In this episode, I answer one of the questions I get asked the most: "What is a good HRV, and why isn't mine improving?"
The truth is, there isn't one perfect HRV number that everyone should aim for. Instead of worrying about a single reading, it's much more helpful to look at how your HRV…
Healing Stories & Lived Experience
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Efrat Lemandre, a nurse practitioner and medical disruptor, to explore the challenges and myths surrounding the medical system. Together, we discuss why medical gaslighting persists, the impact of professional indoctrination, and how even well-intentioned doctors may not always have all the answers. Dr. Lamandre shares her personal journey from…
In this episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast, Dr. Cindy Howard shares what it's like to experience healthcare from both sides, as a doctor and as a patient. She opens up about her journey of recognizing the signs of Hodgkin's lymphoma in herself and navigating treatment while drawing on her years of experience in functional…
In this episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast, I talk with Waldi Hoon, the founder of yōjō, about her journey into the world of vagus nerve health. She shares how her background in content creation, along with her family's experience with chronic pain, inspired her to help others improve their health using science-based solutions.
We…
In this episode, I explore the connection between your light environment, the vagus nerve, and heart rate variability (HRV). Drawing on a 2025 systematic review of 25 studies, I explain how both the timing and quality of light exposure can influence nervous system function and overall recovery.
I discuss how morning exposure to bright, blue-enriched…
Welcome to another episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast!
Today I am joined by Dr. David Rabin to dive deep into the science of stress, healing, and the power of the vagus nerve. Dr. Rabin unpacks decades of research, explaining how chronic stress impacts our cells, the crucial role of safety in the healing process,…
In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, returning guest Don Moxley joins us to talk about heart rate variability (HRV) and why it matters for your health, recovery, performance, and healthy aging.
Drawing on his experience working with elite athletes, Don explains how HRV can help you understand how well your body is adapting…
In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, I explore the essential nutrients that power up your vagus nerve for optimal health, higher HRV, less stress, and more energy. You’ll learn why the vagus nerve is crucial for stress resilience, mood, and overall recovery, as well as how heart rate variability (HRV) acts as its…
In this episode, I talk with Maggie Awad, a functional sports medicine nurse practitioner, about how gut health affects performance, energy, and recovery. We explore the connection between the gut and the brain, why good digestion matters, and how issues like inflammation or poor nutrient absorption can impact focus, sleep, and overall health.
We also…
In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, I sit down with Ashok Gupta to explore the groundbreaking science of neuroplasticity and how retraining the brain may hold the key to healing chronic illness. Ashok shares his personal journey with chronic fatigue syndrome and how that experience inspired him to create the Gupta Program, a…
