Eager to Be Healthy - a Health and Happiness Podcast

Michael Scott Eger
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The Eager to Be Healthy Podcast — hosted by Michael Scott Eger, health coach and wellness advocate — brings you inspiring health and happiness conversations that empower you to live a more vibrant, balanced life. Join us for aspirational, real-talk episodes featuring everyday people who've overcome struggles with health, chronic illness, happiness, mental wellness, and personal growth. We dive deep into nutrition, healthy eating, food sensitivities, gluten-free living, being active, fitness motivation, social dynamics, relationships, love, sadness, emotional resilience, and the joy of building a perfect life — one that's truly happy and healthy. The most powerful stories come from laypeople just like you — ordinary folks figuring out how to eat better, move more, feel better, and thrive without perfectionism. No experts-only vibes here — just authentic, relatable journeys that show transformation is possible. I'm Michael Scott Eger, your host and guide. I help people eat better and have way more fun doing it. Growing up pre-internet, pre-cell phones, and pre-gluten-free era, I battled severe illness from childhood — multiple surgeries by age 15, endless doctors, and no real answers. In 1987, I discovered food was the root cause. Changing what I ate changed everything: better energy, clearer hearing, stronger school performance, and a new lease on life. Over 30+ years of personal experimentation and helping others, I've built real knowledge on holistic wellness, natural healing through diet, and sustainable lifestyle changes. I healed myself first so I could pay it forward — because I know the deep pain of being sick and want no one else to suffer. That's the heart of the Eager to Be Healthy Wellness Network — a community dedicated to wellness, nutrition tips, healthy living, happiness habits, and supporting each other on the path to feeling great. Tune in for motivating, down-to-earth discussions on health transformation, mind-body connection, joyful eating, and living with more energy, purpose, and happiness. Subscribe now and start your journey to be Eager to Be Healthy! Eagertobehealthy.com

  1. 5 days ago

    Eager to be Healthy - Elizabeth Kipp - Pain Is a Signal, Not a Life Sentence

    Elizabeth Kipp is a chronic pain management specialist, addiction recovery coach, Ancestral Clearing® practitioner, and bestselling author of The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power. After more than forty years of severe chronic pain, anxiety, and panic attacks, and more than thirty years of prescribed opioid and benzodiazepine dependence following back injuries and surgeries, she got herself out first. Then she built the map so other people could follow. In this conversation we talk about chronic pain as a nervous-system problem, not just a tissue problem. Pain is a signal the brain interprets. Stay in it long enough and the pathways rewire: more stress response, more hypersensitivity, more fight-or-flight. Long-term opioids and benzos can mask that signal without resolving it, and they often tax gut motility, breath, sleep, and the very neuroplastic recovery you need. Elizabeth walks through de-identifying from pain: moving from "I am my diagnosis" to "this is sensory information moving through my body." She covers safety as a physiological requirement (you cannot digest well in fight-or-flight), trauma-informed breathwork and somatics for rapid down-regulation, Ancestral Clearing® for inherited survival stress that keeps the nervous system stuck, and practical recovery tools she used herself: sleep rhythm, anti-inflammatory nutrition, yoga, Tai Chi, and rebuilding trust in her own body. Find Elizabeth at elizabeth-kipp.com. Book: The Way Through Chronic Pain. Free resource: 5 Ways to Relieve Stress, Anxiety, & Fear (https://bit.ly/5WaysToRelieveStress). This is a value-for-value podcast. Support the show at eagertobehealthy.com/support. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes based on health content. Takeaways - Doing fine with chronic pain is not the same as being well - Pain is a brain-interpreted signal; chronic pain rewires the nervous system - Long-term opioids and benzos often mask symptoms without resolving root signaling - De-identify from pain: sensory information, not identity - Safety first: digestion, breath, and recovery fail in fight-or-flight - Ancestral Clearing® and trauma-informed breathwork can release stuck survival patterns - Small daily practices (sleep, food, breath, movement) rebuild capacity Chapters 00:00 Welcome 01:26 Have you always been healthy? 07:21 Nervous system, safety, and walking on eggshells 11:11 Decades on opioids and benzodiazepines 12:58 The brain cannot tell one pain from another 14:09 Sleep, breathwork, yoga, and anti-inflammatory food 18:17 Benzo withdrawal and rebuilding appetite 28:00 Inputs you can still control 35:13 Taste buds change when sugar leaves 39:57 Detox in a toxic world 44:50 The Way Through Chronic Pain 48:58 Where to find Elizabeth 50:30 Closing Find Elizabeth Kipp: elizabeth-kipp.com Book: The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power Free: bit.ly/5WaysToRelieveStress Host: Michael Scott Eger · eagertobehealthy.com

  2. 2 Sept

    Eager to be Healthy - Dr. Radhika Achari - Doing Fine Is Not the Same as Being Well

    Dr. Radhika Achari is a board-certified behavior analyst with more than fifteen years of clinical work. She has spent her career helping other people build better lives. Her education in wellness did not happen only in a clinic. It happened through years of IVF, and then through raising a neurodivergent son. In this conversation we talk about the difference between doing fine and being well. Radhika grew up physically healthy and active. The self-care part came later. A lot of us treat self-care like a fire extinguisher. We grab it after everything is already burning. She wants fireproofing instead: the boundaries you set before you are resentful, the rest you take before you are depleted. Motherhood was not the plan she practiced for. Unexplained infertility. IVF. Hope and grief on a loop. A son through IVF. A daughter eighteen months later. Then a diagnosis that was not a surprise, and still not the plan. Functioning and being happy are not the same thing. You cannot pour from an empty vessel. What she built from that is Analyze and Act, and an eight-week program called Bridge to College Independence. Parent track and teen track. Remote. She helps families hand over the real stuff on purpose: appointments, school, identity, when and how to disclose. The work is as much about parent burnout as teen skills. Autonomy, practiced early, becomes who you are. We also get into Spoon Theory, the word "yet," task analysis, and why a palm tree outlasts an oak in a storm. I told her the truth about my own social awkwardness, the anxiety loop, and what changed after I learned to forgive myself. No book. Website: analyzeandact.com. Free college readiness checklist. One-on-ones, and the eight-week course. Always consult your own provider before you change something real. This is a value-for-value podcast. Support the show at eagertobehealthy.com/support. Takeaways - Doing fine is not the same as being well - Self-care as fireproofing, not a fire extinguisher - Functioning and happiness can live in two different rooms - Hand independence to a teen on purpose, before college - "Yet" turns a wall into a ladder - Track what fills you and what drains you. No shame. Just data. Chapters 00:00 Welcome 02:14 Have you always been healthy? 05:18 Have you always been happy? 06:36 IVF, motherhood, and a plan that would not hold 11:36 How her son's diagnosis actually shows up 19:26 Analyze and Act / Bridge to College Independence 26:00 Autonomy, self-forgiveness, and the doomsday spiral 28:45 Spoon Theory and the social battery 32:33 ACT, "yet," and breaking a mountain into steps 39:34 Biggest life skill: oak trees and palm trees 42:04 Where to find her 43:05 Closing Find Dr. Radhika Achari: analyzeandact.com Host: Michael Scott Eger · eagertobehealthy.com

  3. 19 Aug

    Eager To Be Healthy - Lorraine Sanborn - Staying Young with a Dog Named Cali

    Lorraine Sanborn, a healthy aging educator, shares her journey of health transformation and resilience at the age of 72. She discusses the importance of positive social networks, self-care, and the role of companionship in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Lorraine also reflects on her experiences as a caregiver and the valuable life lessons she has learned, promoting aspirational health for individuals over fifty. Takeaways Resilience and positive mindset contribute to healthy aging.Companionship and pet care play a significant role in promoting an active and fulfilling lifestyle. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healthy Aging03:10 Early Years and Health Journey06:00 Life Changes and Resilience09:04 Positive Social Network and Mental Health12:00 Physical Health and Self-Care14:58 Lessons and Relationships18:00 Companionship and Pet Care21:10 Caregiving and Aging Issues23:58 Life Lessons and Aspirational Health27:02 Promotion and Conclusion

  4. 28 Jul

    Eager to be healthy - Vanessa Cook - Your Body Isn't Working Against You

    Vanessa Cook was hospitalized for severe asthma at eighteen months old. By her late twenties she was living with asthma, eleven years of fibromyalgia, and a heart condition nobody had found yet — and she'd been told to expect a pacemaker by forty-five. She's thirty-seven now. No pacemaker, no heart medication, no asthma medication, and a résumé that includes ultramarathons. In this conversation with Michael Scott Eger, Vanessa traces the turning point: the night her husband told her, through tears, that he was afraid he'd end up raising their children alone. What followed wasn't one fix. It was a five-mile obstacle course she had no business entering, two and a half hours of vomiting and crying, and a finish line that taught her she could do hard things — as long as she stopped trying to do them all at once. We get into why the trendy protocols failed her, how she learned that even a "healthy" food can be the wrong food for a specific body, and why she now reads symptoms as messages rather than problems to silence. Vanessa also makes the case for whole-person care — the emotional and spiritual work a fifteen-minute appointment will never reach — and for walking into that appointment educated enough to ask, "can we try this first?" Vanessa Cook is the founder of Starlight & Sage Wellness. Learn more at starlightandsagewellness.com. Eager to Be Healthy is listener-supported and ad-free. Support the mission at eagertobehealthy.com/support. TakeawaysA symptom is a signal. Medicating it away can cost you the information underneath it.No protocol is universal. Vanessa's turnaround started when she stopped chasing trends and started paying attention to her own body.Your doctor gets fifteen minutes with you a year. You get 24/7. Showing up educated changes the conversation.Capability is built in small decisions, not dramatic ones. The finish line mattered less than the eight years after it.Chapters00:00 Overcoming Health Challenges 02:16 What Started the Journey 03:15 The Hidden Heart Condition 16:16 The Bluff Mudder 23:15 The Whole Body Approach 26:54 Advocating for Yourself 29:08 Working with Vanessa Cook

  5. 22 Jul

    Eager To Be Healthy - Nahrin Chowdhury - How Adverity Can Unstress You

    Nahrin Chowdhury — founder, Unstressified Instagram: @unstressified — https://www.instagram.com/unstressified LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahrin-chowdhury-73559b120 TikTok: @unstressified Website: https://www.unstressified.com Takeaways Reframing trauma and stress can lead to personal growth and resilience.Embracing discomfort and stepping out of comfort zones can lead to new levels of happiness and fulfillment. Self-confidence is built by collecting evidence of overcoming unknown situations.Physical and mental strategies are essential for managing stress effectively. Chapters 00:00 Unstressified: A Stubborn Premise03:00 The Pursuit of Happiness04:29 The Good and Bad of Stress08:03 Reframing Trauma and Stress11:30 Embracing Discomfort for Growth15:40 Stepping Out of Comfort Zones18:13 Adventurous Spirit and Openness to Change25:23 Coping with the Unknown30:12 Calming the Storm37:51 Overcoming Fear and Embracing New Experiences38:27 Pursuit of Happiness and Health

  6. 14 Jul

    Eager to be Healthy - Matt Robinson - Afib - Writing - Boxing - Teaching in Jails

    Matt Robinson, a writer and boxing teacher, shares his journey in health, wellness, and teaching in the prison system. He discusses his genetic health challenges, mental health techniques, and the impact of his work on his well-being. Matt also talks about his writing projects, ADHD, and his passion for boxing. Takeaways Genetic health challengesMental health techniquesImpact of work on well-beingWriting projects and ADHDPassion for boxing Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Matt Robinson00:56 Health and Wellness Journey03:09 Teaching in the Prison System06:02 Mental Health Techniques09:44 Writing Projects and ADHD25:06 Passion for Boxing

  7. 10 Jul

    Eager To Be Healthy - Allie Chandler From Lyme to Wellness

    Eager to Be Healthy — Allie Chandler — From Lyme to Wellness At twenty-five, Allie Chandler left for a backpacking trip through Europe as a healthy young teacher, and she came home with thirty to forty rotating symptoms that arrived all at once and refused to be named. It would take four more years to learn that a cluster of bug bites at the base of the Swiss Alps had sent her home with Lyme disease and several co-infections. In this conversation, Allie walks Michael through what those years asked of her — the specialists who ruled things out one by one, the heart rate that leapt from 55 to 160 the moment she stood up, and the energy healer who finally asked the question no physician had thought to ask. She shares what actually moved her toward wellness, too: a physical protocol built on drainage support, six months of daily limbic system retraining, and a slow rebuild of strength that started with putting on a pair of tennis shoes and sitting back down. None of the three worked alone. Together, over time, they gave her body somewhere safe enough to heal. Allie is now the founder of Upsell Health, where she helps practitioners and wellness brands speak to people who are sick in a way that leaves them feeling seen. She calls it empathy-led marketing, and it comes straight from the years she spent wishing that someone would look at her and say, in her words: "You're not crazy. There's something going on." Takeaways Healing rarely moves in a straight line — and the good weeks still countNervous system regulation as the ground that lets a protocol take holdLimbic system retraining, neuroplasticity, and the brain's capacity to rewireRebuilding strength in the smallest increments a body can acceptThe real out-of-pocket cost of functional medicine, and the value of talking openly with providers about itEmpathy-led marketing: education and honesty in place of urgencyChapters 00:00 The Onset of Illness13:37 The Healing Journey40:12 Transition to MarketingFind Allie upsellhealth.com · Free archetype quiz: upsellhealth.com/archetype · @upsellmarketing Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes based on health content.

  8. 28 Jun

    Eager to Be Healthy - Matt Rai a Norderverdent Coach

    The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including health, happiness, neurodiversity, mental health, physical fitness, life coaching, success, and global reach. The guest shares insights on consciousness, defining happiness, and success. The conversation also touches on the guest's work with Schools for Nepal and his music endeavors. Takeaways Consciousness and self-awareness are fundamental to mental well-being.Physical health and fitness play a crucial role in overall well-being.Defining success and happiness is a personal journey that requires self-awareness and alignment with individual values. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction05:22 Neurodiversity and ADHD14:04 Physical Health and Fitness22:25 Life Coaching and Success Definition36:18 Defining Happiness and Success

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About

The Eager to Be Healthy Podcast — hosted by Michael Scott Eger, health coach and wellness advocate — brings you inspiring health and happiness conversations that empower you to live a more vibrant, balanced life. Join us for aspirational, real-talk episodes featuring everyday people who've overcome struggles with health, chronic illness, happiness, mental wellness, and personal growth. We dive deep into nutrition, healthy eating, food sensitivities, gluten-free living, being active, fitness motivation, social dynamics, relationships, love, sadness, emotional resilience, and the joy of building a perfect life — one that's truly happy and healthy. The most powerful stories come from laypeople just like you — ordinary folks figuring out how to eat better, move more, feel better, and thrive without perfectionism. No experts-only vibes here — just authentic, relatable journeys that show transformation is possible. I'm Michael Scott Eger, your host and guide. I help people eat better and have way more fun doing it. Growing up pre-internet, pre-cell phones, and pre-gluten-free era, I battled severe illness from childhood — multiple surgeries by age 15, endless doctors, and no real answers. In 1987, I discovered food was the root cause. Changing what I ate changed everything: better energy, clearer hearing, stronger school performance, and a new lease on life. Over 30+ years of personal experimentation and helping others, I've built real knowledge on holistic wellness, natural healing through diet, and sustainable lifestyle changes. I healed myself first so I could pay it forward — because I know the deep pain of being sick and want no one else to suffer. That's the heart of the Eager to Be Healthy Wellness Network — a community dedicated to wellness, nutrition tips, healthy living, happiness habits, and supporting each other on the path to feeling great. Tune in for motivating, down-to-earth discussions on health transformation, mind-body connection, joyful eating, and living with more energy, purpose, and happiness. Subscribe now and start your journey to be Eager to Be Healthy! Eagertobehealthy.com

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Scott Eger
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Michael Scott Eger