#480 — Still True: Why Fun Is Not Optional

When did having fun become something you have to earn?In this rerun, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh talk about how easily work, responsibility, and the push to be productive can crowd out joy. They explore the trade-offs we make with our time and money, and why the moments that make life feel full are often ordinary ones: laughing together, connecting with someone, or making room for an interest you’ve missed.It’s a conversation about paying attention to what makes you feel alive—and giving it a place in your life now.In this episode:Why fun can fall to the bottom of a busy scheduleThe trade-off between earning more and having time to enjoy lifeFinding joy in everyday momentsRediscovering interests after a difficult seasonMaking room for laughter and connectionListen and connect: Visit BS Free MD · Email [email protected] episode is for educational and entertainment purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if avoiding the sun carries health risks of its own?In this episode, Drs. May and Tim revisit the relationship between sunlight, cholesterol, statins, and longevity. They unpack a large Swedish observational study linking low sun exposure with higher mortality and question whether conventional advice has oversimplified the role of sunlight in human health.From vitamin D and cholesterol to skin cancer concerns and cardiovascular risk, this conversation explores why the full picture may be more complicated than “sun bad, statins good.”In this episode:What a Swedish study found about sun exposure and mortalityWhy observational research shows association—not causationHow sunlight supports vitamin D production and other biological processesThe complicated relationship between cholesterol, statins, and heart healthWhy absolute risk matters when evaluating medical treatmentsHow fear-based health messaging can overlook important tradeoffsThe importance of discussing your individual risks with your physicianThe takeaway? Health rarely fits into a simple headline. Get informed, understand your personal risk factors, and make decisions based on the complete picture—not fear.🎧 Listen now and decide for yourself: Could a little more sunlight be part of a healthier life?Get Social With Us!Subscribe to BS Free MD for unfiltered conversations about medicine, wellness, and everything in between.Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [email protected] or connect with Tim and May on Facebook and Instagram.Visit BSFreeMD.com for more episodes and updates.Our AdviceEverything discussed on this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. No physician-patient relationship is formed. Always consult your healthcare professional before changing any medication, treatment, or health routine.The Fine PrintAll opinions expressed by the hosts or guests are solely their own and should not be used as specific medical advice. May and Tim Hindmarsh, MD, BS Free MD LLC, and their affiliates are not obligated to update or correct information provided in this episode. Statements and opinions are subject to change without notice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this encore episode, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh sit down with Dr. Annette Bosworth, the internist behind the Dr. Boz YouTube channel and bestselling author of Anyway You Can and ketoCONTINUUM. After decades of telling patients to eat low-fat and load up on "heart-healthy" grains, Dr. Boz hit a wall when her 71-year-old mother's cancer treatment failed. Out of options, she put her mom on a strict ketogenic diet—and watched her cancer markers drop without chemo, along with several other chronic conditions. That experience reshaped her entire practice, from managing symptoms to reversing disease at the metabolic root.Topics include:The moment a patient's question about MD Anderson and ketones made Dr. Boz rethink everythingWalking her mother through ketosis after 69 rounds of chemoWhy inflammation is the common thread behind cancer, autoimmune disease, memory loss, and diabetesKetones vs. glucose as fuel, and what that shift does to the brainWhy she borrowed group-meeting accountability from addiction medicine to help patients stay ketoBurnout, disillusionment with corporate medicine, and finding a better pathThe ketoCONTINUUM: a step-by-step framework for staying consistently keto for lifeWhat You'll LearnHow therapeutic ketosis differs from "keto for weight loss"Why the advice most physicians were trained on may be making chronic disease worseWhat a doctor does when the science she was taught fails someone she lovesPractical ways to start and stick with a ketogenic lifestyleKey TakeawaySometimes the most powerful medicine isn't a prescription. Dr. Boz's story is a case for questioning what we were taught, following the evidence, and giving the body what it needs to heal itself.About the GuestDr. Annette Bosworth, MD, is an internal medicine physician, educator, and founder of Meaningful Medicine in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She's been featured on CNN, TIME, U.S. News & World Report, and Fox News, and teaches ketogenic living to millions through her YouTube channel and online courses.Website: bozmd.comYouTube: youtube.com/@DoctorBozBooks: Anyway You Can and ketoCONTINUUM: Consistently Keto Diet For LifeLet's ConnectWebsite: bsfreemd.com | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyStay BS Free.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this repurposed episode, originally recorded for Dr. Charmaine Gregory’s Fearless Freedom with Dr. G podcast, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh step into the guest seats for a candid conversation about medicine, marriage, burnout, courage, and the creation of BS Free MD.May opens up about the personal challenges she faced during medical school, including depression, an eating disorder, and uncertainty about her future in medicine. Tim shares how his experiences with action sports and skydiving taught him to view fear differently—not simply as something to escape, but as a powerful tool for preparation, focus, and growth.They also discuss their years in rural medicine, the transition from practicing physicians to podcasters, and the events that inspired them to create BS Free MD. The conversation explores physician autonomy, corporate influence in healthcare, medical innovation, informed consent, and the importance of confronting uncomfortable chapters of medical history.In This EpisodeMay’s challenges with depression and an eating disorder during medical schoolHow May and Tim met, married, and built a life in medicineThe realities of residency and rural medical practiceWhy courage does not require the absence of fearUsing fear as fuel for preparation and personal growthPhysician burnout and transitioning beyond traditional medicineHow the events of 2020 helped launch BS Free MDCorporate influence and the loss of physician autonomyBalancing medical innovation with patient protectionThe importance of informed consent and medical accountabilityWhy May and Tim are committed to honest, BS-free conversationsConnect with BS Free MDVisit the BS Free MD websiteListen to the podcastFollow BS Free MD on Instagram and FacebookWatch BS Free MD videosAbout the Original EpisodeThis conversation was originally recorded for Fearless Freedom with Dr. G, hosted by emergency physician, wellness advocate, and podcast coach Dr. Charmaine Gregory.Watch the original conversation on YouTube. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can affect nearly every system in the body—and its symptoms are often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or mistaken for anxiety. In this deeply personal conversation, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh sit down with integrative and functional registered dietitian Michelle Shapiro, RD, to unpack MCAS, histamine intolerance, and the experience of living in a “highly sensitive body.” Michelle shares how rapid weight loss, nutrient depletion, mold exposure, long COVID, and an injury left her increasingly ill and eventually bedbound. She explains why common wellness protocols can make highly sensitive patients worse, how mast cells interact with the nervous, vascular, immune, and connective-tissue systems, and why meaningful care must be personalized—not pulled from a one-size-fits-all protocol. May also opens up about her own MCAS journey, including years of unexplained symptoms, hormonal and genetic factors, severe post-COVID illness, and the trial-and-error process that finally helped her connect the dots. In This Episode Michelle’s path from rapid weight loss and chronic panic symptoms to functional nutrition and MCAS advocacy What mast cells do—and why MCAS can create symptoms across multiple body systems Why flushing, itching, reflux, dizziness, insomnia, migraines, palpitations, anxiety-like episodes, and food reactions may seem unrelated The difference between ordinary allergy symptoms, histamine intolerance, and a broader mast-cell activation pattern Why MCAS can be difficult to diagnose and why laboratory testing may not capture an active flare How nervous-system dysregulation, blood-flow changes, connective tissue, immune activation, trauma, stress, and hormones can interact The overlap among MCAS, POTS, hypermobility, and long COVID Why aggressive detoxes, IV therapies, restrictive diets, or popular supplements may backfire in highly sensitive bodies The role of antihistamines, mast-cell stabilizers, DAO support, food freshness, and individualized risk-benefit decisions Why every medication and supplement should “fight for its life” before earning a place in a care plan How validation, pattern recognition, and a slower, personalized approach can help interrupt the symptom snowball About Michelle Shapiro, RD Michelle Shapiro is an Integrative and Functional Registered Dietitian and founder of Michelle Shapiro Nutrition LLC. Her practice specializes in supporting people with complex chronic conditions, including MCAS, POTS, histamine intolerance, Long COVID, autoimmune conditions, and gastrointestinal issues. After experiencing her own health challenges with Long COVID, MCAS, POTS, and thyroid issues, Michelle brought that firsthand perspective into her work helping patients better understand complex and highly sensitive bodies. Michelle is also the host of the Quiet the Diet podcast and creator of the Highly Sensitive Body™ Hub, a resource dedicated to MCAS, POTS, hypermobility, and Long COVID. Learn more about Michelle and her work at Michelle Shapiro Nutrition. And, at the following: Instagram: @michelleshapirord LinkedIn: Michelle Shapiro, RD The Highly Sensitive Body™ Hub Quiet the Diet Podcast: QuietTheDiet.com Connect with BS Free MD BS Free MD website Instagram Facebook Email: [email protected] Listen & Subscribe Follow BS Free MD wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who has been told their symptoms are “all in their head.” Listen on Spotify. Medical Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical, nutrition, diagnosis, or treatment advice. The experiences and opinions shared are personal and may not apply to every listener. Medications, supplements, and dietary changes can cause adverse or paradoxical reactions; always consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your individual history before making changes to your care. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors  to learn more. --- What happens when the healthcare system built to treat illness leaves patients feeling unsupported, overwhelmed, and responsible for coordinating their own care? At just 23 years old, Chloe Harrouche was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she had specialists guiding each part of her treatment, no one was managing the complete picture. After treatment, she encountered another major gap: little meaningful guidance on prevention, nutrition, fertility, or long-term wellness. That experience inspired Chloe to co-found The Lanby, a modern concierge medical practice designed to make primary care more proactive, coordinated, and patient-centered. In this conversation, Chloe joins May and Tim to discuss how her experience as a patient shaped her vision for a different kind of healthcare. They explore the shortcomings of traditional fee-for-service medicine, the value of coordinated care, and why prevention and wellness should be central to primary care—not an afterthought. In This Episode Chloe’s breast cancer diagnosis at age 23 Navigating treatment without anyone coordinating the full picture Why traditional medicine often prioritizes treatment over prevention The lack of support patients receive after surviving a serious illness Chloe’s difficult fertility journey and path to motherhood Why women frequently place their own health last The problems created by rushed, fragmented medical care How membership-based medicine can better align patients and providers The role of nutrition, wellness, and care coordination in primary care How The Lanby is working to create a more supportive patient experience About Chloe Harrouche Chloe Harrouche is the co-founder and CEO of The Lanby, a modern concierge medical practice in New York City that combines primary care, functional medicine, wellness, and care coordination. Her experience as a young breast cancer survivor gave her firsthand insight into the gaps patients face when navigating complex medical care. Drawing on her background in bioengineering, healthcare strategy, and technology consulting, Chloe helped build The Lanby around a proactive, relationship-based approach to health. Connect with Chloe and The Lanby Learn more about Chloe HarroucheVisit The LanbyConnect with Chloe on LinkedInListen to The Lanby’s Get Well, Better podcast Connect with BS Free MD BS Free MD WebsiteInstagram If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and share it with someone ready for a more proactive, patient-centered approach to healthcare. This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual medical needs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors  to learn more. --- What happens when the Salad Mafia comes for Tim, cockroach milk enters the conversation, and KFC decides fried chicken should be a jelly bean flavor? In this episode of Doc Tales with Cocktails, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh are back with another round of unfiltered conversation, questionable food choices, bizarre headlines, and plenty of rabbit holes. They kick things off with the online debate sparked by Tim’s ongoing war with vegetables—and why conversations about carnivore, vegan, and other diets so quickly turn into an all-or-nothing battle over what everyone should eat. From there, things get progressively stranger. May puts Tim through a round of true-or-false stories involving surprisingly nutrient-dense cockroach “milk,” an unbelievable plastic-surgery stalking story, and some seriously bizarre news. They also dive into a serious discussion about an Idaho shooting, armed citizens, self-defense, and the details Tim believes were missing from early media coverage. And then comes the taste test nobody asked for. May somehow gets her hands on KFC-inspired jelly beans flavored like fried chicken, sweet corn, and gravy—and Tim's reaction is about what you'd expect. They follow those up with Carolina Pulled Pork Pringles and Fiesta Salsa Ritz Bits, complete with their usual ingredient-label commentary. Along the way, they get into stalking and obsession, Fauci and congressional investigations, Substack rabbit holes, mast cell resources, and the drink of the day: locally made Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum. It’s weird news, food experiments, cultural debates, medicine, politics, and the kind of completely unpredictable conversation that makes Doc Tales with Cocktails exactly what it is. In This Episode The “Salad Mafia” and why diet debates get so heated Carnivore vs. vegan diet dogma An Idaho shooting and the debate over armed self-defense Is cockroach milk actually a thing? Stalking, obsession, and bizarre relationship stories Fauci, Congress, pardons, and legal rabbit holes The KFC jelly bean taste test Carolina Pulled Pork Pringles and Fiesta Salsa Ritz Bits What’s really hiding on those ingredient labels Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum The endless world of Substack Connect with BS Free MD Website: BSFreeMD.comInstagram & Facebook: @bsfreemdEmail: [email protected] Subscribe, follow, and join May and Tim for more medicine, culture, current events, and conversations without the usual BS. Until next time, keep it BS free. Disclaimer: The information and discussions shared on BS Free MD are for entertainment and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your own qualified healthcare professional regarding medical decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors  to learn more. BS FREE MD REWIND Are we treating mental illness—or increasingly medicalizing the normal struggles of being human? In this BS Free MD Rewind, Drs. May and Tim revisit a powerful conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Roger McFillin, host of the Radically Genuine Podcast and founder of the Conscious Clinician Collective. Dr. McFillin challenges conventional approaches to mental health care, from the widespread use of psychiatric medications to the way anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional experiences are diagnosed and treated. He shares how his early work with children in psychiatric hospitals changed his perspective on the system and ultimately led him to question the "chemical imbalance" model and the growing reliance on medication. The conversation also explores trauma, informed consent, psychiatric drug withdrawal, the importance of resilience, and whether our attempts to protect people from discomfort may actually make it harder for them to develop the tools needed to navigate life. May also opens up about her own experience with childhood trauma, eating disorders, faith, forgiveness, and the growth that can emerge from suffering. In This Episode Why Dr. McFillin began questioning conventional psychiatric care The medicalization of normal emotions and life struggles Psychiatric medications, side effects, dependency, and informed consent Why trauma doesn't always require immediate intervention The difference between supporting healing and creating dependence Resilience and the importance of learning to tolerate discomfort How diet, exercise, sleep, relationships, and screen time affect mental health May's personal experience with trauma, forgiveness, faith, and healing Why Dr. McFillin believes clinicians need to rethink the way mental health care is delivered The mission behind the Conscious Clinician Collective About Dr. Roger McFillin Dr. Roger McFillin is a board-certified clinical psychologist, writer, speaker, and host of the Radically Genuine Podcast. He is the Executive Director of the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health and founder of the Conscious Clinician Collective, a nonprofit focused on informed consent, medical freedom, personal autonomy, and access to ethical healthcare professionals. Connect with Dr. Roger McFillin Website: DrMcFillin.comPodcast: Radically Genuine PodcastSubstack: Radically GenuineInstagram: @radicallygenuineX: @DrMcFillinConscious Clinician Collective: TheCCCollective.org Stay Connected with BS Free MD Follow BS Free MD for more raw, real, and honest conversations about medicine, healthcare, life, and everything in between. Website: BSFreeMD.comInstagram: @BSFreeMDFacebook: @BSFreeMD If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more listeners discover the show. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional regarding your individual medical needs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors  to learn more. --- The Salad Mafia has spoken—and apparently Tim’s anti-salad rant struck a nerve. This week, Drs. Tim and May Hindmarsh turn the studio into a highly questionable test kitchen as they taste their way through some of the strangest processed foods currently sitting on grocery store shelves. Dill pickle baked beans? Kansas City barbecue ramen? Dye-free Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? Unfortunately, yes. But underneath the chaos is a bigger conversation about what’s actually in the food we eat every day. From ultra-processed ingredients and sky-high sodium to artificial dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, and the seed oils hiding in everything from snack foods to cooking sprays, Tim and May take a closer look at how far modern food has drifted from, well…food. They also break down the so-called “Hateful Eight” seed oils, discuss alternatives like extra virgin olive oil, ghee, beef tallow, avocado oil, and butter, and question whether removing a few questionable ingredients really makes processed junk food “healthy.” And because this is BS Free MD, there’s also a baseball injury story that will make every man listening instinctively cross his legs. In This Episode The fallout from Tim’s now-infamous anti-salad rant A wild taste test featuring dill pickle baked beans, ranch-flavored fries, barbecue ramen, and dye-free Cheetos What ingredient labels reveal about ultra-processed foods Why “healthier” junk food may still just be junk food The surprising amount of sodium, oils, additives, and artificial ingredients hiding in common snacks The “Hateful Eight” seed oils and where they show up in the food supply Olive oil, ghee, beef tallow, avocado oil, butter, and other alternatives discussed by Tim and May How portion sizes can turn occasional treats into everyday staples Why Tim and May argue that the real problem with processed food is the processing itself The grocery-store reality: aisles of packaged foods versus comparatively small sections of whole foods One absolutely brutal baseball injury—and the player who somehow kept playing The Bottom Line Tim and May aren’t arguing that one bag of Cheetos is going to ruin your life. Their point is much simpler: foods designed as occasional treats have increasingly become everyday staples. As Tim puts it, the problem isn’t necessarily having an unhealthy treat once in a while—it’s when “garbage like this” becomes a regular part of the diet. Sometimes the simplest approach is the best one: stop obsessing over which version of processed food is marginally “healthier” and start eating more actual food. Connect with BS Free MD Website: BS Free MD Instagram: @bsfreemd Facebook: BS Free MD Email: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors  to learn more. --- What happens when the lessons learned in combat follow you into the exam room? In this repurposed episode of BS Free MD, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh sit down with Dr. Mike Simpson, whose path to medicine was anything but conventional. Before becoming a physician, Dr. Simpson spent years in military Special Operations, working in environments where decisions had to be made quickly, resources could be limited, and the stakes were very real. Dr. Simpson shares how those experiences shaped the way he approaches medicine today—from staying calm under pressure and making difficult decisions to understanding leadership, teamwork, resilience, and the human being behind the patient. But transitioning from the battlefield to civilian medicine wasn't simply a career change. It meant navigating a major shift in identity and learning how to translate skills developed in extreme circumstances into an entirely different world. This conversation explores what medicine can learn from Special Operations—and why some of the experiences that challenge us the most can ultimately make us better physicians, leaders, and people. In This Episode, We Discuss: Dr. Simpson's unconventional path from Special Operations to medicine What practicing medicine in high-stakes environments teaches you about decision-making How battlefield experience changed his approach to patient care Staying calm and effective when circumstances become chaotic Leadership, teamwork, and accountability under pressure The transition from military service into civilian life and medicine Navigating identity after leaving an intense, mission-driven career Why technical ability alone doesn't make someone a great physician The role of empathy and human connection in medicine How difficult experiences can become strengths in the next chapter of your life About Dr. Mike Simpson Dr. Mike Simpson is a physician and former U.S. Army Special Operations medic whose career has taken him from austere and high-risk environments to the practice of civilian medicine. His experiences across military operations, medicine, leadership, and major career transitions give him a unique perspective on performing under pressure, caring for people during their most vulnerable moments, and adapting when one chapter of life ends and another begins. Connect with BS Free MD 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: BS Free MD 🌐 Website: BSFreeMD.com 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @BSFreeMD ✉️ Email: [email protected] Subscribe to BS Free MD for raw, real, and honest conversations about medicine, healthcare, life, and everything in between. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.