Take Back My Brain

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer welcomes cycle alchemist and East Asian medicine practitioner Adrienne Irizarry to discuss women's hormonal health, menstrual cycles, and perimenopause. Adrienne explains that many menstrual symptoms—including severe cramps, PMS, irregular periods, and emotional instability—are often signs of underlying imbalances rather than an unavoidable...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer welcomes Jannine Krause, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, wellness educator, and host of the Health Fix podcast, for a conversation about healthy aging, stress, travel, and the foundational habits that support long-term wellness. Jannine shares her perspective on travel as a powerful reset for the nervous system. Rather than filling every...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer welcomes functional medicine dietitian and gut health expert Lisa Smith for a conversation about what truly drives healthy aging and longevity. Lisa explains why healthspan—the quality of life we maintain as we age—is just as important as lifespan, and why foundational habits should come before advanced wellness interventions. The discussion explores Lisa’s simple nu...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer speaks with Dr. Emily Splichal about the often-overlooked connection between the feet and the brain. Dr. Splichal explains how walking is a highly neurological process influenced by balance, toe strength, and movement efficiency. She breaks down how walking speed and arm swing reflect overall brain and body health, and why the ability to balance on one leg is a key m...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Jen Beyst, founder of the Cognitive Function Development Institute, about what she describes as the brain’s “hidden operating system”—the cognitive networks that govern attention, memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Jen explains how Cognitive Function Development Therapy (CFDT) uses objective assessment and targeted, multisens...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Laura Abshire, founder of Credit Dusters, about the powerful connection between credit, mindset, and financial freedom. Drawing from both personal experience and years of helping clients rebuild their credit, Laura shares how financial struggles often begin with limiting beliefs, fear, and survival-mode thinking rather than a lack of...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. Dusty Hess, founder of Upstream Health, about reclaiming health through faith, stewardship, family culture, and alignment with God’s design. Dr. Hess explains the difference between emergency-based healthcare and long-term wellness care, encouraging families to focus less on fear and more on intentional daily habits that support p...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews pharmacist and wellness innovator Nayan Patel about the science of glutathione and its potential role in brain health, aging, detoxification, energy, and skin health. Nayan explains how oxidative stress impacts the body and brain, why glutathione levels decline with age, and how low glutathione may contribute to brain fog, fatigue, in...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer guides Brenda Mundt through a live amino acid therapy trialing session to explore how neurotransmitter imbalances may affect anxiety, stress, emotional health, sleep, focus, and chronic tension. Brenda shares her personal healing journey through grief, breathwork, and personal development while experiencing real-time responses to amino acid supp...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer sits down with Dr. Pat McShane to discuss healthy aging, women’s health, menopause, and the importance of health span over lifespan. Drawing from her decades as a fertility specialist, Dr. McShane shares insights on how movement, sleep, nutrition, social connection, and mindset influence vitality later in life. The conversation also explores loneliness, ageism, and w...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer speaks with Dr. Monica Jauregui about gut health and the root causes of digestive issues like IBS and SIBO. Dr. Jauregui explains how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, impaired gut motility, and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) can contribute to a wide range of symptoms beyond digestion, including fatigue, brain fog, and chronic inflammation. The co...

In this episode, I’m sharing a featured interview I did for a summit hosted by Dr. David Jockers, where I was invited to speak about amino acid therapy and mental health. I walk through how neurotransmitter imbalances, blood sugar regulation, and everyday lifestyle habits impact anxiety, depression, and brain function—and how targeted nutrition and amino acids may help support balance and healing....

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Lauren Hubbard about her journey off long-term SSRIs and into amino acid therapy. Lauren discusses safely tapering medication, processing repressed trauma, and improving both emotional and physical wellness. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, support, and investing in your health for long-term mental and emotional transformation. - - - - -  Mi...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Katie Kirklin, RN and functional nutrition counselor, about gut health and digestion. They discuss what constitutes healthy bowel habits, factors that disrupt digestion, and practical strategies for supporting a diverse microbiome through a whole-food diet. Katie emphasizes sustainable lifestyle changes, blood sugar balance, hydration, sleep, and mindset s...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Brady Lowe, founder of Taste Network, about his journey from Des Moines, Iowa, to building a business centered on food, wine, and sustainable farming. Brady shares how his passion for cooking, wine, and cigars evolved into a mission to support small family farms, heritage breed pigs, and sustainable food systems. They discuss the benefits of heritage farmi...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer talks with Dr. Rob Silverman about the truth behind brain health and anxiety. They discuss how amino acid deficiencies can impact neurotransmitters, why a brain-first approach is essential, and how targeted nutrition, lifestyle habits, and foundational health practices can support long-term mental wellness. This conversation highlights the impo...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer shares the story of how she was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer and why she chose not to agree with that diagnosis. Today, 19 years later, she is cancer-free. This is not a story about ignoring reality. It’s a story about standing on the Word of God when everything around you says something different. “I will not die but live, and decla...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer talks with Shannon Davis, registered dietitian, about improving women’s metabolic health. Shannon shares strategies for nutrition, time-restricted eating, resistance training, supplementation, and lifestyle habits that support metabolism, muscle growth, and long-term wellness. She emphasizes flexibility, proper protein intake, healthy fats, and...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer talks with Carolyn S. Cooper, Certified Peer Specialist and mental health advocate, about trauma recovery, peer support, and holistic wellness. Carolyn shares her journey of overcoming childhood abuse and depression, her faith-driven approach to mental health, and practical ways listeners can find support, build a network, and achieve holistic...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer speaks with pediatric nurse practitioner Lori Ryan about the alarming rise of chronic illness in children. They explore how ultra-processed foods, nutrient deficiencies, and gut microbiome imbalances affect kids’ immune systems, behavior, and overall health. Lori shares practical strategies to restore children’s health through nutrition, gut he...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Jamie Morgan and Paige Alexander of Real Food Recovery. They discuss the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods, share personal stories of overcoming cravings, and outline their holistic approach to recovery—focusing on natural foods, movement, sleep, spirituality, and supportive community.  - - - - -  Curious about what kind of st...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. William Pawluk, a holistic physician and PEMF therapy expert. Dr. Pawluk explains how Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields work, differentiates them from harmful EMFs, and shares compelling stories of tissue regeneration, bone healing, and brain support. Curious about what kind of stress might be driving your cravings? Take Laurie Hammer...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer speaks with MIT-trained electrical engineer and physiologist Brian Peskin about the science of brain health and essential lipids. Peskin challenges common advice on fish oil and Omega-3 supplementation, introducing the concept of Parent Essential Oils (PEOs) as the real building blocks of healthy cells. He explains why DHA overload can damage c...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer speaks with Esther Yunkin, RN—an emergency room nurse turned holistic health practitioner—about Hashimoto’s disease, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmune healing. Esther shares her personal journey from ER burnout to holistic practice after receiving her own Hashimoto’s diagnosis. Together, they explore why thyroid disorders are so misunderstood...

Renowned neuroplasticity expert Ashok Gupta joins Laurie Hammer to explain how brain retraining calms the nervous system, reduces inflammation, and supports recovery from chronic illness, long COVID, pain, and anxiety. In this episode of Take Back My Brain , Laurie Hammer speaks with former RN turned holistic wellness coach Shan Wright about burnout, perfectionism, and reclaiming peace. Shan share...