Episodes

  • For decades women have been told that taking the birth control pill is the best approach to controlling their cycle and regulating hormones. But as more research has been done in recent years, it’s become apparent that maybe this isn’t the best choice for all women. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Alice Nguyen—Stark’s head of functional medicine—this time to take a realistic look at the birth control pill and its overall effect on a woman’s health.

    Todd begins the episode with a brief overview of the history of the birth control pill and why that matters in light of the way women are using it today. He then invites Alice to share her perspective—both as an expert on the topic and as a woman herself—on some of the common misconceptions surrounding the pill’s impact on a woman’s overall health, natural birth control alternatives, and the sizeable role diet and exercise play in hormone regulation and decreasing menstrual pain.

    Whether you’re a woman yourself or simply have women in your life that you care about—this episode is one you can’t miss!

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Birth Control
    02:52 The Wheel of Health Concept
    05:47 Pharmacology and Women's Health
    09:10 The Impact of the Pill on Society
    11:51 Misconceptions About the Pill
    14:55 Negative Side Effects of Hormonal Birth Control
    17:46 Acne and Hormonal Imbalances
    21:06 Long-term Effects of Birth Control
    24:08 Managing Menstrual Symptoms
    26:49 Non-Hormonal Approaches to PMS
    28:39 Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies
    31:55 The Role of Omega-3s in Hormonal Health
    35:43 Natural Alternatives to Birth Control
    40:53 Dietary Influences on Menstrual Health
    44:32 Environmental Factors Affecting Women's Health
    47:47 Stress Management and Hormonal Balance
    52:46 Optimizing Hormonal Health Beyond Birth Control

  • Todd is back for this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, this time sitting down with Stark’s Amir Mofidi to talk all things muscle mass. Most of us know that having a healthier muscle mass percentage is a good thing for our bodies, but can it actually lead to living a longer, healthier life? And how do we go about building muscle in a way that’s beneficial and sustainable? Amir discusses all that and more on today’s episode.

    During their conversation Todd invites Amir to weigh in on the best ways to measure muscle mass, the ideal percentages for men and women (they’re vastly different), and once built, how we prevent that hard-earned muscle mass from going away as we age. The two end their discussion by looking at the different ways we can approach training when it comes to effectively building up muscle.

    Connect with Amir Mofidi and the rest of the Stark team on their website: www.stark.health.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Importance of Movement and Muscle Mass
    01:32 Understanding Muscle Mass Measurement
    05:23 The Role of Measurement in Health
    06:51 Setting Optimal Muscle Mass Goals
    10:14 The Impact of Water Weight on Measurements
    14:28 Body Fat Percentages and Women's Health
    16:52 The Pursuit of Exceptional Health
    17:21 Myofibular Protein Synthesis and Muscle Growth
    24:31 Understanding Motor Unit Activation
    27:53 Training to Failure: Myths and Realities
    30:15 The Role of Technique in Strength Training
    36:29 Training Frequency and Muscle Growth
    43:43 Getting Started: A Beginner's Guide to Training

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  • The effect fasting can have on your health and longevity is a complicated one, and has become even less clear-cut in recent years. So how can we know if fasting practices like intermittent fasting benefit our overall health? Today on Health is a Skill Todd welcomes back Dr. Paul Anderson and Alice Nguyen, who team up on this episode to discuss if fasting can really optimize our health for the long term.

    Dr. Anderson and Alice work with different subsets of the population—where Dr. Anderson focuses on cancer patients and the critically ill, Alice’s role as Stark’s head of functional medicine has her working with clients who, though not traditionally viewed as “sick,” are working to improve their health. Together Dr. Anderson and Alice outline how fasting affects many of our body’s most basic functions, from cellular health and cardiovascular function to disease prevention and a more well-rounded diet. The episode closes with a look at some of the ways individuals can practice “taking out the garbage,” as Dr. Anderson says, besides fasting.

    Learn more about Dr. Paul Anderson and his practice on his website: www.dranow.com.

    Connect with Alice Nguyen and the rest of the Stark team on their website: www.stark.health.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health


    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Role of Fasting in Health and Longevity
    09:05 Diverse Perspectives on Fasting: Experts Weigh In
    21:31 Fasting and Its Impact on Different Populations
    31:53 The Importance of Clean Eating
    34:45 Fasting and Gut Health
    37:08 Optimizing Diet for Health
    39:34 The Role of Sleep in Health
    40:59 Hormonal Balance and Healing
    42:21 Fasting and Mitochondrial Health
    49:38 Understanding Dementia and Cognitive Decline
    56:17 Cardiovascular Health and Fasting

  • For this week’s special episode of Health is a Skill, Todd gives us an update on how the stroke he experienced in September has affected his overall health and outlook on life. There are many factors you can control when it comes to your health, but some elements will always remain out of our hands. Todd’s stroke on September 22nd of this year was one of those uncontrollables, but that doesn’t mean he let the experience set him back in any way.

    In this highly personal, candid episode, Todd walks us through the events of September 22nd, and the health milestones in his life that led up to where he is today. Todd outlines how a heart condition called AFib has affected his health since he was 30, why quality sleep has become a non-negotiable for him, and how his pursuit of optimal health has changed with this most recent stroke. Todd wraps up the episode with three actionable takeaways anyone can implement today to take control of their health.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Facing Mortality: A Personal Journey
    12:01 The Impact of Atrial Fibrillation
    18:45 Emergency Response and Recovery
    22:08 Pursuing Optimal Health

  • Most of us probably know we need more protein in our diets, but what’s the best way to get that protein? On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd talks with athlete turned rancher, Kevin Muno, to break down the many benefits of grass-fed beef and why regenerative farming is where we should be looking when it comes to nutrient-dense sources of protein.

    Kevin is the founder of Perennial Pastures, a group of regenerative ranches with the aim of restoring the land’s natural health and producing meat that retains that nutrient-density. Together Todd and Kevin cover best practices behind regenerative ranching (and why it’s better for the environment and the consumer), share some of the ways a protein-rich diet can directly impact your health, and look at how consumers can know for sure if they’re buying grass-fed or not.

    Learn more about Kevin and Perennial Pastures on their website: https://perennialpasturesranch.com/.


    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Skill of Health
    01:54 Understanding Protein's Importance
    13:06 Regenerative Agriculture and Human Health
    21:50 The Nutritional Value of Grass-Fed Beef
    33:22 Consumer Awareness and Choices
    48:50 Future Aspirations in Regenerative Farming

  • Many factors contribute to a longer, healthier life, but is a rounder booty really one of them? Stark’s head of chiropractic, Dr. Andrea Schwab, joins Todd on today’s episode of Health Is a Skill, looking at how fostering healthy glutes can in fact lead to better orthopedic health and increased longevity.

    Glutes are one of the biggest—if not the biggest—muscles groups in the body, but they’re often underdeveloped, especially as we get older. Together Dr. Schwab and Todd look at why glute health is so important, break down some of the ways we can increase our glute strength and change our lifestyles to prioritize this muscle group, and discuss the problems associated with underutilized glutes. Todd also shares his experience of how unused glutes led to low back pain and mobility issues early in his 30’s—encouraging listeners that with a few lifestyle changes, they too can acquire the skill that is glute health.

    Learn more about Dr. Andrea Schwab on Stark’s website: https://www.stark.health/

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Importance of Glute Development for Longevity
    10:41 Orthopedic Health and Glute Functionality
    17:11 Cultural Perspectives on Body Shape and Health
    21:33 The Impact of Sedentary Lifestyle on Glute Health
    24:59 Reactivating Glute Muscles
    32:11 The Importance of Glute Health for Aging
    35:00 Lifestyle Changes for Maintaining Mobility
    40:14 Practical Exercises for Glute Activation
    46:08 The Connection Between Glutes and Longevity

  • Most of us know sleep is important for our health, but how important is it really? The science behind what happens when our bodies aren’t getting enough sleep is jarring, to say the least. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with popular podcaster and sleep expert, Mollie Eastman, to talk about how to make getting a good night’s rest a priority for your health.

    Together Mollie and Todd break down why aligning your sleep patterns to the rhythms of nature can have such a big impact, how what you eat and when you eat can improve sleep, and some of the biggest mistakes many of us are making when it comes to sleeping well. They finish up the conversation by taking a look at some of the newest technology coming down the pipe that may help revolutionize the way we track how sleep is affecting our health.

    Learn more about Mollie and her resources on her website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Importance of Sleep Management
    03:06 Understanding the Wheel of Health
    05:57 The Consequences of Poor Sleep
    09:45 Insights from Mollie Eastman on Sleep
    13:54 Chronobiology and Circadian Rhythms
    17:59 The Role of Light in Sleep Quality
    21:58 Nutrition Timing and Sleep
    26:09 Technology and Sleep Optimization
    30:13 Common Sleep Mistakes and Solutions

  • Perspective—how you view yourself and your role within the world—is one of the final steps towards a healthier self, but it’s also one of the hardest areas to optimize. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Dr. Chris Renna, one of the nation’s premier preventative medical providers, to talk perspective, optimism, and longevity.

    It’s not a secret that having a more optimistic perspective can lead to a longer, healthier, and happier life, but how do we actually become more optimistic? Dr. Renna and Todd discuss some practical ways we can all employ to become more positive about life, the studies surrounding a positive perspective and increased longevity, and how psychedelic assisted therapy can be used as a tool to shift our perspective for the better. Towards the end of the episode Todd shares a personal story of coming to terms with his own perspective and how he worked to change that to a more optimistic outlook over time.

    Learn more about Dr. Renna and his practice on his website: ​​https://www.lifespanmedicine.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Power of Perspective
    09:15 Understanding Longevity and Health
    15:27 Key Factors Influencing Aging
    27:36 Shifting to an Optimistic Perspective
    39:34 Rewiring the Mind for Positivity
    47:00 The Role of Psychedelics in Healing

  • Welcome to season 2 of the Health is a Skill podcast! Todd is kicking off this second season with a special guest who is sure to leave every listener with practical tools they can use right now to uplevel their health in a whole new way. That guest today is Barry Goldstein, legendary composer and sound expert, who stands as the intersection between music and healing. Together Todd and Barry dive in to the healing power of music and how this tool all of us use in one way or another can truly transform our stress management, sleep, and longevity.

    It is possible to be the DJs of our own lives—controlling how we think and feel with the help of certain types of music. Barry and Todd break down exactly how to incorporate specific pieces of music into your day, depending on how you want your mind and body to react at that moment. They also discuss the power your heartbeat has to control your mind and body, building a musical routine, and how music can serve as an aid for your workouts, sleep, and times of creativity.

    Learn more about Barry and his work on his website: https://www.barrygoldsteinmusic.com/, and don’t miss out on any of the transformational content we have planned for season 2 of Health is a Skill!

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Healing Power of Music
    10:08 Understanding Heart and Mind Connection
    20:27 Music as a Tool for Mental Well-being
    39:35 Targeting States with Music
    49:58 Coherence and Its Importance

  • We’re wrapping up season 1 of Health is a Skill with a recap episode from Todd, featuring his insights on some of the common misunderstandings surrounding protein consumption, a personal look at his own heart health challenges, and why he believes ketamine-assisted therapy is a vastly overlooked way to level up your health. This first season of Health is a Skill has been incredible, and we’ve learned from a variety of experts in the areas of health and wellness. Today Todd also takes a look back at some of his favorite conversations from the season, and gives us a teaser of what to look forward to in season 2.

    Thank you for tuning in to this first season of Health is a Skill! We can’t wait to share more ways to help you achieve peak health in the future!

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 Belief in Health and Peak Wellness
    03:04 Understanding Body Composition and Protein
    06:00 Cardiovascular Health and Stress Management
    11:50 Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and Mental Wellbeing
    18:07 Hormone Replacement Therapy and Detoxification
    23:55 Gut Health and Orthopedic Insights
    29:46 Heart Rate Variability and Personal Growth

  • Mental wellbeing is about more than just the absence of mental illness. It’s a multifaceted area of health that encompasses everything from physical to psychological to emotional health—but what are some of the ways we can achieve peak mental wellness? This week on Health is a Skill, Todd is joined by Dr. James Leathem, a board certified anesthesiologist and co-founder of Advanced Wellness and Pain, a clinic that specializes in ketamine assisted therapy.

    Dr. Leathem has been using psychedelic medicines for almost 30 years, working to allow the unconscious mind to reveal itself to the conscious mind and become the best version of himself. It’s a practice he’s passionate about, and one he’s now using to assist others on their health journey. Throughout today’s conversation, Todd and Dr. Leathem outline the many benefits of ketamine assisted therapy, what the process of receiving ketamine actually looks like, Todd’s own experience with this type of therapy and the benefits he’s seen to his health, and how ketamine plus therapy can revolutionize your mental health from the inside out. The two end the episode by emphasizing the importance of mental wellbeing as a key to achieving optimal health, without it—even if our physical bodies are in a peak state—our minds will always be pulling us down in some way. Ketamine assisted therapy is a useful tool to have in your toolkit when it comes to the journey of transforming your health into a skill.

    Learn more about Dr. Leathem and his practice at https://advancedwellnessandpain.com/

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction to Mental Well-being
    03:40 The Connection Between Mental Well-being and Body Composition
    05:04 The Impact of Mental Well-being on Cardiovascular Health
    06:03 The Influence of Mental Well-being on Hormones, Sleep, and Recovery
    07:31 The Relationship Between Mental Well-being and Detoxification
    08:28 The Role of Mental Well-being in Gut Health and Nutrient Choices
    09:53 The Connection Between Mental Well-being and Orthopedic Health
    13:10 The Power of Psychedelics in Facilitating Self-discovery
    16:19 Understanding Ketamine-assisted Therapy
    18:14 The Mechanisms and Benefits of Ketamine Therapy
    24:30 The Magic of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
    28:46 Becoming Consciously Competent
    29:45 The Importance of Integration
    32:27 The Foundation of Health
    35:46 The Ketamine Session Experience
    39:09 Dissociative Out-of-Body Experience
    41:41 Resetting and Transforming the Self
    45:04 Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Personal Evolution
    46:26 Addressing Mental Wellbeing and Physical Health

  • On this week’s episode of Health is a Skill we’re talking all things HRV, or heart rate variability—the shift in timing between your heartbeats. It’s a topic that’s come into the limelight over the last few years, and for good reason: we’re all arguably more stressed than ever before and we need skills to measure, cope with, and manage that stress in a healthy way. Salim Najjar joins Todd for the latter part of this conversation, lending his expertise in nervous system regulation to today’s episode.

    Humans have always had the innate ability to manage stress—it’s how we survived and evolved from hunter-gatherers that had to flee from saber-toothed tigers in order to survive. But today we’ve taken that same level of stress and transcribed it onto non-life threatening situations: think a negative email, parenting decisions, using social media, or just trying to get through the day. The result? We’re now more stressed than ever before, and our HRV shows that. Together Todd and Salim discuss what exactly HRV is, what your HRV number means (and why you shouldn’t compare that number with someone else’s), skills for managing your stress, and why putting those skills in place will lead to a longer, healthier, and happier life.

    Follow Salim on Instagram at @thathrvguy and learn more about his approach to heart rate variability on his website: https://thathrvguy.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The Importance of Health Awareness
    03:01 Understanding Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
    05:53 The Autonomic Nervous System Explained
    08:51 The Consequences of Chronic Stress
    11:47 Perception and Stress Management
    15:09 The Role of HRV in Emotional Resilience
    17:59 Modern Life and Its Impact on HRV
    21:12 Using Technology to Measure HRV
    24:07 The Journey to Improve HRV
    26:56 Somatic Awareness and Emotional Healing
    29:46 The Connection Between Doing and Being
    33:07 Final Thoughts on HRV and Personal Growth

  • Strength training is about much more than being able to lift heavy weights in the gym—it’s a practice that, if applied correctly, can significantly improve our longevity and overall health. For this week’s episode of Health is a Skill Todd takes a look at what strength training actually entails, inviting certified athletic trainer and strength training specialist, Brett Jones to share his years of insight and expertise.

    After seeing strength training improve so many aspects of his own health, Todd is passionate about everyone adding this important piece of the puzzle to their health toolkit. Together Todd and Brett break down the four main components of a strength training practice, the biggest concerns or potential problems that come with working to get stronger, how to properly do exercises like deadlifts and bench presses, and where to start when developing a strength training program. Their conversation wraps up with Brett sharing a personal story about his own strength training journey and how it aided him during his fight against cancer. Strength is about so much more than lifting the heaviest weights or being muscular—it’s about living a long, enjoyable life where you're able to do the things you want and live independently and well.

    Learn more about Brett and his resources on his website: https://appliedstrength.com/ or follow him on Instagram at @brettjonessfg

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction to Strength Training
    08:42 The Benefits of Being Physically Stronger
    19:21 Strength Training for Health and Longevity
    24:07 The Practice of Strength Training
    28:25 Key Components of a Strength Training Program
    34:11 The Practice of Strength Training
    36:31 The Importance of Movement Quality
    43:33 Patience in Building Strength
    51:18 Hip Mobility for Deadlifts
    54:17 The Clean, Press, and Squat
    01:00:37 The Greater Purpose of Strength

  • Orthopedic health—our ability to move our bodies well and often—affects nearly every other function of our health, from sleep and nutrition to stress and digestion and everything in between. That’s why we’re spending this whole episode of Health is a Skill breaking down exactly what orthopedic health is and how to incorporate it into our health toolkit. As always, Todd opens with his own take on the topic—giving us an overview of his own orthopedic health journey and the ways focusing on this area have improved his health—before diving into a conversation with today’s guest, Bryce Turner.

    Bryce is the owner of Beach Fitness and ELDOA USA, a certified exercise coach, and certified holistic lifestyle coach. Together Todd and Bryce get right into it—breaking down what ELDOA (Elongation Longitudinaux Avec Decoaption Osteo Articulaire) exercise is and why it’s so vital to orthopedic health, the role hydration plays in joint health, the process of re-architecturing someone’s body, and some of Bryce’s most memorable patient outcomes. The episode wraps up with Bryce sharing the top three things everyone should be doing to enhance their orthopedic health.

    Follow Bryce on Instagram @beachbryce or check out his page on ELDOA USA here: https://eldoausa.com/trainer/bryce-turner/

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 The Interconnectedness of Orthopedic Health and Overall Well-being
    03:24 The Benefits of Improving Orthopedic Health
    15:25 The ELDOA Method: Creating Space in Joints for Better Orthopedic Health
    26:02 The Impact of Stress on Orthopedic Health
    29:22 Changing Perspective and Re-architecting the Body for Improved Orthopedic Health
    32:09 The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Orthopedic Health
    32:39 The Importance of a Clean Diet and Proper Hydration
    39:20 Understanding Hydration and Tissue Health
    43:08 Choosing the Right Water and Avoiding Plastic Bottles
    45:31 Quantifying Water Intake for Optimal Hydration
    50:11 Scheduling Water Intake to Avoid Sleep Disruption
    51:07 Self-Treatment and Self-Care for Orthopedic Health
    53:58 Success Stories: Improving Health through Nutrition and Hydration
    59:33 Building a Supportive Healthcare Team

  • Dr. Paul Anderson is back on the show this week, this time talking all about gut health and how to optimize our gut through lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. Todd’s own health changed when he cut out gluten and found chronic symptoms like headaches and joint pain were no longer plaguing him. For this episode Todd invites Dr. Anderson to introduce us to the basics of gut health—diving into the brain-gut axis, probiotics versus prebiotics, the dangers of antibiotics, and tests anyone can do to determine what’s irritating their gut.

    The two close out their conversation by looking at steps we can all take to optimize our gut health. The gut is truly the beginning and end of so many health problems, but working towards a healthy gut doesn’t have to be impossible. Gut health is a skill you can acquire and master if equipped with the right knowledge and tools.

    Learn more about Dr. Anderson and his practice on his website: https://dranow.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction and Overview
    03:19 The Impact of Gut Health on Nutrient Absorption
    05:38 The Connection Between Gut Health and Joint Health
    07:03 Gut Health and its Influence on Mental Well-being
    08:32 The Role of Gut Health in Cardiovascular Health
    09:31 Gut Health and Muscle Building
    10:58 Hormone Regulation and Gut Health
    14:44 Understanding the Gut-Brain Axis
    20:23 The Negative Effects of Gluten on Gut Health
    21:21 Maintaining a Healthy Gut for Optimal Well-being
    25:36 The Impact of Agriculture and Chemical Additives on Gut Health
    27:04 The Gut's Ability to Heal Itself
    32:58 The Role of Antibiotics in Gut Health
    36:44 The Importance of Prebiotic and Probiotic Foods
    40:05 Using Stool Tests to Determine Gut Health
    43:01 Achieving Optimal Gut Health

  • Dr. Gordon Gunn joins Todd for this week’s Health is a Skill podcast to talk all things hormones, specifically women’s hormones. There are millions of hormones in our bodies, and they all perform different functions to regulate our emotions, body composition, and sex drive, but postmenopausal women may be the most difficult to treat demographic when it comes to hormone regulation.

    Dr. Gunn has been practicing medicine for 50 years now, and is considered an expert when it comes to hormone replacement therapy, specifically in postmenopausal women. During their conversation Todd and Dr. Gunn cover the history of menopause in the healthcare system, the botched 2002 study that led to our tainted view on using estrogen to treat postmenopausal women, and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. No matter which demographic you fall into, we can all benefit from learning more about hormone replacement therapy and incorporating it into our health toolkit.

    Learn more about Dr. Gunn and his practice on his website: https://gordongunnmd.com/

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction and Importance of Estrogen
    08:40 The History of Hormone Replacement Therapy
    19:50 The Flawed Study and Misconceptions
    27:32 Barriers to Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Need for Education

  • Today on the show Todd is joined by the two people who helped transform his body from a nutrient-perspective: Alice Nguyen and Amir Mofidi. Alice serves as the head of naturopathic medicine at Stark, while Amir leads their personal branding. Together Alice and Amir have helped Todd rebuild his body composition from the ground up by focusing on the nutrients he consumes and how they affect his body composition, body fat percentage, and energy levels.

    These two are experts when it comes to what we put into our bodies and how our bodies absorb those nutrients. Together with Todd they break down what exactly micronutrients and macronutrients are and how they affect the body, concrete ways to improve your health from a nutrition standpoint, and the benefits and dangers of meat (and what exactly “meat” means today). The conversation wraps up with Alice and Amir sharing their no. 1 pieces of advice for individuals wanting to optimize their health by being more conscious about what they eat. We are what we consume, but we can choose to be informed about how those nutrient choices are affecting our overall health and wellbeing.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 The Confusion Around Nutrition Sciences
    02:52 The Importance of Measuring and Tracking Nutrition
    04:19 The Impact of Nutrients on Joint Health
    05:45 Nutrients and Mental Well-being
    06:15 The Role of Nutrients in Energy Production
    08:10 Muscle Synthesis and the Importance of Macronutrients
    09:10 Cardiovascular Health and the Role of Nutrients
    10:09 Nutrients and Sleep, Recovery, and Stress Management
    11:35 Detoxification and the Role of Nutrients
    13:02 Gut Health and the Importance of Nutrient-Dense Foods
    21:32 The Challenges in Obtaining Nutrient-Dense Foods
    22:27 The Impact of Soil Quality on Nutrient Content
    24:20 The Disconnect Between People and the Food They Consume
    24:49 Challenges and Misconceptions in Nutrition Compliance
    25:18 The Debate: Animal Protein vs. Plant-Based Alternatives
    30:42 The Impact of Nutrition on Insulin Sensitivity and Muscle Protein Synthesis
    44:25 The Complex Relationship Between Nutrition and Hormones, Gut Health, and Chronic Diseases

  • For this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Dr. Paul Anderson to talk all things detoxification. A lot of us might think that we don’t need to do much to detoxify, since our bodies are pretty good at that process naturally. But given the amount of chemicals that have been introduced into our environments in the last 70-100 years—through everything from personal care products to drinking water—we’re being exposed to more toxins than ever before. Dr. Anderson and Todd discuss what you need to know when it comes to making detoxification part of your health toolkit.

    A well-known educator and clinician in naturopathic and integrative medicine, Dr. Anderson is an expert when it comes to detoxifying our bodies and getting them back to peak health. Together he and Todd go over why toxins are so prevalent in today’s world, some key ways we can remove or avoid toxins, and how to naturally detoxify through methods like exercise, diet, and saunas. The two finish up the episode by discussing Todd’s own journey of removing toxins from his environment and the results he’s experienced.

    Learn more about Dr. Anderson and his practice on his website: https://dranow.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction and Overview
    02:52 Detoxification and its Impact on Health
    09:38 Toxicity and Chronic Illness
    23:23 The Role of Colorful Fruits and Vegetables in Detoxification
    29:06 Glutathione and Other Supports for Detoxification
    40:31 Sources of Toxins and Managing High Toxic Loads
    45:18 Conclusion and Call to Action

  • On this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd is breaking down cardiovascular health, and why this aspect of our health is so important. For most of us, cardiovascular health is something we don’t necessarily think about, unless we have poor cardiovascular health, like high blood pressure. But cardiovascular health impacts the rest of your health as well, and, if optimized, can transform your life for the better.

    Dr. Jack Wolfson, a board certified cardiologist who has turned to functional methods—versus pharmaceuticals—to become the nation's no. 1 natural heart doctor, is Todd’s guest today. Together Todd and Dr. Wolfson discuss the pervasiveness of pharmaceuticals used to “fix” cardiovascular health, the health problems people don’t always associate with poor heart health, and the practical steps we can all take to improve this area of our lives. Thinking well, eating well, and living well can truly transform your cardiovascular health from the inside out, eliminating the need for drugs that simply mask the problem instead of fixing it, and ultimately result in a longer, healthier, more enjoyable life.

    To learn more about Dr. Wolfson and his work visit https://naturalheartdoctor.com/.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Introduction and Overview
    02:24 The Comprehensive Impact of Cardiovascular Health
    06:14 The Overlooked Factors in Traditional Approaches to Heart Health
    08:41 The Limitations of Pharmaceutical Drugs for Heart Conditions
    20:42 The Importance of Healthy Relationships and Supportive Communities

  • Welcome to the Health is a Skill podcast with host Todd Vande Hei! Todd is the CEO of Stark, which exists to change the future of health and fitness in the communities they serve. For the last 15 years, Todd has been on a journey to discover what it means to be in a state of peak health. After suffering from a series of seizures and being diagnosed with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation in his early 30’s, Todd decided it was time to make a change. Those changes fell into one of four categories: lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. But the biggest thing Todd learned through it all? Health is a skill. You’re not born with it, like some would like you to believe, and it isn’t acquired by simply buying another product or starting that new diet. Health is something you can create for yourself, and over time it is possible to attain peak health.

    On this first episode of Health is a Skill, Todd introduces us to the Wheel of Health, a tool he and his team use to holistically transform an individual’s health from the inside out. Todd walks listeners through his own experiences using the Wheel, and how, over time, each healthy choice he’s made—from diet and exercise to sleep and stress management—have built on each other to get Todd to the state of peak health he enjoys now.

    Wherever you’re at in your own health journey—just starting out, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to improve an area or two—Todd’s message is a hopeful one: health is a skill, not a goal, and it’s one you can acquire with the right tools.

    Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com

    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health

    CHAPTERS:
    00:00 Health is a Skill
    03:20 The Beauty of Children's Health
    10:08 Mastering the Skills of Health
    18:20 The Impact of Lifestyle on Health
    23:02 Epigenetics: Lifestyle and Genetic Expression
    25:29 Understanding the Wheel of Health and its Interconnectedness
    30:43 The Power of Lifestyle, Exercise, Nutrition, and Stress Management
    32:41 The Impact of Health on Orthopedic Issues
    41:55 The Connection Between Mental Well-being and Physical Health
    45:48 Striving for Peak Health and Beauty
    48:43 Unwinding Health Issues and Improving Well-being