Conversations with a Chiropractor

Thyroid Symptoms, Normal Labs, and Root Causes: Dr. Kevin Smith on Hashimoto's, Functional Medicine, and Chronic Conditions | Conversations with a Chiropractor

Thyroid Symptoms, Normal Labs, and Root Causes: Dr. Kevin Smith on Hashimoto's, Functional Medicine, and Chronic Conditions | Conversations with a Chiropractor Episode Description In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with Dr. Kevin Smith, a functional medicine practitioner and founder of the Chronic Conditions Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Smith specializes in helping people better understand the root causes behind chronic health problems, including thyroid dysfunction, gut issues, autoimmunity, chronic pain, inflammation, peripheral neuropathy, insulin resistance, and other complex conditions. This conversation focuses heavily on thyroid health, especially the frustration many people feel when they have symptoms of hypothyroidism, but are told their labs are "normal." Dr. Smith explains why thyroid symptoms can involve far more than a simple TSH reading, and why many cases of hypothyroidism may be connected to Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid. Stephanie and Dr. Smith talk through common thyroid symptoms, including fatigue, hair loss, weak nails, digestive changes, sleep issues, brain fog, mood changes, infertility, and skin problems. They also discuss why a deeper look at the body may include the immune system, gut health, liver function, blood sugar, cortisol, sex hormones, inflammation, food sensitivities, unresolved infections, and nutrient status. The episode also explores the difference between managing symptoms and looking for the underlying reasons a person may not feel well. Dr. Smith shares how he uses detailed intake forms, comprehensive lab testing, metabolic questionnaires, food sensitivity testing, lifestyle changes, nutrition, supplements, and retesting to help patients better understand what is happening in their body. This conversation is educational and is not a replacement for personal medical care. If you are dealing with thyroid symptoms, autoimmune concerns, medication questions, or chronic health issues, work with a qualified healthcare provider who can evaluate your individual situation. In This Episode, Discover * Common symptoms of hypothyroidism and low thyroid function * Why "normal labs" may not tell the whole story * The connection between Hashimoto's disease and thyroid dysfunction * Why Dr. Smith describes many thyroid issues as immune system issues * How the brain, pituitary gland, thyroid, liver, gut, and carrier proteins all play a role in thyroid function * Why every cell in the body depends on thyroid hormone for energy regulation * How chronic inflammation, blood sugar issues, cortisol, sex hormones, food sensitivities, and infections may affect thyroid physiology * Why comprehensive lab testing may reveal patterns missed by basic panels * The difference between food allergy testing and food sensitivity testing * How lifestyle changes, nutrition, supplements, and retesting fit into functional medicine care * Why patients may need to take a more active role in understanding their health Stay Connected & Explore Learn More About Dr. Kevin Smith & Metabolic Solutions: Dr. Kevin Smith / Metabolic Solutions: https://www.metabolicsolutions.net/ [https://www.metabolicsolutions.net/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Free 2-Minute Metabolic Health Assessment: https://www.metabolicsolutions.net/metabolic-scorecard/ [https://www.metabolicsolutions.net/metabolic-scorecard/] Chronic Conditions Center: https://www.chronicpa.com/ [https://www.chronicpa.com/] Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor: Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro [http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro] Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness [https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness] Email for show-related inquiries and sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Want to be a guest on Conversations with a Chiropractor? Send Stephanie Wautier a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/drstephanie [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/drstephanie] Credits Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 00:56 Meet Dr. Kevin Smith 01:55 Why Thyroid Health Is the Focus 02:15 Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism 04:01 When Symptoms Persist but Labs Look Normal 05:13 Looking Beyond Basic Thyroid Testing 05:47 Hashimoto's Disease and Autoimmunity 07:15 Why the Immune System Matters in Thyroid Health 08:25 Thyroid Medication, Unresolved Symptoms, and the Bigger Pathway 09:04 The Brain, Pituitary Gland, TSH, T3, and T4 10:37 The Thyroid as the Body's Energy Regulator 11:48 Brain Fog, Mood, Gut Symptoms, and Cellular Energy 13:16 Triggers That Can Disrupt Thyroid Physiology 15:13 Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism 16:14 Intake Forms, Questionnaires, and Foundational Labs 18:14 What Dr. Smith Looks for in Lab Work 19:53 Insurance, Coverage, and the Limits of Symptom Management 22:29 Managing Symptoms vs. Looking for Root Causes 23:30 Patients Who Feel Like They Are Out of Options 25:24 Medication Side Effects and Patient Education 27:26 Dr. Google, Food Testing, and Objective Data 29:36 IgG, IgE, and Food Sensitivity Testing 31:48 Delayed Reactions and the Long-Fuse Firecracker Analogy 34:43 Celiac Disease, Crohn's, Colitis, and Autoimmune Patterns 35:48 Treatment Through Lifestyle, Nutrition, and Supplements 37:51 Affordability, Priorities, and Investing in Health 40:23 Owning Your Health and Understanding the Problem 43:26 Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, and Knowing the Right Tool 45:11 How to Find Dr. Kevin Smith 46:26 Working With Patients Outside Pennsylvania 47:34 Final Thoughts and Closing

Stepping Into the Bigger World: Isabella on Korea, Marquette, Music, and Choosing Courage | Conversations with a Chiropractor

Stepping Into the Bigger World: Isabella on Korea, Marquette, Music, and Choosing Courage | Conversations with a Chiropractor In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with Isabella, a 17-year-old high school senior in Marquette who was born in Korea and made the life-changing decision to study in the United States as a teenager. Isabella shares what it was like growing up in a small coastal town in South Korea, far from Seoul, surrounded by rice fields, ocean mudflats, and a culture where education shapes almost every part of a student's day. She explains the intensity of Korean school life, from long academic days to after-school private academies, late-night homework, and the pressure many students feel to reach a university in Seoul. Her story shifts when she chooses a very different path. At 14, Isabella asked her parents if she could come to the United States to study, with the hope of attending college here and seeing more of the world. That decision brought her to Marquette, where she found new opportunities through music, school activities, healthcare programs, work, and friendships. Stephanie and Isabella talk about the cultural differences between Korean and American schools, including sports, music, dating, school dances, respect for elders, classroom participation, food, language, and self-expression. Isabella also shares her love of flute, her involvement in band, orchestra, HOSA, health occupations, and her interest in dentistry and orthodontics. At the heart of the conversation is Isabella's message about bravery. She talks honestly about the difficulty of leaving home, learning English, making friends, adapting to a new culture, and growing into a more independent version of herself. Her advice is simple and powerful: step out of your comfort zone, even when it feels uncomfortable, because that is where growth begins. In This Episode, Discover * What Isabella's childhood was like in a small coastal town in South Korea * How Korean school schedules compare to American high school life * The role of after-school academies, known as hagwon, in Korean education * Why Isabella chose to study in the United States as a teenager * How music helped her find belonging in Marquette * Her experience with marching band, jazz band, orchestra, HOSA, and health occupations * The cultural differences around dating, school dances, makeup, uniforms, and self-expression * How food, language, respect, and family expectations differ between Korea and the United States * Why K-pop has helped more people recognize and appreciate Korean culture * Isabella's plans for the University of Michigan and her interest in dentistry * Her advice for anyone afraid to try something new Stay Connected & Explore Follow Conversations with a Chiropractor on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro [http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro] Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness [https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness] Email for show-related inquiries and sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Want to be a guest on Conversations with a Chiropractor? Send Stephanie Wautier a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/drstephanie [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/drstephanie] Credits Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 00:40 Meet Isabella 01:00 Growing up in a small coastal town in Korea 02:00 Moving between Korea, Canada, and the United States 02:30 Choosing to study in America 03:20 Korean school schedules and after-school academies 05:00 Homework, hagwon, and the pressure to study 06:00 Sports, academics, and student life in Korea 07:00 Music, arts, and choosing a career path early 08:00 College expectations and the push toward Seoul 10:30 Leaving home and coming to Marquette 11:20 Flute, band, orchestra, and finding opportunities 12:15 HOSA, health occupations, and early healthcare experience 13:40 Exploring dentistry and orthodontics 14:40 Stereotypes about American students 16:20 Korean food, family dinners, and kimchi 18:30 Cultural similarities, food traditions, and shared human connections 19:20 Respect, classroom culture, and speaking up 21:30 Dating, school rules, and social life in Korea 22:20 Prom, winter formal, and American school dances 23:20 Graduation trips and school festivals 24:00 Uniforms, makeup, and self-expression 25:00 LGBTQ acceptance and cultural differences 26:20 K-pop, K-dramas, and the spread of Korean culture 27:40 North and South Korea, military service, and daily life 29:20 Identity, nationality, and being asked where she is from 31:20 Friendships, prom, and choosing her own path 32:00 University of Michigan and future plans 32:40 Choosing nationality and thinking about the future 33:40 A busy American schedule and working during high school 35:00 Restaurant work, confidence, and improving English 36:00 Thinking in Korean, speaking English, and language learning 37:30 What Isabella wants listeners to know 38:20 Stepping out of your comfort zone 40:20 Isabella's Korean name and closing thoughts

Raised in Chicago: Alice Bradley on Family, Work, Tradition, and the Kind of Love That Shows Up | Conversations with a Chiropractor

Raised in Chicago: Alice Bradley on Family, Work, Tradition, and the Kind of Love That Shows Up | Conversations with a Chiropractor Episode Description In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with her mother-in-law, Alice Bradley, for a conversation that feels like stepping into an older version of America through somebody who actually lived it. Alice was born in Chicago in 1942, and what unfolds here is not just a life story, but a chain of memories about family closeness, responsibility, work, food, resilience, and the strange way ordinary details become priceless later. Alice talks about growing up on the north side of Chicago in a multigenerational household, being the oldest of three, and carrying responsibility early. She remembers streetcars, ether anesthesia, walking her younger sister home for lunch from school, and a childhood where her mother always worked and family members lived together because that's just what families did. From there, the episode opens into a wider story. Alice reflects on her early working years in downtown Chicago, her time in modeling and promotional work, and the surreal contrast between a glamorous paycheck and the rough streets she had to walk through to get there. She also talks about food and heritage in a way that says more than a family tree ever could, from learning Italian cooking through family connections to remembering homemade ravioli drying all over the house at Christmas. What really gives this episode its backbone, though, is Alice's worldview. Near the end, she distills a lifetime into a few plainspoken truths: work hard for what matters, keep setting goals, look for the good in people first, and if you love someone, tell them, then back it up with action. In This Episode, Discover * What it was like growing up on the north side of Chicago in the 1940s and 1950s * Alice's memories of streetcars, old-school hospital care, and early city life * How being the oldest child shaped her sense of responsibility from a very young age * The multigenerational family structure she grew up in, and what that meant day to day * Her parents' work lives, including her mother's long years working outside the home * Alice's early jobs in downtown Chicago, including beauty work and modeling * The danger, glamour, and strange normalcy of commuting into the city for high-paying gigs * How Italian cooking became part of her family life even without Italian ancestry * Holiday traditions that defined her childhood, from lamb cakes to homemade ravioli * The traditions she carried into her own home and passed down to her children * Her reflections on work ethic, character, love, and saying what you mean Stay Connected & Explore Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor: Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro [http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro] Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness [https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness] Email for show-related inquiries and sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Credits Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 00:40 Meet Alice Bradley 01:00 Streetcars, tonsils, and childhood memories in Chicago 02:10 Ether anesthesia and her father's Army service 03:15 Being the oldest of three in a working family 04:00 A multigenerational home and early family responsibility 05:25 Walking her sister home from school and caregiving as a child 06:35 Her parents' jobs, Baxter, and her father's work history 08:10 Losing her father young and looking back on family life 09:05 Leaving school, going to work, and heading downtown 10:00 Modeling, beauty work, and Chicago convention life 11:00 Dangerous commutes and the contrast of city glamour 12:20 What the money was like, and why the job mattered 14:00 Learning Italian cooking through family ties 15:25 German roots, home cooking, and what stayed with her 16:00 Easter baskets, lamb cakes, and holiday traditions 17:00 Missing her mother, but understanding why she worked 18:10 First nylon stockings and Christmas in the city 19:00 Homemade ravioli, sauce, and the family Christmas table 21:00 Marriage, children, and bringing traditions into a new home 22:00 Christmas Eve pajamas and blending city and farm family life 24:00 The birthday surprise that became a new sibling 25:20 Advice for grandkids, listeners, and the next generation 26:00 Work hard, keep going, and set the next goal 27:00 Look for the good in people 27:40 If you love someone, say it, then prove it

Thank You, God, for One More Day: Claudine Contois on Family, Grit, Faith, and a Life Fully Lived | Conversations with a Chiropractor

Thank You, God, for One More Day: Claudine Contois on Family, Grit, Faith, and a Life Fully Lived | Conversations with a Chiropractor Some conversations stop being content and become something closer to a keepsake. This is one of those. In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with Claudine Contois for a conversation that moves through nearly nine decades of memory, family, hardship, humor, survival, and love. Since this interview was recorded, Claudine has passed away. Her presence is felt deeply throughout this episode, and for those who would like to read more about her life, her obituary can be found here: https://www.fassbenderswansonhansen.com/obituaries/Claudine-Ann-Contois?obId=47520137#/obituaryInfo [https://www.fassbenderswansonhansen.com/obituaries/Claudine-Ann-Contois?obId=47520137#/obituaryInfo] What makes this episode special is how fully Claudine shows up as herself. She talks about growing up in Kingsford between Italian and Swedish family roots, her deep bond with her younger brother, and the people who shaped her early life. She shares what it meant to raise four boys, leave an abusive marriage to protect them, build a second marriage that lasted more than 50 years, and create a life full of horses, snowmobiles, camping trips, card games, and unforgettable family stories. She also speaks with unusual honesty about the final chapter of her life. After a sudden leukemia diagnosis, Claudine talks openly about fear, faith, readiness, family care, and her one simple wish, not to go alone. Even in the heaviest moments, she remains unmistakably herself: practical, funny, blunt, loving, and grateful for one more day. This is a conversation about caregiving, resilience, marriage, mortality, and the memories that outlast everything else. It is also, now, a remembrance of a woman whose strength, humor, and warmth are all over every minute of it. In This Episode, Discover * Claudine's childhood in Iron Mountain and Kingsford, shaped by Italian and Swedish roots * Her close relationship with her brother and the family stories that stayed with her * How she left an abusive marriage and rebuilt life with four boys * Meeting her second husband through dancing, and building a marriage that lasted decades * Her adventurous life as a mother, from horses and camping to snowmobiles and lake memories * Caregiving for her parents and husband, and what those years taught her * Her sudden leukemia diagnosis and the honesty with which she faced it * Why memory, family presence, faith, and gratitude became the center of her final season Stay Connected & Explore Follow Conversations with a Chiropractor on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro [http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro] Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness [https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness] Email for show-related inquiries and sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com In Memory of Claudine Contois Read Claudine's obituary here: https://www.fassbenderswansonhansen.com/obituaries/Claudine-Ann-Contois?obId=47520137#/obituaryInfo [https://www.fassbenderswansonhansen.com/obituaries/Claudine-Ann-Contois?obId=47520137#/obituaryInfo] Credits Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com [brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com]. Chapters 00:00 Before we begin, a note about Claudine 00:39 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 01:18 Meet Claudine and her early family roots 03:45 Her brother, childhood memories, and family closeness 05:25 Leukemia diagnosis and being told time was short 06:20 Raising four boys and living full-out with them 09:20 Fear, seizures, and not wanting to be alone 10:00 Leaving an abusive marriage to protect her children 12:00 Meeting her second husband through dancing 14:00 Marriage advice, communication, and caregiving strain 18:10 Horseback trips, camping stories, and Whitefish Falls 21:00 Raccoons, pigs, and Claudine's farm toughness 25:00 The sudden turn in her health and the ER visit 27:20 Faith, readiness, and gratitude for one more day 28:15 Caring for her parents at the end of their lives 30:10 Cribbage, late nights, and family routines 33:00 Walkers, wheelchairs, and learning to be cared for 39:00 Nicknames, ancestry, and family identity 42:00 Wine, farm life, and old family traditions 45:00 The fun she brought to other people's lives 49:00 Facing the ending, and what comes next 50:45 Closing condolence for Claudine and her family

My Heart Smiles: Diana Oman on Energy Healing, Lake Superior Roots, and the Power of Forgiveness | Conversations with a Chiropractor

My Heart Smiles: Diana Oman on Energy Healing, Lake Superior Roots, and the Power of Forgiveness | Conversations with a Chiropractor Episode Description In this thoughtful and quietly powerful episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier talks with Diana Oman, a longtime healer, teacher, and author whose life has moved through more than one unexpected chapter. Diana begins at Little Girls Point, near the Wisconsin border on the far western edge of Michigan's UP, where she grew up in a family that ran cabins, rented handmade wooden boats, sold agates, and fished Lake Superior. That childhood, shaped by water, weather, hard work, and isolation, gave her a deep relationship with nature and a sense that life held more mystery than most people were willing to name. From there, the story widens. Diana shares the family lore around her grandfather, a "blood stopper" from Nordic tradition, and how that thread eventually reappeared in her own life through energy work, spiritual healing, and years of study with teachers across several traditions. What started as a professional detour into patient advocacy slowly turned into a full-body immersion in alternative healing, forgiveness work, and the idea that unresolved emotional pain has a way of surfacing in the body. One of the most moving parts of the conversation centers on ho'oponopono, the Hawaiian forgiveness practice Diana learned during several trips to Hawaii. She and Stephanie talk about how humility, apology, and emotional clearing are not "extras" in healing, they are often the missing piece. And from there, the episode naturally turns to Diana's book, My Heart Smiles, an uplifting ABC-style affirmation book for all ages that grew out of a bedtime practice inspired by Abraham Hicks and went on to find readers far beyond the UP. The book was published in 2014, is 64 pages long, and was illustrated by Colleen O'Hara. What makes this conversation land is that it never feels abstract for long. Diana's healing philosophy is rooted in real life: forgiveness, reflection, emotional honesty, daily practices, and remembering that even ten quiet minutes can begin to change the state of your mind, body, and spirit. 🎧 In This Episode, Discover * What it was like growing up at Little Girls Point, with Lake Superior as both playground and teacher * The story of Diana's grandfather and the Nordic "blood stopper" healing tradition * How a sabbatical from teaching turned into a whole new life path in patient advocacy and holistic healing * Diana's early experiences with energy work and the healer Rosalyn Bruyere * Why forgiveness is central to Hawaiian healing traditions, and how ho'oponopono still shapes Diana's life today * The common thread Diana sees in many healing modalities: unresolved emotional energy eventually shows up physically * How My Heart Smiles was born from an alphabet gratitude practice and grew into a self-published book with a life of its own * Why the book resonates with both children and adults, and how it can help people reconnect with joy, memory, and self-worth Stay Connected & Explore Learn More About Diana & Her Work: * My Heart Smiles blog / author page: https://myheartsmilesblog.wordpress.com/author/dianaomanmyheartsmiles/ [https://myheartsmilesblog.wordpress.com/author/dianaomanmyheartsmiles/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * My Heart Smiles bibliographic listing (Google Books): https://books.google.com/books/about/My_Heart_Smiles.html?id=lT7SnQEACAAJ [https://books.google.com/books/about/My_Heart_Smiles.html?id=lT7SnQEACAAJ&utm_source=chatgpt.com] Related Projects Mentioned in the Episode: * Yooper Wisdom documentary on Tubi (Wolf Vision Docs, Episode 1): https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/200094098/s01-e01-yooper-wisdom [https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/200094098/s01-e01-yooper-wisdom?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Wolf Vision Docs series page on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/series/300010940/wolf-vision-docs [https://tubitv.com/series/300010940/wolf-vision-docs?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Yooper Wisdom podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yooper-wisdom/id1678546405 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yooper-wisdom/id1678546405?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor: * Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro [http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro] * Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness [https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness] * Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Credits: Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com [brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com]. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor 00:41 Meet Diana Oman and Little Girls Point 02:10 Growing up on Lake Superior: cabins, boats, agates, and family business 06:20 Family roots and the mystery of Diana's grandfather the "blood stopper" 11:00 From teaching and coaching to patient advocacy 16:05 Discovering holistic healing and studying with Rosalyn Bruyere 19:15 Energy healing, spirit guides, and what "healing" actually means 23:00 Hawaii, kahunas, and learning ho'oponopono 30:00 Emotional pain, physical symptoms, and the body's deeper priorities 33:15 The accidental birth of My Heart Smiles 39:10 Hawaii, dolphins, and the "L is for Loving" story 42:30 Writing your own alphabet story and using memory as healing 45:00 Why people are starving for reflection, not just nervous system hacks 51:00 Yooper Wisdom, healing sessions, and what Diana wants people to remember 59:00 "Stay curious" and the plot twist perspective on life