What if supporting your immune system means more than simply "boosting" it?

In this episode of the Human Optimization Podcast, Lisa Pitel-Killah welcomes Dr. Jocelyn Strand, naturopathic doctor and Vice President of Clinical Education and Research at BWH Labs, to explore trained immunity—the emerging science of how the innate immune system can develop memory-like responses to previous encounters.

Drawing on more than 20 years in integrative and functional medicine, Dr. Strand discusses the relationship between the microbiome and immune function, the immune system's everyday role in tissue repair and recovery, and why immune coordination deserves more attention than boosting alone.

Together, Lisa and Dr. Strand explore the differences between innate and adaptive immunity and the discoveries that challenged long-held assumptions about immune memory.

Whether you're a practitioner or simply curious about your health, this conversation offers an accessible introduction to trained immunity and a broader perspective on immune resilience.

Dr. Leland Stillman studied Biology and Environmental Health at Connecticut College and received his medical doctorate from the University of Virginia. He then trained in Internal Medicine at Maine Medical Center. He practiced as a Hospitalist for three years following his residency training. He went on to found his own practice just before COVID. He has a longstanding interest in alternative medicine, and now focuses on functional and integrative medicine in his practice.

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Is it picky eating or a pediatric feeding disorder? Speech-language pathologist Ashlyn joins Lisa Pitel-Killah on the Human Optimization Podcast to discuss sensory feeding issues, autism, speech therapy, and how to better support children who struggle with food and communication.

Drawing on more than 20 years of clinical experience, Ashlyn explains how she approaches food aversion, why textures can make mealtimes challenging, and how feeding therapy can help children explore unfamiliar foods. She introduces food chaining and her "yum scale"—tools she uses to build flexibility around eating.

The conversation also explores neurodiversity-affirming autism support, meeting people where they are, and looking beyond standardized scores to recognize meaningful improvements in connection and quality of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Picky eating versus pediatric feeding disorders
• Sensory processing, food textures, and food aversion
• Feeding concerns such as gagging, food pocketing, and difficulty chewing
• Food chaining and gradual changes to familiar foods
• Connections between feeding and speech-language development
• Autism, scripting, and meaningful communication
• Mealtime routines and supporting families without adding parental guilt
• Barriers to therapy access and the gap between research and clinical practice

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, speech-language pathologist, or healthcare practitioner, this episode offers a thoughtful look at individualized support for feeding and communication across the lifespan.

Ashlyn also shares a free speech and language screening offer during the episode and explains how screening differs from a full evaluation.

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