What If It's NOT Depression? Podcast

Achina Stein

What if It's Not Depression is a channel dedicated to discussing how to resolve the symptoms of depression without unnecessary medications. Hosted by psychiatrist and certified functional medicine practitioner Dr. Achina Stein, we talk to industry experts about rethinking the way we understand and treat depression. Subscribe to the What If It's Not Depression Vodcast with Dr. Achina Stein to stay up to date on ways you can improve your quality of life. Want a more hands-on experience? Sign up for a Discovery Call to see if our Bootcamp is right for you and get back to feeling your best!

  1. How Depression Shapes Our Relationship With Food | Gina Worful, MS, RD & Dr. Achina Stein

    16H AGO

    How Depression Shapes Our Relationship With Food | Gina Worful, MS, RD & Dr. Achina Stein

    Why is being healthy so hard, even when you know exactly what you “should” be doing? In this episode of What If It’s Not Depression?, I dive into one of the most common struggles I see in my patients: food cravings and the complicated relationship we have with food. This conversation goes far beyond diets, willpower, and discipline, and looks at what’s really happening in the body and brain when change feels overwhelming.I’m joined by Gina Worful, founder of the Mastering Mindfulness Institute. Gina is a former registered dietitian who, despite having advanced training in nutrition, struggled herself with cycles of motivation, restriction, and self-sabotage. Through her own journey and years of working with clients, she realized that traditional diet approaches often miss the root cause. Her work now focuses on mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and rebuilding trust with the body.In this episode, you’ll learn: Why being healthy feels like such a struggle for so many peopleGina’s personal story and how it shaped her approach to healingWhat’s actually happening in the body during low energy, emotional numbness, or overeatingHow to uncover the deeper root causes behind food cravingsHow your relationship with food can lead to deeper self-discovery and healingConnect with Gina Worful: Website & Free Training: masteringmindfulness.instituteInstagram: @gina.worfulFacebook: Mastering Mindfulness InstituteIf you’ve ever felt stuck with your health, know this: it’s not about willpower or failure. Your body is trying to help you. By paying attention and being curious, real change can happen. I hope this episode helps you see food and yourself with more kindness and understanding.

    32 min
  2. Exosomes are the Songs of Healing | Dr. Edward Park, MD

    JAN 9

    Exosomes are the Songs of Healing | Dr. Edward Park, MD

    Many chronic health conditions, including those affecting mood, energy, and cognition, are connected to what is happening at the cellular level. When our cells lose their ability to repair and communicate properly, symptoms can begin to appear throughout the body and brain.In this episode of What If It’s Not Depression?, I spoke with Dr. Edward Park about an emerging area of regenerative medicine that is gaining a lot of attention: stem cells, exosomes, and cellular healing.Dr. Edward Park is a Harvard-trained physician and a leader in the clinical use of stem cell exosomes. His work began with a personal desire to understand aging and illness at a deeper level. Over time, this led him to focus on telomeres, stem cells, and exosomes, and how they may support healing, recovery, and longevity. He now teaches other medical professionals how to use this science thoughtfully and responsibly.We discussed: Dr. Park’s personal and professional journeyWhat telomeres are and why they matterWhat stem cells and exosomes are, in clear and simple termsHow exosomes are producedHealth conditions where exosomes are being exploredWhen exosomes may not be appropriate, and important safety considerationsLearn more about Dr. Edward Park: Website: https://www.rechargebiomedical.comFacebook: Recharge BiomedicalYouTube: @drpark65Books by Dr. Edward Park: EXOSOMES: Songs of HealingThe Telomere Miracle: Scientific Secrets to Fight Disease, Feel Great, and Turn Back the Clock on AgingTelomere Timebombs: Defusing the Terror of Aging: Discover the true cause of agingI hope this episode helps you better understand the science behind healing and why looking deeper than symptoms truly matters.

    36 min
  3. The StressRx: Conquering Stress by Resetting Your Three Brains: A Neurologist's Perspective | Dr. Trupti Gokani

    11/07/2025

    The StressRx: Conquering Stress by Resetting Your Three Brains: A Neurologist's Perspective | Dr. Trupti Gokani

    Dr. Trupti Gokani is an award-winning, board-certified neurologist, Ayurvedic expert, and mindset coach who blends ancient wisdom with modern science to help people transform stress and live in alignment. She’s best known for her integrative approach to migraine and for creating the Three Brain Optimization Program™, which helps high performers shift from survival mode to thriving. Her new book, The StressRx, draws on both neuroscience and Ayurveda to guide readers toward authentic health and purpose. Dr. Gokani has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Huffington Post, and has served as faculty for The Shift Network and Metagenics. We discussed: ✅ Why she turned to Ayurveda after a successful career in neurology ✅ What stress really is—from an Ayurvedic and neuroscience perspective ✅ How the Three Brain Model helps people break unconscious patterns ✅ The core message behind The StressRx ✅ Practical ways to move from survival to thriving Dr. Trupti also shared her free cookbook: https://tinyurl.com/4n5nyvy4 You can find her at ✅ Website: www.truptigokanimd.com; ✅ Instagram: @drgokani; ✅ Facebook: Trupti Gokani, MD

    47 min
  4. Understanding the Role of the Vagus Nerve in Anxiety, Depression, and the Stress Response | Dr. Michael Husmillo

    10/24/2025

    Understanding the Role of the Vagus Nerve in Anxiety, Depression, and the Stress Response | Dr. Michael Husmillo

    Are you stuck in modern fight/flight? If so, did you know you could make small changes in habits that can make big shifts in how you feel? It can literally take only minutes to do. Dr. Husmillo discusses the importance of improving poor vagal tone to address a variety of symptoms in this episode.​We focused on: The differences between conventional neurology, functional (chiropractic) neurology, and functional medicine neurologyHow poor vagal tone can show up in your lifeUnderstanding the Vagus Nerve and its role in overall healthThe little things you can do to shift your nervous systemDr. Michael Husmillo earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and holds board certification as a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. A graduate of UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology with a focus on neuroanatomy, his early research explored the link between the immune system and the brain. He has advanced training in functional neurology, neurochemistry, and functional medicine, blending these disciplines to offer a comprehensive, brain-based approach to patient care. ​You can find him:  Website: ⁠www.ocncenter.com⁠IG: ⁠@drmikehusmillo⁠Located in Troy, Michigan, he is happy to offer a free 15-minute consultation and does see patients virtually. ​As he said, "Happy Vagus, Happy Life!"

    31 min
  5. Neurosomatic View of Depression: Reframing Mental Health as Nervous System Output | Elisabeth Kristof

    10/10/2025

    Neurosomatic View of Depression: Reframing Mental Health as Nervous System Output | Elisabeth Kristof

    Have you ever been in years of psychotherapy and thought, "This is not working - we keep talking about the same thing over and over again"? The reason is that cognitive work does not inform the body in the way it needs to RESET. It has its own operating system which is still largely ignored by the conventional world. In my latest What If It’s NOT Depression podcast episode, I talk with Elisabeth Kristof, an expert in applied neurology and somatic practices, about a holistic path to nervous system retraining—beyond brain retraining and vagal nerve stimulation.In this episode, we discuss:✅ The role of the nervous system in mental health✅ How trauma creates present-day patterns✅ Practical strategies for nervous system resilience✅ The importance of emotional processingAbout Elisabeth KristofElisabeth Kristof is the founder of the Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI) coaching certification program and Brain-Based Wellness, a membership platform for nervous system health. She specializes in trauma resolution and nervous system regulation and co-hosts the Apple Top 100 podcast Trauma Rewired.She is generously offering two free weeks of neurosomatic training at rewiretrial.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram (@brainbased.wellness) and Facebook (@neursomaticintelligence).

    41 min
  6. Optimizing Your Mental and Physical Health Starting at the Cellular Level | Jessica MacNaughton

    09/26/2025

    Optimizing Your Mental and Physical Health Starting at the Cellular Level | Jessica MacNaughton

    Have you heard of Carbon 60 or C60? It’s one of the most powerful antioxidants that works on a cellular level. It’s a product that I myself have been using initially for my skin, but I am noticing some results that I didn’t expect, and I wanted to share it with you.I’ve asked Jess to join me on the podcast to discuss its wonderful effects. Jessica MacNaughton is a trailblazer in health innovation, serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of C60 Power.Under her visionary leadership, C60 Power has become a leading advocate for the health-enhancing properties of the Nobel Prize-winning molecule, Carbon 60. After experiencing significant personal health improvements from incorporating Carbon 60 into her daily routine in 2017, Jessica embarked on a mission to share these benefits with the world. Her company specializes in crafting anti-aging products that combat inflammation, enhance mitochondrial health, fortify immune function, and boost overall energy for both humans and pets.With a diverse professional background spanning over 30 years, Jessica has held leadership roles in both global Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial startups. Her experience includes an 18-year tenure in commercial real estate, a field she left to pursue her passion for holistic wellness after a transformative health crisis.You can discover more about the revolutionary benefits of C60 at shopc60.com and at whatisc60.org.If you are interested in ordering some for yourself, here is the link for that: https://go.shopc60.com/64M2B6/KMKS9/. Jess kindly provided a code HEALTHYSELF for a 10% discount.I hope you enjoyed the episode.

    36 min
  7. Can Microbes Contribute to Violence, Substance Abuse, and Mental Illness | Dr. Robert Bransfield

    07/11/2025

    Can Microbes Contribute to Violence, Substance Abuse, and Mental Illness | Dr. Robert Bransfield

    I recently had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Robert Bransfield, MD, DLFAPA, a pioneering psychiatrist whose decades of clinical experience have led him to groundbreaking insights on the connection between infectious disease and treatment-resistant mental illness. Dr. Bransfield is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, past president of both ILADS and the New Jersey Psychiatric Association, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers RWJ Medical School and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.For over a century, psychiatry has wrestled with the mystery of what causes mental illness. Dr. Bransfield's work builds on this legacy and offers hope for a paradigm shift: that by understanding the role of infection and immunity, we may transform how we treat chronic, persistent mental disorders and neurodegenerative disease.In this conversation, we explored the multifactorial nature of chronic disease and mental illness, including:✅ How over 60 different infectious diseases have been linked to psychiatric conditions through immune-mediated pathways.✅ The evolving understanding of tick-borne infections like Borrelia and Bartonella in the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression.✅ The historical arc of psychiatry’s view on infection as a contributor to mental illness—from syphilis and the slow virus theory to modern psychoimmunology.✅ Why addressing susceptibility genes and intervening early in disease progression can break the vicious cycle of chronic psychiatric disorders.You can learn more about Dr. Bransfield and his work at www.MentalHealthandIllness.com or connect with him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.bransfield.1/.

    47 min
  8. Depression and Kidney Success Using Bioregulator Peptides with Dr. Robin Rose | Dr. Achina Stein

    06/27/2025

    Depression and Kidney Success Using Bioregulator Peptides with Dr. Robin Rose | Dr. Achina Stein

    If you have an eGFR below 85, you will want to watch or listen to this episode. Kidneys are just as important as livers and unlike the liver, it doesn't take much to compromise kidneys. It happens over decades and there are few symptoms. No one knows that better than Robin Rose MD. Dr. Rose began her life as a child protege ballet dancer. As she unfolded into her destiny, she lived in a fishing village in India as a young adult and worked with the local doctor. Upon return to the USA, she became a health food chef and herbalist and then slowly wandered through the educational system - first becoming an RN, then nurse practitioner and ultimately a family physician. Her roots in natural healing evolved into a holistic medical odyssey - offering eclectic holistic family medicine in a small town in Oregon. After many years, she moved to Hawaii and has since evolved into a precision practice for early kidney disease and the regeneration that is possible. She and her husband live at the beach with gardens of food and botanicals, and recently published "Renology Peptides", which is a definitive guide on Kidney Success Using Bioregulator Peptides. We discussed:✅ The one test that doctors rarely order that is a better indicator of kidney health than eGFR✅ How to calculate protein intake to assure kidney health✅ When it is the best time to monitor your blood pressure.✅ How chronic kidney disease (CKD) and depression get resolved✅ What Bioregulator Peptides are and which ones to take (under medical supervision) to reverse kidney diseaseYou can find her at RENOLOGYiskidneysuccess.com where she provides many FR3E resources for you to peruse.I hope you enjoy this episode.

    59 min
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About

What if It's Not Depression is a channel dedicated to discussing how to resolve the symptoms of depression without unnecessary medications. Hosted by psychiatrist and certified functional medicine practitioner Dr. Achina Stein, we talk to industry experts about rethinking the way we understand and treat depression. Subscribe to the What If It's Not Depression Vodcast with Dr. Achina Stein to stay up to date on ways you can improve your quality of life. Want a more hands-on experience? Sign up for a Discovery Call to see if our Bootcamp is right for you and get back to feeling your best!

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