Reclaiming Kidney Health: A Functional Medicine Journey

When experienced integrative physician Dr. Robin Rose discovered she had a kidney tumor and early signs of kidney disease, she was shocked—but determined. What followed was a deep dive into an often-overlooked aspect of chronic disease care: kidney health. In this powerful episode, Dr. Rose shares how her personal health journey ignited a mission to bring kidney care into the spotlight within functional and integrative medicine. She highlights how kidney dysfunction is frequently underdiagnosed or misunderstood, even in root-cause-focused care models. Through her own research and collaboration with a naturopathic kidney specialist, Dr. Rose developed a holistic framework for supporting kidney health—incorporating nutrition, lifestyle, toxin reduction, and innovative therapies like bio-regulator peptides. Her new book, Ology Peptides: Kidney Success with Bio-Regulator Peptides, explores this approach in detail. Tune in to learn: Why kidney function is the “silent factor” in many chronic disease cases The key lifestyle and environmental factors impacting kidney health How peptides—especially bio-regulator peptides—are being used to support kidney repair and resilience Why a proactive, systems-based approach is critical to reversing kidney decline How practitioners can better support patients before dialysis becomes the only option If you're interested in whole-body health and emerging tools in functional medicine, this episode will shift the way you think about kidney care.

What if health plans could cover in-home chef services to improve patient outcomes? In this episode, James Maskell sits down with Renata Jenik, founder of Foodom.com, to explore how her company is pioneering a powerful new model of food as medicine—one that’s already being covered by insurance. Renata shares her personal journey from overwhelmed working mom struggling with PCOS and insulin resistance to entrepreneur with a mission to redefine healthcare through culinary empowerment. What started as a personal solution—hiring a chef to prepare healthy meals for her family—evolved into a scalable program now contracted by health plans like Anthem to serve Medicaid patients in Sacramento County. Unlike traditional meal delivery, Foodom sends trained chefs into patients’ homes every two weeks to cook nourishing meals and teach basic culinary skills. It’s a powerful model rooted in sustainability and empowerment. Tune in to learn about: How a personal health crisis sparked a revolutionary business idea Why health plans like Anthem are paying for in-home chef services The key differences between meal delivery and chef-led culinary education The challenges and solutions of scaling food-as-medicine at the community level Why El Dorado County is emerging as a hub for healthspan innovation And so much more! If you're interested in the intersection of culinary care, health equity, and scalable functional medicine delivery, this is a must-listen.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Javier Galvis, the first Latin American physician certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), to explore the remarkable rise of functional medicine across Latin America. Dr. Galvis shares his journey from discovering the IFM Annual International Conference (AIC) in 2010 to completing his certification in 2013—and how the AIC has continued to inspire his practice. As the founder of the Functional Medicine Academy in Colombia, Dr. Galvis is at the forefront of a growing movement, with thousands of physicians across Latin America now embracing a functional approach to care. He also gives us an exciting preview of the 2025 AIC and its cutting-edge focus on the future of medicine. Tune in to learn more about: Why the AIC has been a game-changer for clinicians around the world How functional medicine is expanding rapidly across Latin America The role of the Functional Medicine Academy in training new practitioners Hot topics at the upcoming AIC, from psychedelic and peptide therapies to longevity and energy medicine How the conference bridges traditional wisdom with modern science Why this global movement is transforming the future of healthcare Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Be sure to listen, share, and help spread the word about the transformation happening in medicine today.

What does it take to build a thriving, scalable functional medicine practice in today’s healthcare landscape? In this episode of the Evolution of Medicine podcast, we’re joined by Seth Conger, a seasoned entrepreneur and innovator in the functional medicine space who’s helped practices grow from startup to seven-figure exits. Seth shares his own journey, from event marketing into transforming his father-in-law’s clinic with cutting-edge technology and a shift to a membership-based model. The episode explores three distinct stages of practice growth—startup, growth and scale—and the critical mindset and business shifts required at each level. Tune in to learn: Why the startup phase is all about finding product-market fit and acquiring patients How the growth phase requires systems, hiring and stepping back from direct care What the scale phase looks like when your vision leads and your practice grows independently Why choosing the right business model (and ditching fee-for-service) is non-negotiable for long-term success Common mistakes that keep practitioners stuck and the high opportunity cost of not evolving Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale beyond yourself, this episode offers a roadmap for sustainable growth in functional medicine. Download today to learn how to build a profitable practice that doesn’t burn you out.

In this powerful episode of the Evolution of Medicine podcast, James Maskell sits down with Tasha Blank—DJ, movement catalyst, and founder of Powerhouse DJ School—to explore how dance, music, and embodiment can be powerful tools for healing and nervous system regulation. For over a decade, Tasha has pioneered sober-conscious dance events that remove movement from the club scene and place it back into the realm of sacred, intentional expression. Her story is one of personal transformation, community leadership, and deep inquiry into how we heal—physically, emotionally and culturally. Tune in to learn about: How dance and embodiment shifted Tasha’s relationship with her body and launched a decade-long journey of transformation. The health crisis in her late teens that forced her to look beyond conventional medicine and into nutrition, movement and energy work. A pandemic-fueled identity deconstruction that led to unexpected healing through metabolic, animal-based nutrition—and opened questions around gender, body image and healing. The launch of Powerhouse DJ School and teaching others to use music and dance as vehicles for transformation. The philosophy behind sober dance spaces and how reclaiming movement as medicine can heal individuals and communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone exploring somatic healing, community-based transformation, and new paradigms for health that go far beyond prescriptions and protocols.

In this episode, Dr. Nasha Winters shares her powerful journey with cancer and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in oncology. She explores the limitations of the current cancer care model, the critical role of mitochondria in chronic illness, and why asking different questions is essential for improving patient outcomes. Dr. Winters also introduces MTOMICS, a cutting-edge data platform designed to revolutionize cancer treatment by integrating personalized, data-driven insights. Listen to the full episode to learn more:  The standard cancer care model has seen little progress in outcomes since 1971. Cancer is affecting younger populations, signaling the need for new approaches. Mitochondrial health is a cornerstone of cancer and chronic disease management. Integrative medicine offers evidence-based strategies to enhance patient care. Community and collaboration are essential for driving meaningful change. Data-driven, decentralized healthcare models can empower both patients and practitioners. And much more! Tune in to discover how integrative oncology, cutting-edge research, and patient empowerment are reshaping the future of cancer care.

Summary In this episode, James welcomes back Dr. Bryce Appelbaum to the Evolution of Medicine podcast to continue their previous discussion about functional optometry.  James and Dr. Appelbaum recently reconnected at an event tied to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. Dr. Appelbaum approaches vision health from a functional medicine perspective and considers how functional vision issues can be implicated in seemingly unrelated cognitive issues, such as learning disabilities and ADHD. Tune into this full conversation that explores: How practitioners are working to communicate the full scope of what is possible in terms of improving vision, cognition, and overall health for the benefit of public awareness Dr. Appelbaum has worked with Dave Asprey to demonstrate and document how targeted interventions can significantly improve vision Why early-life screen time damages children’s health, harming learning and focus   How undiagnosed vision problems can have major impacts on health and wellbeing Which patients benefit most from ScreenFit Use code EVOMED for $200 off on ScreenFit, the vision training program designed to minimize the negative effects of screens on vision and promote healthy visual habits. Dr. Bryce Appelbaum (12:59)- 13:35

This Business of Functional Medicine episode is the second part of podcast episode #349, hosted by Kristen Brokaw with guest and business coach, Ari Meisel. In this episode, Ari explains that practice owners can use AI to enhance productivity. He also discusses concepts that he teaches in business coaching, including “The 3 Levers of Success in Business” and “The 6 Levels of Delegation.” He also revisits the importance of asynchronous communication, and shares techniques for capturing ideas effectively and for finding the right support to optimize personal and professional life. Tune into this episode to hear more about: Creating custom GPTs to streamline information processing and ideation Using tools like Trello to delegate or prioritize tasks Why work-life integration is more relevant than work-life balance And much more! Listen to Part I of this podcast, Business of Functional Medicine: Four Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Practice Owners, episode #349.

This week’s podcast guest is Katie Baric, Executive Director at Hands on Peru—a nonprofit organization in Peru and the US, created as a response to the deep inequities in access to medical care among the rural poor of Peru. Hands on Peru is a medical center that provides a range of basic medical services, from dentistry to ultrasounds. The organization also has a mission to serve as an educational platform for students and medical practitioners from around the world. Katie invites listeners to reach out to her at [email protected] to learn about opportunities for visiting and working with the organization to learn about pioneering public health theory into practice. During the episode, Katie also highlights the launch of Chimuk, a social enterprise empowering local women through knitting, and the impact of these initiatives on the community's health and wellbeing. Download and listen to the episode to hear about: ·       How Katie came to co-found Hands on Peru. ·       Katie’s and James’ introduction at the Lifestyle Medicine Conference in Mexico City, and why they were inspired by the unique conference format that modeled the principles of lifestyle medicine. ·       Peru’s practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. ·       And much more!   Please tune in to learn about opportunities to travel to Peru to participate in this community development and healthcare initiative.