482 | Courtney Runyon | When Empathy Makes You Sick: Autoimmunity, Boundaries, and Healing (Part 2)

In this conversation, Dr. Erin Faules and Dr. Jeff Graham discuss the shift from traditional medical care toward a precision medicine model that integrates genomics, biomarkers, and lifestyle interventions. They share patient stories that illustrate how personalized care can uncover hidden risks, such as cardiovascular disease, while also supporting sustainable behavior change. The discussion emphasizes prevention, accountability, and evidence-based strategies for improving healthspan.

Steven Rofrano discusses how everyday food choices influence health and well-being. Drawing on his background in functional medicine and passion for regenerative health, he explores the importance of ingredient quality, accessibility, and taste in shaping healthier habits. Key topics covered: Shifting from industrial food norms toward nutrient-rich, traditionally prepared foods Why eliminating seed oils and using whole, heritage ingredients matters Making healthier foods the default option in society Balancing flavor with nutrition to create sustainable dietary change Considering regulation, sourcing, and the role of GMOs in modern agriculture

This episode with health coach Ray Fernandez explores how popular wearables like the Oura Ring, WHOOP, Morpheus, and continuous glucose monitors can inform daily decisions about training, sleep, and stress. Rather than chasing single numbers, Ray emphasizes looking at trends over time to understand recovery, cardiovascular fitness, and metabolic health. The discussion highlights how, when used thoughtfully, wearables can support lifestyle changes without becoming a source of added stress

Dr. Clayton Bell, a functional and integrative medicine physician, shares both his clinical expertise and personal journey with Lyme disease and related co-infections. He discusses the challenges of accurate testing, how symptoms can overlap with conditions like mold exposure, and why whole-person care—addressing physical, emotional, and environmental factors—is essential. The conversation covers a spectrum of treatment approaches, from lifestyle interventions to antibiotics and SOT therapies, while emphasizing resilience and root-cause medicine.

Dr. Erin Faules and health coach Steve Weatherholt explore how personalized fitness plans—grounded in data and adaptable to life’s demands—can preserve muscle mass, maintain independence, and extend healthspan. They discuss the role of compound lifts, targeted cardio, balanced recovery, and tailored nutrition in building resilience, along with practical strategies for sustaining performance through parenthood, aging, and busy schedules. To get 25% off your first order, use code WILDHEALTH at https://www.masachips.com/discount/WILDHEALTH

In Part 2 of our conversation with Courtney Runyon, we explore how over-giving, emotional suppression, and relational stress contributed to a life-altering autoimmune health crisis—and how, just days after ending a relationship defined by those patterns, her body began to heal. Courtney shares how empathy, when unboundaried, can drive inflammation—and how reclaiming agency over your energy can shift everything. We talk about the science of stress and the nervous system, the emotional roots of chronic illness, and how tools like psychedelics supported her recovery. This is a conversation about what happens when your body says what you won’t—and how healing begins the moment you start to listen.

In part one of this two-part conversation, Dr. Erin Faules sits down with storyteller and autoimmune survivor Courtney Runyon to explore what it means to heal in the face of uncertainty. Diagnosed with CIDP, a rare autoimmune disease that left her temporarily paralyzed from the neck down, Courtney shares the realities of navigating the medical system when clear answers are scarce. They discuss the importance of mindset, self-advocacy, and the physiological toll of chronic empathy—while also holding space for humor, joy, and post-traumatic growth. Topics include: How paralysis reshaped Courtney’s understanding of health and identity The role of mindset and nervous system regulation in recovery Why self-advocacy is non-negotiable in complex illness The double-edged sword of chronic empathy and its link to inflammation Finding humor and meaning in the most unexpected moments Stay tuned for part two next week.

Description: In the third and final episode of the healthspan series, Dr. Erin Faules and Dr. Jeff Graham explore the intersection between neurodegenerative disease and metabolic dysfunction—two often-connected drivers of decline. They discuss early detection strategies, the role of genetics, and insulin resistance, and emerging clinical tools to assess and reduce long-term risk. Key Topics Covered: Distinguishing normal aging from neurodegenerative disease Early signs of cognitive decline and how to detect them The role of APOE-4 and other genes in Alzheimer's risk Metabolic dysfunction as a driver of brain aging ("Type 3 diabetes") Blood-based biomarkers: phospho-tau, NFL, CRP, fasting insulin, and more Lifestyle interventions: sleep, strength training, CGMs, circadian-aligned eating Tools like CNS Vital Signs, PET scans, and neuroquant MRIs Supplements and prescriptions: Omega-3s, creatine, berberine, GLP-1s, inositol Connecting muscle mass to glucose control and long-term healthspan

In the second episode of a three-part series on the key factors that limit healthspan, Dr. Erin Faules and Dr. Mike Stone explore the role of muscle loss, chronic inflammation, and cancer in accelerating decline—and what you can do about it. Key topics include: How muscle mass and strength relate to longevity Tools for assessing body composition and early signs of sarcopenia Common blockers to building muscle—including underfueling, overtraining, and hormonal factors The role of inflammation in aging, disease risk, and immune dysfunction How to interpret CRP and other lab markers in context A look at new cancer screening technologies (like liquid biopsy and full-body MRI) The importance of individualized, risk-informed decision-making in preventive care

In the first episode of a three-part series on the key factors that limit healthspan, Dr. Erin Faules speaks with Wild Health CEO Dr. Carl Seger about two common but often under-addressed contributors: atherosclerosis and mental health disorders. This episode includes discussion of: Why atherosclerosis often progresses silently, and why calcium scores may miss early disease  The link between depression, chronic stress, and cardiovascular risk  The clinical relevance of advanced screening tools like coronary CTA, LP(a), and AI-driven risk assessment Treatment advances including GLP-1 receptor agonists and psychedelic-assisted therapy This is Part 1 of a 3-part series exploring the 7 most common blocks to healthspan. Over the next two weeks we will dive into atrophy, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, neurodegenerative disease and cancer.