Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable.

Susan Robbins

Join Susan Robbins, the Epigenetic Human Performance Coach, for the "Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable" podcast! We're talking about how our daily lifestyle and environment affect our genes and well-being. Susan explores a personalized way to boost health, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Through interviews with experts and clients, this podcast makes health discussions relatable. Embrace your unique biology, not generic solutions, and uncover the secrets to a healthier life. Let's keep it real, ditch the mask, and live authentically. "Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable." is your simple guide to taking control of your health journey today!

  1. 2d ago

    136. MTHFR: Fact vs. Fiction and What Your Genetics Actually Mean

    MTHFR may be one of the most talked-about and misunderstood genes in the wellness world. Depending on where you get your information, you may have been told that an MTHFR variant is responsible for everything from fatigue and brain fog to poor detoxification, hormone issues, fertility challenges, and chronic disease. You may have even been told you need a specific supplement, detox protocol, or diet simply because of one genetic result. But your biology is far more complex than one SNP. In this solo episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins is breaking down the facts and fiction surrounding MTHFR. She explains what the MTHFR gene actually does, the difference between a genetic variant and a mutation, and why having an MTHFR variant does not mean your methylation is "broken." Susan also explores folate versus folic acid, methylfolate supplementation, detox claims, MTHFR-specific diets, and why looking at genetics without considering labs, symptoms, lifestyle, environment, and the rest of your genetic pathways can lead to unnecessary fear and one-size-fits-all recommendations. This episode is about replacing fear with context so you can use your genetics as information, not as a prediction of your future. In This Episode: What MTHFR actually is and its role in folate metabolism and methylationWhy having an MTHFR variant is not the same as having a disease or diagnosisThe difference between folate, folic acid, and methylfolateWhy an MTHFR variant doesn't automatically mean you need methylfolate or another supplementHow genes such as DHFR and other pathways add important context to MTHFRWhy genetics should be considered alongside labs, symptoms, nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, environment, and health history RESOURCES: DNA Decoded: The Truth About Genetic Testing & What You Need to Know https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dna-decoded-the-truth-about-genetic-testing-what-you/id1736527617?i=1000700566833 Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:  https://healthyawakening.co/2026/08/17/episode136/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  2. Aug 3

    135. Why Balance May Be the Most Overlooked Key to Healthy Aging with Karen Harbour

    When people think about longevity, they often focus on nutrition, supplements, strength training, or cardio. But there's another piece of the puzzle that's just as important, and it's often overlooked: balance. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins sits down with fitness professional and Balero Board creator, Karen Harbour to explore why balance is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term health, mobility, and independence. Karen shares how decades of experience in the fitness industry, combined with her own passion for functional movement, led her to create a simple, accessible way for people to improve balance, stability, and confidence. Together, Susan and Karen discuss why balance begins declining earlier than most people realize, how it affects everything from injury prevention to athletic performance, and why training balance should become part of everyone's wellness routine—regardless of age or fitness level. In this episode: Why balance is one of the most overlooked pillars of longevity and healthy agingThe four essential components of balance: stability, agility, strength, and enduranceHow improving balance can reduce the risk of falls, injuries, and loss of independenceWhy functional movement and unilateral training are key for recovery and everyday lifeSimple ways to incorporate balance training into your daily routine without spending hours in the gymHow building balance today can improve confidence, mobility, and quality of life for years to come RESOURCES: Connect with Karen Harbour: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baleroboard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenharbour/ Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:  https://healthyawakening.co/2026/08/03/episode135/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  3. Jul 27

    134. Imposter Syndrome: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Living Authentically with Anne Larsen

    Have you ever felt like you're not qualified enough, smart enough, or experienced enough to step into the life you're meant to live? Whether it's launching a business, starting a new career, speaking up, or simply allowing yourself to be seen, imposter syndrome has a way of keeping us stuck. But what if the voice telling you you're "not enough" isn't the truth? In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins welcomes back relationship and behavioral change specialist Anne Larsen for an eye-opening conversation about imposter syndrome and the hidden ways it shapes our careers, relationships, health, and identity. Together, they explore why so many people struggle with self-doubt, how comparison and perfectionism keep us from living authentically, and why understanding your biology and nervous system can help you move beyond fear. This is a powerful conversation about embracing vulnerability, quieting your inner critic, and giving yourself permission to show up as your authentic self. In this episode: What imposter syndrome really is, and why it affects far more people than you might thinkHow self-doubt, comparison, perfectionism, and fear of being "found out" keep people stuckThe connection between imposter syndrome, the nervous system, and chronic stressWhy understanding your unique biology can help you embrace your authentic strengthsPractical strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and building self-trustHow vulnerability, self-awareness, and authenticity can transform your relationships, career, and overall well-being RESOURCES: Connect with Anne Larsen: annelarsenconsults@gmail.com Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:  https://healthyawakening.co/2026/07/27/episode134/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  4. Jul 20

    133. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Food That Talks to Your Genes

    Is extra virgin olive oil really as healthy as people claim? Or has it become another nutrition trend surrounded by conflicting opinions? In this solo episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins explores the science behind one of the most researched foods in the world: extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Drawing from years of reviewing DNA reports, biomarkers, epigenetic testing, and current research, Susan explains why EVOO continues to stand out as one of the few foods she consistently recommends across a wide range of clients. She also breaks down common myths about dietary fat, cooking with olive oil, cholesterol, and why personalized nutrition will always matter more than following the latest diet trend. Whether you're trying to support heart health, reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, or simply make more informed food choices, this episode will help you understand why food is more than fuel, it's information that influences how your body functions every single day. In this episode: Why extra virgin olive oil continues to stand out across genetics, biomarkers, and nutrition researchThe connection between EVOO, inflammation, insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, and healthy agingWhy personalized nutrition is more effective than following one popular dietThe truth about cooking with extra virgin olive oil and whether it really is stable when heatedHow your genes influence the way your body responds to different dietary fatsPractical tips for choosing a high-quality extra virgin olive oil and incorporating it into your daily routineIf you've ever wondered whether olive oil deserves its reputation as one of the healthiest foods you can eat, this episode offers a practical, science-backed perspective that may change the way you think about one simple ingredient. RESOURCES: Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:  Oxidative Stress Episode: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/12/19/episode102/ Cholesterol Episode: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/16/episode115/ https://healthyawakening.co/2026/07/20/episode133/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  5. Jul 13

    132. Healthy Skin Starts From Within with Samantha Dench

    Healthy skin isn't created by expensive creams, complicated skincare routines, or the latest beauty trend. It's a reflection of what's happening inside the body. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins sits down with licensed esthetician, Functional Medicine Practitioner, and founder of Skin Deep Aesthetics & Wellness, Samantha Dench, to explore the powerful connection between skin health and whole-body wellness. Together, they discuss how gut health, hormones, stress, sleep, nutrition, genetics, and lifestyle all influence the health and appearance of your skin. From acne and rosacea to eczema, premature aging, and perimenopause, Samantha explains why lasting skin health begins by addressing the root causes instead of simply treating symptoms. Susan and Samantha also dive into today's biggest skincare debates, including sunscreen versus sunblock, the rise of aggressive skincare routines among younger generations, the impact of processed foods on aging, and why personalized health is essential for achieving healthy, resilient skin. This conversation is filled with practical takeaways that will change the way you think about skincare and remind you that your skin is often one of the body's first signals that something deeper deserves attention. In this episode: Why healthy skin starts with gut health, hormones, and lifestyleThe connection between stress, the nervous system, and common skin conditionsHow nutrition influences acne, rosacea, eczema, and premature agingThe truth about sunscreen, sunblock, and healthy sun exposureWhy perimenopause and menopause dramatically change skin healthSimple lifestyle habits that support healthy skin from the inside out Learn more about Samantha Dench: Samantha Dench is a licensed esthetician, functional medicine practitioner, entrepreneur, and educator with over two decades of experience helping clients achieve clear skin from the inside out. As the founder of Skin Deep Esthetics + Wellness, she addresses the root causes of skin issues by understanding the connection between internal wellness and external beauty. Samantha blends functional medicine with esthetics to empower clients and professionals alike to view the skin through a whole-body lens. Her focus is on women suffering from perimenopause and autoimmune conditions. Her work includes gut testing, customized nutrition and lifestyle plans to help her clients look and feel their absolute best at any stage of life. She’s also the creator and host of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, where she shares insights on how gut health, nutrition, hormones, and lifestyle impact skin health. When she’s not working, this single mom of three finds balance in walks, baths, journaling, and spending time with her kids. RESOURCES: Connect with Samantha Dench: Website: www.skindeepil.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skindeepil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skindeepIL/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skindeepil YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@skindeepil Episode shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/07/13/episode132/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  6. Jul 6

    131. How Frequency Technology Can Support Health, Performance & Recovery with Stephen Davis, Founder of Nikki

    Have you ever wondered if frequencies could play a role in supporting your health? In this episode, Susan sits down with Stephen Davis, founder of the Nikki wearable, to explore the fascinating world of frequency wellness. Inspired by his family's long journey with Lyme disease, Stephen shares how years of searching for answers led him to develop a wearable device designed to deliver frequency-based wellness programs that support the body's natural healing processes. Together, Susan and Stephen discuss how the Nikki is used for everything from stress, sleep, and recovery to athletic performance and Lyme support. Susan also shares her own experience using the device over the past several months and the changes she's noticed along the way. Whether you're curious about frequency technology, living with chronic health challenges, or simply looking for new ways to support your overall well-being, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at an emerging area of wellness. In this episode, you'll learn: Stephen's personal journey that led to the creation of the Nikki wearable.What frequency wellness is and why it has become an area of growing interest.How Stephen believes frequency technology can support the body's natural healing processes.The connection between stress, sleep, immune function, and overall wellness.How the Nikki is being used for general wellness, recovery, athletic performance, and Lyme support.Susan's personal experience wearing the Nikki and what she observed over several months.Why healthy lifestyle habits remain an essential part of supporting long-term health. Learn more about Stephen Davis: Stephen Davis is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, seasoned inventor & a healthcare pioneer with over 35 years in the global business economy. He has a deep passion for and involvement in mission-driven companies and organizations that seek to promote social good and greater access for all. As a pioneer in health & wellness, he has co-developed a cutting-edge proprietary device, waveforce ONE, that utilizes frequency emission technology to temper and – in some cases – completely eliminate the symptoms of chronic Lyme disease and other debilitating ailments. This is a product Mr. Davis feels uniquely tethered to as the conception of the waveforce ONE stemmed from his own personal struggles with chronic Lyme disease having witnessed it upend the lives of his daughter and two grandsons. Beyond the overall hopelessness, the immense financial strain of sustaining the costly medications and treatments prompted Davis to seek out alternatives. Fortuitously, he connected with Stuart Gross who would introduce him to the groundbreaking frequency emission technology that would ultimately stave off the symptoms of his daughter and grandsons, as well as lay the foundation for the revolutionary and affordable waveforce ONE wearable device. RESOURCES: Connect with Stephen Davis: https://wellness.wearenikki.com/ Episode shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/07/06/episode131/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  7. Jun 29

    130. Your Body Can't Heal Until It Feels Safe with Alyssa Blue

    In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins sits down with Alyssa Blue, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, former aerospace engineer, and co-founder of Align Mat, for a powerful conversation about nervous system regulation, chronic stress, resilience, and what it truly means to create a foundation for healing. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, optimize more, and achieve more, many people are finding themselves exhausted, anxious, inflamed, and disconnected from their bodies. Susan and Alyssa explore why so many individuals are stuck in cycles of burnout despite doing all the "right" things, and how nervous system dysregulation may be the missing piece. They discuss the impact of chronic stress, biohacking overload, sleep disruption, information fatigue, environmental stressors, and the cultural pressure to always be productive. Together, they challenge the idea that healing comes from adding more supplements, protocols, or wellness trends. Instead, they highlight the importance of creating safety within the body, honoring biological rhythms, building resilience, and learning to trust the body's innate ability to heal. This conversation is filled with practical insights, empowering perspectives, and reminders that true wellness begins when we stop fighting our bodies and start working with them. In this episode: Why nervous system regulation is foundational for healing and recoveryThe connection between chronic stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and weight loss resistanceHow biohacking and wellness optimization can sometimes create more stress than healthWhy your body needs to feel safe before it can heal, recover, and thriveThe impact of technology, social media, and information overload on the nervous systemHow beliefs, mindset, and emotional patterns influence physical health outcomesThe importance of honoring circadian rhythms and listening to your body's signalsWhy personalized wellness matters more than following generic health adviceThe role of resilience, recovery, and creating balance in a high-stress worldPractical ways to support your nervous system and reconnect with your body's natural intelligenceIf you've been doing all the things but still feel exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on healing that goes far beyond supplements and protocols. Sometimes the next step forward isn't doing more, it's creating enough space for your body to do what it was designed to do. Learn more about Alyssa Blue: Alyssa is a non practicing Aerospace engineer that found the human body more fascinating than rockets. After suffering a health crisis in her early 20's she went on a decade long journey learning how to heal herself. Today as an FDNP, her research background shines, taking a deep dive to investigate her clients bio-individuality and walking with them on a path back to balance.  Out of a necessity to help more people than their 1-2-1 practice would allow, Alyssa and her partner Mike embarked on a 2.5 year R&D journey to co-create ALIGN. Clinically researched, meticulously crafted wellness tools that blend ancient wisdom with modern technology. Together they are on a mission to empower people to actualize their own true healing potential. RESOURCES: Connect with Alyssa Blue: https://myalignmat.com https://www.instagram.com/myalignmat/ https://www.facebook.com/myalignmat https://www.youtube.com/@MY-ALIGN-MAT Episode shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2026/06/29/episode130/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

  8. Jun 22

    129. When the Pursuit of Health Becomes Unhealthy

    Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right for your health, yet somehow you're more stressed, more overwhelmed, and more confused than ever? In this solo episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins tackles a growing problem in the wellness space: when the pursuit of health becomes unhealthy. From endless supplement stacks and biohacking protocols to obsessive health tracking, AI rabbit holes, and conflicting advice from influencers, many people are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of information overload rather than experiencing true wellness. Susan shares what she's seeing with clients, why more information doesn't always create more clarity, and how the constant search for the next solution can actually work against the health goals people are trying to achieve. This episode is a powerful reminder that health isn't about chasing perfection, following every trend, or constantly looking for what's wrong. It's about learning to trust your body, focusing on what truly matters, and creating enough space for progress to happen. If you've ever found yourself obsessing over lab results, supplements, wearables, diets, or the latest health trend, this conversation will challenge you to take a step back and rethink what wellness is really meant to support. In this episode: Why information overload is becoming one of the biggest challenges in modern wellnessHow health anxiety can develop from constant research, tracking, and biohackingThe difference between using data as a tool versus becoming obsessed with itWhy personalized health matters more than following influencer adviceHow fear-based wellness marketing keeps people stuck searching for moreThe importance of trusting your body, your process, and your progress RESOURCES: Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:  Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!) https://healthyawakening.co/2026/06/22/episode129/ Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/ Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

4.7
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Join Susan Robbins, the Epigenetic Human Performance Coach, for the "Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable" podcast! We're talking about how our daily lifestyle and environment affect our genes and well-being. Susan explores a personalized way to boost health, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Through interviews with experts and clients, this podcast makes health discussions relatable. Embrace your unique biology, not generic solutions, and uncover the secrets to a healthier life. Let's keep it real, ditch the mask, and live authentically. "Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable." is your simple guide to taking control of your health journey today!

You Might Also Like