The Nourishment Mindset

It’s been a bit, y’all. My last pod was in October of 2025 because I needed to pause given the loss of my beloved Travis McGree and subsequent loss of the fire in my belly needed to fuel this effort. Somewhat paradoxically, these losses were balanced by Divine gains in my life, which for me reinforces the cycle of life as well as our deep connection to Nature. In today’s episode # 71 I talk about...

Today’s episode #70 is about a topic I’ve never before discussed on The Nourishment Mindset and it’s both personal and vulnerable. Although my parents both grew up in devout Christian homes, my brothers and I were not raised with a religion. As a child growing up in North Carolina, the only time this really bothered me is when some condescending adult might say something like “bless your heart” (w...

My guest in today’s episode #69 of The Nourishment Mindset podcast is the wonderful Dr. Anthony Daffner-Milos, a wonderfully compassionate, fabulously educated, humble, gentle and talented Doctor of Physical Therapy. (I know this as I’m a patient and have recommended him to plenty of people!) Dr. Anthony is the owner of ADM, a concierge PT practice with mobile service for local patients in Collier...

Happy Transformation Tuesday, y’all! It’s admittedly been way too long. I took a summer pause to take my son to camp and decompress for awhile with the hopes that this time would inform future creativity. I have also been busy serving clients. On that note, if you would like a complimentary 20 minute consult to discuss any health improvement goals and see if we’re a fit for working together, I’m h...

In today’s solocast and episode #67 of The Nourishment Mindset, I touch on four topics that recently caught my attention. It’s admittedly a hodgepodge but there is one consistent thread and that’s the critical importance of knowing the INGREDIENTS in our food. We evolved eating real, whole single ingredient foods and that’s where we should focus for optimal health given nutrient density. As Dr. Da...

I met Cheesemonger Raymond Hook 20 years ago when we worked together to design a Port and cheese program for high end restaurants. We embarked on a cheese and Premium Port tasting journey that ultimately led to visits to and partnerships with Sweet Grass Dairy and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company . There are plenty of big personalities in the fine wine and culinary world, and Raymond’s vast kn...

Filming this videocast was a true honor because I had the pleasure of interviewing someone I respected and admire. Her organization helped me improve my health and vitality after a traumatic birth experience AND regain some sanity during the events of 2020 and beyond. Please meet Sally Fallon Morrell, founding president of the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF), an organization inspired by the work...

EPISODE #64 If you’re a Mom, you may be aware of the concept of “Mom fails,” which is just a part of the job. We learn from them and move on. In general, I believe that learning from “fails” is a super important part of being an evolving human. In today’s episode #64 — audio only, I’m drawing a parallel between making metabolic health improvements and a very challenging project I took on eight mon...

What percentage of Americans do you think lose sleep fretting about money matters in the middle of the night? (Hint, it’s well over the majority!) When I was livin’ it up in San Francisco working in the wine industry, I managed to rack up some impressive debt, and it frequently impacted my slumber. Over the years there were other financial issues such as worry over estate planning once my son was...

Am I 100% sugar-free? Heck no! But I’m 95+% sugar-free, and this is sayin’ a lot for someone who in her teen years used to compulsively binge on the stuff. (Turns out when you remove all dietary fat from your diet, you crave sugar.)Today’s Nourishment Mindset episode #62 guest, Michael Collins of SugarAddiction.com has climbed many addiction and health journey mountains, and he’s come out on top w...

Before I dive into our main topic, I want to highlight something I find truly ridiculous: the “Beefless ground beef” I saw on a Trader Joe’s shelf. If someone wants to eat plants infused with toxic seed oils and preservatives, that’s their call, but let’s call it what it is, and that ain’t beef! I also am not personally shopping for cheese-less cheese, grape-less wine nor olive-less olive oil. Wha...

Santé and happy transformation Tuesday, y’all! Today’s solocast is a topic I’m particularly passionate about and the root cause of all metabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity, and many cancers and serious brain disorders like dementia. It’s also something whose effects we can “see” happening (and therefore take measures to prevent) 10-20 years before they manifest with a very simple blood...

One of my favorite quotes is from Jocko Willink, a retired Navy SEAL commander, podcaster, co-author of New York Times Best Seller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win , and author of Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual among other works. He states, “Don’t expect to motivated to get out there every day and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on dis...

Today’s episode #58 -- Awe Heals & You've Gotta be Weird to be Well, was inspired by a gentleman who asked me for some parting words of advice. It truly touched me — his vulnerability and desire to heal, and I wrote to him the following (which is not mentioned in the audio portion of the podcast): If there is one thing I can leave you with, it's intention. Some would call it discipline. Diet cultu...

From picky eater to offal and parasympathetic pause champion! Today’s episode #57 features celebrity chef, author and entrepreneur James Barry. I "met" his culinary creation — Pluck, a grass-fed regenerative and organic seasoning featuring offal — highly nutrient rich organs alongside organic spices and Redmond Real Salt, some years ago and have been in love ever since. It was a true pleasure to l...

It's ALL about the INGREDIENTS y'all! We’ve all been taught to look at the calories and the now gi-hugic nutrition label, but the real nutrition story is told in the INGREDIENTS! Today’s episode is about tossing out those frames from the 70’s (when this government interference in nutrition started) and putting on some modern lenses to evaluate food based on what it gifts to your brain and body. A...

This is our third show about nourishing kids inspired by an article in my French village’s newsletter featuring the three chefs of the elementary school who strive to serve balanced, locally sourced, organic lunches with variety! (Previously, we aired episode 3, Kid Food , and episode 27, Let’s Cook .) Warning if you watch the episode on YouTube : got Florida wet hair and just don’t care! Here are...

The first time I spoke with Michael, I felt like I was reconnecting with a friend. Like a mental health counselor should be, he is warm, genuine, content and a particularly good listener. Michael is also funny and extremely well read. (Reminds me of another Pitt grad I know — my husband, Patrick Huey: maybe there’s somethin’ to studying in Pitt’s iconic Cathedral of Learning.) And like a good, lon...

Happy Transformation Tuesday y’all, and welcome to the final Nourishment Mindset episode of 2023! Today’s we’re talking about the ills of diet culture, which has a nasté grip on most of us and leads to a perpetual cycle of restrict-overindulge-shame/guilt-restart. Diet culture is polarizing and devoid of the pleasure food is meant to bring to our tables, but it sure does make the industry beaucoup...

This episode #52 features Chelsie Ward , a holistic nurse, wellness guide and author who wants to help people become happy, healthy and whole. I particularly appreciate her transformation from traditional nursing to focusing on the mind, body and spirit to address root cause issues. Chelsie shares her story of healing and reminds us that we need to become our own health advocates. She likens sympt...

Today’s episode #51 features me on Craig Lane’s Health Alkemy channel . During our time together we chat about a range of subjects including how we as a culture define health (spoiler alert: it’s a low bar), cultivating presence and mindfulness, nutrition, vices and much more. Before we go there, I give thanks to a reviewer and do a mini rant on Haaaaavard’s ridiculous latest “study.” The thanks g...

Did y’all know you are like a bottle of fine (or not so fine) wine? In this 50th mini solo episode inspired by my two decades in the wine industry, I share an article I wrote for holistic health site, Selene River Press, “Your Terroir: Viewing Metabolic Health Through the Lens of Fine Wine . Fine wine requires cultivation: all inputs are carefully selected, tended, bottled and aged; a true labor o...

Y’all, I’m gonna be real honest here on a couple of points. First, I skipped this past Tuesday. And I don’t have an excuse other than laziness and a desire to watch a weekend movie on my couch and just tune out the world. This is so not my normal vibe — completely uncharacteristic, and after some time chastising myself, I just gave in and said, Dixie needs a freakin’ break! Since this pod’s incept...

Today I feature Brian Gryn, a trainer and coach who studied with the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and focuses on helping people achieve their best. He is also the host of the Get Lean Eat Clean podcast . Gryn’s book, The Step Ladder System , identifies six steps to lifelong health and vitality: 1) creating clarity; 2) creating small wins and identifying important habits; 3) activity upgrade;...

In late August I had the pleasure of being a guest on Brian Gryn’s Eat Clean Get Lean podcast. I’m featuring the interview here for episode #47 of The Nourishment Mindset pod/videocast. Brian and I discuss my book, The Nourishment Mindset , the importance of table side traditions, health benefits and risks of wine consumption (and why all wines are not created equally), nutrient dense foods, mindf...