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BetterHealthGuy Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Scott Forsgren, FDN-P
BetterHealthGuy Podcast features conversations with leading experts exploring complex chronic illnesses, mold illness, chronic Lyme disease and other chronic infections, environmental toxicity, and related conditions. After nearly 30 years navigating his own journey through chronic Lyme disease and mold illness to recover his health, Scott has been fortunate to learn from many leading experts and healers in the integrative health space. Among those who have influenced Scott's journey are Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD; Neil Nathan, MD; Jill Crista, ND; Amy Derksen, ND; Simon Yu, MD; Dale Bredesen, MD; Lee Cowden, MD; Raj Patel, MD; and many others. Through these conversations, Scott explores topics such as mold and mycotoxin illness (CIRS), chronic Lyme disease and coinfections, Long COVID, ME/CFS, PANS/PANDAS, autism, Alzheimer's, parasites, the microbiome, detoxification, limbic system retraining, emotional health, and much more.
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- 1 weeks ago2h 9m
EP239: Beyond Mold: Exploring the Continent of the Cell Danger Response - Part 1 - Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA
🎧 Episode Summary In this episode, Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA, explores mold-related illness, CIRS, and complex chronic illness through the broader framework of the Cell Danger Response. Drawing on his clinical experience, research, and personal journey with Lyme disease and mold illness, he explains how mitochondrial responses to threat may connect CIRS with conditions such as ME/CFS, Long COVID, and other chronic illnesses. The conversation explores total toxic and infectious load, resilience, CDR1, testing strategies, mitochondrial function, and an evolving approach to understanding and treating patients whose bodies remain stuck in a state of cellular defense. 🧭 In This Episode - Dr. Heyman's personal experience with Lyme disease and mold-related illness - CIRS within the broader Cell Danger Response model - Chronic illness triggers, total load, and mitochondrial resilience - CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 as stages of cellular defense and recovery - Trauma-based illness, hyperreactivity, and cellular danger signaling - Testing strategies for assessing the Cell Danger Response - GENIE findings and their relationship to mitochondrial signaling and exposure - HLA-DR genetics, illness susceptibility, and total load - GDF15 and FGF21 as markers of mitochondrial stress - Direct mitochondrial function testing with Seahorse and citrate synthase assays - Persistent alarm signaling and abnormal test results after triggers are removed - Cellular mosaicism and different Cell Danger Response states within the same person - Five danger-sensing pathways and their response to mold, Lyme, Actinobacteria, endotoxins, and beta-glucans - Treatment timing across CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 - CDR1 treatment phases for trigger removal, inflammation, detoxification, and microbial recovery 👤 About the Guest Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA, is an internationally recognized expert in integrative and metabolic medicine. He is currently the Fellowship Director of Integrative Medicine at The George Washington University and is responsible for overseeing graduate education and multiple degree programs. Dr. Heyman created the first master's degree in Integrative Medicine in the United States within a major academic center and developed additional graduate curricula in nutrition, metabolic medicine and performance, men's health, biotoxin exposure and neurodegeneration, and administrative health services in wellness settings. Dr. Heyman has held board certifications in Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He also served as the Director of Academic Affairs for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine for a decade, overseeing all educational programs globally. Since 2014, Dr. Heyman has maintained a clinical and research focus on biotoxin illnesses and exposure to water-damaged buildings. He has published almost two dozen papers in peer-reviewed academic journals on the subject and edited the first medical textbook on the subject. Dr. Heyman is considered one of the world's leading experts in this area, having presented his work to Congress, testified in dozens of mold-related legal cases, and provided professional education to countless practitioners globally. He is the founder of Beyond Mold, a complete medical and health resource for individuals and families suffering from mold illness. Dr. Heyman has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Martha Stewart Living, Ladies' Home Journal, and Natural Health Magazine. He has appeared in many other television and print venues and is a widely sought-after and celebrated speaker around the world on many integrative medicine topics. Connect With the Guest Website - https://BeyondMold.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondMold Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587620336794 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beyond_mold TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondmold Interview Date: September 3, 2026 🔗 Related Resources A Clinical Operationalization of the Cell Danger Response: Outcomes of a Five-Phase Treatment Protocol in 100 Patients with Chronic Post-Exposure Illness - https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/7633 Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA, presents a five-phase Cell Danger Response treatment protocol and clinical outcomes from 100 patients with chronic post-exposure illness. 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep239 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHeal
- Aug 31, 20262h 7m
EP238: Two Perspectives, One Mission: Advancing the Conversation on Mold Illness and CIRS - Neil Nathan, MD and Ritchie Shoemaker, MD
🎧 Episode Summary In this special episode, Neil Nathan, MD and Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, MD come together to share their distinct perspectives on mold-related illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Drawing on decades of clinical experience and research, they explore where their approaches converge and differ across diagnosis, urine mycotoxin testing, MARCoNS, GENIE, environmental assessment, Actinobacteria, nervous system regulation, VIP, treatment approaches, and overall recovery. The conversation offers two evolving perspectives on complex chronic illness with a shared goal of helping patients regain health and resilience. 🧭 In This Episode - Treatment models for mold illness and CIRS, including key drivers and foundational pillars of recovery - HLA-DR testing and its role in susceptibility, clinical decision-making, and recovery potential - Biotoxin blood markers for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring progress - Urine mycotoxin testing, including accuracy, interpretation, limitations, and clinical utility - VCS, NeuroQuant, GENIE, and organic acids as tools for clinical assessment and treatment direction - MARCoNS, the sinubiome, and their potential significance in mold-related illness and CIRS - Environmental assessment using ERMI, HERTSMI-2, air sampling, and indoor environmental professionals - Nervous system dysfunction involving the limbic system, vagus nerve, dysautonomia, and mast cell activation - Coagulation abnormalities and their potential significance in CIRS - Prescription and natural binders and their role in treatment - Fungal colonization and the role of antifungal treatment - Actinobacteria and endotoxins as potential contributors to CIRS - VIP and its potential role in treatment - Recovery endpoints and the factors involved in restoring health and resiliencef 👥 About the Guests Neil Nathan, MD is a leading clinician in the treatment of mold illness, Lyme disease, chemical sensitivities, and other complex chronic conditions, and is the author of several books including Toxic and The Sensitive Patient's Healing Guide. Connect With the Guest Website - https://neilnathanmd.com Ritchie Shoemaker, MD is a pioneer in the field of biotoxin illness and the developer of the Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS, model. He is the author of several books including Mold Warriors and Surviving Mold. Connect With the Guest Website - https://www.cirsx.com Interview Date: August 13, 2026 🔗 Related Resources Detection of Mycotoxins in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23580077 Biochemical Markers in the Urine Associated with Gastrointestinal Mold-Overgrowth Are Linked with Elevated Urinary Mycotoxins in Patients with Suspected Mold Illness - https://townsendletter.com/biochemical-markers-in-the-urine-associated-with-gi-mold-overgorwth-shaw-and-pratt-hyatt Clearance of multiple antibiotic-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci is selectively associated with higher circulating α-melanocyte stimulating hormone in patients evaluated for chronic inflammatory response syndrome - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1728408/full Pitfalls of Mycotoxin Testing: Evidence-Based Findings Confirm Mycotoxin Assays Using Antibody Testing and Urinary ELISA Are Based on Flawed Science - https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/7260 Transcriptomic Parkinson's Prodrome and its Correction by Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide in Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/7608 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep238 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHealthGuy Community Discounts: https://betterhealthguy.link/Discounts 🌐 Additional Information Learn more: https://BetterHealthGuy.com 📱 Connect With Me Facebook - https://facebook.com/betterhealthguy Instagram - https://instagram.com/betterhealthguy X - https://twitter.com/betterhealthguy TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@betterhealthguy ℹ️ Disclaimer The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal
- Aug 17, 20262h 4m
EP237: Brain Folate Connection: Cerebral Folate Deficiency, FRAAs, and Leucovorin - Emily Gutierrez, DNP, C-PNP, CCN, IFMCP, FMAPS
🎧 Episode Summary Emily Gutierrez, DNP, C-PNP, CCN, IFMCP, FMAPS explores the brain-folate connection and the role of cerebral folate deficiency in autism, PANS/PANDAS, and neurodevelopmental health. She explains how folate supports DNA synthesis, myelination, neurotransmitter production, and other critical functions in the brain, while highlighting how blood folate levels may appear normal even when folate availability in the central nervous system is inadequate. The conversation examines folate receptor alpha autoantibodies and the mechanisms that can interfere with folate transport into the brain. Dr. Gutierrez discusses their significant overlap with autism and PANS/PANDAS, the potential contributions of mitochondrial dysfunction and genomic variants, and the use of the Folate Receptor Antibody Test (FRAT) to identify blocking and binding autoantibodies. She explores dietary, inflammatory, and immune factors that may influence folate receptor autoimmunity and cerebral folate availability. Dr. Gutierrez discusses folinic acid and prescription leucovorin as strategies to increase folate availability in the brain, including dosing, titration, potential side effects, and factors that may influence treatment response. She explains how higher doses may utilize alternative folate transport mechanisms, why addressing inflammation, infections, and nutrient cofactors may be important, and how restoring adequate folate availability may support language, development, neurological function, and resilience. 🧭 In This Episode - Cerebral folate deficiency and impaired folate availability in the brain - Folate receptor alpha autoantibodies and their effect on folate transport - Autism and PANS/PANDAS prevalence in cerebral folate deficiency - Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy-dependent folate transport - FRAT testing for folate receptor alpha autoantibodies - Blocking, binding, and soluble folate receptor findings and clinical severity - Folate receptor autoantibodies and fluctuations in folate transport - Genomic variants and their relationship to folate metabolism and FRAT positivity - Dietary folic acid and dairy considerations with folate receptor autoantibodies - Inflammation, infections, nutrient cofactors, and preparation for high-dose folinic acid - Leucovorin dosing and clinical response to folinic acid - Folinic acid side effects and its relationship to tetrahydrobiopterin - High-dose folinic acid and alternative folate transport mechanisms - Immune dysregulation and folate receptor autoimmunity in autism 👤 About the Guest Emily Gutierrez, DNP, C-PNP, CCN, IFMCP, FMAPS is a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner and nationally recognized expert in functional medicine. With advanced clinical training in both pediatric and adult care, she brings a root-cause, evidence-based approach to optimizing neurological and mental health across the lifespan. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Gutierrez specializes in translational medicine; applying the latest scientific research to real-world patient care. She has served as adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University for six years, teaching integrative and functional health. She is a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS), an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFM-CP), a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), and a Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PCMHS). Her clinical background includes extensive training in neuronutrition, genomics, and integrative strategies to support complex mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. In her role as Chief Scientific Medical Liaison and Formulator for Neuro Nutrients, she develops clinically informed, research-backed supplements that support brain function, mood balance, and overall neurological resilience; designed for both pediatric and adult populations. Connect With the Guest Website - https://neuronutritionassociates.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@neuronutritionassociates184 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/neuronutritionassociates Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neuronutritionassociates Interview Date: August 7, 2026 🔗 Related Resources Neuro Nutrients - https://www.neuronutrients.com In her role as Chief Scientific Officer and Formulator for Neuro Nutrients, Dr. Gutierrez develops clinically informed, research-backed supplements that support brain function, mood balance, and overall neurological resilience. Folate Receptor Antibody Test - https://www.fratnow.com FRAT® was developed in the lab of Dr. Edward Quadros at the State University of NY (SUNY Downstate) and is the only assay available that can screen for both blocking and binding folate receptor autoantibodies.
- Jul 6, 20262h 8m
EP236: The Microbiome Connection: Optimizing Health from the Inside Out - Jason Hawrelak, ND, PhD
🎧 Episode Summary Jason Hawrelak, ND, PhD explores the central role of the gut microbiome in shaping human health, explaining how the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract influence immunity, metabolism, brain function, inflammation, and resilience. Drawing on more than two decades of research and clinical experience, he discusses how modern lifestyles, antibiotic exposure, processed foods, and environmental factors have altered the diversity of the human microbiome and contributed to the growing burden of chronic disease. The conversation examines the balance between beneficial microbes, pathobionts, and pathogens, highlighting the importance of microbial diversity, short-chain fatty acid production, intestinal pH, and ecological balance rather than simply eliminating unwanted organisms. Dr. Hawrelak shares practical insights into microbiome testing, comparing culture, PCR, 16S sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics while explaining how these tools can guide personalized interventions to restore healthier microbial ecosystems. Dr. Hawrelak also discusses the microbiome's role in conditions such as IBS, SIBO, inflammatory bowel disease, Candida overgrowth, and systemic inflammation. He explains how dietary strategies, prebiotics, probiotics, herbal medicines, and targeted microbiome support can improve gut ecology, reduce inflammatory burden, optimize digestive function, and promote lasting health throughout the body. 🧭 In This Episode - The evolution of microbiome research over the past 25 years - Why the gut microbiome functions like another human organ - Microbial diversity, richness, and ecosystem resilience - The microbiome's influence on immunity, inflammation, and brain health - Dysbiosis, leaky gut, and the roots of chronic disease - Butyrate, short-chain fatty acids, and microbial metabolites - Beneficial microbes, pathobionts, and microbial balance - Akkermansia, Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, and gut ecology - Prebiotics, dietary fiber, polyphenols, and microbiome restoration - Lactulose as a powerful microbiome-modulating prebiotic - SIBO, methane, motility, and the migrating motor complex - Shotgun metagenomics, 16S sequencing, PCR, and stool testing - Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and microbiome-targeted therapies - Candida, the mycobiome, and fungal overgrowth - Colonic pH, digestive health, and ecological balance - Practical strategies for optimizing the microbiome and overall health 👤 About the Guest Jason Hawrelak, ND, PhD is a researcher, educator, Western herbalist, and naturopathic physician with over 25 years of clinical experience. He earned his PhD examining the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics, and herbal medicines to modify the gastrointestinal microbiota and teaches worldwide on the topics of microbiota modification and gut health. He has published extensively in these areas, including 20 textbook chapters. Dr. Hawrelak serves on the Medical Nutrition Council of the American Society for Nutrition and is a Fellow of both the American College of Nutrition and the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia. Dr. Hawrelak maintains a busy telehealth practice as lead clinician at the Hawrelak Gut and Microbiome Clinic. Dr. Hawrelak is Chief Research Officer at Probiotic Advisor, which offers a searchable database that enables evidence-based prescribing of probiotic products. Dr. Hawrelak also founded and serves as Lead Educator at the Microbiome Restoration Center, an online educational platform devoted to training health professionals to become microbiome clinicians through its flagship courses, Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approaches to Gastrointestinal Disorders and Advanced Microbiome Manipulation. Connect With the Guest Website - https://microbiomerestorationcenter.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/probioticadvisor Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/probioticadvisor Interview Date: June 21, 2026 🔗 Related Resources Probiotic Advisor - https://www.probioticadvisor.com ProbioticAdvisor.com provides independent, unbiased, evidence-based information on probiotics, their potential risks, and documented benefits. 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep236 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHealthGuy Community Discounts: https://betterhealthguy.link/Discounts 🌐 Additional Information Learn more: https://BetterHealthGuy.com 📱
- Jun 15, 20262h 7m
EP235: Inside CIRS Lab and the Evolving Science of Biotoxin Illness - Christian Navarro-Torres, PhD
🎧 Episode Summary Christian Navarro-Torres, PhD shares his journey from cognitive neuroscientist and academic researcher to becoming a patient with severe CIRS, biotoxin illness, and extreme environmental hypersensitivity. Drawing from both scientific training and lived experience, he discusses how mold exposure, immune dysregulation, chronic infections, and microbial colonization shaped his understanding of complex chronic illness and led to the creation of CIRS Lab. The conversation explores the evolving science of CIRS, including HLA genetics, innate immune activation, mycotoxins, transcriptomics testing through GENIE, and the potential roles of mold, endotoxins, beta-glucans, Actinobacteria, and chronic infections in driving persistent symptoms. Dr. Navarro-Torres also examines how nervous system dysregulation, trauma, neuroinflammation, and metabolic dysfunction may contribute to illness severity and recovery challenges. Dr. Navarro-Torres suggests that recovery often requires looking beyond environmental exposures alone to address microbial burden, immune resilience, metabolic health, sinus health, and physiological repair. He emphasizes the importance of restoring interconnected systems that support long-term healing and improved adaptability. 🧭 In This Episode - Dr. Navarro-Torres' journey from neuroscientist to CIRS patient - Extreme hypersensitivity and reacting to everyday exposures - Microdosing binders and treatments in sensitive patients - Trauma, nervous system regulation, and chronic illness severity - HLA genetics, mold exposure, and immune recognition - GENIE testing and patterns of CIRS causation - NeuroQuant findings in CIRS, inflammation, and brain recovery - VIP, ProdromeGLIA, plasmalogens, and lipid support - Environmental testing and remediation strategies - Immune dysregulation, autoimmunity, and microbial burden - MARCoNS, MSH, and sinus-related immune signaling - SinusKEY, Actinobacteria, fungal DNA, and the sinubiome - Actinobacteria, endotoxins, and illness persistence - Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, viruses, and parasites - Gut health, SIBO, fungal colonization, and Long COVID - Reintegration, resilience, and long-term recovery 👤 About the Guest Christian Navarro-Torres, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist with formal training in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, language science, and applied data analysis. He earned his PhD in Language Science from the University of California, Irvine, after completing an MS in Cognitive Psychology at Penn State and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Puerto Rico. His research career has included postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton University and at Georgetown University, where his work focused on the intersection between experience-dependent neuroplasticity and clinical assessment in patients with brain damage affecting language and cognition. He is the Co-Founder of CIRS Lab, the Scientific Director of The CIRS Research Foundation, and a Research Consultant for the Einstein Mission, which investigates erythromelalgia and CIRS. Christian's recent scientific work extends into environmental health and immune dysregulation, including publications and presentations on biotoxin illness, its multi-system and multi-symptom pathology, and treatment outcomes with a particular interest in how CIRS-related brain changes may contribute to processes of neurodegeneration. Equally important, his mission is grounded in lived experience. He is a complex, hypersensitive patient who has endured serious microbial colonizations; an underappreciated and often overlooked issue in the mainstream mold illness community; alongside tick-borne and protozoal co-infections. These overlapping comorbidities created a perplexing clinical profile that demanded self-advocacy, where his scientific background became essential to navigating conflicting medical advice and fragmented care. Drawing from both his expertise and his personal recovery journey, he now provides training for physicians and clinicians on how to identify, understand, and treat those with complex, multi-layered presentations. Connect With the Guest Website - https://cirslab.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CIRSLab Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cirslab Interview Date: May 27, 2026 🔗 Related Resources MARCoNS Research Paper - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1728408/full Clearance of multiple antibiotic-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci is selectively associated with higher circulating α-melanocyte stimulating hormone in patients evaluated for chronic inflammatory response syndrome CIRS Research Foundation - https://cirs-research-foundation.org Improving health outcomes globall
- Jun 1, 20262h 6m
EP234: Born Free: Rethinking Chronic Illness Through the Lens of Systems Biology - Part 2 - Joshua Leisk
🎧 Episode Summary Joshua Leisk continues the discussion of his systems biology model for ME/CFS, Long COVID, and related chronic illnesses, focusing on how lymphatic dysfunction, sympathetic nervous system dominance, metabolic impairment, and chronic stress responses may contribute to the persistence of complex chronic conditions. He explores the relationships between cortisol regulation, trauma, autonomic imbalance, energy metabolism, and the body's ability to maintain resilience and recovery. The conversation examines how biofilms, chronic infections, viral reactivation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and immune system blind spots may interact to drive ongoing symptoms and disease progression. Joshua discusses the potential roles of microbial adaptation, mitochondrial dysfunction, connective tissue disorders, circulatory challenges, and inflammatory signaling in creating self-perpetuating cycles of illness. Joshua shares his perspective that meaningful recovery requires addressing the interconnected factors underlying chronic illness, including metabolism, nutrient status, autonomic regulation, lymphatic flow, structural integrity, and immune function. He suggests that restoring these foundational systems may help the body regain adaptability, improve cellular energy production, and support long-term healing. 🧭 In This Episode - Lymphatic system function in detoxification, immune activity, and fat transport - Lymphatic drainage approaches for supporting recovery and reducing bottlenecks - Localized lymph node congestion as a clue to underlying infection sites - Cortisol regulation and its relationship to metabolic dysfunction - Complex PTSD and childhood trauma as contributors to autonomic dysregulation - Sympathetic dominance, hypervigilance, and progression of chronic illness - Vagal tone interventions and their relationship to underlying metabolism - Biofilm formation and microbial life cycle transitions - Immune system blind spots and limitations in biofilm surveillance - Microbiome adaptation to sympathetic nervous system signaling - Viral reactivation mechanisms involving hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha - Hypoxia, oxygen transport dysfunction, and chronic illness progression - Nitric oxide metabolism and circulatory regulation - Connective tissue disorders, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and mitochondrial dysfunction 👤 About the Guest Joshua Leisk is a biological engineer and independent researcher focused on complex chronic illness. He is the creator of Born Free, a patient-led community research project that develops models and potential interventions for conditions such as ME/CFS and Long COVID. His work takes a systems biology, reverse engineering approach, exploring how disruptions in metabolism, mitochondrial function, and cellular signaling may contribute to chronic disease. He is known for developing detailed, evolving models that aim to explain how illness begins, progresses, and may potentially be reversed. Joshua collaborates with a global community of patients, practitioners, and researchers, sharing pathway diagrams, hypotheses, and research intended to advance the understanding of complex chronic conditions. He is a founder of the Collaborative Sciences Institute, which provides systems biology education for clinicians treating complex chronic disease. He is also involved with Renegade Research, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing together patients, caregivers, scientists, and clinicians to drive innovation in healthcare. Connect With the Guest Website - https://bornfree.life X - https://x.com/joshual_tm Interview Date: May 13, 2026 🔗 Related Resources Collaborative Sciences Institute - https://collabsci.org Systems biology education for clinicians treating complex chronic disease JoshuaLeisk.com - https://joshualeisk.com Rethinking tomorrow's medicine, using a systems-based biological reverse engineering approach 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep234 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHealthGuy Community Discounts: https://betterhealthguy.link/Discounts 🌐 Additional Information Learn more: https://BetterHealthGuy.com 📱 Connect With Me Facebook - https://facebook.com/betterhealthguy Instagram - https://instagram.com/betterhealthguy X - https://twitter.com/betterhealthguy TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@betterhealthguy ℹ️ Disclaimer The content of this show is for i
- May 18, 20262h 5m
EP233: Born Free: Rethinking Chronic Illness Through the Lens of Systems Biology - Part 1 - Joshua Leisk
🎧 Episode Summary Joshua Leisk explores his systems biology model for ME/CFS and related chronic illnesses, explaining that many seemingly different conditions may stem from shared patterns of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, chronic infections, biofilms, oxidative stress, and impaired cellular energy production. The conversation examines how factors such as viral reactivation, microbiome imbalances, nutrient depletion, heavy metals, and sympathetic overdrive may contribute to illness progression. Joshua shares that chronic illness reflects interconnected processes within the body that can be reversed when underlying metabolic and physiological dysfunctions are addressed. 🧭 In This Episode - Joshua Leisk's personal recovery from severe ME/CFS and how it led to the development of Born Free - The meaning behind the name Born Free and the concept of returning to a healthier baseline state - Shared metabolic patterns across ME/CFS, Long COVID, dysautonomia, autism, Parkinson's disease, and related conditions - Mitochondrial dysfunction as a central intersection in chronic illness progression - The role of localized infections, pathogens, and tissue-specific dysfunction in symptom presentation - How sympathetic overdrive contributes to gastroparesis, immune dysregulation, and microbiome alterations - Nervous system signaling and microbiome adaptation in response to chronic stress states - Viral reactivation and mitochondrial dysfunction following COVID and other chronic illnesses - The relationship between hypoxia-inducible factors and herpes virus reactivation - Autonomic nervous system dysregulation and hypervigilance in ME/CFS and autism spectrum conditions - Extracellular ATP signaling, inosine depletion, and the Cell Danger Response - Methylation impairments, glutathione depletion, and oxidative stress accumulation - Heavy metal accumulation and its impact on mitochondrial function and detoxification capacity - Endogenous oxalate production, microbiome dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction - Nutrient depletion, mineral dysregulation, and progressive metabolic compensation in chronic illness 👤 About the Guest Joshua Leisk is a biological engineer and independent researcher focused on complex chronic illness. He is the creator of Born Free, a patient-led community research project that develops models and potential interventions for conditions such as ME/CFS and Long COVID. His work takes a systems biology, reverse engineering approach, exploring how disruptions in metabolism, mitochondrial function, and cellular signaling may contribute to chronic disease. He is known for developing detailed, evolving models that aim to explain how illness begins, progresses, and may potentially be reversed. Joshua collaborates with a global community of patients, practitioners, and researchers, sharing pathway diagrams, hypotheses, and research intended to advance the understanding of complex chronic conditions. He is a founder of the Collaborative Sciences Institute, which provides systems biology education for clinicians treating complex chronic disease. He is also involved with Renegade Research, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing together patients, caregivers, scientists, and clinicians to drive innovation in healthcare. Connect With the Guest Website - https://bornfree.life X - https://x.com/joshual_tm Interview Date: May 5, 2026 🔗 Related Resources Collaborative Sciences Institute - https://collabsci.org Systems biology education for clinicians treating complex chronic disease JoshuaLeisk.com - https://joshualeisk.com Rethinking tomorrow's medicine, using a systems-based biological reverse engineering approach 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep233 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHealthGuy Community Discounts: https://betterhealthguy.link/Discounts 🌐 Additional Information Learn more: https://BetterHealthGuy.com 📱 Connect With Me Facebook - https://facebook.com/betterhealthguy Instagram - https://instagram.com/betterhealthguy X - https://twitter.com/betterhealthguy TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@betterhealthguy ℹ️ Disclaimer The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-tre
- May 4, 20262h 0m
EP232: Essential Detoxification for Better Health in a Toxic World - Haroldo Magarinos, ND, DDS
🎧 Episode Summary This episode explores the growing impact of environmental toxicity on chronic illness and overall health with Dr. Haroldo Magarinos, an expert in biological dentistry, microbiome science, and detoxification medicine. The conversation examines how toxic exposures, including heavy metals, pesticides, mold toxins, and modern environmental chemicals, disrupt detoxification pathways, immune balance, neurotransmitter function, and the microbiome, contributing to conditions ranging from anxiety and autoimmune illness to neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory diseases. Dr. Magarinos also discusses the critical role of drainage pathways, bile flow, genetics versus epigenetics, transgenerational toxic burden, and practical strategies to support detoxification and resilience in an increasingly toxic world. 🧭 In This Episode - Detoxification and drainage pathways in toxin elimination - Drainage pathway support before toxin mobilization - Genetics and epigenetics in detoxification capacity - Transgenerational toxicity and inherited epigenetic expression - Environmental toxicity as a driver of chronic illness - Heavy metals, glyphosate, pesticides, and chemical exposures - Exogenous and endogenous contributors to toxic burden - Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 detoxification pathways - Bile flow and enterohepatic recirculation in toxin clearance - Leaky gut and intestinal permeability in detoxification - Sulfation and glucuronidation in toxin processing - Mold, mycotoxins, and fungal colonization in chronic illness - Microbiome regulation of detoxification and immune function - Toxic terrain and chronic infections in immune dysregulation - Nervous system regulation, EMFs, and detoxification capacity - Solutions for supporting detoxification in modern times 👤 About the Guest Haroldo Magarinos, ND, DDS is a Chilean-born periodontist, oral surgery specialist, biological dentist, and naturopathic doctor. He is an internationally recognized expert in microbiome science, environmental toxicology, and detoxification medicine. With advanced training in Periodontics, Oral Medicine, and Surgical Implantology, Dr. Magarinos has spent nearly a decade at the forefront of integrative health pioneering the clinical understanding of how the oral-gut axis, environmental toxin exposure, and immune dysregulation converge to drive chronic disease. His journey into this field became deeply personal when he developed an autoimmune condition in his early thirties, traced to years of mercury exposure acquired through dental practice, an experience that fundamentally shaped his mission and his science. An international educator in the fields of microbiome science, biological dentistry, and detoxification medicine, Dr. Magarinos serves on the Medical Advisory Board of Microbiome Labs and is the Co-Founder and Lead Scientist of DetoxU, a physician-formulated detoxification system built to make science-backed, effective detox accessible to everyone. Connect With the Guest Website - https://betterhealthguy.link/DetoxU YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Detox.U Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DetoxUCo Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/detox.u TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@detoxu Interview Date: April 9, 2026 🔗 Related Resources DetoxU - The Right Protocol for the Toxins You Face - https://betterhealthguy.link/DetoxU Use code BETTERHEALTH for 10% off Microbiome Labs - https://betterhealthguy.link/MicrobiomeLabs Link automatically applies 15% discount Episode #187: Microbiome and Beyond with Dr. Haroldo Magarinos, ND, DDS - https://www.betterhealthguy.com/ep187 Previous podcast interview on the microbiome Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page (including guest and resource links) may provide a discount for you and a small commission for me at no additional cost to you. 📄 Transcript Review a transcript of this episode: https://betterhealthguy.com/ep232 ☕ Support the Show Support the show and Buy Me a Coffee: https://betterhealthguy.link/BuyMeACoffee 🧭 My 16-Step Framework Learn more about my 16-Step Framework for better health: https://betterhealthguy.link/Steps 💸 Community Discounts Explore BetterHealthGuy Community Discounts: https://betterhealthguy.link/Discounts 🌐 Additional Information Learn more: https://BetterHealthGuy.com 📱 Connect With Me Facebook - https://facebook.com/betterhealthguy Instagram - https://instagram.com/betterhealthguy X - https://twitter.com/betterhealthguy TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@betterhealthguy ℹ️ Disclaimer The content of this show is for informa
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About BetterHealthGuy Podcast
BetterHealthGuy Podcast features conversations with leading experts exploring complex chronic illnesses, mold illness, chronic Lyme disease and other chronic infections, environmental toxicity, and related conditions. After nearly 30 years navigating his own journey through chronic Lyme disease and mold illness to recover his health, Scott has been fortunate to learn from many leading experts and healers in the integrative health space. Among those who have influenced Scott's journey are Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD; Neil Nathan, MD; Jill Crista, ND; Amy Derksen, ND; Simon Yu, MD; Dale Bredesen, MD; Lee Cowden, MD; Raj Patel, MD; and many others. Through these conversations, Scott explores topics such as mold and mycotoxin illness (CIRS), chronic Lyme disease and coinfections, Long COVID, ME/CFS, PANS/PANDAS, autism, Alzheimer's, parasites, the microbiome, detoxification, limbic system retraining, emotional health, and much more.
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