What if the root cause of neurodegenerative disease isn’t just genetics, but something we’ve been overlooking?

In this episode, I sit down with Nikki Schultek to explore the connection between pathogens, brain health, and chronic illness. We dive into how infections like Lyme and other often undetected microbes may influence cognitive decline, and why so many people are being missed in the current system.

Nikki shares her journey from patient to researcher and the work she’s leading to uncover how infections, genetics, and environment interact to shape disease. This conversation will challenge what you think you know about Alzheimer’s, brain health, and what it really means to address root cause.

In This Episode:

• The connection between infections and neurodegenerative disease
• Why Lyme and other pathogens are often overlooked
• How infections can impact the brain across the lifespan
• The role of genetics, and why they’re not the full story
• Why standard testing may miss chronic infections
• Early signs like changes in smell and cognitive function
• How to advocate for your health and dig deeper into root causes
  
  
  

Learn more about our guest Nikki M. Schultek

Executive Director, AlzPI, Founding Director of the Pathobiome Research Center and Research Assistant Professor at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), and Principal Founder, Intracell Research Group, LLC

View the full show notes to read more about Nikki!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Nikki Schultek:

https://www.intracellresearchgroup.com/about

ilads.org

medmaps.org

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/30/episode117/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

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Peptides are one of the most talked-about tools in health right now, but with all the attention has come a lot of confusion. In this episode, Susan sits down with peptide expert Connor Dean for a real, accessible conversation about what peptides are, how they work, and why quality, sourcing, and proper guidance matter.

Together, they break down the difference between compounded peptides and FDA-approved options, explore common peptides like BPC-157 and GHK-Cu, and discuss the benefits and limitations of different delivery methods. They also take a deeper look at GLP-1 medications, covering how they work, who they may help, potential side effects, and why lifestyle still has to be the foundation of long-term health.

If you’ve been curious about peptides, recovery, gut support, muscle building, or GLP-1s, this episode is a powerful Peptides 101 conversation designed to help you make more informed decisions.

In this episode:

• What peptides are and how they work
  
  
• The difference between compounded and FDA-approved peptides
  
  
• Why peptide quality and sourcing matter
  
  
• Common peptides for recovery, gut health, skin, and muscle support
  
  
• The pros and cons of different delivery methods
  
  
• How GLP-1s work, plus risks and side effects to consider
  
  

Learn more about our guest Connor Dean:

I lead patient consultations for HRT, GLP-1, and peptide therapies, providing in-depth bloodwork analysis and individualized treatment plans. I focus on translating complex lab data into clear, actionable strategies for hormone balance, metabolic health and overall optimization.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Connor Dean:

Website: Arvada, CO Center | 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions

Phone Number: 720-594-1444

Email: connord@4everyoungarvadaco.com

4Ever Young Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4everyoung_arvadaco

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just_another_bodybuilder

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/23/episode116/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

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There is a lot of noise online right now around cholesterol, keto, carnivore, and what actually counts as “healthy” and in this episode, Susan cuts straight through it. She unpacks some of the biggest myths being repeated in the wellness space, explains why high cholesterol should never be brushed off without deeper testing, and shares why a one-size-fits-all approach can do more harm than good.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that your body is not a trend. Susan breaks down the connection between lipids, inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, and cardiovascular risk in a way that actually makes sense. If you’ve ever been told your labs are “fine,” wondered whether high-fat diets are really safe for everyone, or wanted to better understand what testing actually matters, this episode will leave you thinking differently about your health and how to advocate for it.

In this episode:

• Why high cholesterol on keto or carnivore should not automatically be ignored
  
  
• The biggest myths Susan sees around LDL, HDL, and heart health
  
  
• Why standard cholesterol panels often miss the full picture
  
  
• The difference between LDL particle size, particle number, ApoB, and Lp(a)
  
  
• How inflammation and insulin resistance quietly raise cardiovascular risk
  
  
• Why genetics can dramatically change how someone responds to high-fat diets
  
  
• The key labs and advanced testing Susan recommends asking for
  
  
• Why personalized health matters more than following the latest diet trend

RESOURCES:

Stello Glucose Monitor

https://www.stelo.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/12/episode115/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

In Part 2, Susan and Dr. Bill Rawls unpack the microbial side of chronic illness, why certain pathogens don’t “hit fast,” but instead persist, seed the body, and reactivate when cellular stress is high.

They discuss why antibiotics often fall short for slow-growing, stealth microbes (and why overuse can create bigger problems), then shift into what makes herbs different: broad-spectrum antimicrobial support + cellular protection that can be used long-term when appropriate.

You’ll also hear about medicinal mushrooms, why quality matters with supplements, and why restoring the body’s “terrain” is just as important as targeting microbes.

In This Episode:

• Why persistent microbes can stay dormant, then reactivate
• Antibiotics vs slow-growing infections + resistance concerns
• Why herbs work differently (and why quality and form matter)
• Medicinal mushrooms + adaptogenic support
• Restoring the terrain to support immune + cellular health

Learn more about our guest Dr. Bill Rawls, MD:

Vital Plan Co-Founder and Medical Director

For over 30 years, Dr. Bill Rawls has dedicated his life to medicine. When a health crisis with chronic Lyme disease abruptly changed his quality of life, he came face to face with the limitations of modern medicine and began to explore the vast possibilities of alternative treatments. Restoring his health through holistic and herbal therapies inspired him to share his revelations on the importance of cellular wellness for defending against microbes and other root causes of illness. Today, he works to bring life and vitality to others as he helps them establish their own paths to wellness through modern herbology.

Through his bestselling books, Unlocking Lyme and The Cellular Wellness Solution, Dr. Rawls demonstrates why crucial herbal phytochemicals are key to protecting cellular health and strengthening the body's defense against illness. Dr. Rawls is also the founder of Vital Plan, a holistic health company, where he developed the signature RESTORE180 program, an advanced herbal protocol that has helped thousands to reclaim vibrant health.

Dr. Rawls is a #1 bestselling author and seasoned speaker and interviewee. With a compassionate approach and an incredible depth of knowledge, Dr. Rawls has a distinct ability to make scientific concepts accessible and enriching for everyone.

RESOURCES:

Website: https://rawlsmd.com/resources/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawlsmd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rawlsmd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlsMD%20

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-rawls-md/

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/09/episode114/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if the root of most chronic symptoms isn’t “one diagnosis”… but cellular stress?

In Part 1, Susan sits down with Dr. Bill Rawls, MD to explore what happens when we live outside the margins set by our genes, and how modern life (processed foods, toxins, blue light, chronic stress, poor sleep, sedentary days) shifts cells into a constant survival state. Dr. Rawls breaks down his Five Elements of Wellness and why supporting the cell is the most practical place to start.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

• Why inflammation and chronic symptoms often trace back to cellular stress
  
  
• What it means to live “outside the margins” of our genetic programming
  
  
• The 5 Elements of Wellness: food, environment, recovery, movement, and microbes
  
  
• Why sleep + downtime matter for cellular repair (autophagy)
  
  
• How simple daily movement helps circulation, lymph flow, and inflammation
  
  
• The power of nose breathing to shift the nervous system and exercise stress

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we go deeper into microbes + herbs.

Learn more about our guest Dr. Bill Rawls, MD:

Vital Plan Co-Founder and Medical Director

For over 30 years, Dr. Bill Rawls has dedicated his life to medicine. When a health crisis with chronic Lyme disease abruptly changed his quality of life, he came face to face with the limitations of modern medicine and began to explore the vast possibilities of alternative treatments. Restoring his health through holistic and herbal therapies inspired him to share his revelations on the importance of cellular wellness for defending against microbes and other root causes of illness. Today, he works to bring life and vitality to others as he helps them establish their own paths to wellness through modern herbology.

Through his bestselling books, Unlocking Lyme and The Cellular Wellness Solution, Dr. Rawls demonstrates why crucial herbal phytochemicals are key to protecting cellular health and strengthening the body's defense against illness. Dr. Rawls is also the founder of Vital Plan, a holistic health company, where he developed the signature RESTORE180 program, an advanced herbal protocol that has helped thousands to reclaim vibrant health.

Dr. Rawls is a #1 bestselling author and seasoned speaker and interviewee. With a compassionate approach and an incredible depth of knowledge, Dr. Rawls has a distinct ability to make scientific concepts accessible and enriching for everyone.

RESOURCES:

Website: https://rawlsmd.com/resources/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawlsmd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rawlsmd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlsMD%20

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-rawls-md/

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/02/episode113/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Shift work isn’t “just a schedule.” It’s a full-body stressor that can quietly rewire your circadian rhythm, metabolism, immune function, hormones, and even the way your genes express. And if you’re a first responder, medical professional, or anyone grinding through nights or rotating shifts, this episode is for you.

Susan shares her personal experience working graveyard shift as a police officer (and how fast it affected her body), then breaks down what’s happening beneath the surface: circadian misalignment, blood sugar disruption, inflammation, immune suppression, and the mental health ripple effects that too many people normalize as “part of the job.”

This isn’t doom-and-gloom, it’s empowerment. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to reduce the epigenetic impact of shift work, protect your sleep, support your metabolism, and stay sharp (because your work, and your life, deserve that kind of support).

In This Episode

• Why shift work is a major disruptor of circadian rhythm, and how that impacts gene expression
• The metabolic fallout: insulin resistance, weight gain, cravings, and late-night eating traps
• Immune and mental health effects: increased illness risk, anxiety/depression vulnerability, and brain fog
• Sleep strategies that actually help (blackout curtains, temperature, stimulant timing, nervous system downshifts)
• Shift-worker nutrition basics: what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to simplify meal prep
• Support tools Susan recommends for resilience (hydration, key nutrients, immune support habits)
• A breakdown of how shift work affects each pH360 health type, and the most supportive adjustments for each
  Why labs matter before symptoms show up (and how often to monitor if you’re on shifts)

RESOURCES:

St. Michael Farms: https://www.stmichaelsfarms.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/02/23/episode112/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if your “age” isn’t just the number on your driver’s license? In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable, Susan Robbins pulls back the curtain on epigenetic age testing, what it measures, why it matters, and how it can be one of the most empowering tools in your optimization toolbox. Joined by Dr. Lauren Clark of TruDiagnostic, Susan breaks down epigenetics in a way that finally makes sense: your genes are the hardware, but your epigenome is the software, shaped by stress, sleep, movement, nutrition, environment, and the life you’ve lived.

Then Susan brings you behind the scenes of her own TruAge results with Jess Bonthius (medical science liaison at TruDiagnostic), including a real-time walkthrough of her report and what it means for longevity, healthspan, and the pace at which you’re aging. If you’ve ever feared what a test might reveal, or assumed results would be doom-and-gloom, this conversation offers a different lens: data as a guide, not a verdict. You’ll leave understanding how these markers can help you make better decisions now, without panic, perfectionism, or expensive “biohacking” extremes.

In This Episode

• A clear “Epigenetics 101” explanation (and what DNA methylation actually is)
• Genetics vs. epigenetics: why your DNA isn’t your destiny
• What epigenetic age testing measures, and why different tests can give different insights
• The three key TruAge clocks: biological age, healthspan-focused aging, and pace of aging
• Susan’s personal results walkthrough (and why lifestyle still matters especially during a hard season)
• Why low percentile can be a good thing in biological age reporting
• How inflammation, recovery, and training load can show up in epigenetic biomarkers
• The truth about “optimization”: simple lifestyle changes vs. expensive protocols
  
  

Learn more about our guests in the show notes below!

Jessica Bonthius and Loren Clarke, M.D.

RESOURCES:

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/02/16/episode111/

Discount code: https://shop.trudiagnostic.com/discount/SUSANGENES

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Is walking really exercise, or just something we do between workouts?

In this Raw, Real, Relatable mini episode, Susan tackles one of the most common (and damaging) fitness myths out there: that walking “doesn’t count.” And she’s not holding back.

In a culture obsessed with intensity, sweat, and punishment-style workouts, walking is often dismissed as too easy or ineffective. But science, and real-world results, tell a very different story.

From clients with chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions to high performers and endurance athletes, Susan has seen firsthand how walking can dramatically improve health, metabolism, mood, blood pressure, blood sugar, and longevity. And research backs it up.

This episode reframes walking not as a fallback, but as one of the most accessible, powerful, and personalized forms of movement we have — especially when done with intention.

Susan also explores how walking works differently depending on your unique biology and health type, why “no pain, no gain” thinking is outdated, and how walking can complement, not replace, other forms of exercise.

If you’ve ever said “I only walk”… this episode might completely change how you see movement.

In this episode:

• Why walking absolutely qualifies as exercise
• How walking lowers heart disease risk, blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation
• Why intensity-obsessed fitness culture overlooks powerful daily movement
• The science behind steps, pace, and long-term health benefits
• How walking supports mental health, mood, and cognitive clarity
• Why walking works differently for different health types and nervous systems
• When walking is enough, and when it should be paired with other training
• Simple ways to make walking more effective and intentional

RESOURCES:

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/01/26/episode108/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast