Megan and fellow coach Danna revisit an early episode to unpack functional medicine—what it is, how it differs from conventional care, and how a functional approach can sharpen a health coach’s practice. Expect practical examples (BP meds, antibiotics + probiotics), how to vet providers, and what extra training changed in Danna’s client work.

Back in 2018, Megan introduced functional medicine as an option when conventional care feels stuck on symptom relief. In 2025, she and Danna (a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach) compare notes: What does “root cause” really mean? How do labs, lifestyle, and nutrition fit together? And how can coaches collaborate with (or simply vet) doctors who think more holistically—without abandoning standard medicine when it’s needed?

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Background

01:04 Understanding Functional Medicine

02:25 Functional Medicine in Practice

13:17 How Functional Medicine Informs Your Coaching Practice

• Root cause ≠ anti-medicine. Functional medicine uses meds when necessary, then investigates lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, gut health, and environment to address why symptoms persist.
• Broader data, better decisions. Full labs (and sometimes stool/urine testing) + food/lifestyle mapping can reveal patterns a 7-minute visit can’t.
• Clinician fit matters. You want curiosity, clear explanations, and collaboration. Titles help, but how they listen is the tell.
• Coaching upgrades. FM knowledge helps coaches guide clients to targeted doctor questions, low-cost experiments (e.g., trial eliminations), and realistic next steps—especially when budgets/insurance are tight.

• Share your questions or stories: leave us a voicemail
• Explore more episodes of Becoming a Health Coach on the SwissCast Network.
• Connect with Danna for functional-medicine-informed coaching.

Megan and fellow health coach Danna revisit an early episode on patient advocacy, reflecting on what still holds up in 2025. They cover why women are disproportionately dismissed, how to prepare for medical appointments, when to switch doctors, and how to use online research without catastrophizing.

Back in 2018, Megan shared Jennifer Esposito’s years-long road to a celiac diagnosis—an all-too-common story for women whose symptoms get minimized or misread. In this updated conversation, Megan and Danna dig into what it means to be your own advocate today: trusting your intuition, bringing organized notes, asking better questions, and remembering that clinicians are experts in medicine—but you’re the expert on your body. They also lay out a practical way to use communities, forums, and AI search without falling into worst-case rabbit holes.

My name's Megan McCrory and I am an aspiring health coach and this is my story. I'm starting a podcast series for the whole year to follow me along my journey of becoming a health coach. I just want to tell you a little bit about how I got to this point and a little bit about Health Coaching.

In this episode Megan explores how technology is revolutionizing health coaching. The discussion covers telehealth platforms, apps, and wearables, emphasizing their benefits and challenges, including data privacy and ethical considerations. Megan also shares insights on AI-powered coaching, advanced wearables, and the potential of virtual reality, encouraging coaches to thoughtfully integrate tech tools to enhance client interactions and improve outcomes.

Email Megan

Send Megan a Voicemail

Get big discounts on IIN Courses

Try Practice Better

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

00:00 Introduction

01:36 Telehealth and Online Coaching Platforms

05:56 Apps and Wearables - How to Use them Effectively

10:35 The Ethics of Data Privacy

15:04 Future Trends in Heath Coaching Tech

21:09 Wrap-Up

• Practice Better
• MyFitnessPal
• Zoom
• Google Drive
• Fitbit
• Apple Watch
• Oura Ring

Navigating ADHD: Testing, Diagnosis, and Understanding

Guest Kelly Brändli, an ADHD and relationship coach, discusses the process of ADHD testing and diagnosis, particularly in adults. Visit https://sofrickinhealthy.com/episodes/kelly-brandli for more information and resources.

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Is it me? or is it ADHD?

03:02 Differentiating ADHD from Normal Traits

08:09 Barriers to Diagnosis

16:28 Kelly's Personal Diagnosis Story

22:08 Advancements in ADHD Diagnosis

22:53 Conclusion and Next Steps

Mentioned in this episode:

Send us a Voicemail

Click on the link and leave us a voicemail up to 1 minute. Leave us a comment, question, or just some love! Who knows, maybe your voice will be heard on our next episode! (Don't worry, we'll check with you first)

Leave us a Voicemail

Understanding ADHD: Myths, Misconceptions, and Realities

Guest Kelly Brändli, an ADHD coach, offers valuable insights into the world of ADHD.

Visit https://sofrickinhealthy.com/episodes/kelly-brandli for more information.

00:01 Introduction

01:24 ADHD vs. ADD

08:13 Common Symptoms You Might Be Missing

10:19 8 Areas of Executive Function

15:16 ADHD in Women

21:43 ADHD Mythbusters

Kelly explains the symptoms of ADHD, the differences between ADHD and ADD, and addresses common misconceptions about the disorder. The conversation also touches on how ADHD manifests in women and adults, emotional dysregulation, and the concept of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). With humor and personal anecdotes, Kelly and the hosts discuss ADHD's impact on daily life, the challenges of diagnosis, and the importance of humor and understanding in managing the condition.

Mentioned in this episode:

Send us a Voicemail

Click on the link and leave us a voicemail up to 1 minute. Leave us a comment, question, or just some love! Who knows, maybe your voice will be heard on our next episode! (Don't worry, we'll check with you first)

Leave us a Voicemail

Thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with

Megan J. McCrory

This episode of Becoming a Health Coach features a discussion between host Megan McCrory and guest Danna Levy Hoffmann. They discuss the reasons behind Danna's choice to become a health coach and her journey through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's certification programs. Danna shares her insights on how the program provided a foundation in coaching and business skills alongside her pre-existing knowledge of holistic health. Both Megan and Danna also reflect on the changing structure of the courses and the importance of picking more specific topics for further education. They conclude the discussion with some advice for prospective students, highlighting affordability, flexibility, and focused learning depending on an individual's background and expertise.

Guest: Danna Levy Hoffmann

0:00 What standout features or aspects of the certification program did you find particularly beneficial?

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:39 Standout features you found beneficial

02:14 Reflections on the Coaching Journey and Future Directions

Mentioned in this episode:

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related. We have some serious guest experts but we always make them laugh while we learn something new. Click the link to listen to the latest episode.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast

Hello, and thanks for listening to Becoming a Health Coach with Megan J. McCrory.

Visit becomingahealthcoach.ch for a full transcript, and resources, and to comment on what other health coaches you'd like to have interviewed.

When Michelle Leotta became a certified health coach, there was no such thing as board certification and most people had never heard of kale. Join this lively conversation about the industry's evolution and how to get started on your health coaching path from someone who has been in your shoes and continues to move the industry forward.

Michelle Leotta has combined 13 years as a practicing health coach with 20+ years of online marketing experience, to help aspiring coaches earn a living doing the work they love. She is the creator of Healthy Profit University, an online learning center to move your business forward.

Michelle's Links:

Michelle's Facebook group

@healthcoachpowercommunity on Instagram

Michelle's Website

Research Links:

• Mental Health for the Internet | Healthy Gamer - Mental health for the internet generation Helping people take control of their lives
• National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching - The National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) has collaborated with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) since 2016 to provide a robust board certification examination which has led to more than 9,400 National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coaches that hold the NBC-HWC credential. The esteemed NBC-HWC credential represents training, education, and assessment standards, allowing for the profession to advance in all aspects of health care and wellness.
• International Coaching Federation- Professional Coaching Association - After 25 years, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) has evolved to become the hub for all things coaching. We’re more than a membership organization for trained professional coaches – we’re bringing together, in one place, several key aspects of the growing industry. Discover the ICF ecosystem of six family organizations, created to better serve you on your journey to empower the world through coaching.

Mentioned in this episode:

Become a member of the show!

If you want more of me or just to show your support consider becoming a member of the show. The ‘Health Enthusiast’ is a free membership tier and a way to let me know you’re out there and listening. The ‘Wellness Insider’ is a paid membership tier at $5 per month, for that you’ll have access to exclusive Q&A sessions with me and my guests, early access to episodes and member-only webinars.

Support the Show

Are you So Frickin' Healthy?

Check out the other podcast I co-host with Danna Levy Hoffmann from Organilicious.ch. We are both IIN Health Coaching graduates who got together for our love to talk about all things health related. We have some serious guest experts but we always make them laugh while we learn something new. Click the link to listen to the latest episode.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Podcast