What if the answers to chronic illness are often missed because medicine focuses on symptoms instead of root causes?

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes Dr. Aaron Hartman, functional medicine physician, clinical researcher, and author of UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds. Dr. Hartman shares how his daughter’s complex medical challenges transformed his understanding of healthcare, pushing him beyond conventional medicine and into a root-cause, patient-centered approach.

The conversation explores medical blind spots, medical gaslighting, and the limitations of symptom-focused care. Dr. Hartman explains why chronic illness often requires patients to become active participants in their health journey and how functional medicine can help uncover overlooked root causes. He also discusses environmental toxins, tick-borne illness, mold exposure, hypermobility syndromes, and the importance of personalized care strategies.

This episode offers hope, validation, and practical insight for anyone who has felt dismissed, misunderstood, or stuck searching for answers.

Episode Highlights

1. Dr. Hartman’s journey from conventional medicine to functional medicine through his daughter’s health challenges
2. The concept of medical blind spots and how healthcare recommendations evolve over time
3. Why chronic illness often requires individualized and investigative care
4. Understanding medical gaslighting and why patients, especially women, are frequently dismissed
5. How the healthcare system prioritizes acute care over chronic disease prevention and management
6. Why patients must become the “CEO” of their own health
7. The importance of building a collaborative healthcare team
8. Environmental and chronic illness drivers including mold exposure, Lyme disease, and bio-toxin illness
9. The connection between hypermobility, autoimmune conditions, neurodivergence, and chronic health symptoms
10. The role of lifestyle fundamentals including nutrition, sleep, environment, and relationships in healing
11. How faith, resilience, and patient-provider trust influence recovery and health outcomes
12. Why listening to patients is often the most powerful diagnostic tool in medicine
13. How education empowers patients to make informed healthcare decisions
14. Why modern medicine requires balancing conventional and functional approaches

In This Episode, You Will Learn

1. Why chronic illness often exists in gaps between medical specialties
2. How conventional medicine can miss environmental, infectious, and systemic contributors to illness

What if the reason thyroid eye disease feels so confusing is because it requires more than one specialist to treat it well?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, host McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Sean Paul, a board-certified oculoplastic and orbital surgeon based in Austin, Texas, to explore thyroid eye disease (TED) from diagnosis through advanced treatment.

Dr. Paul explains what thyroid eye disease really is, why it is often underdiagnosed, and how it impacts both vision and quality of life. The conversation covers medical therapy, biologic treatments like Tepezza (teprotumumab), surgical options, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. They also discuss emerging trends in aesthetic and reconstructive eye surgery, regenerative skin treatments, and why long-term maintenance and skin health matter just as much as procedures.

This episode offers clarity, hope, and practical guidance for anyone struggling with thyroid eye disease, Graves’ disease, or eye changes related to autoimmune thyroid conditions.

👤 About the Guest: Dr. Sean Paul

Dr. Sean Paul is a fellowship-trained oculoplastic and orbital surgeon and the founder of Austin Face and Body. He completed medical school in San Antonio and trained extensively in ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery, with early experience in reconstructive eye surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Paul specializes in thyroid eye disease, orbital inflammation, eyelid reconstruction, and aesthetic facial surgery, blending functional restoration with natural-appearing cosmetic outcomes. His practice focuses on both medical necessity and patient confidence.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. What thyroid eye disease is and why it is an autoimmune orbital inflammatory condition
2. The connection between TED and Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism
3. Early and subtle symptoms of thyroid eye disease, including dryness, redness, eyelid asymmetry, and double vision
4. Why thyroid eye disease is frequently underdiagnosed
5. The difference between active inflammatory disease and “quiet” or chronic disease
6. The emotional and social impact of eye changes in Graves’ disease
7. How oculoplastic and orbital surgeons are trained and what makes them different from general ophthalmologists
8. Medical treatment options including steroids, radiation, and biologic therapy
9. Tepezza (teprotumumab): how it works, how it is administered, and potential side effects including hearing changes
10. Surgical options for thyroid eye disease:
11. Orbital decompression (fat and bone)
12. Strabismus (eye muscle) surgery
13. Eyelid retraction repair
14. Typical recovery timelines and why disease

What if healthspan is not about adding more years to life, but protecting strength, energy, and independence as you age?

What if the real goal is not just living longer, but staying strong, capable, and energized for decades? In this episode, McCall sits down with Dr. Chris Renna, DO, founder of LifeSpan Medicine, to explore what healthspan really means and why most people start seeking answers only after symptoms have already taken hold.

Dr. Renna shares why he shifted from managing diagnoses to building true patient partnerships, and how consistent rhythms in sleep, food, movement, and perspective can change the way you feel day to day. They also discuss practical exercise targets, the role of gratitude and boundaries, and a fascinating look at emerging longevity therapies that may become far more common in the years ahead.

Key Discussion Points

1. Why Dr. Renna moved from disease management to preventive and longevity-focused care
2. Breaking the doctor-patient hierarchy so patients have agency and ownership
3. The most common goal he hears in practice: more energy
4. Why the body thrives on rhythm: consistent meals, sleep, movement, and mindset
5. A practical framework: work, family, self-care, and learning to say a kind “no”
6. Healthspan defined: maintaining function over time, not just extending years
7. Why strength training matters now if you want freedom later
8. Cardio basics vs improving VO2 max, including when high intensity intervals make sense
9. The “100th birthday” vision: driving yourself there, walking in strong, living fully
10. Longevity tools discussed: vitamin D, omega-3s, multivitamins, and beyond
11. Emerging therapies: plasmapheresis (therapeutic plasma exchange), EBO2, exosomes, stem cell trends, and hyperbaric oxygen
12. What may be next: wearables that coach in real time and more personalized longevity guidance

Some Questions We Explore

1. Why do so many people feel like they are doing “everything right” but still feel exhausted?
2. What does “healthspan” look like in real life, and how do we measure it?
3. How much exercise is enough if you are busy, tired, and already stretched thin?
4. What habits protect your energy most: food, movement, sleep, or mindset?
5. Which longevity therapies are promising, and which are still evolving?
6. What might preventive medicine look like in 10 years?

About the Guest

Dr. Chris Renna, DO is the founder of LifeSpan Medicine, a preventive and longevity-focused practice designed to help people prevent...

What if insulin resistance is quietly driving inflammation, weight gain, and thyroid dysfunction years before blood sugar ever looks abnormal?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with endocrinologist Dr. Alessia Roehnelt for an in-depth discussion on insulin resistance and why it is one of the most important predictors of long-term health outcomes.

Dr. Roehnelt explains how insulin functions in the body, what happens when insulin resistance develops, and why chronically elevated insulin drives inflammation, weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, and disease progression. The conversation highlights the strong bidirectional relationship between insulin resistance and thyroid dysfunction, including how each can worsen the other when left unaddressed.

Together, they explore early warning signs of insulin resistance, optimal lab markers, lifestyle interventions, and when medications like metformin or GLP-1 agonists may be appropriate. This episode emphasizes early detection, individualized care, and the importance of addressing inflammation to restore metabolic health.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. What insulin resistance is and how it develops over time
2. How insulin drives inflammation and impacts every organ system
3. Why insulin resistance often precedes prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
4. Common physical signs of insulin resistance, including acanthosis nigricans
5. Rapid weight fluctuations and carb sensitivity as hallmark symptoms
6. The bidirectional relationship between insulin resistance and hypothyroidism
7. How insulin resistance affects thyroid hormone absorption and conversion
8. Why insulin is often a better early marker than hemoglobin A1c
9. Optimal vs. “normal” lab ranges for fasting glucose, insulin, and A1c
10. Why lab reference ranges shift with population health trends
11. The role of vitamin D as both a vitamin and hormone in metabolic health

🧪 Labs & Metrics Discussed

1. Fasting insulin (ideally low with normal glucose)
2. Fasting blood glucose (optimal range below the high 90s)
3. Hemoglobin A1c for long-term glucose trends
4. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and their link to fatty liver
5. Thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies
6. Vitamin D levels and their systemic impact

🏃‍♀️ Lifestyle Strategies for Improving Insulin Sensitivity

1. Prioritizing adequate, consistent sleep to lower cortisol
2. Strength and resistance...

What if the future of weight care is not about losing pounds, but about supporting metabolic health, nourishment, and sustainability?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, host McCall McPherson sits down with Ashley Koff, registered dietitian, entrepreneur, and author of the upcoming book Your Best Shot. Together, they unpack the rapidly evolving conversation around GLP-1 hormones, GLP-1 agonist medications, and what true weight health really means.

Ashley brings a balanced, evidence-informed perspective to a topic often dominated by extremes. She explains the science behind GLP-1s, clarifies common misconceptions, and emphasizes why medications alone are never the full solution. This conversation centers on personalized nutrition, comprehensive assessment, and moving away from diet culture toward sustainable, root-cause care.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. What GLP-1 hormones are and how they function in the body
2. How GLP-1 agonist medications work and what they do and do not address
3. The difference between weight loss and weight health
4. Why metabolism, muscle, gut health, and nutrient status matter
5. Common pitfalls of relying solely on medication for weight management
6. The importance of comprehensive health assessments before and during GLP-1 use
7. How diet culture oversimplifies weight and wellbeing
8. Why personalized nutrition is essential for long-term success
9. Supporting metabolic health without shame, restriction, or extremes

💡 In This Episode, You Will Learn

1. Why GLP-1 medications are tools, not cures
2. How weight health differs from scale-based outcomes
3. What people often overlook when starting GLP-1 therapy
4. Why nutrition adequacy and protein intake are critical
5. How to protect muscle mass and metabolic function
6. The role of individualized care in sustainable weight outcomes
7. Why one-size-fits-all approaches fail most people

🎯 Episode Takeaways

1. Weight health is about function, not just numbers
2. GLP-1 medications can be helpful, but only within a comprehensive care plan
3. Nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress all shape metabolic outcomes
4. Sustainable health requires personalization, not diet rules
5. Long-term wellbeing comes from addressing root causes,...

What if the key to feeling strong, energized, and confident during menopause is not doing more cardio but training smarter?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Debra Atkinson, a leading authority on fitness for women over 40 and the founder of the Flipping 50 movement. Together, they explore how women’s bodies change during menopause and why strength training, bone health, and individualized exercise strategies are essential for long-term health.

Debra shares practical, science-informed guidance on how women can safely build muscle, protect bone density, and maintain vitality during and after the menopausal transition. This conversation reframes exercise not as punishment or weight loss driven, but as a powerful tool for resilience, independence, and quality of life.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. How menopause changes muscle mass, metabolism, and bone density
2. Why strength training is essential for midlife and postmenopausal women
3. Common exercise mistakes women make during menopause
4. How to start resistance training safely at any age or fitness level
5. The role of bone-loading exercises in preventing osteoporosis
6. Yoga, vibration platforms, and complementary movement strategies
7. Why generic fitness advice often fails women in midlife
8. How to find trainers and programs that understand menopause physiology

💡 In This Episode, You Will Learn

1. Why maintaining muscle is critical for hormone balance, metabolism, and longevity
2. How strength training supports bone density and reduces fracture risk
3. What types of exercises are most effective during menopause
4. How to adapt workouts if you are new to resistance training
5. Why “more cardio” is often not the answer for midlife women
6. How the right exercise approach can improve confidence, energy, and daily function

🎯 Episode Takeaways

1. Menopause is not a decline, but a transition that requires smarter training
2. Strength training is foundational for women’s health after 40
3. Bone health depends on intentional, progressive loading
4. One-size-fits-all exercise plans do not work for menopausal women
5. With the right guidance, women can remain strong, capable, and vibrant well into later life

📚 Where to Learn More About Debra Atkinson

🌐 Website & Resources

What if the reason you still feel exhausted, foggy, and unwell on thyroid medication is because the system treating you is using decades-old rules that no longer serve patients?

In this powerful episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Elle Russ, bestselling author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, to unpack why so many people with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease continue to suffer despite being “treated.”

Elle shares her deeply personal thyroid journey, including years of misdiagnosis, failed protocols, and the self-education that ultimately led to her recovery. Together, McCall and Elle explore where conventional thyroid care falls short, why outdated guidelines continue to harm patients, and how individualized thyroid hormone therapy can fully resolve symptoms when done correctly.

This episode is a candid, science-grounded conversation about self-advocacy, education, and reclaiming health in a system that often dismisses thyroid patients.

Key Topics Covered

1. Why patients are still symptomatic even while taking thyroid medication
2. How outdated protocols from the 1970s continue to shape modern thyroid care
3. The dangers of relying solely on TSH to assess thyroid health
4. Why suppressed TSH is often misunderstood and incorrectly treated
5. The difference between symptom management and true thyroid optimization
6. How thyroid dysfunction impacts cholesterol, blood pressure, mood, fertility, and weight
7. The role of T3, T4, reverse T3, and timing in thyroid hormone therapy
8. Why many patients are prescribed unnecessary medications instead of correcting thyroid function
9. Common misconceptions about natural desiccated thyroid versus synthetic hormones
10. The importance of education and self-advocacy in thyroid recovery

Key Takeaways

1. Persistent symptoms are not normal when hypothyroidism is properly treated
2. Thyroid dysfunction is often the root cause of secondary conditions like depression, PCOS, infertility, high cholesterol, and fatigue
3. “Normal” lab ranges do not equal optimal thyroid function
4. Thyroid hormone replacement, when individualized, is safe and often life-changing
5. Patients must often educate themselves to help clinicians provide better care
6. Thyroid issues are fixable at any age with the right knowledge and support

About the Guest

Elle Russ is a thyroid health educator, author, and advocate who has helped thousands of people reclaim their health after being dismissed by conventional medicine. She is the author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution and creator of The Ultimate

What if true longevity isn’t about treating disease after it appears, but about tracking the right data early and becoming the CEO of your own health?

In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Dr. Darshan Shah, MD, board-certified surgeon, published author, and co-founder of NEXT|HEALTH, the fastest-growing health optimization and longevity clinic network. Together, they explore why the current medical system is built to manage illness rather than create health, and what it truly means to take a proactive, data-driven approach to longevity.

Dr. Shah shares his personal journey from burnout, autoimmune disease, and multiple medications to reclaiming his health through nutrition, movement, functional medicine, and biomarker tracking. This conversation is a powerful reminder that prevention, early intervention, and personal accountability are the foundations of long-term vitality.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

• Why traditional medicine excels at emergency care but falls short in creating long-term health

• How Dr. Shah reversed autoimmune disease and reduced his medications through lifestyle and data

• What it means to be the CEO of your own health

• Why most routine lab work misses early warning signs of chronic disease

• The difference between “normal” lab ranges and optimal health markers

• Which biomarkers matter most for preventing chronic illness

• Why hemoglobin A1C is one of the most important indicators of long-term health

• How metabolic dysfunction develops years before symptoms appear

• Why quarterly data tracking is more powerful than annual lab testing

• How wearables, grip strength, and body composition predict longevity

• When people should start monitoring biomarkers for healthspan and lifespan

• The three non-negotiable habits Dr. Shah credits for his health transformation

Key Topics Discussed

• Reactive medicine vs proactive health optimization

• Early detection of chronic disease through biomarkers

• Metabolic health and insulin resistance

• Inflammation as a root cause of disease

• Healthspan vs lifespan

• Patient empowerment and data literacy

• Strength training and muscle mass as longevity markers

• Sleep, stress, and nervous system regulation

• Building sustainable habits that compound over time

Dr. Shah’s Three Non-Negotiables for Longevity

• A protected morning routine that includes movement, mental wellness, and reflection

• Strength training as a priority over cardio when time is limited

• Creating distance from phones at night to reduce stress and improve sleep quality

About Dr. Darshan Shah, MD

Dr. Darshan Shah is a board-certified surgeon, health optimization expert, and co-founder of NEXT|HEALTH, a nationwide network of longevity and wellness clinics focused on prevention, performance, and personalized care. After experiencing severe health decline himself, Dr. Shah pursued advanced training in nutrition, exercise physiology, and functional medicine, leading to a complete transformation of his health and clinical approach.

Resources & Links

🌐 NEXT|HEALTH

https://www.next-health.com

📱 Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

💼 LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshanshahmd/

📲 Follow McCall McPherson