The State of Health Care Podcast

Tracy Karas

Welcome to the State of Health Care Podcast! In this podcast, we interview health care professionals from different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, in an effort to discover what's really going on in our health care system. Additionally, we also speak with patients, or those who have been dealing with short-term or chronic illness, injury, or health challenges. This podcast was started to shed light on the health care system, while simultaneously, highlighting resources and options available for you to make empowered decisions about your health care. We delve into traditional western medicine to alternative therapies to everything in between! Thanks for listening!

  1. May 15

    A POTS Journey: Beyond Just a Fainting Disorder

    Today on the podcast we are joined by Sophie, a professional athlete and dancer who since a young age, has been managing life with POTS syndrome, also known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. With an estimate of 1-3 million people impacted, a large percentage being women, POTS has also seen an increase in numbers post COVID. POTS is characterized by low blood volume and circulation which can create multiple side effects, including fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations and dizziness, among other things. Known as the "fainting disease", it's an incredibly challenging syndrome to manage. Sophie first encountered symptoms at a young age, where she began fainting upon standing, along with convulsing. As is frequent with POTS, she was misdiagnosed with positional hypertension and it took her another 10 years to receive a proper diagnosis. For Sophie, she also manages her daily life while navigating IBS, arthritis, endometriosis, pain, slow speech, nightmares, and rapid heart rate.  In this illuminating conversation, Sophie walks us through her personal journey of dealing with these symptoms (that can shift frequently), advocating for herself with providers, living her lifestyle as best she can while immunocompromised, and the tools and methods that have helped her along the way. With a critical eye towards managing her diet (little to no sugar), high sodium and water intake, items like compression socks, and a huge emphasis on rest, Sophie works to support her active lifestyle and career.  While research is progressing on POTS, especially with a large influx of diagnoses post-COVID, there is still much to be done. Sophie has found great support in community groups, independent research, and self-advocacy. Join us for an in-depth look at POTS and how Sophie pursues the lifestyle and activities she desires.  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    37 min

  2. Apr 15

    Dysautonomia: A Diagnosis Journey

    The journey of healing your body can sometimes be a long road, one in which you must advocate for yourself, and loudly. Today we are speaking with Dani, a massage therapist, who over the course of a decade has had to navigate new diagnoses and symptoms in her body, relearning the edges of what she could do, while seeking out a variety of providers and treatments to help her.  In a conversation centered around resiliency, evolving, and adapting, Dani discusses living with Dysautonomia, Fibromyalgia, and Hypermobility. With an intersection of many symptoms, we hear about how she has navigated the past 10 years, both transforming her life to meet her new physical and emotional needs, while also honoring the grieving process of what was. By working with (mostly) female providers, building a community of support, advocating tirelessly for herself, journaling, using AI to help track and categorize her day-to-day responses, Dani is an inspiration in perseverance and fighting for your healthcare. Join us for an in-depth look at not only how Dani manages multiple diagnoses and symptoms, but continues to fight for the best way of life possible. Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    46 min

  3. Mar 2

    Lessons on Learning to Live in a Hypermobile Body

    Today's episode is a must-listen, especially if you have ever dealt with hypermobility, or extreme mobility in your body. We sit down in conversation with Elizabeth who at 29 years old, has already been on a multi-year journey of discovery, learning how to live in a hypermobile body.  Elizabeth, while currently very active, specifically in the aerial arts and pole dancing, has to walk a unique road in order to do the things she loves. Living in a hypermobile body means that many of her tendons are like "rubber-bands", which don't hold the muscles of her body together well. Challenges in her stability, with fatigue and developmental "skips" were all early signs that things weren't working as they should have been. Today, she speaks about how hypermobility also impacts her digestive system, can cause headaches, ringing in the ears, and severe jaw pain, among other things. We get to hear candidly about the tools and resources Elizabeth utilizes to help her along her path. Physical Therapy, a "to-go" bag with all the tools she needs to live at optimal functionality, therapy, a hunger for knowledge on how best to help herself, relearning at times basic body mechanics and movement - all are part of her every day curriculum for engaging fully in life.  Join us as we talk about her journey to living the life she desires, and how she approaches each unique challenge with optimism, a great attitude, and determination to rise to the occasion.  Resources: IG: @elizabeth.swagert  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    31 min

  4. Jan 26

    Finding Balance By Tapping Into Our Own Calming System

    Welcome back to the State of Healthcare Podcast! We are continuing season 4 with our focus on autoimmune disorders and today we are speaking with Sari Lewis, an Occupational Therapist of 40+ years, who also has 25+ years practicing as a Registered Craniosacral Therapist.  Some might be unfamiliar with this specific type of therapy and Sari walks us through her journey to practicing this modality, and the fascinating complexity of working within the bio-mechanical model of the body. For instance, did you know how the fluid of the brain and spine work and impact your every day? Have you wondered about the innate rhythms of the body, and how we can interrupt the "fast" patterns most of us live in now? Curious to learn more about how Craniosacral therapy can help with a whole host of health disorders and challenges? Sari works with her patients to create an environment within the body that is healthy, safe, slow, and able to release that which no longer serves them. We also go into depth about the vagus nerve and what it means to regulate the nerve, different ways to "tone" the nerve, and caution about buying into the trending fads.  Join us for a deep dive into the internal world of your body, and how to create a more harmonious state, allowing you to live your best, healthiest and most embodied life.  Please rate, review, subscribe and share with friends. Resources: https://sarihands.com/ Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    46 min

  5. 10/31/2025

    Movement is Life: An Autoimmune Journey

    For episode 4, we are back with Julie, a fan favorite here on the State of Healthcare Podcast! As a retired nurse and active yoga instructor, Julie has been living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for the last 15 years, and was more recently diagnosed with hyper-mobility as well. She has a lot of experience navigating the world of autoimmune disorders and figuring out what choices are best for her, and how she wants to live her life. In an episode filled with insight and wisdom, Julie speaks about the key elements she focuses on when managing her RA which includes movement, hydration, and nutrition. We also discuss the seasons of each year that she must traverse with these autoimmune challenges, working with her flare-ups, adjusting her lifestyle to each situation she finds herself in, and the choice to go medicine free, including not utilizing hormone replacement therapy.  This episode is for you if you want to hear more about prioritizing your quality of life, setting expectations for your body (and listening to what your body needs from you), what constitutes active rest, and how movement is life. The best thing you can do is wake up each day and ask yourself, what can I do today to be strong, healthy, and well.  Share with your friends and family, and please rate, review, and subscribe!  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    1h 9m

  6. 10/17/2025

    Chardae: Pole, Yoga, Breathing, & Other Lessons in Autoimmune Self-Management

    In today's episode we are speaking with Chardae, who walks us through her autoimmune journey, dealing with interstitial lung disease which among other things, causes decreased lung capacity and blood flow. Noticing her fingers were turning white while walking one day, she didn't think much of it. But gradually as her body tried to preserve blood for her lungs, her appendages were getting less and less blood and oxygen, causing a variety of symptoms, including extreme fatigue. Chardae shares her personal story of how autoimmune disease runs in her family and her desire to meet this head on, being proactive in her approach. Chardae strives to be as active as possible, doing yoga, pole, and other aerial sports, and she is diligent about everything she needs to do to ready her body and mind, to participate in the lifestyle she wants for herself.  All of this while trying to avoid being on a plethora (or any) medications, instead choosing to do those things that she can control, in the most natural way possible for her body.  Listen in to hear the advice she has for others with autoimmune disorders, the critical nature of ensuring both mind and body are calm, different methods of coping, and the importance of surrounding yourself with community who understand what you are going through.  Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    33 min

  7. 09/15/2025

    Women's Health & Autoimmune: A Gynecological Approach

    In our second episode, we are chatting with Dr. Joseph Brooks, a leading gynecology expert with over ten years worth of experience, and the head provider owner at Arizona Specialized Gynecology. In a unique position, Dr. Brooks combines his work in gynecology with dermatology, helping women battle the individuality of autoimmune disorders that others frequently miss.  In a broad ranging conversation, we discuss various autoimmune disorders such as Lichen Sclerosus in which Dr. Brooks is not only trying to treat the symptoms (often invisible), but empower women with all the information they need to lead happy and healthy lives, while avoiding more serious diagnoses. We also tread into the often controversial and sometimes philosophical world of Hormone Replacement Therapy, which is making a bit of a comeback. And we end with the understanding that women are frequently dismissed for bringing valid concerns to their doctors, or are told to simply deal with it, or are blanket-labeled with things like anxiety, a societal chokehold that has been with women for millennia.  Tune in for a deeply educational conversation and share with family and friends! Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only. Resources: https://arizonaspecializedgynecology.com/joseph-brooks/

    1h 16m

  8. 09/01/2025

    An Introduction to the Multi-Layers of Autoimmune Disorders

    We are back with Season 4 of the State of Healthcare Podcast! This season we are exploring the murky, complicated, and vast arena of autoimmune disorders. With so much misleading information, misdiagnoses, or being ignored when presenting symptoms to our doctors, autoimmune challenges are a hot topic in the health field and we are here for it.  We kick off season 4 with Lisa, who was a guest last season, to discuss in further detail her autoimmune challenges including POTS and Hypermobility -- and how she continues to strive in living her very best life. In a multi-layered conversation, we discuss general nervous system dysfunction,  Dysautonomia, and how invisible autoimmune symptoms can be. We dive into the difference between wanting a diagnosis or how to treat the symptoms, and how particularly with women, so often we are given inaccurate or inappropriate diagnoses. We also take a deeper look at the interconnectedness of hypermobility, anxiety, and ADHD. In true fashion, we all know and realize that taking charge of your health comes down to understanding and advocating for your own unique system -- while also understanding what is within your control and what isn't.  Remembering fundamentally - you aren't your diagnosis and your body is always speaking to you - trust it and trust yourself.  Please share with anyone who might benefit and please rate, review, and subscribe!  Resources: Guava App Disjointed Hypermobile and Happy Taming the Zebra Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is not a substitute for any form of professional physical health care or medical care. Listening does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship with Tracy Karas, DPT. The information provided is for inspirational and educational purposes only.

    1h 20m
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About

Welcome to the State of Health Care Podcast! In this podcast, we interview health care professionals from different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, in an effort to discover what's really going on in our health care system. Additionally, we also speak with patients, or those who have been dealing with short-term or chronic illness, injury, or health challenges. This podcast was started to shed light on the health care system, while simultaneously, highlighting resources and options available for you to make empowered decisions about your health care. We delve into traditional western medicine to alternative therapies to everything in between! Thanks for listening!

Information

  • Creator
    Tracy Karas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The State of Health Care Podcast
  • Show Website
    The State of Health Care Podcast