Happy & Healthy with Amy

Amy Lang
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Do you want to protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease so you can be sharp and stay sharp for life? This podcast is for you.Your host, Amy Lang, master certified health coach and founder of Moxie Club will be sharing with you the lessons learned and insights gained from 20+ years as a health club owner and Alzheimer's prevention coach.For more information, visit www.moxie-club.com

  1. 21h ago

    Do Leqembi and Kisunla Work? The 2 Key Factors

    If your mom or dad has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, you may suddenly be facing a decision you never expected to make: Should they take Leqembi or Kisunla? And if you’ve already read headlines saying anti-amyloid drugs offer little to no clinically meaningful benefit, that decision gets even more confusing. In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at the newer FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs—specifically lecanemab and donanemab—and an important question that can get lost when we look only at the averages: Does the stage of Alzheimer’s disease and the amount of tau already in the brain change how well these treatments work? The answer appears to be yes. In Part 1 of this three-part series, I’ll walk you through the evidence, explain why tau may be one of the most important pieces of this conversation, and help you understand who appears most likely to benefit from the newest Alzheimer’s treatments. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: [00:00] The question families face after an MCI or early Alzheimer’s diagnosis?[03:39] Why the conclusion from the Cochrane review deserves another look[05:47] Why pooling data may hide an important treatment signal.[09:06] The main criticism of the Cochrane review[15:48] Why “early is everything” when it comes to Alzheimer’s treatment[15:00] Amyloid vs. tau explained [20:12] Why removing amyloid may have far less impact once tau levels are high[26:46] What the donanemab data shows when researchers separate people based on their tau burden and stage of disease.[27:17] What the lecanemab data really says[29:57] The two questions Amy recommends asking a neurologist before decidingThe biggest takeaway from this episode isn’t that the Cochrane review was “wrong.” It’s that averages can hide important differences between patients. In Part 2, we’re talking about the risks, including ARIA, brain swelling and bleeding, and the factors that may make someone more vulnerable. Listen to the episode, subscribe to Happy & Healthy with Amy, and share this series with someone who is trying to make sense of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment options. RECOMMENDED EPISODES BrightFocus Foundation – Let’s Talk Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s Prevention: What the Cochrane Review MeansAlzheimer’s Drugs: Why Amyloid Removal May Not Be EnoughAfter an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: A Family ChecklistMy Mom Was Diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Am I Next?RESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  2. Aug 12

    Exercise After 50 with Dr. Cody Sipe: What Actually Matters for Healthy Aging?

    What if some of what you’ve been told about exercise and aging is incomplete? Maybe you’ve heard you need to walk more. Lift heavy. Work on your grip strength. Or simply accept that more aches, less strength, and declining mobility are inevitable as you get older. But which of those things actually matter most if your goal is to protect your brain, stay independent, and keep doing the things you love 10, 20, or even 30 years from now? In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Cody Sipe, co-founder of the Functional Aging Institute, about what an exercise program for healthy aging really needs to include. And we clear up a few ideas that sound convincing on social media but don’t tell the whole story. Like why grip strength may not mean what you think it means. Why strength training alone isn’t enough. And why one of the most valuable types of training for healthy aging also happens to be one of the easiest to overlook. Then we get practical. What if you have an hour to exercise? What if you only have 30 minutes? Or 15? And do those five-minute bursts of movement throughout your day actually count? If you want to exercise in a way that supports not just a longer life, but a stronger body, healthier brain, and greater independence, this conversation will help you rethink what deserves your time. What to Listen For [04:21]  Does getting older really mean everything goes downhill?[07:46]  Why Cody wants us to replace “retirement” with “refirement”[09:12]  What 4 elements belong in an ideal exercise program after 50?[11:17]  The question to ask before choosing your exercises[14:53]  When “just start lifting weights” may be the wrong advice[20:35]  Cardio or strength training: Which is more important for longevity?[22:45]  The surprisingly low-effort form of exercise with a big payoff[23:50]  The problem with all that advice about grip strength and longevity[25:33]  The “Miracle-Gro for your brain” that exercise helps stimulate[27:30]  What standing on one leg has to do with your brain[28:39]  The exercise connection to insulin resistance and brain health[53:19]  Only have 30 minutes? Here’s what matters most[54:55]  Can 15 minutes really be enough?[55:21]  Do five-minute bouts of exercise count?One Big Idea to Take With You I keep coming back to something Cody said early in our conversation: The purpose of exercise isn’t simply to get better at exercise. It’s to support the life you want to be able to live, so If you’ve been telling yourself you don’t have enough time to exercise, I especially want you to listen through the end of this conversation. Thirty minutes counts. Fifteen minutes counts. And those little bursts of movement you fit between everything else in your life? Those may count more than you realize. Listen to the full episode of Happy and Healthy with Amy Lang, then follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss future conversations about the habits that can help protect your health—and your brain—as you age. And send this episode to the friend who keeps telling you, “Getting older just means everything gets worse.” RESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  3. Aug 5

    What Your Urges Are Trying to Tell You

    Have you ever reached for a glass of wine, a bowl of ice cream, or another familiar comfort at the end of a stressful day—without feeling as though you consciously made the decision? An urge can feel like a command. But it is actually information. In Part 3 of the Name It to Navigate It series, Amy explains how emotions create urges and why your brain automatically reaches for familiar ways to find relief, comfort, distraction, or safety. You’ll learn how to look beneath an urge and identify the need it may be trying to address. You’ll also discover why another urge often appears afterward: the urge to criticize, shame, or punish yourself for the choice you made. Instead of treating urges as the enemy, Amy shows you how to use them to create a pause, understand what you need, and respond more intentionally. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR [00:00]  Why urges can seem to bypass conscious choice[03:10]  A recap of the Name It to Navigate It series[04:20]  What an urge actually is[06:05]  Your brain’s three main priorities[08:05]  The payoff behind every behavior[09:35]  When emotional eating works—but only temporarily[11:10]  Primary and secondary emotions[13:10]  The two urges that can keep you stuck[15:10]  Why self-criticism is not accountability[17:20]  Urge versus need[19:00]  Treating an urge like a knock at the door[20:35]  “I am anxious” versus “I feel anxious”[22:30]   Using emotions to identify what you needYour urges are not the enemy, and they do not have to make your decisions for you. An urge tells you that an emotion is active and a familiar loop is about to begin. When you pause, name what you are feeling, and identify the need beneath it, you create the space to choose what happens next. RESOURCES MENTIONED Download the free Practice TLC Worksheet: moxie-club.com/tlcLearn more about Amy’s book, Thoughts Are Habits Too: thoughtsarehabitstoo.comExplore the Sharp for Life coaching program: amylangcoaching.com/staysharpRECOMMENDED EPISODES Notice and Name It: The Brain Science of Putting Feelings Into Words (Part 1)Emotional Literacy: The Ability to Say What You Actually Feel (Part 2)The One About TLCWhy You Keep Getting Stuck: The Hidden Barriers Sabotaging Your Health GoalsThe Menopause–Alzheimer’s Link: How to Protect Your Brain Health NowRESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  4. Jul 29

    Emotional Literacy: The Ability to Say What You Actually Feel

    What emotions can you recognize in your body while they are happening? For many of us, the list is limited to happy, sad, and angry. But trying to understand your emotional experience with only three words is like trying to draw a sunset with three crayons. You might capture the general idea, but you will miss important shades, details, and information. In Part 2 of the Name It to Navigate It series, Amy helps you expand your emotional vocabulary so you can identify what you are actually feeling—not just the broad category it falls into. You will learn how to use the Wheel of Emotions as a practical tool, why feelings such as envy and jealousy require different responses, and how accurately naming an emotion can help you understand what you need. Because when you can name what is happening more precisely, you are better able to pause, examine the story you are telling yourself, and choose a response that supports your brain health, well-being, and values. This episode builds on Part 1, where Amy introduced affect labeling—the practice of putting feelings into words—and explained how naming an emotion may help quiet the brain’s alarm system and bring your thinking brain back online. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: 00:00 — Why three emotion words are not enough02:15 — The difference between an emotion and a feeling04:45 — Why emotional awareness gives you useful information06:30 — How emotional vocabulary works like a map08:20 — How to use the Wheel of Emotions11:40 — What emotions may be trying to tell you13:50 — Envy versus jealousy15:40 — Stress versus overwhelm and guilt versus shame18:10 — Fear, powerlessness, and Alzheimer’s risk21:15 — A journaling practice for naming what you feelThe more accurately you can name what you feel, the more clearly you can understand the need beneath it. That clarity creates a pause between the feeling and the action, giving you the opportunity to respond in a way that aligns with your wants, needs, values, and long-term brain-health goals. Listen to Part 2 now, subscribe to Happy & Healthy with Amy, and come back for Part 3, where Amy explores why an urge can feel like a command—and how to deal with them when they undermine your long-term goals. RECOMMENDED EPISODES: The One About TLCNotice and Name It: The Brain Science of Putting Feelings Into WordsAfter an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: A Family ChecklistAlzheimer’s Drugs: Why Amyloid Removal May Not Be EnoughRESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  5. Jul 22

    Notice and Name It: The Brain Science of Putting Feelings Into Words

    Have you ever eaten a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream even though you want to lose some weight and you weren't physically hungry? Or skipped the walk you planned to take? Or stayed up late scrolling on your phone even though you promised yourself you would go to bed earlier that night? So why did you give in to the urge and what can you do about it? In Part 1 of the three-part Name It to Navigate It series, Amy introduces affect labeling—the skill and practice of putting feelings into words. Research suggests that when you name your emotions, activity in the amygdala (your brain’s alarm system) may decrease while your prefrontal cortex and specifically areas involved in language and self-control become more active. That shift can create something incredibly valuable: a pause between what you feel and what you do next. Why Naming Emotions Supports Better Health Habits You may already know that sleep, movement, nutrition, hydration, social connection, and stress management support long-term brain health. But knowing what to do is not the same as consistently doing it. An unnamed emotion can drive late-night eating, doomscrolling, sleep procrastination, skipped workouts, social withdrawal, or anxious symptom-checking.  In this episode, you’ll discover: 00:00 — Why you reach for food, skip movement, or scroll late at night01:15 — The gap between knowing and doing03:00 — The unnamed emotions behind common unwanted behaviors05:10 — Why “What’s wrong with me?” is the wrong question06:00 — What affect labeling actually means08:20 — The brain science behind naming emotions10:30 — How two words can create a pause before action13:20 — What to do when a memory lapse triggers Alzheimer’s fear16:00 — Why family history and genetics are not the whole story18:10 — How emotional awareness connects to healthy habits21:00 — Your next step and what’s coming in Part 2Listen now and learn how to stop reacting, start responding, and make your brain-health habits more intentional. Resources Mentioned Download the Practice TLC worksheet: https://moxie-club.com/tlcLearn more about Amy and download brain-health resources: https://amylangcoaching.comOrder Thoughts Are Habits Too and read a free preview: https://thoughtsarehabitstoo.comSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@happyandhealthywithamyFollow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amylangcoachingFollow Amy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amylangcoaching RESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  6. Jul 15

    Strength Spotting: How to Silence Your Inner Critic and Dismantle Limiting Beliefs

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m just not disciplined enough,” “I have no willpower,” or “Why can’t I figure this out?” In the moment, these thoughts can feel like facts. But they may actually be limiting beliefs your brain has accepted without considering all the evidence. In this episode, I’m sharing one simple question that can help you challenge a limiting belief in about 10 seconds. You’ll learn how to practice strength spotting, find evidence of the abilities you already possess, and use those strengths to make healthy habits easier. You don’t need more shame, willpower, or a personality transplant. You may simply need to notice what is already working. What To Listen For [01:06] Why strength-based coaching feels different[01:51] How to develop the skill of strength spotting [02:59] A 5-minute exercise for identifying your strengths[04:50] What to write when negative self-talk leaves you feeling stuck[06:12] The question to that can dismantle a limiting belief like “I’m not disciplined enough”[08:21] How strength spotting works[10:02] Why “I have no discipline” may not be true[12:42] How to use strength spotting to deal with stress eating[14:44] How to build healthy habits from by leveraging your strengthsThe next time you hear yourself say, this one question can move you away from a disempowering story and toward a practical plan based on strengths you already possess. Listen to the full episode and subscribe to Happy & Healthy with Amy for more compassionate, practical tools to help you master your triggers and create healthy habits that stick. You can also grab a free excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits Too to learn how to let go of thoughts that no longer serve you and make changes from a place of self-trust. RESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  7. Jul 8

    Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: What to Put in Place Now with Sandra Newsome (Part 3 of 3)

    After an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the conversations are only part of the work. The next step is making sure the right plans, documents, passwords, wishes, and decision-makers are in place — before a crisis forces your family to guess. In Part 3 of this three-part series, Amy and end-of-life doula Sandra Newsome talk about the practical details families need to consider, including healthcare proxy, advance directives, Five Wishes, dementia-specific directives, legal documents, subscriptions, pets, death care plans, and legacy wishes. What To Listen For [00:15] Continuing the Conversation After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis[01:39] What to Have in Place: The High-Priority Documents[3:00] Why a Healthcare Proxy Matters[3:44] Knowing and Communicating Your Wishes[10:33] Using “The Five Wishes” as a Guide[12:51] Dementia-Specific Advance Directives[15:00] Asking: “What If We Did Nothing?”[20:24] Planning for Death Care and End-of-Life Preferences[22:20] Legacy Projects: Letters, Books, and Videos[26:13] Keeping Documents Updated Over Time[29:12] Why These Conversations Matter Now[33:01] Living Fully While Preparing for the End[34:05] Closing Quote on hope, dreams, and the futureAn Alzheimer’s diagnosis can bring so much uncertainty, but planning ahead can reduce the guessing, guilt, conflict, and chaos your family may otherwise face. These conversations and documents are actually about agency, dignity, and love in action. Listen to this episode, choose one next step, and make sure the people who may one day speak for you know what you want and where to find what they need. Mentioned in the Episode Five Wishes: https://www.fivewishes.org/Aging with Dignity / Five Wishes: https://agingwithdignity.org/five-wishes/The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org/Dementia-specific advance directive: https://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DementiaGuide.pdfAtul Gawande / Being Mortal YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQhI3Jb7vMg&t=1sBeing Mortal by Atul Gawande: https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/Amy’s First Steps Guide — After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: https://www.amylangcoaching.com/firststepsRESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

  8. Jul 1

    Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: How to Start "The Conversation" with Sandra Newsome (Part 2 of 3)

    The conversations that follow an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can feel tender, awkward, and overwhelming. But avoiding them does not make them easier. In this episode, Amy and end-of-life doula Sandra Newsome walk through a practical conversation starter guide that can help you begin with more calm, clarity, and compassion. What to Listen For [00:47] The tender place many families start from. [01:40] The conversation guide Sandra recommends. [02:20] The deceptively simple question that can reveal what your loved one values most. [03:08] The concept of compressed morbidity. [04:08] Why how you live today can affect how you live through the end of life. [06:52] The question that helps identify who and what supports you during difficult times. [07:40] Why “what matters to me through the end of my life” is not a question to rush. [10:09] What steps Sandra recommends before asking your parent. [12:14] The reason timing matters so much. [15:28] The family conversation that may need to happen if your parent does not want details, but you do. [17:10] Who should know what — and how family dynamics can affect what gets shared. [18:32] Why the right timing and setting can make this conversation feel more possible. [19:30] The sentence Sandra uses to explain why these conversations cannot wait forever. [21:00] How planning ahead can become a gift to the very people you are trying to protect. [22:54] Why role-playing the conversation can help you. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can make the future feel uncertain, but these conversations help bring some steadiness back. Start with one question, give yourself time to sit with the answers, and remember: this is not about getting everything perfect. Listen to this episode to learn how to start the conversation, then continue with Part 3 where Amy and Sandra talk about the documents, decisions, and plans families need to have in place. Resources Mentioned The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org/Amy’s First Steps Guide: https://www.amylangcoaching.com/firststepsBeing Mortal by Atul Gawande: https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/How We Live Is How We Die by Pema Chödrön: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/how-we-live-is-how-we-die-book/Recommended Episodes Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The Conversation to Start Early with Sandra Newsome (Part 1 of 3)Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: What to Put in Place Now - Coming Soon!After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: A Family ChecklistHow to Build an Alzheimer’s Care TeamMy Mom Was Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Am I Next?RESOURCES: Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits TooPurchase Thoughts Are Habits TooBook a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

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5
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About

Do you want to protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease so you can be sharp and stay sharp for life? This podcast is for you.Your host, Amy Lang, master certified health coach and founder of Moxie Club will be sharing with you the lessons learned and insights gained from 20+ years as a health club owner and Alzheimer's prevention coach.For more information, visit www.moxie-club.com

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Lang
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    353
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Happy & Healthy with Amy
  • Show Website
    Happy & Healthy with Amy