The Elevated Health Podcast

On this episode host Vivian welcomes Dayna Schertler, an LCSW with over 30 years of clinical experience and a specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Dayna shares her journey into mental health, training at the Beck Institute, and how CBT became the backbone of her practice. They explain what CBT is and how it differs from traditional psychodynamic therapy: a structured, goal-focused approach that helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. Dayna outlines core CBT elements—setting an agenda, collaborative goal-setting, Socratic questioning, and practical homework assignments designed to create measurable progress. The conversation covers behavioral activation (starting with small, achievable tasks to build momentum), how thinking shapes brain pathways and physical health, and the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in long-term wellbeing. Dayna also discusses integrated care—addressing mental and physical health together—and why checking basic medical issues matters in mental health treatment. Finally, Dayna offers practical advice for finding a CBT therapist and what to expect in therapy: look for structure, regular homework, time-limited plans, and clear goals. The episode emphasizes that therapy can be educational, evidence-based, and aimed at helping people gain tools to manage future challenges independently.

In this encore episode, Amanda interviews her mother, licensed clinical social worker Shelly Moss, about how negative and repetitive thoughts fuel anxiety and affect the body. Shelly explains the brain’s fight-or-flight response, how unresolved trauma can cause physical symptoms, and why silence often triggers nighttime worry. They share simple, actionable tools listeners can use in the moment—diaphragmatic breathing and the physiological sigh, reframing thoughts using CBT, setting a designated “worry time,” writing tasks down, and changing your environment (walking through a threshold) to reset your mind. They also discuss how stress raises glucose, the mind–body connection, and when to seek help. The episode closes with a quick, healthy weeknight meal idea and reminders to be kind to yourself while practicing these strategies for calmer sleep, better mood, and improved physical health.

Host Amanda Jones sits down with Jennifer Nix—a DONA-certified doula, registered yoga teacher, birth assistant, and mom of four—to talk about five practical ways to prepare for the birth you hope to have. They discuss how to choose a supportive provider, prepare your body through prenatal movement and pelvic-floor care, practice for the mental and emotional demands of labor, make informed decisions about induction and other interventions, and decide whether a doula belongs on your birth team. Jennifer also explains what doulas actually do, how they differ from midwives and medical providers, and how they support both the laboring mother and her partner. Amanda and Jennifer talk honestly about epidurals, inductions, hospital policies, flexible birth plans, and the grief that can happen when birth doesn’t unfold the way you imagined. Whether you’re hoping for an unmedicated birth, planning an epidural, facing an induction, or simply trying to feel more prepared, this episode will help you ask better questions and build a team that keeps you informed, supported, and involved in your care.

Link to Amanda’s Fullscript Storefront: https://us.fullscript.com/s/amoss1554233494/shop This episode explains what cortisol actually does in your body: it helps regulate blood pressure, glucose, metabolism, inflammation, immune activity, and your sleep–wake cycle. Cortisol is not simply “bad” — the key is having the right amount at the right time. You’ll learn how cortisol and melatonin work as opposing parts of your circadian rhythm, why cortisol naturally rises toward morning and can make the second half of the night more vulnerable to awakenings (commonly around 3 a.m.), and how changing sex hormones (pregnancy, perimenopause) can increase sleep disruption. The episode also covers how stress-driven cortisol responses can raise blood pressure and alter blood sugar, and why tools like continuous glucose monitors can help spot patterns. Instead of focusing only on lowering cortisol, the host asks a practical question: where are you not recovering? Practical suggestions include prioritizing sleep and recovery, getting morning light and movement, managing stimulation at night, eating enough protein, and using breathing or brief rest breaks. Supplements like an adaptogen-based “cortisol manager” are mentioned as one possible evening tool — not a cure — and should be discussed with a clinician. Takeaway: cortisol is necessary and useful when it’s timed correctly; listen to your body’s signs of stress, address recovery gaps, and aim for the right amount of cortisol at the right time.

In this episode of the Elevated Health Podcast, host Amanda Jones talks with Bruce Clarke, MD about his journey into family medicine and his growing focus on cardiovascular health through a functional medicine lens. They discuss how traditional medical training emphasizes acute care, while prevention of heart disease requires a broader view of inflammation, lifestyle, and metabolism. The conversation covers how plaque forms, the role of LDL and HDL, and why cholesterol alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Dr. Clarke explains advanced testing options (ApoB, Lp(a), NMR lipid panels, insulin, high-sensitivity CRP, and coronary calcium scoring) and how fatty liver and insulin resistance contribute to cardiovascular risk. They also review practical prevention strategies: realistic dietary changes, intermittent fasting, sleep, stress management, and exercise (including simple, scalable options). The hosts stress meeting patients where they are, using small steps to reduce inflammation, and combining lifestyle approaches with medications when appropriate. Listeners will come away knowing which additional tests to ask for, why prevention matters, and simple lifestyle actions that make a measurable difference in heart health.

This episode is Cholesterol 101: a clear, approachable overview of what cholesterol is, why your body makes it, and what the common lab numbers mean. Learn the difference between cholesterol made by your body and cholesterol in food, and why the liver acts like a cholesterol warehouse and distribution center. The episode explains that LDL and HDL are not types of cholesterol but lipoprotein particles that carry cholesterol through the blood, and why total cholesterol alone doesn’t tell the whole story. It also separates triglycerides from cholesterol—triglycerides are an energy-storage lipid, not cholesterol—and describes common reasons cholesterol and triglyceride levels vary, including genetics, insulin resistance, hormones, medications, and lifestyle. By the end of the episode you’ll understand the basic language of a lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides) so you can interpret your results with more confidence and be ready for deeper episodes on plaque formation, treatment decisions, and advanced lipid testing.

This episode offers a practical back-to-school health reset that doesn’t require overhauling your life—use the season to tune routines to what will actually make your household function better. Start with sleep: shift bedtimes gradually and create a predictable wind‑down routine for both kids and parents so mornings aren’t a scramble. Make breakfast simple and protein‑forward with grab‑and‑go options like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein shakes, or pre-made breakfast sandwiches to support morning energy and keep dinner from carrying all the protein load. Plan for the after‑school danger zone with easy protein snacks (hard‑boiled eggs, deli roll‑ups, hummus and veggies, yogurt or bars) so everyone isn’t ravenous before dinner. Adjust dinners to the season—when it’s hot, choose cooling, lighter but substantial meals (rotisserie chicken, salads, wraps, snack‑plate style dinners) and allow boring, repeatable dinners or freezer emergency meals to protect your sanity. Prioritize hydration and electrolytes, especially in heat or during sports; know the signs of dehydration and heat illness and address them promptly. Return to basics for immune support: good sleep, nutrition, hydration, handwashing, and appropriate preventive care—supplements can help but don’t replace fundamentals. Bottom line: don’t treat August like a New Year’s overhaul. Pick a few manageable changes (fill water bottles each morning, move bedtime 30 minutes earlier, stash a few emergency dinners) and you’ll get through the start of school with less stress and better health.

This episode explains metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, why the name change matters, and how these conditions develop from chronic insulin resistance and fat buildup in the liver. We cover how MASH progresses—fat accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and possible cirrhosis—and the systemic effects it causes, including disturbed cholesterol handling, hormone metabolism, overnight glucose regulation, high triglycerides, fatigue, and increased cardiovascular risk. Diagnosis is typically suggested by abnormal labs and confirmed with imaging such as ultrasound or transient elastography (FibroScan); biopsy is reserved for unclear or advanced cases. Prevalence is high (around one in three people in some regions), so early detection matters. Treatment focuses first on lifestyle: protein-forward, fiber-rich whole foods, reduced refined carbs, better sleep, and regular aerobic/resistance exercise to lose weight and reduce visceral fat. Medical options for select patients include newer targeted drugs for NASH (e.g., ResDifera for F2–F3), GLP‑1 receptor agonists, pioglitazone, fibrates for triglycerides, and vitamin E in specific cases. Alcohol reduction and avoiding liver-metabolized drug overload are also important. The good news: when identified and treated early, metabolic liver disease is often reversible. The episode includes real patient examples showing significant improvements with combined lifestyle and medical interventions, and emphasizes the liver’s ability to heal when metabolic drivers are addressed.

This episode marks the Elevated Health Podcast's one-year anniversary. Hosts Amanda and her mother Shelly Moss reflect on the nerves and uncertainty of starting the show, the messy behind-the-scenes moments (yes, even running over a drawer), and the many life changes they juggled while keeping the podcast going. They explore why it feels uncomfortable to be proud—covering narrow self-perspective, hedonic adaptation (moving the goalposts), rising expectations, sensory habituation, comparison, and imposter syndrome—and how those forces make accomplishments feel smaller than they are. The conversation offers practical ways to notice and savor progress: daily gratitude practices, mindful savoring of moments, setting specific measurable goals when possible, focusing on intrinsic values, forgiving yourself for setbacks, and celebrating progress over perfection. Listeners will come away reminded that achievements often look different from the inside, that honest self-recognition is not bragging, and that small, imperfect steps add up—cheers to one year and to keeping the trajectory moving forward.

On this episode Amanda Jones welcomes nurse Lindsey Nidiffer, a new team member at Elevated Health with a background in trauma/surgical ICU, burn unit, home health, and nurse education. They reconnect over shared nursing roots and dive into why peptides are becoming popular in wellness medicine. The conversation explains what peptides are, differentiates FDA‑approved peptide drugs from research‑only and compounded peptides, and gives familiar examples like insulin and GLP‑1 medications. They stress why seeing a knowledgeable clinician matters: reviewing medical history (including cancer, autoimmune disease, pregnancy, psychiatric and cardiovascular history), assessing goals, and planning safe dosing, monitoring, storage, and reconstitution. The hosts discuss sourcing and quality concerns—compounded products versus research labs, the value of third‑party testing, and the risks of buying from unverified online or multi‑level marketing sellers. Specific therapies covered include the Wolverine Stack (BPC‑157 and TB‑500) for tissue repair, NAD with methylene blue for cellular energy and cognitive support, GHK‑Cu for skin and hair benefits, and glutathione. They summarize available research, typical effects, and the need for more human trials for many peptides. Through patient anecdotes and clinic experience—such as improved shoulder healing, NAD benefits, and melanotan causing increased freckling—they illustrate practical outcomes, side effects, and the importance of individualized care and cautious dosing. Finally, Amanda and Lindsey describe Elevated Health’s evidence‑based approach to offering peptide and IV services, their collaboration with pharmacists, and how patients can access care in person in Canyon, Texas or via telehealth across the state.