Health Coach Talk: Conversations About Wellness Through Functional Medicine Coaching Functional Medicine Coaching Academy

What does it take to earn your National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) credential? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi hosts the Health Nerds, FMCA’s own Susan, Amy, Kellye, and Micki, who unpack their journey from FMCA graduates to thriving health coaches. The four guests reveal their personal stories of studying for and passing the NBC-HWC exam and share how their experiences inspired them to help others find exam success.



Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/health-nerds-084/

Ready to let go of what's holding you back and elevate your career in health and wellness? Join Dr. Sandi and Marketing & Mindset Coach Robert Notter on this episode of Health Coach Talk as they uncover the keys to thriving in your practice. Robert shares his business success strategies in a conversation packed with actionable insights you can use to shift your mindset and excel in your business.



In his 20+ years as a business coach, Robert has helped clients at all career stages tackle every business challenge imaginable. For some coaches, sales tactics and marketing strategies feel intimidating. For others, projecting confidence and authenticity in client interactions seems out of reach. Robert emphasizes mindset as the "root cause" of these issues. He peels back the layers of self-doubt and fear that often hold coaches back from realizing their full potential and offers tips for overcoming limiting beliefs and stepping into your power as a coach.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, Dr. Sandi and Robert offer valuable insights and tips to level-up your practice and transform your success in health coaching.



Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/robert-notter-083/⁠

How are your hormones today? For many of us, the answer is "I have no idea." Depending on your health, gender identity, and life stage, hormones may not be on your radar at all. But if you've experienced hormonal imbalances, especially due to menopause or perimenopause, you know that understanding and optimizing hormones can be a key to well-being. In this episode of Health Coach Talk, "The Girlfriend Doctor" Anna Cabeca joins Dr. Sandi to discuss hormones' effects on sexual health, intimacy, and relationships and share her insights into a more holistic approach to hormone health.

Dr. Anna explains how our hormones impact everything from memory and mood to sex drive and motivation. These complex, intricate chemicals are connected to liver and adrenal function, circulation, lifestyle factors, nutrition, and age. Over the course of our lives, hormone fluctuation can have a considerable (and sometimes, a disruptive) influence on the delicate balance of our bodies. Hormone replacement therapy may be part of the solution, but it's probably not enough on its own. That's why Dr. Anna advocates for a holistic approach to optimizing hormone health by making intentional shifts in our habits, diets, and lifestyles.

Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/anna-cabeca-082/⁠

We hear it all the time: You know you'd make a great health coach, and you've even found a training program that will arm you with the skills, knowledge, and certification you need to start working with your own clients. But what happens next? How do you set prices, get clients, find your niche? In short, what does the step between coach-in-training and successful health coach look like? Joining Dr. Sandi in this episode is Reed Davis, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, who delves into opportunities for health coaches, particularly those who are just starting out.

Reflecting on his journey, Reed shares how his earliest clients shaped him into the curious, creative, and successful health coach he is today. Often, those clients came to him frustrated and hopeless, desperate for a root-cause solution to their health problems after conventional doctors prescribed strong drugs and failed to offer a listening ear. Reed helped them get better—all without diagnosing or prescribing anything.



Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/reed-davis-081/

You've probably heard conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy for menopausal and post-menopausal women—you may even have heard that it's dangerous. As our guest this week says, "the bottom line is, that's nonsense." Let's set the record straight. This week, Dr. Sandi unpacks the complex history and science of hormone replacement therapy with her friend and colleague, women's health and hormone expert Dr. Felice Gersh

In this conversation, Dr. Felice debunks the now-infamous Women's Health Initiative study that drove decades of healthcare practitioners and their patients—including Dr. Sandi—to avoid hormone replacement therapy. She shares the science behind why this study was flawed and highlights the importance of bioidentical hormones, emphasizing their role in addressing conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive health.

Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/felice-gersh-080/

Our minds and bodies are linked even more closely than we may realize. Our mental state has an impact on our physical wellness (or illness)—and by tapping into that mind-body link, we can intentionally influence how we feel. This week, Dr. Sandi dives into the power and potential of the gut-brain connection with Board-Certified Internist and Functional Medicine expert Dr. Vincent Pedre.

As a competitive, high-achieving medical student, Dr. Pedre's discovery of mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga allowed him to soothe his vagus nerve and cultivate a sense of calm that actually promoted healing in his body. To him, it seemed obvious that the gut-brain connection was a critical component of wellness, and his experiences transformed the way he approached his medical practice.