Wellness Reality Check

Spring Break Message From Ashley and Jess

Ashley and Jess are taking a little Spring Break... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

63 - Living in a Hypermobile Body: What Most Doctors Miss with Dr Taylor Goldberg

In this week's episode of Wellness Reality Check, we’re joined by Dr Taylor Goldberg, known online as The Hypermobile Chiropractor. Taylor is a Doctor of Chiropractic who specializes in helping people understand and navigate life in hypermobile bodies especially those who have spent years being told they’re simply “flexible” or “double jointed” without realizing there may be a deeper connective tissue pattern at play. In this conversation, we unpack what hypermobility actually means in the body and why so many people go decades without being properly identified or supported. Taylor explains the difference between generalized hypermobility and hypermobile conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and why some people can be hypermobile without symptoms while others experience chronic pain, instability, and nervous system dysregulation. Movement and exercise are a major part of the discussion. We talk about why traditional fitness programs can backfire for hypermobile bodies, the common advice -like stretching or excessive yoga- that may actually worsen symptoms, and what types of training can safely build strength and stability over time.  In addition, we discuss the chiropractic profession itself, including red flags hypermobile patients should watch for when seeking care and what safe, effective chiropractic support can look like for connective tissue disorders.  If you’ve ever felt like your body is unpredictable, fragile, or difficult to understand, this episode offers a new lens—one that emphasizes education, stability, and rebuilding trust in your body. In This Episode We Discuss * What hypermobility actually means in the body * The difference between flexibility and joint instability * Why hypermobility often goes undiagnosed for years * Why many hypermobile people struggle with exercise intolerance and injuries * Common mistakes people make when trying to strengthen hypermobile bodies * Why stretching and certain fitness trends can sometimes make symptoms worse * How hypermobile individuals can safely build strength and stability * Chiropractic care: what helps and what to watch out for * Why hypermobile bodies often respond differently to exercise * Rebuilding confidence and trust in your body Connect with Taylor Goldberg Instagram: @thehypermobilechiro [https://www.instagram.com/thehypermobilechiro/] Programs and offerings [https://thehypermobilechiro.com/resources/] Book a Free Discovery Call Here [https://calendly.com/d/d6j-7hz-qpn] Visit us on Instagram @wellnessrealitycheck [https://www.instagram.com/wellnessrealitycheck/] Go to wildwholistic.com [https://wildwholistic.com/] and use our discount code 'WRC' for 10% off and to support our sponsor Wild Wholistic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

62 - The Chronic Illness Overlap No One is Explaining with Dr Zac Spiritos

In this week's episode of Wellness Reality Check, we’re joined by Dr. Zac Spiritos, board-certified neurogastroenterologist and co-founder of EverBetter Medicine, to unpack the complex overlap of chronic conditions that often leave patients feeling dismissed or misunderstood. We dive deep into the gut-brain-immune connection, exploring how MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), hypermobility, and gut dysmotility intersect and why these overlapping issues are often treated in isolation. Dr. Spiritos shares insights on why labs can look “normal” while patients are still struggling, how nervous system regulation affects digestion, and the critical role of recognizing patterns across multiple systems for real healing. If you’ve ever felt like your chronic health issues are confusing, invisible, or misdiagnosed, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on in the body and how integrative, whole-person approaches can make a difference. Tune in to learn: * How gut health, inflammation, and immune activation are connected to POTS and hypermobility * Why patients are often sent from specialist to specialist without answers * How nervous system regulation influences digestion and chronic illness * Practical insights for supporting the body when multiple systems are affected This is a must-listen for anyone navigating chronic health challenges, caregivers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of gut, immune, and nervous system health. Find Dr Zac Spiritos on instagram @drzacspiritos [https://www.instagram.com/drzacspiritos/] EverBetter Medicine [https://everbettermedicine.health/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnssQqeMKuLyCuB-prr4_KQTBjybjTqu-xv1iUM63Uan8_BNyxg9n2Y1WNbiI_aem_JTbHLOkl-BAQklGimPPHBQ] Visit us on Instagram @wellnessrealitycheck [https://www.instagram.com/wellnessrealitycheck/] Go to wildwholistic.com [https://wildwholistic.com/] and use our discount code 'WRC' for 10% off and to support our sponsor Wild Wholistic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

61 - Breaking the Cycle of Disconnection in Marriage with Somatic Marriage Coach Becky Aste

Ashley and Jess talk with trauma-informed somatic relationship coach Becky Aste about how the nervous system shapes our relationships far more than insight or communication skills alone. Becky shares the breaking point in her own marriage at year ten, when she and her husband, with two young kids and a long history of a “chase and run” conflict pattern, chose separation and began discussing divorce. Despite years of therapy and self-development, they felt hopeless until Becky discovered somatic coaching during their separation. Learning to work with her body and nervous system, rather than just her thoughts, shifted her energy and the “dance” in their marriage. Over time, they reconciled and rebuilt a relationship with more safety, intimacy, and play. The conversation explores key differences between traditional “neck up” therapy and somatic coaching, which focuses on present-moment body awareness and regulation. Becky explains how the vagus nerve and body-to-brain signaling mean that 80 percent of our experience is driven from the body upward, so ignoring the body leaves many couples stuck.They dive into topics like using sex as a way to regulate or avoid disconnection, dissociation as a protective mechanism, and how trauma shows up in symptoms such as anxiety, gut issues, and chronic illness. Becky reframes codependency as a fawn response rooted in early survival strategies and unpacks how common attachment styles—anxious, avoidant, disorganized, and secure—play out in partnership. Throughout, she offers simple somatic tools such as grounding through the five senses, box breathing, and movement to discharge built-up energy. The episode also covers boundaries from a nervous system lens, the impact of modeling on children, and how to tell the difference between a trauma-triggered reaction and deeper intuition. Becky ultimately suggests that a lack of embodied safety to be authentic lies at the heart of many divorces. You can find Becky Aste at @becky_aste on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/becky_aste/] Her website and offerings here. [https://www.idobreakthrough.com/trainingvideo?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn4i6FLQzL0pfKWEGKw6Nn3bdjwa9w3bYMlXMX965EYbjwxlnhyCjHU1dJFWE_aem_JLyDH3Ca7_WeLo99CdkSoA] And her podcast Your Blueprint Breakthrough [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-breakthrough-blueprint-with-becky-aste-for-the/id1676348200] where you stream your podcasts. Visit us on Instagram @wellnessrealitycheck [https://www.instagram.com/wellnessrealitycheck/] Go to wildwholistic.com [https://wildwholistic.com/] and use our discount code 'WRC' for 10% off and to support our sponsor Wild Wholistic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

60 - The Myths That Keep Us Stuck with Jason Gandzjuk

In this week's episode Ash and Jess interview Jason Gandzjuk, a mental health and mindset coach whose work centers on nervous system regulation, core childhood wounds, and embodiment rather than quick-fix protocols. Jason traces his story back to losing his mother at 13, a trauma that split his psyche and set him on a decades-long journey through illness, professional motocross and cycling, and over $2 million spent on doctors, therapies, and protocols that never truly resolved his symptoms. He explains that meaningful healing only began when he turned inward, stopped outsourcing his health, and started listening to his body. Jason's approach challenges the common wellness myths: the idea that a diagnosis (like Lyme disease or mold illness) is your identity, that healing is primarily about supplements and protocols, or that plant medicines alone will “fix” you. Instead, he frames illness as symbolic and instructive often pointing to unprocessed grief, lack of mothering (externally and internally), and disconnection from the body. He always returns to foundations: sleep, nutrition, movement that feels good, play, fun, and “sacred appointments” you schedule with yourself each day. Without these basics, advanced tools like psychedelics can create more fragmentation than healing, especially if your metabolism and mineral status are depleted and you lack the capacity to integrate what surfaces. Jason also explores relationship dynamics, safety, and the role of early childhood (especially ages 0–7, the “root chakra” phase) in shaping whether we can feel secure, receive love, and regulate our nervous systems. Illness, he suggests, is often the body’s “last successful strategy” to force us back into truth, boundaries, and self-responsibility. Follow Jason on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/j_gandzjuk/] You can find Jason's Free Ebook "The Medicine Before the Medicine" here [https://specialized-coaching.kit.com/9ed8b23834?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnQlyOCuH5QJa63fslb_ZKXq7mjYkz36hugMwJZaU0oax3TQdnzl_KvACisVU_aem_2d6yl7ywqK3oXCEYKNBlkA] And apply to work with him one on one here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyUWUmjgPwtKGW31w9UeAgsGOhgAZRZbP2-zPtxBIRteFoLA/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnVUQy4LWJuBsoCibXS6pTUmZ4c9G31GMXQ7B44XEtIIKjKwUWZzPBzJtOmOk_aem_JTJyzTJ59jWg0Lz1wXOrFw] Visit us on Instagram @wellnessrealitycheck [https://www.instagram.com/wellnessrealitycheck/] Go to wildwholistic.com [https://wildwholistic.com/] and use our discount code 'WRC' for 10% off and to support our sponsor Wild Wholistic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].