Life with Stage 4 Endometriosis: Ashley Banek | Ep24

Life with Stage 4 Endometriosis: Ashley Banek | Ep24

After stopping birth control in her early 30s, Ashley Banek expected life to feel more natural and connected to her body. Instead, she began experiencing debilitating cycles, severe pain, vomiting, exhaustion, and symptoms so extreme they left her curled up on the bathroom floor for days at a time. Despite repeated attempts to get help, she says many medical professionals minimized her pain, dismissed her concerns, and pushed solutions that didn’t address the root issue. What followed was years of confusion, misdiagnosis, emergency situations, and major decisions about her future fertility. Ashley eventually discovered she had severe endometriosis that had spread extensively throughout her body, leading to a nine-hour surgery, conversations about organ removal, and the realization that she would need to become her own advocate inside a fragmented healthcare system. In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Ashley shares the emotional and physical toll of living with chronic illness, the fear and uncertainty surrounding endometriosis, and the long process of finding doctors who truly listened. She also opens up about how her experience inspired her to found Samara Health, a company focused on helping women navigate complex medical challenges with advocacy, support, and personalized care. Featured Guest: Ashley Banek Founder of Samara Health Website: https://www.samarahealth.com [https://www.samarahealth.com] Instagram: @ashleybanek Samara Health Instagram: @samarahealth Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. Chapters 00:00 Coming Up This Episode 00:23 Podcast Intro: Ashley Banek’s Story 01:16 Interview Begins: Welcome Ashley 02:00 Going Off Birth Control & Early Symptoms 06:44 Cycles Become Debilitating 12:14 “Pain Was 10 Out of 10” 18:43 Medical Dismissal & Fighting to Be Heard 27:08 Emergency Health Complications Begin 41:37 Searching for a Surgeon Who Would Preserve Her Organs 42:38 Endometriosis & The Hysterectomy Conversation 58:10 The Emotional Toll of Chronic Illness 01:10:42 Becoming Her Own Advocate 01:29:19 Founding Samara Health 01:38:27 Rock Bottom Score: “Negative Hundreds” 01:38:48 Life Now: “I’m a Nine or a Ten” 01:40:08 Final Thoughts & Encouragement Presented by: @JigsawHealthTV Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645] Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8 [https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8]

From Rock Producer to Healing Music: Barry Goldstein | Ep23

Barry Goldstein spent years chasing his dream career in music. He became a Grammy-winning producer, worked with legends like Les Paul, and built a successful career in the music industry. But behind the scenes, the pressure of deadlines, nonstop studio sessions, anxiety, and burnout slowly turned the thing he loved most into something painful. In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Barry shares the moment everything shifted. After reaching a breaking point in the late 90s, he began experimenting with music in a completely different way, slowing his heart rate to 60 beats per minute and creating long-form soundscapes designed to quiet the analytical mind. What started as a personal experiment eventually evolved into decades of work exploring music, meditation, coherence, and healing. Barry explains how those early experiments led to collaborations with Dr. Joe Dispenza, Neale Donald Walsch, and others, along with live meditation events attended by thousands of people around the world. He also dives into the science behind music and brainwaves, “heart coherence,” creativity, stress, sleep, emotional regulation, and why he believes music can become a powerful tool for healing. The conversation also explores AI in music, improvisation and intuition, how creativity gets “unlearned” as we age, and Barry’s newest project: creating music-based emotional regulation tools for children. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. Chapters 00:00 Coming Up This Episode 00:23 Podcast Intro: Barry Goldstein’s Story 01:23 Interview Begins: Welcome Barry 03:43 When Music Became “Painful” 06:08 Discovering 60 BPM & Heart Coherence 07:20 “What If I Just Let The Music Flow Through Me?” 09:01 Music, Anxiety & Sleep Healing 12:20 The Four Body System Explained 14:48 Heart Coherence & “The Zone” 16:38 “My Pleasure Had Become My Poison” 20:10 Composing Music From Intuition 23:05 The Science of Entrainment 28:11 Music As Medicine (“Acousticeuticals”) 31:27 Music, Grief & Emotional Healing 34:38 Barry’s Weight Loss & Health Journey 37:18 Bringing Healing Music Into Pop Culture 42:04 Touring With Dr. Joe Dispenza 46:26 Creating Coherence In Live Audiences 50:15 Improvisation, Pressure & Performance 52:01 The “Wizard of Oz Voice” Conversation 58:05 Scoring Meditation Like Film 01:01:16 Barry’s Kids Emotional-Regulation Project 01:05:27 AI & The Future of Music Presented by: @JigsawHealthTV Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645] Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8 [https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8]

Patient Advocacy & Life-Saving Questions: Dr. Donese Worden | Ep22

Dr. Denise Worden already understood the importance of patient advocacy, but one hospital experience made it impossible to ignore just how critical it is. While advocating for her 92-year-old father in the hospital, she caught seven critical mistakes that could have cost him his life. Medications that had been discontinued were about to be administered. Vital details were missing from his chart. And in just 30 minutes away from his bedside, something went wrong. In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Dr. Worden shares her journey from early-career betrayal and a lawsuit that shook her trust, to becoming a fierce advocate for patients navigating a complex and often overwhelmed healthcare system. She introduces her philosophy of “Dare to Doubt,” a call to trust your intuition, ask better questions, and take an active role in your care. From real hospital scenarios to practical ways you can protect yourself or a loved one, this conversation is a powerful reminder: sometimes the most important voice in the room is yours. ---------------------------------------- Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. ---------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Coming Up This Episode 00:23 Podcast Intro: Dr. Denise Worden 01:07 Interview Begins 02:54 Perspective from Treating Serious Illness 04:05 “Dare to Doubt” and Her Mother’s Story 06:20 Advocating for Her 92-Year-Old Father 07:03 The 7 Mistakes That Could Have Been Fatal 07:43 How Medical Errors Actually Happen 09:23 How to Speak Up and Ask the Right Questions 11:30 Practical Patient Advocacy Tips 16:20 Learning to Trust Your Intuition 20:02 Applying This to Cancer and Treatment Decisions 30:48 What Actually Matters Most for Healing 48:05 Sponsor + Outro ---------------------------------------- Presented by: @JigsawHealthTV Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645] Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8 [https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8]

Life with Gitelman Syndrome: Suzanne Dunn | Ep21

Suzanne Dunn was just 19 years old and pregnant when her body began shutting down. She couldn’t walk. She was crawling. Her potassium levels dropped to a life-threatening 1.3—and doctors scrambled to stabilize her without fully understanding what was happening. What followed was decades of extreme fatigue, full-body cramping, heart palpitations, and a rare diagnosis that few in the medical system recognized: Gitelman Syndrome. In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Suzanne shares her long and difficult journey through misdiagnosis, repeated ER visits, and years of treatments that never fully worked. At one point, she spent over 50 days hospitalized in a single year—stuck in a cycle of temporary relief, only to crash again days later. She describes what it feels like when your electrolytes drop so low that your body begins to fail—and how frustrating it is to know something is wrong, but not be fully understood by the people trying to help you. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine. Chapters 00:00 Coming Up This Episode 00:22 Podcast Intro: Suzanne Dunn’s Story 01:06 Interview Begins: Welcome Suzanne 01:23 What Is Gitelman Syndrome? 02:12 Life-Threatening Pregnancy & First Diagnosis 06:39 “I was crawling…” — Severe Symptoms Begin 07:13 Heart Palpitations, Delirium, and Electrolyte Crash 11:17 Magnesium Infusions & ER Reality 13:00 50 Days Hospitalized & Medical Frustration 14:05 The Magnesium Oxide Mistake 20:20 Tracking Labs & Finding Patterns 23:35 “I’m going to figure this out myself” 30:01 What Rock Bottom Felt Like 34:11 Rock Bottom Score: “I was at a one” 41:43 Life Now: “I’m at an eight” Presented by: @JigsawHealthTV Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645] Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8 [https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8]

Chronic Illness, Inflammation & Ayurveda | Dr. Shivani Gupta

Dr. Shivani Gupta was known as “the sick kid,” constantly battling infections and relying on antibiotics. By college, her health had deteriorated to the point where daily life felt impossible. In this episode, she shares how a breaking point led her to Ayurveda, where she rebuilt her health and now teaches others that symptoms aren’t random — they’re signals pointing to the root cause. Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner and turmeric researcher who helps women reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and boost energy with Elemental Design™, Mental Inflammation™ tools, and gut-forward routines. Her new book, The Inflammation Code (Hay House, February 2026), offers a clear, non-diet plan for cooling chronic inflammation. She hosts the Fusionary Health Podcast and created the Emmy-nominated TV show Vibrant Health with Dr. Shivani Gupta. More at shivanigupta.com [http://shivanigupta.com]. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta [https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@TheShivaniGupta [https://www.facebook.com/@TheShivaniGupta] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta/videos] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theshivanigupta [https://www.pinterest.com/theshivanigupta] Website: www.shivanigupta.com [http://www.shivanigupta.com] The Inflammation Code book: www.theinflammationcode.com [http://www.theinflammationcode.com]  Fusionary Formulas: www.fusionaryformulas.com [http://www.fusionaryformulas.com] 7-Day Inflammation Detox Challenge: https://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/optin1641313075014 [https://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/optin1641313075014] Anti-Inflammatory E-Cookbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ItNJ1DV3XsOn5MwBbSpeTFH8o3KFu2qk/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ItNJ1DV3XsOn5MwBbSpeTFH8o3KFu2qk/view?usp=sharing] The Inflammation Code Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inflammation-code/id1680587836 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inflammation-code/id1680587836] ---------------------------------------- Rock Bottom Podcast is sponsored by: @JigsawHealthTV Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therockbottom.podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@therockbottom.podcast] Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockbottom.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/rockbottom.podcast] ---------------------------------------- ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to the Rock Bottom Podcast 01:58 – Growing Up “The Sick Kid” 03:56 – Rock Bottom: Severely Ill in India 04:10 – Saying No to Another Prescription 05:08 – Discovering Ayurveda 06:54 – A Complete Health Transformation 08:17 – Bridging Eastern & Western Medicine 12:52 – Inflammation: The Root of Modern Symptoms 23:08 – “Tea Time is Me Time” & Nervous System Health 27:11 – What Inflammation Actually Feels Like 34:25 – Turmeric, Gut Health & Healing 43:44 – Your Body Isn’t Broken 47:50 – Where to Start Your Healing Journey ----------------------------------------