Get to the Root Podcast

What if the future of employer health care depends less on shifting costs and more on helping people get healthier earlier? In this episode of Get to the Root, Kristen Rivers, SVP at Pareto Health, joins Dr. Erica Armstrong to discuss the growing pressure employers face as health care costs continue to rise. Kristen shares why traditional models often leave employers with limited options beyond ra...

What do the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans really mean for everyday health? On this episode of Get to the Root, Dr. Erica Armstrong sits down with Amy Masterson, Lead Dietitian at Root, to break it all down. They dive into the big updates on protein, vegetables, fats, and grains, as well as what the guidelines still miss. You’ll learn why personalization and tools like the Root Pl...

In this episode, we talk with Allen Ahner, Root’s VP of Engineering, about how technology makes root cause medicine scalable for employers. We explore why functional medicine needs a dedicated platform, how RootOS supports consistent, protocol-driven care, and how we track engagement and outcomes at scale. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure powering preventative and chronic con...

Healthcare ROI starts with addressing what actually drives costs. Nearly 90% of employer healthcare spend comes from chronic conditions, many of which are preventable. In this episode, Dr. Emily Cordes, CMO at Root, explains how Root delivers real ROI for self-funded employers by reducing high-cost medications, cutting fragmented specialist care, and treating root causes through a doctor–dietitian...

The loudest nutrition claims online often leave out the facts. In this myth-busting episode, Root dietitians Amy Masterson, Lauren Hanson, and Stephanie Nielsen cut through the noise with practical, science-based insights you can actually use. They share why quick fixes and viral trends spread so easily—and what really works instead. From the idea that all smoothies are healthy to confusion around...

In this episode, Spencer Smith, host of Self-Funded with Spencer and Senior Vice President of Sales at Pareto Health, shares how curiosity led him from insurance sales to a passion for self-funding. He reflects on insights gained from interviewing innovators and working with employers to design better health plans, highlighting why many are moving away from traditional insurance. Spencer also expl...

Dr. Bethanie Thompson, MD, IFMCP shares how we help people make real, sustainable lifestyle changes using Root tried and tested processes. She also describes several case studies where individuals have bounced around between specialists and ER visits for years before coming to Root and finding answers and healing. Dr. Thompson has a unique background in that she was first a primary care physician...

In this episode of Get to the Root, Dr. Erica Armstrong sits down with Jennifer Wangler, VP of Technology at The Right Place. Jennifer shares her story, from starting in her family business to now leading Tech Week Grand Rapids and driving growth in the region’s tech ecosystem. The conversation covers the mission to double the tech workforce and how community-driven events like Tech Week GR showca...

What if your employees could uncover the root cause of their health concerns? In this episode of Get to the Root, Barbra Chong, Payroll and Benefits Business Partner at Fastco Industries, shares how her company partnered with Root to bring functional medicine into employee benefits. From her own relief from chronic migraines to the lasting energy and improved health employees are experiencing, Bar...

What if your company could cut healthcare costs while improving employee care? In this episode, Dave Chase, founder of Health Rosetta, shares how employers can escape the broken system with transparent, value-based plans focused on advanced primary care and root-cause medicine. Hear how companies are using community-owned plans and open tools to create a more equitable, sustainable healthcare futu...

In this episode, Bruce Tap, president of Fastco Industries, shares why he brought Root’s functional medicine benefits to his team and how they’re already making a difference. He talks about his goal to offer high-quality care while keeping out-of-pocket costs low, and what stood out about Root’s big-picture approach. Bruce also offers tips for other self-funded companies, like using direct primary...

All about what you can do to support mental health. From habit stacking to limbic system retraining, blood sugar balance, and nutrition for the gut-brain connection, Dr. Armstrong and Danielle dive into practical functional medicine strategies that help improve mood, build resilience, and support your nervous system. Learn how daily habits and food choices can work together to help you feel more l...

What if your healthcare dollars actually supported root cause medicine and the community around you? In this episode of Get to the Root, Dr. Armstrong talks with Andy Schoonover, founder of CrowdHealth, about a transparent, community-based alternative to traditional insurance. After a denied claim, Andy built a model where members fund each other’s bills, skip networks, and access care focused on...

People can develop unhealthy relationships with food for many reasons, from body image concerns, food sensitivities, chronic illness, and more. In this episode, Lauren Hanson, MS, RDN, Functional Registered Dietitian at Root, breaks down practical strategies to improve your connection to eating. Discover how to add nourishment and variety, support your microbiome, and honor your hunger cues. Learn...

From improved gut health and dietary diversity to reduced stress and a stronger connection to food, gardening is a powerful way to practice food as medicine. In today’s episode, Michelle Seguin, MD, IFMCP, a functional medicine physician at Root and passionate gardener, joins Dr. Erica Armstrong to explore these benefits and more. Dr. Seguin shares how growing even a few herbs or vegetables can po...

When conventional care couldn’t explain her symptoms, Madelyn kept searching for answers. In this episode, she shares her two-year struggle with unexplained weight gain, fatigue, acne, and excessive sweating. Despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, her concerns were repeatedly dismissed, with doctors attributing them to normal post-college changes. Madelyn’s turning point came when she connected...

What if the key to emotional healing lies not just in the mind, but in the gut, the cells, and the nervous system? In this episode of the Get to the Root podcast, Dr. Erica Armstrong, founder/CEO, kicks things off by discussing how functional medicine can address mental health issues by focusing on gut health, hormones, and inflammation. Amanda Larson, owner and founder of The Holistic Counseling...

Functional medicine can balance the brain and address underlying deficiencies, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances to restore overall well-being. In this episode, Lindsay Buckingham, a Root Functional Medicine member, shares her journey from managing autoimmune conditions and thyroid issues with traditional medicine to discontinuing all medications through a functional medicine approach. She exp...

Traditional healthcare often treats symptoms rather than the root causes of illness, but what if there was a better way to support employee health and well-being? In this episode of the Get to the Root podcast, Max Rispler, Vice President at Hylant, talks about the gaps in employer-sponsored healthcare and the role of functional medicine in workplace wellness. Max shares his personal health journe...

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are making headlines for weight loss, but are they the ultimate solution, or is there a better way? In this episode of the Get to the Root podcast, Dr. Katherine Stam, a board-certified family and functional medicine physician at Root, discusses GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy, their effectiveness for weight loss, and their potential downsi...

In this episode of Get to the Root, Dr. Erica Armstrong sits down with dietitian Danielle Fiskars-Byers to explore why gut health is the foundation of overall health. They break down the gut’s crucial role in digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mental well-being, plus how imbalances can lead to inflammation, brain fog, and hormonal issues. Learn how to support your microbiome with food, lifestyle...

Discover how food can be powerful medicine in this episode of Get to the Root! Dr. Erica Armstrong is joined by Root dietitians Kelsey Stricklen and Amy Masterson to explore how their doctor-dietitian model is transforming health. They dive into the power of functional medicine, advanced testing, and personalized nutrition to support gut health, blood sugar balance, and overall well-being. Learn h...

Are you tired of quick fixes that don’t get to the root of your health issues? In the first-ever episode of the Get to the Root Podcast, Dr. Erica Armstrong sits down with Dr. Emily Cordes, Lead Physician at Root Functional Medicine, to explore how functional medicine uncovers the why behind symptoms like fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic issues. Dr. Cordes shares her journey from primar...