi-city women’s tour focused on faith, wellness, encouragement, and living fully. Get your ticket today! “You have to stop carrying things God never asked you to carry.” — Dr. Tabatha Barber

Episode 22: April Recap - Unlocking Women's Health: Key Strategies for Aging Gracefully

Summary In this episode, Jackie and Tad Tewes discuss women's health, focusing on insulin resistance, hormonal changes with age, detox strategies, and recent patient success stories. They explore practical approaches to managing health during midlife and highlight the importance of personalized care. Key Topics Insulin resistance and hormonal changes with age Strategies for managing blood sugar and body composition Detox and toxin testing in health optimization Impact of menopause on metabolism and weight Personalized medicine in women's health Check out The Flourish Collective for the best, most effective wellness products we use every day with our patients. ⁠⁠https://shop.flourishmedicalwellness.com/⁠ [https://shop.flourishmedicalwellness.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Women's Health Month 01:46 Understanding Insulin Resistance in Women 06:39 Strategies for Managing Insulin Resistance 10:57 Case Studies: Success Stories in Women's Health 18:50 Toxin Testing and Its Impact on Health 22:01 Weight Loss Success Stories 25:11 Breast Cancer Screening Options 28:25 Challenges with Estrogen Availability 33:36 Supplement of the Month: DIM and VH Balance Website - flourishmedicalwellness.com IG - flourishmedicalwellness

Episode 21: Bonus Episode - From Credit Cards to Kingdom Impact With Guest Pastor Rob Ketterling

Summary Guest: Pastor Rob Ketterling Episode Topic: Faith, leadership, financial stewardship, generosity, health, and living an abundant life In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Jackie and Tad sit down with Pastor Rob Ketterling, lead pastor of River Valley Church, to talk about the intersection of spiritual health, financial stewardship, leadership, generosity, resilience, and physical wellness. Pastor Rob shares the incredible story behind the founding and growth of River Valley Church—from humble beginnings, financial uncertainty, and miraculous provision, to becoming a church with a global Kingdom impact. He opens up about the lessons God taught him through seasons of adversity, thefaith required to lead in uncertainty, and why generosity is not just about money, but about living a life fully surrendered to God. The conversation also explores the connection between physical health and leadership, how taking care of your body affects your calling, and why abundant living means having overflow in every area of life. This episode is full of wisdom, honesty, encouragement, and practical truth for anyone navigating leadership, faith, purpose, stewardship, or personal growth. In this episode, we discuss: Pastor Rob’s story and how River Valley Church began Learning to trust God through financial uncertainty and miracles How adversity shapes faith and leadership The heart behind Kingdom Builders What it means to live blessed to be a blessing The story and vision behind sending 500 missionaries Physical health, stewardship, and why leaders must care for themselves The connection between abundance, overflow, and impact Leadership growth, mentoring, coaching, and lifelong learning Navigating truth, culture, and social media with biblical conviction Loving people in all directions while staying anchored in the Kingdom Key takeaways: Faith often grows in the tension of uncertainty.Some of the greatest breakthroughs come when obedience is required before the outcome is visible. Stewardship is spiritual.Whether it is finances, health, leadership, or influence, everything we have belongs to God and should be used for His purposes. Generosity multiplies.What feels small in our hands can have eternal impact when surrendered to God. Health matters for calling.Caring for your body is not vanity—it is stewardship. When leaders are healthier, they have more energy, clarity, and capacity to serve others. Leadership requires growth.To continue leading well, we must remain teachable, humble, and willing to keep growing. You do not have to do the math—just do your part.God’s economy does not work like ours. Obedience matters more than trying to control outcomes. About our guest: Pastor Rob Ketterling is the lead pastor of River Valley Church, a multi-campus church based in Minnesota with a heart for local and global missions. He is passionate about helping people know God, grow in community, discover their purpose, andmake an eternal difference. Through the vision of Kingdom Builders, River Valley has mobilized extraordinary generosity to impact communities locally, globally, and future generations. Connect with River Valley Church: To learn more about River Valley Church or Kingdom Builders, visit: rivervalley.org