#598 Mental Health in Sports: How Trauma Impacts Athletic Performance with Dr. Hillary Cauthen

In this episode of The FIT & HEALTHY Athlete Podcast, host Debbie Potts sits down with Dr. Zulia Frost, a physician, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and co-founder of Recharge Health—the innovators behind the FlexBeam red light therapy device. Dr. Frost shares her compelling journey from personal health crisis to becoming a global educator and advocate for technology-driven healing solutions. Through tools like photobiomodulation and neuromodulation, she has helped thousands optimize recovery, reduce inflammation, and take back control of their long-term health. 🧭 Dr. Frost’s WHY & MISSION WHY: After experiencing a traumatic health challenge, Dr. Frost discovered the incredible healing power of red light and frequency-based therapies. That experience sparked her passion for helping others recover naturally and reclaim vitality. MISSION: To educate athletes, practitioners, and health seekers on how to safely integrate non-invasive, science-based therapies into their daily routines. She aims to bridge cutting-edge science with practical application and foster a global community for shared healing and performance. 💬 In This Conversation, We Discuss: What makes red light therapy so effective at the cellular and mitochondrial level The difference between generalized light exposure and targeted therapy How FlexBeam supports pain relief, immune balance, sleep, recovery, and performance Practical ways to integrate red light therapy into your lifestyle Why Dr. Frost believes this technology is the future of personalized healing 🛍️ Special Offer for Listeners: Recharge your body—naturally. 🛒 Save on your own FlexBeam at https://recharge.health with code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS 🌐 Connect with Dr. Zulia Frost & FlexBeam: Website: https://drzulia.com FlexBeam: https://recharge.health Instagram: @theflexbeam Facebook: @theflexbeam YouTube: @rechargehealth TikTok: @theflexbeam 🎧 Hosted by Debbie Potts Functional Health Coach | Metabolic Expert | Host of The FIT & HEALTHY Athlete Podcast 📺 YouTube: @coachdebbiepotts 🌐 Website: https://debbiepotts.net 📸 Instagram: @debbiepottscoach

In today’s solo deep-dive rabbit hole episode, I’m unpacking one of the most powerful, free, and overlooked habits for improving your sleep, reducing stress, restoring hormone balance, and supporting mitochondrial function — morning sunlight exposure. If you're someone dealing with: Chronic fatigue or burnout Mold illness or CIRS Sleep disruptions or "wired but tired" nights Hormone chaos or thyroid issues Low resilience, brain fog, or mood imbalances …then this habit is a non-negotiable part of your healing journey. I’ll walk you through the science of circadian rhythm entrainment, how light resets your neuroendocrine system, improves glymphatic detox, activates mitochondrial clock genes, and even helps pull you out of the Cell Danger Response state. We’ll cover: ✅ What happens in your brain and body when you get morning light ✅ How light impacts cortisol, melatonin, and serotonin ✅ Why it matters for those healing from mold toxicity and chronic inflammation ✅ The mitochondria-circadian rhythm connection ✅ My top daily rituals to stack the habit for real-life success This isn’t about another biohack — it’s about rewiring your biology to heal from the inside out. 🔗 Want to go deeper with your personalized healing journey? I invite you to join me in the Root Cause Revolution™ program at Root Cause Doc™ where we uncover your hidden stressors, build your body systems up so you can thrive and create a custom strategy to support your Future You. ➡️ Learn more and register at: www.rootcausedoc.com Let’s get outside and let the light lead the way to healing. —Coach Debbie Potts, Holistic Health Practitioner + Health Investigator 🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform 💬 Tag me with your takeaways @coachdebbiepotts #RootCauseRevolution #CoachDebbiePotts #CircadianReset #CIRSRecovery #MitochondrialHealth #SleepOptimization #MorningLightRoutine #FutureYou

In today’s solo episode, Coach Debbie dives deep into a hidden root cause of chronic fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, and premature aging—CIRS, or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. If you've ever felt stuck in survival mode despite doing all the “right” things, it may not be your fault. Your mitochondria may be trapped in a Cell Danger Response, driven by exposure to biotoxins, mold, or chronic infections like MARCoNS. You’ll learn how this complex immune response damages your gut, disrupts hormones, impairs your brain, and stalls fat metabolism—all accelerating the aging process. I’ll walk you through the core labs I use with clients, including VCS screening, MARCoNS nasal testing, and mitochondrial support panels, plus how to connect these to functional thyroid patterns, leaky gut, and cognitive decline. 🎧 Tune in to learn: What is CIRS and why it’s often misdiagnosed How mold exposure and MARCoNS disrupt hypothalamic signaling What the Cell Danger Response is and how it blocks recovery Why mitochondrial dysfunction is the missing link in chronic illness and aging 💡Want to work with me? Learn more about my coaching programs and lab testing at www.debbiepotts.net- head to www.rootcausedoc.com to learn more about their Root Cause Revolution 4-month course. 📲 Follow Coach Debbie Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts YouTube: Coach Debbie Potts Podcast: The Coach Debbie Potts Show – available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube 🛠️ Become your Future You... by finding and fixing the root cause of your chronic fatigue and metabolic chaos.

Welcome to The Coach Debbie Potts Show — also known as The Fit & Healthy Athlete Podcast, where we share strategies to stay fit and healthy from the inside out as we age… at a cellular level. Together, we’re building the FutureYou by optimizing metabolism, hormones, and energy with The WHOLESTIC Method. In this powerful episode, Debbie sits down with renowned functional medicine nutritionist and educator Andrea Nakayama, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance and host of the 15-Minute Matrix Podcast. Andrea’s work has transformed the landscape of chronic illness care by shifting the focus from protocols and quick fixes to personalized, root-cause healing. Her journey began during a personal tragedy—her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor while she was seven weeks pregnant. After losing him and later developing Hashimoto’s herself, Andrea became a pioneer in the functional nutrition space, now training thousands of practitioners each year to support complex cases. 🎯 In this episode, we explore: What’s missing from today’s longevity conversation How to shift your mindset if you’re a high performer or athlete living with chronic illness Why vitality is more important than just living longer How over-testing and cookie-cutter protocols fall short in functional medicine How purpose and self-advocacy impact health and aging Andrea’s story aligns with The WHOLESTIC Method Coaching Program—designed to help high-performing individuals rebuild and thrive from the inside out. 🔗 Connect with Andrea Nakayama: Website: andreanakayama.com Instagram: @andreanakayama Podcast: 15-Minute Matrix Functional Nutrition Alliance: functionalnutritionlab.com 🎁 Discount Code: Use COACHDEBBIEPOTTS for savings on featured tools & programs

  Are you feeling burnt out, bloated, or just not like yourself anymore—despite eating right and working out? On today’s episode of The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show, we dive deep into why many high-performing individuals hit a wall in midlife... and how the answers may lie inside your cells. Coach Debbie Potts shares how she transformed her own health journey—after years of “adrenal exhaustion” and burnout from racing through life—by uncovering the root causes of her dysfunction using advanced functional lab testing. 🔬 What You'll Learn in This Episode: What is the Cell Danger Response (CDR) and how it hijacks your metabolism, hormones, and brain Why your mitochondria are more than just "energy factories"—they're your cellular security system The power of combining mescreen™ mitochondrial testing, DUTCH hormone panels, OATs, genetics, and blood chemistry to create a personalized FutureYou Program How your symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, poor recovery) may not be "aging"—they may be cellular dysfunction Debbie’s personal story of “Life Is Not a Race” and how she now helps others live with intention, not depletion 🧬 Featured Tools & Testing Mentioned: Mescreen™ Mitochondrial Function Panel (save $100 with code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS) DUTCH Complete Hormone Test Organic Acids Test (OAT) Genetic Analysis (Strategene & WildHealth) Blood Chemistry Panel with Functional Ranges 💡 Key Takeaways: Chronic stress, environmental toxins, and hidden infections can trap the body in a chronic "danger mode" Adrenal fatigue is a symptom—not a root cause; it’s time to go deeper True healing and performance optimization begin at the cellular level Functional testing empowers you to build the Future You—stronger, sharper, and more resilient with age 🔗 Resources & Links: 📘 Life Is Not a Race… It’s a Journey by Debbie Potts 💻 Learn more about The WHOLESTIC Method 🧪 Interested in testing? Contact Debbie to start your own FutureYou Program 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube: @CoachDebbiePotts 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | iHeartRadio 🙌 Let’s Connect: Instagram: @debbiemarielpotts Facebook: Coach Debbie Potts Subscribe + Leave a Review if this episode inspired you!

In this episode, Coach Debbie Potts chats with Dr. Eric Osansky—functional medicine practitioner and author—about the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disorders like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s. They explore why conventional medicine often overlooks the immune system, gut, and liver in thyroid care, and how a functional approach can help you reclaim your energy, metabolism, and health naturally. What You’ll Learn: The difference between Graves’ and Hashimoto’s Why the thyroid is the victim, not the root cause Key functional lab markers to assess thyroid health The role of gut health, detox, and nutrients in immune regulation Natural strategies to support autoimmune thyroid healing Connect with Dr. Osansky: 📰 savemythyroid.com/newsletter 🎧 Save My Thyroid Podcast 📚 savemythyroid.com/book 📺 YouTube: @NaturalThyroidDoctor 📱 Instagram: @drericosansky More from Debbie: 🌐 www.debbiepotts.net 📊 PNOĒ Metabolic Testing & Coaching

🧬 "Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction Blocking Your Energy? My mescreen™ Results Revealed!" 🎧 Episode Summary: In today’s solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my personal mescreen™ mitochondrial test results—and how they validate everything I’ve experienced since my so-called “adrenal exhaustion” back in 2013. We’re diving into the Cell Danger Response, oxidative stress, fragmented mitochondrial networks, and why you can be great at burning fat (like me!) but still feel flatlined during sprints or post-workout. If you’re an endurance athlete, a high-performer, or just constantly battling fatigue and brain fog despite doing “all the right things,” this one is for you. 🧪 You’ll learn: What the mescreen™ test reveals that no other test does How my mitochondria are under oxidative and structural stress (ROS Lipid Support profile) Why low mitochondrial and glycolytic energy can stall performance, recovery, and hormones How my genetics (SOD2, MTRR, MAOB) explain my energy crash The 3-phase protocol I’m using to repair my mitochondrial membranes and restore resilience 🚨 Are you stuck in the Cell Danger Response too? This episode will help you connect the dots between your symptoms, stress history, lab markers, and what your mitochondria are really telling you. 🔗 Want to test your own mitochondria? Save $100 off your mescreen™ test with my code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS at 👉 https://mescreen.com/pages/how-it-works 🧠 Mentioned in this Episode: Cell Danger Response theory by Dr. Robert Naviaux Mitochondrial membrane repair nutrients (PC, DHA, tocotrienols) Phase 1–2–3 recovery strategy for oxidative stress and network repair Genetic SNPs that impair energy, detox, and stress resilience PNOĒ metabolism testing as a performance-enhancing overlay 🧭 Learn More & Work With Me: Ready to optimize your mitochondria and feel like your Future You again? Visit: www.debbiepotts.net Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts

Mental Health in Sports: How Trauma Impacts Athletic Performance with Dr. Hillary Cauthen Watch this powerful conversation from The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show as we explore the vital link between trauma, mindset, and athletic performance. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hillary Cauthen, a clinical sports psychologist who is leading the movement to change the culture of sport. Dr. Cauthen helps athletes heal from invisible wounds—emphasizing the importance of mental health, trauma recovery, and emotional well-being for sustainable success in athletics and life. Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or mental health advocate, this conversation is for you. It’s time to treat the person within the player. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Interview: ✅ How trauma affects athletic performance and recovery ✅ Why mental health support is essential—not optional—for athletes ✅ How we can break the stigma surrounding sports psychology ✅ Tools for resilience, self-awareness, and long-term success ✅ Dr. Cauthen’s vision for the future of athlete mental wellness 📘 Dr. Hillary Cauthen’s Book Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate → Available on Amazon, Audible, and Barnes & Noble 🎧 Listen to Dr. Cauthen’s Podcast Highs & Lows of X’s & O’s → Apple Podcasts & YouTube 🎥 Subscribe to Her Channel: Controlled Chaos Network ✨ Connect with Dr. Hillary Cauthen Instagram: @drcmindset LinkedIn: Dr. Hillary Cauthen 👟 Want to Thrive in Your 40s, 50s, and Beyond? If you're doing all the “right” things and still not feeling your best, it’s time to dig deeper. I'm Coach Debbie Potts—and I help driven, high-performing individuals like you optimize your metabolism, hormones, gut health, and performance with personalized programs based on functional lab testing and metabolism analysis. 🚀 Book a Discovery Call → https://www.debbiepotts.net 🔗 Stay Connected with Me: 🌐 Website: https://www.debbiepotts.net 📸 Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts 🎙️ Podcast: The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show 📺 YouTube: Coach Debbie Potts YouTube Channel 📖 Read My Book: Life is Not a Race, It’s a Journey – available on Amazon 👍 If you found value in this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe. 💬 Tag a coach or athlete who needs to hear this. 🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications for weekly episodes! #MentalHealthInSports #SportsPsychology #AthleteMentalHealth #DrHillaryCauthen #TraumaRecovery #MindsetMatters #CoachDebbiePotts #PerformancePsychology #AthleteWellness #HighPerformanceHealth  

Thriving Through Perimenopause & Menopause with Karen Martel: Hormones, HRT & Midlife Metabolism 📺 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube & Subscribe: 👉 https://youtu.be/4r2utoJkHc8?si=jWZKTgNHhiiIPzEl 🎧 Episode Overview In this empowering episode, I'm joined by Karen Martel, Certified Hormone Specialist and transformational nutrition coach, to dive deep into the hormonal imbalances that impact women in perimenopause and menopause—and what to actually do about them. We break down the myths, unpack the symptoms, and explore practical, science-based solutions to help you feel like yourself again. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✅ The most common signs and symptoms of low estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone ✅ How hormonal shifts affect weight gain, energy, mood, sleep, libido, and metabolism ✅ Why midlife women are often misdiagnosed or dismissed in conventional medicine ✅ The difference between bioidentical hormone therapy vs. synthetic HRT ✅ How to test your hormones properly (timing, labs, markers) ✅ Nutritional, lifestyle, and functional medicine solutions for hormonal harmony ✅ Karen’s top tips for balancing hormones naturally, from DUTCH testing to targeted supplementation ✅ When to consider HRT and how to personalize it for optimal results 🧬 Featured Discussion Points: Estrogen dominance vs. estrogen deficiency Progesterone’s calming effect on anxiety and sleep Testosterone in women—why you need it and signs you're low The overlooked thyroid-hormone connection Gut health, liver detox, and insulin resistance as root causes of hormone havoc 👩‍⚕️ About Karen Martel Karen is the host of The Hormone Solutions Podcast, a Certified Hormone Specialist, and a passionate advocate for helping women take charge of their health in their 40s and beyond. Her integrative approach combines advanced hormone testing, personalized nutrition, and strategic bioidentical hormone therapy. 📲 Connect with Karen: Website: www.karenmartel.com (Use code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS for exclusive savings) Instagram: @karenmartelhormones Podcast: The Hormone Solutions Podcast 🎧 Don’t Miss This If You… ✔️ Are experiencing mystery weight gain or chronic fatigue ✔️ Feel like you’re doing “all the right things” but not getting results ✔️ Want clarity on when and how to use HRT safely ✔️ Need an empowering guide to thrive through midlife, not just survive it ✨ If this episode helped you, please subscribe, rate, and share it with a friend. 📲 Subscribe & Watch on YouTube 🌟 What Are You Doing Today to Ensure You Thrive at 70, 80, and Beyond? Aging isn’t just about your genetics—it’s about your daily choices and your willingness to investigate what’s really going on inside your body. 🔹 Are you addressing both external AND hidden internal stressors? 🔹 Are you following a personalized plan—not a one-size-fits-all protocol? 🔹 Have you been told your labs are “normal,” but you know something is off? 👣 Work with Debbie Potts: Your Functional Health Investigator If you’re a driven, high-performing woman navigating the hormonal shifts of your 40s and beyond—and feel like you’ve lost control of your body, energy, and metabolism—it’s time to stop guessing and start testing. As an FDN Practitioner, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and Metabolic Health Coach, I guide women like you through data-driven, personalized programs to identify and resolve METABOLIC CHAOS™ caused by hormonal imbalances, chronic stress, gut dysfunction, and more. 🔍 Let’s uncover the root cause of your symptoms so you can rebuild your body from the inside out. 📞 Book your Discovery Call today: 👉 www.debbiepotts.net 💬 DM me on Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts 🎯 Your future self is waiting. Let’s get to work. Fuel smarter. Train smarter. Age stronger.