In Part 3 of our powerful conversation with board-certified health and wellness coach Debbie Roppo, we shift into the practical side of healing: how do you actually make change when you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or afraid of failing?

So many people are handed a diagnosis, a symptom, or a chronic condition and then immediately feel pressured to fix everything at once.

But Debbie offers a completely different approach.

In this episode, she explains why true healing and lifestyle change doesn’t come from rigid programs or perfection, it comes from baby steps, self-trust, nervous system safety, and learning how to be on your own side.

We talk about the mindset shifts that make healing sustainable, the power of incremental progress, and why feeling supported matters just as much as knowing what to do.

This is an episode for anyone who has ever thought:

“I know what I should do… but I don’t know where to start.”

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why Debbie doesn’t believe in strict health programs
• The coaching method she uses to create sustainable change
• How “baby steps” can transform chronic illness recovery
• The difference between wellness pressure and true healing
• Why shame and perfectionism keep people stuck
• The importance of feeling safe, seen, and supported
• How language and identity shape health outcomes
• Redefining success when you’re navigating chronic symptoms
• Debbie’s “Inner Empire” approach to health, resilience, and energy
• A real and raw conversation about self-compassion and progress

This Episode Is Especially Meaningful If You’re Navigating:

• Chronic pain orchronic illness
• Autoimmune disease and inflammation
• Burnout, overwhelm, or nervous system dysregulation
• Lifestyle changes that feel impossible to maintain
• Health anxiety and fear of failure
• Mind-body healing and emotional wellness
• Habit change and sustainable wellness routines

Even though Debbie’s story began with rheumatoid arthritis, this episode is about something universal:

You are not broken. You are not behind. And you don’t have to do everything at once.

Healing happens one step at a time.

Connect with Debbie Roppo

Debbie is a board-certified health and wellness coach and founder of The Inner Empire, where she helps women build sustainable health, clarity, and resilience from the inside out.

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Connect with The Health Hunt

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Tiktok
• The Health Hunt Fullscript Store
• Email: info@thehealthhunt.com

Share + Subscribe

If you know someone living with chronic pain, chronic illness, or feeling overwhelmed by where to begin… please share this episode with them.

And if you enjoyed this conversation, please follow, rate, and review The Health Hunt Podcast, it helps more people find these stories.

Text us your thoughts, questions, or takeaways. We read every message.

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In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with board-certified health and wellness coach Debbie Roppo, we move beyond the shock of diagnosis and into the chapter that so many people are desperate for: what happens next.

Debbie was told her rheumatoid arthritis was a life sentence. She was warned that her future would only decline. But today, she’s living proof that a diagnosis does not always get the final word.

In this episode, Debbie shares the real steps she took after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease, including the functional medicine approach that helped her look beyond symptom suppression and start asking deeper questions about root causes, lifestyle triggers, and healing.

We talk about the changes that made the biggest difference including nutrition, movement, stress, mindset, and why the mind-body connection became the true turning point in her recovery and remission journey.

This is an episode about hope, resilience, and reclaiming your power after chronic illness.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Debbie’s simple explanation of functional medicine vs traditional medicine
• The lifestyle shifts that helped her calm inflammation naturally
• Why Debbie believes the mental and emotional piece is often the hardest part
• How thoughts and stress create real physiological changes in the body
• Early warning signs and learning to listen to your nervous system
• Why simplifying wellness can be more healing than chasing supplements and biohacks
• The power of language: “I was diagnosed with…” vs “I have…”
• How identity shapes chronic pain, healing, and long-term health outcomes

This conversation is especially meaningful for anyone navigating:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Chronic pain and chronic illness
• Stress, inflammation, and nervous system regulation
• Patient advocacy and taking ownership of your health journey

Even though Debbie’s story centers on RA, this episode is really about something universal: the “now what?” moment that comes after ANY diagnosis.

Debbie’s story is a reminder that healing is not always linear, and the future you’re told to accept in the exam room may not be the whole story.

She is now living in remission, after being told rheumatoid arthritis was forever.

If you know someone living with chronic pain, chronic illness, or navigating a new diagnosis, please share this episode with them. It might help them feel seen and less alone.

Connect with Debbie Roppo

Debbie is a board-certified health and wellness coach and founder of The Inner Empire, where she helps women build sustainable health, energy, and resilience from the inside out.

• Website: www.debbieroppohealthcoach.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Connect with The Health Hunt

• Website: www.thehealthhunt.com.com
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Tiktok
• The Health Hunt Fullscript Store
• Email: info@thehealthhunt.com

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love if you’d take a moment to follow, rate,

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“This Is Forever?” What a Rheumatoid Arthritis (or other life-altering) Diagnosis Actually Feels Like

In this powerful first conversation with our guest, Debbie Roppo, a board-certified health and wellness coach and the founder of The Inner Empire™, we sit in one of the most disorienting moments many people will ever experience: receiving a life-changing diagnosis.

In this episode, Sandi and Dan talk openly with Debbie about what it actually feels like to be told you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the shock, the fear, the disbelief, and the pressure to immediately accept a future you didn’t choose. Rather than rushing to solutions, we slow down and explore the emotional reality of that moment.

Debbie shares her personal story of waking up in severe pain, recognizing something was wrong, and ultimately being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis while working in an orthopedic medical office. She describes how hearing “this is forever” felt like a punch to the stomach and how that experience shaped everything that came after.

We also discuss:

• The emotional impact of receiving a chronic illness diagnosis
• The difference between osteoarthritis vs rheumatoid arthritis
• How chronic pain can be isolating and misunderstood
• Why many people feel pressured to “just do what the doctor says”
• The importance of choosing carefully who you share your diagnosis with
• The reality that chronic illness is often an invisible struggle
• Why being your own health advocate matters
• How the U.S. excels in acute care but struggles with chronic care
• Why a diagnosis does not have to be the end of your story

This episode is Part 1 of a three-part conversation with Debbie. In Part 2, she will walk us through what happened next, the choices she made, the questions she asked, and how she began to chart her own path toward healing.

If you or someone you love lives with chronic pain, autoimmune disease, or has recently received a diagnosis, this episode is for you. You are not alone.

🎧 Topics Covered in This Episode

• Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis
• Living with chronic pain
• Autoimmune disease diagnosis
• Emotional impact of diagnosis
• Chronic illness and mental health
• Doctor-patient communication
• Rheumatology experience
• Being your own health advocate
• Functional medicine vs traditional medicine
• Invisible illness
• Chronic illness isolation
• Mind-body connection to pain
• Navigating a new diagnosis
• Health coaching and chronic illness

🔗 Connect with Debbie Roppo

• Website: www.debbieroppohealthcoach.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

🔗 Connect with The Health Hunt

• Website: www.thehealthhunt.com.com
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Tiktok
• The Health Hunt Fullscript Store
• Email: info@thehealthhunt.com

Send us a text

Real-time CGM experiment, glucose tracking, blood sugar insights, and honest reactions

Ready for a very real “health experiment in real time”? In this episode of The Health Hunt Podcast, Sandi and Dan put on continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for the first time to explore what tracking blood sugar actually feels like, sharing their nerves, questions, and very real instruction-manual chaos along the way.

We break down what a CGM is, why more non-diabetics are using CGMs for metabolic health, and what we’re hoping to learn about blood sugar spikes, glucose variability, sleep, stress, exercise, and food choices. You’ll hear Sandi’s honest concerns (pain? annoying sensations? becoming obsessive about numbers?) and Dan’s experience running CGMs a few times a year, including what not to do if you’d like to avoid bruising your arm.

We also share the experiments we’re running over the next 2–4 weeks, like walking after meals vs. couch mode, food order (protein/veggies/carbs), sleep quality, stressful days, “healthy foods” that spike glucose, and even testing berberine to see if it actually changes post-meal glucose response.

If you’ve been curious about CGMs, glucose tracking, blood sugar, A1C, fasting glucose, or just want to see what this looks like for two regular humans… come with us.

What You’ll Learn / Key Takeaways

• What a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is and how it works (sensor + phone app).
• Why CGMs are booming beyond diabetes: real-time glucose insights vs. “snapshots.”
• Dan’s baseline labs: A1C 5.2 and fasting glucose 103 (and why baseline matters).
• Sandi’s real concerns: pain, sensory irritation, anxiety about data, and avoiding “chasing perfect numbers.”
• The difference between CGM ecosystems: Stelo native app vs. Levels + Stelo experience.

Experiments We’re Running (Quick List)

• Walk after meals vs no walk (plus vibration plate / air squats)
• Food order: carbs first vs protein/veg first
• Sleep quality impact on glucose
• Stress vs calm days
• “Healthy foods” that spike glucose
• Sweeteners in matcha (stevia vs honey vs maple vs coconut sugar)
• Caffeine timing + protein before caffeine
• Time-of-day eating (same food, different times)
• Berberine: does it reduce spikes / variability?

Important Disclaimer
The Health Hunt Podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. We are not medical professionals and nothing in this episode is medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your health. CGMs may not be appropriate for everyone—especially if numbers feel activating (anxiety, disordered eating history). CGMs are data; interpretation matters.

Connect With Us

• Follow us on Instagram + TikTok: @thehealthhunt_podcast
• Tell us: Have you worn a CGM? What surprised you? What helped? What confused you? E-mail us at info@thehealthhunt.com (or message us on social media)
• If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and review, it helps more people find the show.

Links
Levels - https://www.levels.com/

Stelo - https://www.stelo.com/

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Magnesium might just be the most underrated mineral in your health routine...but only if you’re using the right kind.

In this episode, we break down the confusing world of magnesium supplements in a simple, human, and slightly hilarious way. If you’ve ever stood in the supplement aisle or stared at your computer screen wondering why there are fifteen different kinds, this one’s for you.

We cover what each major form of magnesium does, who it may help, and common mistakes people make (including the kind that has you sprinting to the bathroom 🚽).

You’ll hear us talk about:

✨ Why magnesium impacts sleep, stress, energy, mood, and digestion
✨ Magnesium glycinate vs magnesium citrate: and when to use each
✨ Forms that support brain health, energy, and muscle recovery
✨ The “budget” version most people should probably avoid
✨ Topical magnesium, baths, sprays… and a few funny mishaps
✨ How much magnesium most adults actually need
✨ Why supplement quality matters more than marketing labels

Our goal: help you stop guessing and start choosing intentionally.

You’re not broken, you just may be using the wrong type of magnesium and you may not be getting enough.

As always, nothing here is medical advice. Talk to your practitioner, start slow, and listen to your body.

📝 Quick Cheat Sheet From the Episode

• Magnesium Glycinate - “The Chill Pill” (Sleep + Nervous System)
• Magnesium Citrate - “The Smooth Operator” (Digestion)
• Magnesium Threonate — "The Brain One" (Brain + Memory Support)
• Magnesium Malate - "The Energizer" (Energy + Muscle Soreness)
• Magnesium Oxide - "The Budget Option" (Use With Caution)
• Magnesium Chloride - "The Skin Soaker" (Sprays + Topical for Relaxation)
• Magnesium Taurate - “The Heart Helper” (Cardiovascular Support)
• Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) - “Grandma Approved” (Muscle soreness and detoxification via baths)

💊 About Supplement Quality

Not all supplements are created equal, some are poorly absorbed or full of fillers. That’s why we share practitioner-grade options through our Fullscript store so you can shop safely and intentionally. Follow this link, which gives listeners up to 25% off all orders: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thehealthhunt

❤️ Stay Connected

If this episode helped you understand magnesium better, tell us! We love hearing your questions, wins, and hilarious supplement mishaps. You can email us at info@thehealthhunt.com

👉 Follow the show
👉 Leave a rating or review
👉 Share this with someone who’s confused in the supplement aisle

👉 Follow us on Instagram @TheHealthHunt_Podcast

We read every message, and it truly makes our day.

May your sleep, stress, and… bathroom schedule find their happy place. 💤😌

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Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do at the end of the year… is pause.

In today’s mini episode, we’re not going deep into science, biohacking, supplements, or nervous system rewiring. No protocols. No homework. No pressure to “fix” yourself before January 1.

We simply wanted to say thank you.

Over the past few months, The Health Hunt community has grown across cities, states, and even countries and somehow, you found us, pressed play, and chose to spend part of your life here. Whether you’re navigating chronic symptoms, burnout, autoimmune issues, sleep struggles, anxiety, or just trying to feel better in your body…

➡️ You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Why we launched this podcast (and how scary it was)
✨ The surprising places listeners are tuning in from
✨ Why health conversations can feel lonely and why they shouldn’t
✨ Why rest, breathing room, and slowing down matter right now
✨ What’s coming in the new year guests, deeper conversations, and more honesty

This little pause is our way of saying:

Thank you for listening.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for trusting us with your stories.

Wherever you are , driving, walking, cooking, or awake at 3 a.m. because sleep is being weird, we’re really glad you’re here with us.

Take care of yourself. Rest when you can. And we can’t wait to continue this journey with you in the new year.

💌 Stay connected

If something in this podcast helped you feel seen, supported, or less alone, we’d love to hear from you.

• Follow, rate, and review the show
• Share the episode with someone who needs encouragement
• DM us or email (info@thehealthhunt.com) your story and topic suggestions

Together, we’ll keep exploring health in a way that’s human, humble, and a little bit humorous.

Happy New Year!

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If you’ve ever stared at a shelf (or let’s be honest… your Amazon cart) full of vitamins wondered which supplements actually work, this episode is going to make your life a whole lot easier. Today we’re breaking down one of the most misunderstood corners of the wellness world: supplement quality, sourcing, and why where you buy them matters just as much as what’s on the label.

As two people who have definitely been influenced into buying supplements because of social media (Sandi) and who track biomarkers like it’s a sport (Dan), we’ve both learned the hard way that not all supplements are created equal or even stored the right way.

In this episode, we dive into:

🌿 What Most People Don’t Know About Supplements

• Why two bottles with the same ingredients can have completely different quality
• How heat, humidity, and poor storage can destroy potency
• The risk of counterfeit or expired products sold through third-party retailers
• Why “good price” doesn’t always mean “good supplement”

🔍 What Practitioner-Grade Supplements Actually Mean

We explain why clinicians rely on practitioner-trusted brands that are:

• Third-party tested
• Transparently sourced
• Stored in climate-controlled warehouses
• Formulated with clinically backed ingredients
• Verified for purity, potency, and safety

🛒 Why We Built Our Own Fullscript Store

Fullscript is a professional supplement platform used by functional and integrative practitioners. We break down:

• Why we switched from Amazon to Fullscript
• What makes Fullscript safer and more reliable
• How their storage, shipping, and sourcing prevents potency loss
• Why buying directly from practitioner-grade brands matters
• How we set up our store so listeners get top-tier quality at lower-than-retail pricing

Yes… we are trying to save you from the expensive supplement graveyard on your counter.

🧪 How Dan Uses Biomarkers to Track Whether Supplements Work

Dan shares how he tests:

• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• Omega levels
• Vitamin A
• Sleep-related markers to determine what’s actually working and how you can do the same (with your clinician’s guidance).

🤦‍♀️ Sandi’s Confessions from the Supplement Trenches

Including:

• The enormous wicker box of “must-have” supplements
• Fear of stopping cognitive supplements in case her brain stops working
• Pill-swallowing PTSD (yes, it’s a thing)
• Why auto-ship is saving her sanity

✔️ How to Get Started with Better Supplements

Inside the episode we walk you through how to:

• Browse our Fullscript store
• Start with just your core essentials
• Compare brands and ingredients
• Understand supplement benefits directly from the product page
• Track changes in energy, sleep, focus, and mood
• Use biomarkers to take the guesswork out (not medical advice)

If you're committed to improving your health, you deserve peace of mind knowing what’s in the bottle is actually what your body receives.

👉 Ready to upgrade your supplement game?

Click the link below to explore the Health Hunt Fullscript Store and get access to practitioner-grade brands at up to 25% off.

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thehealthhunt

If this episode helped you rethink your supplement strategy, share it with a fellow health hunter! Your reviews and shares mean the world and help our community grow.

Have questions? Want a supplement deep dive in a future episode? Email us anytime at info@t

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If your brain turns into a 3 a.m. drama queen, doing math on how many hours you won’t sleep, predicting how awful tomorrow will be, and spiraling about “what if I can’t fall asleep?”, this episode is for you.

In Part 3 of our Sleep Series, we go beyond sleep hygiene and talk about chronic insomnia as a mind-body pattern: a nervous system stuck in “danger” mode, even when you’re lying in bed, lights off, doing everything right. Sandy breaks down how neuroplasticity, the amygdala, and the vagus nerve all play a role in sleep anxiety, hyperarousal, and that lovely performance pressure that shows up the second your head hits the pillow.

We unpack how:

• Chronic insomnia is learned, not a character flaw and how the brain wires “bed = danger.”
• Catastrophizing and forecasting (“If I don’t sleep, I’ll ruin tomorrow”) quietly fuel the insomnia loop.
• Mindfulness and cognitive diffusion help you see thoughts as thoughts, not prophecies.
• Paradoxical intention (trying to stay awake on purpose) can lower sleep performance anxiety.
• Somatic tools like progressive muscle relaxation, yoga nidra, guided imagery, autogenic training, gentle movement, and breathwork (including 4-7-8 and box breathing) send the body a clear “you’re safe” signal.
• Vagus nerve activation helps shift you from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest so sleep can actually happen.

Sandy also shares five practical, try-it-tonight steps to start resetting your mind-body sleep loop, like reframing just one catastrophic thought, using paradoxical intention, doing a 2–3 minute breathing practice, and giving yourself permission to rest even if you’re not asleep.

We also revisit sleep apnea and the mind-body connection: why obstructive sleep apnea still needs real medical evaluation (hi, ResMed 11 👋), but how stress and nervous system overdrive can make apnea episodes worse, and where mind-body tools may support medical treatment, not replace it.

If you’ve ever felt broken, “bad at sleep,” or stuck in the No-Sleep Olympics, this episode is your reminder: you’re not alone, you’re not broken, and your brain can absolutely learn a new pattern. We’re rewiring our brains right alongside you.

👉 Connect with us:

• Instagram: @thehealthhunt_podcast
• Email: info@thehealthhunt.com
• Fullscript supplement store (including our beloved magnesium):
• Resmed

Share this episode with someone who’s tired of being tired and ready to try something different than just “more sleep hacks.”