Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib.

Nadia Elkhatib
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Nadia Elkhatib, Biohacking Autism is the go-to podcast for parents, caregivers, and families navigating the complex world of autism. Each week, we explore the biological root causes behind the toughest challenges in autism, from autism anxiety and sleep disruption to neuroinflammation, MCAS, gut health, seizures, and nervous system dysregulation, alongside evidence-informed integrative approaches that actually help. We also cover caregiver health and longevity for parents raising autistic children, because your health matters just as much as your child's. From caregiver burnout and stress management to practical longevity strategies, these episodes are for the parent who is running on empty and ready to invest in themselves, too. Whether you're just beginning your autism journey or deep into biomedical interventions, this podcast gives you the research, the real talk, and the practical tools to make informed decisions for your child and for yourself. Popular Topics Include: autism anxiety, autism sleep, gut health autism, MCAS autism, neuroinflammation, nervous system dysregulation, peptides for autism, functional medicine autism, integrative health autism, caregiver health, autism parent burnout, caregiver burnout, longevity for parents, caregiver longevity, autism supplements, sensory processing, autism diet, autism parent support, vagus nerve stimulation autism, bioregulators for autism, HRV training for caregivers This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    Autism Gut Issues and Bioregulators: A Clinical Pharmacist Explains | Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD

    Autism gut issues, the gut-brain axis, and bioregulators come together in this conversation with Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD. Grace explains why she approaches the gut and the brain as one interconnected system rather than working through them in sequence, what peptide bioregulators are and how they differ from signaling peptides, what the research actually shows, and why highly reactive children need a very different clinical lens. For most families the starting point is not theory. It is constipation, diarrhea, extreme food selectivity, and the behavior changes that seem to track alongside them. Grace talks through the microbiome picture underneath those symptoms, why some children react to almost everything including their own probiotics, and what she watches for when nothing is tolerated. She is also direct about the limits of the evidence. Much of the bioregulator literature sits outside peer-reviewed Western research, and she says so plainly rather than overselling it. The conversation closes on caregiver health, and why the twenty and thirty year horizon for parents belongs in the same roadmap as their kids. IN THIS EPISODE Why Grace approaches the gut and the brain as one system What separates a bioregulator from a signaling peptide What the research base actually looks like, and where it thins out Why reactive children need a different clinical lens Why caregiver longevity belongs in the same conversation "They have to be healed in parallel." Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD CONNECT WITH DR. GRACE LIU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gut_goddess/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drgraceliu CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: https://biohackautism.com Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: /in/nadiaelkhatib SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to Biohacking Autism for real solutions for people with autism and the ones who love them. PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED DISCLOSURE: Dr. Grace Liu is the founder of The Gut Institute and formulates and sells microbiome products discussed in this episode. The Gut Institute. Dr. Liu's clinical practice and clinician education platform, referenced throughout the conversation. Microbiome Mojo and Bifida Max. The probiotic formulations Dr. Liu developed and discusses on air. 7 Steps to Heal SIBO. Dr. Liu's book on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The published work of Professor Vladimir Khavinson. The peptide bioregulator research Dr. Liu trained under, and the origin of the cytamin, cytomax, and cytogen classification discussed in the episode. Partty A, Kalliomaki M, Wacklin P, Salminen S, Isolauri E. "A possible link between early probiotic intervention and the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders later in childhood: a randomized trial." Pediatric Research, 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25760553/ The study referenced on air. Worth opening rather than taking secondhand: it is a 75-infant pilot, which is useful context for how the finding lands in the conversation. The Profound Health Summit. The October peptide and bioregulator meeting Dr. Liu mentions she is speaking at. MORE FROM BIOHACKING AUTISM Episode 26 with Dr. Debby Hamilton on mast cell activation and MCAS Episode 16 with Dr. Krishna Doniparthi on the cell membrane Episode 2 on peptides and bioregulators ABOUT DR. GRACE LIU Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD is a clinical pharmacist with a doctorate in pharmacy and more than twenty years in practice. She is trained through A4M and IFM in regenerative and functional medicine, and she is the founder of The Gut Institute. Her work focuses on rebuilding the microbiome after the damage modern living does to it, using nutrigenomic tools, advanced testing, and peptides and bioregulators to address gut dysbiosis and chronic illness. She completed peptide and bioregulator training with Professor Vladimir Khavinson, is adjunct faculty at Peptide University and HealthMasters, and is the best-selling author of 7 Steps to Heal SIBO. She works with executive clients and elite athletes on lifespan, energy, and endurance, and she formulates her own products, including Microbiome Mojo and Bifida Max. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Bioregulators, peptides, and the compounds discussed in this episode are not approved by the FDA for any use in the United States and carry no pediatric labeling. This conversation does not provide sourcing, dosing, or individualized recommendations, and nothing in it should be used as a plan for a specific child. Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib explores integrative and functional approaches to autism gut issues, the gut-brain axis, the microbiome, leaky gut, food sensitivities, and caregiver health, for people with autism and the ones who love them. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Autism Gut Issues and Bioregulators: A Clinical Pharmacist Explains | Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD

  2. Aug 10

    Autism Biology | The Blood Work I Wish I Had Checked First

    Autism blood work rarely comes first. In this solo episode Nadia Elkhatib explains why she now starts with baseline biology before choosing the next specialty treatment for her son Jimmy. For twenty years she worked on Lyme, mold, gut, mast cells and detoxification, and that work helped. What she skipped was the foundation underneath it: thyroid function, sex hormones, insulin and metabolic health, the lipid panel, and nervous system regulation. Nadia walks through the difference between a laboratory reference range and the working targets her practitioners use, how a specialist's lens shapes the direction a family takes, and why anxiety, poor sleep, low motivation or withdrawal deserve a whole-body review rather than being filed under autism. She shares her own family's numbers, including the years when Jimmy's fasting glucose and insulin were drifting while his diet was already completely sugar free, and what changed once they measured instead of assumed. In this episode: Why normal is not the same as optimal How a specialist's lens shapes what gets treated first Why thyroid problems can look like behavior Why fasting glucose alone can miss the metabolic story Why caregiver health belongs in the same roadmap "The specialist cannot decide the entire order for us. That is our job as parents." NOTES ON WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE Jimmy's history includes IVIG. That is one family's experience under medical care. IVIG has no FDA-approved indication for autism. Nadia describes tirzepatide being started with Jimmy's clinical team for a metabolic problem they had measured, and a HOMA-IR that moved from 3.34 to 1.56. Tirzepatide is approved for type 2 diabetes and for chronic weight management in qualifying adults. It is not approved for autism. This is one family's experience under clinical supervision. No doses and no sources are given anywhere in this episode. The optimal ranges Nadia refers to are the working targets she uses with her own practitioners. A HOMA-IR under 1 is her working target, not a laboratory reference range and not a consensus clinical guideline. Working targets vary by laboratory method, assay, age, treatment status and clinician. Reverse T3 is a test many integrative and functional practitioners use, and Dr. Amie Hornaman explains her reasoning in episode 25. Routine clinical guidelines generally do not recommend it for standard thyroid evaluation. Dr. Dayan Goodenowe is a guest on an upcoming episode of this podcast. He researches plasmalogens and also sells plasmalogen products. This episode discusses his published research only. RELATED EPISODES Episode 25 with Dr. Amie Hornaman, on thyroid: Episode 24 with Carole Petersen, on sex hormones: Episode 20, solo, on weight loss and metabolic health: Episode 10, solo, on anxiety: Episode 5, solo, on sleep: Episode 2, solo, on peptides and bioregulators: RESEARCH REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Sex hormones and autism Croonenberghs J, Van Grieken S, Wauters A, et al. Serum testosterone in male adolescents with autism. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2010;31(4):483-488. PMID 20802443. Thyroid and autism Desoky T, Hassan MH, Fayed HM, Sakhr HM. Biochemical assessments of thyroid profile, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cluster of differentiation 5 expression levels among children with autism. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:2397-2403. PMID 28979127. Cohen DJ, Young JG, Lowe TL, Harcherik D. Thyroid hormone in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1980;10(4):445-450. PMID 6927746. This older and larger study found no group difference, and is included for balance. Lipids and autism Kim EK, Neggers YH, Shin CS, Kim E, Kim EM. Lipid profiles in boys with autism. Nutr Res. 2010;30(4):255-260. PMID 20534328. Plasmalogens, autism and Alzheimer's disease Pastural E, Ritchie S, Lu Y, et al. Novel plasma phospholipid biomarkers of autism: mitochondrial dysfunction as a putative causative mechanism. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2009;81(4):253-264. PMID 19608392. Goodenowe DB, Cook LL, Liu J, et al. Peripheral ethanolamine plasmalogen deficiency: a logical causative factor in Alzheimer's disease and dementia. J Lipid Res. 2007;48(11):2485-2498. PMID 17664527. PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Hunter Williams Dr. Amie Hornaman Carole Petersen Nathalie Niddam Zora Benhamou Dr. Dayan Goodenowe Len Arcuri CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: biohackautism.com Email: nadia@biohackautism.com Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib SUBSCRIBE If this episode helped you, please follow Biohacking Autism wherever you listen, and share it with a parent, caregiver, adult with autism or practitioner who might need to hear it. Sometimes one different question changes the entire direction of a family's care. ABOUT NADIA Nadia Elkhatib is the host of Biohacking Autism. She is not a physician. She is a mother who has spent more than twenty years learning from clinicians and researchers, collecting data, changing direction, and working to understand her son as a whole person. DISCLAIMER This episode describes one family's experience under clinical supervision and names prescription and hormone-related products that are not approved for autism. It is not medical advice and contains no doses, sources or treatment instructions. Please discuss any testing or treatment with a qualified clinician who knows the person's history. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Autism Biology | The Blood Work I Wish I Had Checked First

  3. Aug 3

    From Student to PE Teacher and Autism Advocate: NVLD and Adult Life | Ryan Lund

    Ryan Lundy was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disability as a child and with autism at 40. In between, he got through school with a 504 plan, a resource teacher, a private tutor, and a lot of family support. Today he teaches physical education at a school for students with special needs, coaches adaptive tennis, and has just been accepted into the Autism Speaks Advocacy Academy. He has sat on both sides of the desk. He was the student who needed the support, and he is now the educator providing it. There are not many people who can speak to both. In this episode: What NVLD actually is, and why the name confuses almost everyone who hears it Why Ryan pursued an updated assessment at 40, and what the autism diagnosis clarified What strong verbal ability concealed from his teachers and clinicians for decades The supports that got him through school and college: PT, OT, speech, tutoring, a 504 plan, a resource teacher, and extra time How a PE teacher figures out what a student who does not speak is telling him What he wants families to do differently, and why starting early matters so much How to evaluate an adaptive sports or recreation program, and what to watch for Whether a job interview is really a social test, and how Ryan actually got hired Disclosure at work, and what one manager did that made the difference Living at home at 40, and the honest uncertainty about what comes next Becoming an advocate, and learning how to sit down with lawmakers "My parents are still concerned that when they're not here, what, how am I gonna survive?" CONNECT WITH RYAN LUNDY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-lundy/ Ryan is available for speaking engagements and is responsive on LinkedIn. CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: biohackautism.com Email: nadia@biohackautism.com Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: /in/nadiaelkhatib SUBSCRIBE New episodes every Monday. Subscribe wherever you are listening right now, and if this episode gave you something, send it to one person who needs it. A parent, a grandparent, a teacher, or an adult who has been wondering about themselves for a long time. RESOURCES MENTIONED The NVLD Project https://nvld.org/ Awareness, research, and education on nonverbal learning disability, plus the ambassador program Ryan is part of. Autism Speaks Advocacy Academy https://www.autismspeaks.org/AdvocacyAcademy The year-round volunteer training and leadership program Ryan was recently accepted into, built for people who want to do federal and state advocacy work. Autism Speaks https://www.autismspeaks.org/ Advocacy, resources, and support across the lifespan. Els for Autism https://www.elsforautism.org/ The Florida campus where Ryan works the camps and serves on an advisory board. Speech and occupational therapy, parent trainings, and resources for families who do not live nearby. Love Serving Autism https://loveservingautism.org/ Adaptive tennis, pickleball, and padel for people with autism, founded by speech-language pathologist Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix. Programs across multiple states. Atlantis Academy https://chancelight.com/locations/brands/atlantis-academy/ The South Florida school for students with special needs where Ryan teaches physical education. ACEing Autism https://aceingautism.org/ National tennis programming for children and adults with autism. Ryan found it through his own research. Special Olympics https://www.specialolympics.org/ Year-round sports training and competition. Ryan coached basketball, tennis, and track with them in Pennsylvania. The Miracle League https://www.miracleleague.com/ Baseball for children and adults with disabilities, built so that every player bats and every player scores. TOPSoccer https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/topsoccer/ Free, low-pressure community soccer through US Youth Soccer. Ryan takes clients to the program near where he lives. TERI, Inc. https://www.teriinc.org/ The California campus Ryan names as the one comparable facility he found when researching where families move for services. RELATED EPISODE Jobs for Adults With Autism: What This Investor and Father Learned in 15 Years, with Brian Jacobs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jobs-for-adults-with-autism-what-this-investor-and/id1882362264?i=1000774681949 Ryan pushes back on an idea from this conversation, that a job interview is really a social interview, and explains why it did not match his own experience. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. This conversation includes one guest's personal account of anxiety, depression, therapy, and medication. It is his experience alone and is not a recommendation, a diagnostic guide, or a prediction for anyone else. ABOUT THE SHOW Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib looks for real solutions for people with autism and the ones who love them. Each week Nadia talks with clinicians, researchers, educators, and adults with autism about integrative and functional approaches, adult outcomes, employment, and what actually helps families. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    From Student to PE Teacher and Autism Advocate: NVLD and Adult Life | Ryan Lund

  4. Jul 27

    When Your Child Reacts to Everything | MCAS, Histamine, and the Immune Flare with Dr. Debby Hamilton

    Mast cell activation syndrome, or MCAS, is being recognized in more and more people, and for families living with autism the pattern is often familiar before it has a name. When sleep falls apart, anxiety spikes, big emotions arrive out of nowhere, and foods, supplements, seasons, and smells all start to become triggers, most people have no language for what is happening. In this episode, Dr. Debby Hamilton builds that language from the ground up. Dr. Hamilton explains what mast cells actually do, how MCAS differs from a classic allergy and from histamine intolerance (three terms people use interchangeably but should not), where it comes from, and what actually helps. She walks through the decision tree she uses when a child or an adult reacts to everything, and why she calms mast cells and histamine first, before pushing detox or stacking new protocols. She connects histamine and neuroinflammation to the anxiety and big emotions parents recognize fastest, reframing them as an inflamed nervous system rather than behavior. We also talk about low-histamine foods and the DAO enzyme, why some supplements are tolerated while others are not, how MCAS can hide behind POTS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and IBS, and one calm first step a family can take this week. "If you're reacting to everything, you go back and you treat the MCAS first." Dr. Debby Hamilton Connect with Dr. Debby Hamilton Website: https://holisticpediatric.com Email: drdebby@holisticpediatric.com Practice: Holistic Pediatric Consulting, founded in Colorado in 2005. Licensed in several states, in person in Colorado, and offering telemedicine. Connect with Biohacking Autism Website: https://biohackautism.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/biohackautism TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@biohackingautism LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib Email: nadia@biohackautism.com Subscribe to Biohacking Autism on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Products and Resources Mentioned Nutra-Hist by NutraMedix: https://amzn.to/4yaFjpz This is an affiliate link. Dr. Hamilton is an employee of NutraMedix, where she is Director of Product Education and Clinical Research, and she developed this formula. Quercetin: https://amzn.to/4wHaLKx Luteolin: https://amzn.to/4aI6HRB Stinging nettle: https://amzn.to/4yh6RcJ DAO enzyme supplement: https://amzn.to/4aN7C3j Phosphatidylcholine: https://amzn.to/4yfWXrQ Phosphatidylserine: https://amzn.to/4yeylzL Black seed oil: https://amzn.to/4penLo4 Vitamin C: https://amzn.to/4vRLEEx Air filter: https://amzn.to/4h133Gk Fragrance-free laundry and soap: https://amzn.to/4f8eSb0 The Sensitive Patient's Healing Guide by Dr. Neil Nathan: https://amzn.to/3R0jfNz As an Amazon Associate, Biohacking Autism earns from qualifying purchases. About Dr. Debby Hamilton Dr. Debby Hamilton, MD, MPH, IFMCP, is a pediatrician with twenty years in integrative medicine, certified in Pediatrics, Nutrition, and Functional Medicine, and a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs. She founded Holistic Pediatric Consulting in Colorado in 2005, focusing on children and adults with chronic conditions including autism, ADHD, PANS and PANDAS, mood and behavioral issues, and chronic infections. She is an employee of NutraMedix, where she is Director of Product Education and Clinical Research. This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. This conversation discusses specific supplements and prescription medications, including regulated compounds. Nothing here is a recommendation to start, stop, or dose any product or medication. Please work with your own clinician before changing anything. Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib explores integrative and functional approaches to mast cell activation syndrome, histamine, neuroinflammation, and immune health for autism families and caregivers. New episodes every Monday. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    When Your Child Reacts to Everything | MCAS, Histamine, and the Immune Flare with Dr. Debby Hamilton

  5. Jul 20

    Your Thyroid Labs Are Not Normal: Hashimoto's Symptoms Doctors Miss | Dr. Amie Hornaman

    Hashimoto's symptoms get dismissed as "normal" every day, and women pay for it with years of fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and hair loss. In this episode, Dr. Amie Hornaman, The Thyroid Fixer, explains why a "normal" TSH can hide real hypothyroidism, how the T4-to-T3 conversion breaks down, and why reverse T3 and low testosterone in women matter so much for metabolism, energy, and mood. Nadia shares her own Hashimoto's turnaround under Dr. Amie's care, and the two of them dig into the caregiver stress that drives autoimmune thyroid disease for so many parents raising a child with autism. You will hear the exact labs to ask your doctor for, how to recognize medical gaslighting, and what optimal (not just "normal") really looks like on a lab report. "Normal is a setting on your dryer. It should never be used to describe your health or your labs." (Dr. Amie Hornaman) In this episode: Why "normal" labs and optimal labs are not the same thing The full thyroid panel to request: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO, and TgAb How chronic caregiver stress becomes a trigger for Hashimoto's Why T4-only medication leaves so many people still feeling unwell Low testosterone in women, and what it does to metabolism and motivation How to advocate for yourself when you are told you are "fine" Connect with Dr. Amie Hornaman: Website: https://dramie.com Free thyroid lab quiz: https://dramie.com/labs Book a free call (become a patient): https://health.dramie.com/book-a-call#col-yETGVfxLVV Supplement store (Better Life Doctor): https://betterlifedoctor.com/ Connect with Biohacking Autism: Website: https://biohackautism.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/biohackautism TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@biohackingautism YouTube: https://youtube.com/@BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib Email: nadia@biohackautism.com Subscribe to Biohacking Autism on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube so you never miss an episode. Products and Resources Mentioned: The Thyroid Fix by Dr. Amie Hornaman (hardcover): https://amzn.to/3QWZBSE - Dr. Amie's no-nonsense guide to fixing fatigue, fogginess, and stubborn weight. The Thyroid Fix (audiobook): https://amzn.to/4vmPrsC - Same guide in audio, with bonus material. T2 (thyroid support supplement): https://amzn.to/44PDDnF or https://betterlifedoctor.com/ - The T2 supplement discussed on the episode. The Thyroid Fixer Amazon storefront: https://amzn.to/4ybqJxN - Dr. Amie's full lineup in one place. Better Life Doctor (supplement store): https://betterlifedoctor.com/ - Dr. Amie's supplement line. Dr. Amie's website: https://dramie.com - Practice information, resources, and the free lab quiz. Free thyroid lab quiz: https://dramie.com/labs - Find out which of your numbers to pay attention to. About Dr. Amie Hornaman: Dr. Amie Hornaman, known as The Thyroid Fixer, is the founder and CEO of the Better Thyroid and Hormone Institute, a telehealth practice serving all 50 states. She holds a doctorate in clinical nutrition and functional medicine and has more than 25 years in clinical practice. After being dismissed by multiple doctors before her own thyroid diagnosis, she rebuilt her career around helping women get the answers and the optimized care conventional medicine so often misses. Medical Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. Specific thyroid medications, hormones, and supplements discussed in this episode (including T2, T3, low-dose naltrexone, and other compounds) are mentioned for general educational context only and are not recommendations; dosing and lab targets are individual and must be managed with your own qualified practitioner. Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib delivers real solutions for people with autism and the ones who love them, exploring the root causes of health and the integrative and functional approaches that help families and caregivers thrive. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Your Thyroid Labs Are Not Normal: Hashimoto's Symptoms Doctors Miss | Dr. Amie Hornaman

  6. Jul 13

    The Calm Hormone. Progesterone, Men, and the Autism Question with Carol Petersen, RPh

    Most people think they understand progesterone. Most people, it turns out, get it completely wrong. In this episode, compounding pharmacist Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP, joins Nadia to unpack what this one hormone actually does in the body, for women and for men, and why hormone balance sits underneath so much of what caregivers and their children struggle with every day. Carol has spent more than thirty years on the question most of medicine skips past: what happens when our hormones fall out of balance, and what it actually takes to put them back. Together they walk through how progesterone calms an overstimulated nervous system through its metabolite allopregnanolone and the GABA receptor, the adrenaline-to-cortisol-to-burnout cycle that leaves caregivers wired and exhausted at the same time, and why "sensitive" people may be running low on the cortisol they need to meet their environment. They go deep on the women's side, estrogen dominance and its many signs, progesterone and sleep, and the perimenopause and menopause window when anxiety climbs at the worst possible time. The conversation then turns to a part of the story Carol's own audience rarely hears laid out this way: progesterone in men. Men have progesterone too, and they need it. Carol explains the male nervous system, the androgen load, and the calm that men are often missing, and Nadia poses the question at the center of the episode: autism shows up far more often in boys and men than in girls and women, so does the wired, overstimulated, under-calmed picture rhyme with what so many caregivers see in their sons, and in themselves? This is not a claim that progesterone treats autism. It is a question worth asking. "Estrogen can induce anxiety and progesterone will relieve it." - Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP CONNECT WITH CAROL PETERSEN Website: https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/ Coaching: https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/coaching/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewellnessbydesignproject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-petersen-71514220/ CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: https://biohackautism.com Listen, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube. SUBSCRIBE If this episode gave you a new way to look at hormones, calm, and caregiving, follow Biohacking Autism and share it with someone who needs it. New episodes every Monday. PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Progesterone deficiency symptoms (Carol's reference list): https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/2022/08/symptoms-of-progesterone-deficiency/ - the catalog of progesterone-deficiency symptoms Carol references in the episode. Ray Peat's research archive: https://raypeat.com/ - foundational work on progesterone and hormones referenced in the conversation. Pregnenolone (25 mg option): https://amzn.to/441xGnt - the precursor hormone discussed for calm and cognition. Pregnenolone (100 mg option): https://amzn.to/4xXBT9f - higher-dose option of the same. DHEA: https://amzn.to/4gMHNnx - adrenal hormone discussed in the hormone-balance picture. Creatine: https://amzn.to/3Rg0965 - discussed for energy and cellular support. Betaine: https://amzn.to/3QzK8aZ - methylation support discussed in the episode. TMG (trimethylglycine): https://amzn.to/4bhvYSI - methyl-donor support. NAC: https://amzn.to/4y43F4i - discussed for glutathione and detoxification support. Calcium d-glucarate: https://amzn.to/4p08bwz - discussed for estrogen clearance and detoxification. Sulforaphane: https://amzn.to/4oZCiEc - discussed in the detoxification context. SAMe: https://amzn.to/4gkXmTv - methylation and mood support discussed on-mic. ABOUT CAROL PETERSEN Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP, is a compounding pharmacist and certified nutritional practitioner with more than thirty years of experience in hormone health. Her work centers on restoring hormone balance, with particular attention to progesterone, the nervous system, and the questions conventional medicine tends to skip. She writes and educates through The Wellness By Design Project and works directly with families on hormone and nervous-system support. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol or your child's protocol. This conversation discusses hormones, including progesterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA, as well as prescription and compounded compounds and specific dosages named on-mic. Nothing here is a recommendation to start, stop, or change any hormone, supplement, or medication. Carol Petersen holds professional affiliate relationships with certain brands she may name, and runs a paid consulting and lab-ordering practice. ABOUT THE SHOW Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib explores integrative health, hormone balance, nervous-system regulation, and real solutions for people with autism and the caregivers who love them. New episodes every Monday. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    The Calm Hormone. Progesterone, Men, and the Autism Question with Carol Petersen, RPh

  7. Jul 6

    A Stanford Scientist's Bold Plan to Slow Aging | Dr. Ronjon Nag, OBE on Healthspan for Caregivers

    What is Silicon Valley actually funding in longevity, and what can cutting-edge aging science teach us about autism and chronic illness? Nadia sits down with Dr. Ronjon Nag, OBE, an AI pioneer turned Stanford genetics professor and longevity investor behind the R42 fund. Ronjon built some of the earliest neural networks that modern AI rests on, shipped voice recognition and the first mobile app store, sold companies to Apple, Motorola, and BlackBerry, and then pointed everything he knew at one of the biggest problems there is: aging. The conversation is a tour of the frontier. Ronjon explains his vaccine for aging and why he starts with cancer as the proof of concept, what AI now makes possible in drug discovery and clinical research, how he invests across roughly 100 companies through R42, and how epigenetic reprogramming can take a cell back toward age zero. They get into the GLP-1 conversation, NeuroAge and cognitive testing, why menopause and women's health are an obvious next frontier, and the lifestyle medicine pillars he personally lives by. The throughline for this audience: what we learn chasing longevity extends straight into autism, Alzheimer's, and chronic disease. Every healthy year is another year of capacity to care for the person who needs you. Healthspan, not just lifespan. "Every healthy year is another year of capacity to care for the person who needs you." - Nadia Elkhatib CONNECT WITH DR. RONJON NAG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronjonnag/ R42 Group (portfolio): https://www.r42group.com/ R42 Institute: https://www.r42institute.com/ R42 Institute AI Fellows Program: https://www.r42institute.com/r42-institute-ai-fellows-program R42 Founders Program: https://www.r42institute.com/r42-founders-program R42 Longevity Series: https://www.r42institute.com/longevity-series R42 University (Luma): https://luma.com/r42university Stanford courses (ExploreCourses): https://explorecourses.stanford.edu/instructor/ronjon Stanford AI Longevity Lab Certificate Course: https://med.stanford.edu/genetics/events/Stanford_AI_Longevity_Lab_Certificate_Course1.html Stanford Medicine profile: https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/ronjon-nag Stanford DCI profile: https://dci.stanford.edu/ronjon-nag_impact-in-classroom/ Agemica: https://www.agemica.com/ CONNECT WITH BIOHACKING AUTISM Website: https://biohackautism.com Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib Email: nadia@biohackautism.com SUBSCRIBE If this conversation shifted how you think about your own healthspan, follow Biohacking Autism wherever you are listening, and pass this episode along to another parent or caregiver who needs to hear that taking care of themselves is not selfish. It is how you stay in the game for the person who is counting on you. PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Magnesium: https://amzn.to/3SrNqh5 Glycine: https://amzn.to/4wbIdZ5 Zinc: https://amzn.to/4wivi7P Low dose naltrexone (LDN): https://agelessrx.com/ldn-science/ Fish oil: https://amzn.to/4eOhtqr Creatine: https://amzn.to/4vnPXXr Vitamin C: https://amzn.to/4w8LHvm Copper: https://amzn.to/4vIgxeE Vitamin D: https://amzn.to/4xWUAdm Thymus bioregulator (Vladonix): https://vita-stream.com/a-6-vladonix-peptide-bioregulator-vladonix/ Pivot (GLP-1 food): https://getpivot.com Mimeo Health (intermittent fasting mimic): https://mimeo.health NeuroAge (cognitive testing): https://www.neuroagetx.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Ronjon Nag, OBE, is an adjunct professor of genetics at Stanford, a longevity investor, and an inventor. He built some of the earliest neural networks behind modern AI, founded companies acquired by Apple, Motorola, and BlackBerry, appeared on the cover of Fortune in 1993, and is a member of the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame. He was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to entrepreneurship and AI. Through the R42 fund and the R42 Institute, he invests in and teaches the science of aging. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content reflects the personal views and experiences of the host and guest and should not be taken as medical guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen. This episode discusses specific compounds and protocols, including GLP-1, glycine, magnesium, zinc, low dose naltrexone, fish oil, creatine, peptides, and bioregulators. These are discussed for educational purposes only and are not recommendations. Always consult your clinician before changing any protocol. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    A Stanford Scientist's Bold Plan to Slow Aging | Dr. Ronjon Nag, OBE on Healthspan for Caregivers

  8. Jun 29

    Jobs for Adults With Autism: What This Investor and Father Learned in 15 Years

    Autism employment is one of the biggest questions parents carry: what happens when my child grows up, and will they find real work and purpose? In this episode on jobs for adults with autism, venture capitalist and autism dad Brian Jacobs shares what 15 years of investing in autism employment and raising a son on the spectrum taught him about preparing your child with autism for adulthood. We get into why there is no single fix, why the job interview is an unfair social test for many on the spectrum, the small workplace accommodations that make the biggest difference, how AI could close the gap for adults with autism, and what meaningful work looks like for nonverbal and low-verbal young adults. It is a hopeful, practical conversation for any parent thinking about their child's working future. "The parents are the soldiers in the war. They are out there talking about it and making it okay to talk about employment for people on the spectrum." - Brian Jacobs Connect with Brian Jacobs: Moai Capital: https://www.moai.vc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjacobsvc/ Autism Impact Fund: https://autismimpact.fund/ AASCEND: https://www.aascend.org/ AASCEND Job Club: https://www.aascendjobclub.org/ Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty page: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/brian-jacobs Connect with Biohacking Autism: Website: https://biohackautism.com Email: nadia@biohackautism.com Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib Subscribe to Biohacking Autism wherever you listen, and on YouTube, so you never miss a weekly episode. Companies and organizations mentioned: Ultranauts: https://ultranauts.co/ Daivergent: https://www.daivergent.com/ Auticon: https://auticon.com/ About Brian Jacobs: Brian Jacobs is a co-founder of Emergence Capital and the founder and Managing Partner of Moai Capital, a seed fund based in San Mateo. Over a career investing in technology startups, he has served on the boards of more than fifty companies, twelve of which have gone public, and he was twice named to the Forbes Midas List of top venture investors. He teaches venture capital financing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and holds degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Stanford. Through Moai Capital, Brian invests in companies expanding employment for adults on the spectrum, including Ultranauts, Daivergent, and Auticon, and he is a founding Limited Partner of the Autism Impact Fund. He also serves on the board of AASCEND, the Autism Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education, Networking and Development. He is the father of an adult son on the spectrum who works today as a software engineer. Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

    Jobs for Adults With Autism: What This Investor and Father Learned in 15 Years
See All (29)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Hosted by Nadia Elkhatib, Biohacking Autism is the go-to podcast for parents, caregivers, and families navigating the complex world of autism. Each week, we explore the biological root causes behind the toughest challenges in autism, from autism anxiety and sleep disruption to neuroinflammation, MCAS, gut health, seizures, and nervous system dysregulation, alongside evidence-informed integrative approaches that actually help. We also cover caregiver health and longevity for parents raising autistic children, because your health matters just as much as your child's. From caregiver burnout and stress management to practical longevity strategies, these episodes are for the parent who is running on empty and ready to invest in themselves, too. Whether you're just beginning your autism journey or deep into biomedical interventions, this podcast gives you the research, the real talk, and the practical tools to make informed decisions for your child and for yourself. Popular Topics Include: autism anxiety, autism sleep, gut health autism, MCAS autism, neuroinflammation, nervous system dysregulation, peptides for autism, functional medicine autism, integrative health autism, caregiver health, autism parent burnout, caregiver burnout, longevity for parents, caregiver longevity, autism supplements, sensory processing, autism diet, autism parent support, vagus nerve stimulation autism, bioregulators for autism, HRV training for caregivers This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Information

You Might Also Like