The ALWELLCO Podcast

Dr. Raghu Appasani, MD joins us for a powerful conversation on the future of mental health, integrative psychiatry, and why human connection may be the missing medicine in modern life. In this episode, Dr. Appasani shares how Eastern wisdom, Western medicine, community, nature, sleep, and meaningful relationships all shape emotional wellbeing. From anxiety and burnout to psychedelics, resilience,...

What if your anxiety, exhaustion, brain fog, and overwhelm aren’t signs that your body is failing you, but signs it’s trying to protect you? In this episode, birth doula and menopause coach Chantal Traub joins us to explore the powerful connection between childbirth, perimenopause, and the nervous system. Drawing from more than 20 years supporting women through birth and hormonal transitions, Chan...

Sleep isn’t just about what happens at night, it’s a 24-hour process. In this episode, sleep expert Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell breaks down why so many of us feel exhausted even when we’re “functioning,” and what’s really happening in our bodies when we push through poor sleep. From the hidden effects of cortisol and adrenaline to the role sleep plays in metabolism, performance, and long-term health,...

Star Sage, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Hyperice, joins us to break down how recovery evolved from elite athlete luxury to everyday necessity. From building partnerships with global brands like Nike to scaling recovery into gyms, hotels, and even airport lounges, Star shares what it really takes to create lasting wellness habits. We dive into: The future of recovery and performance tech Why s...

In this episode, Rachel Frances Thomson breaks down biomechanics in a way that actually makes sense, and matters for everyday life. From why your body might feel “off” even when you’re doing everything right, to the overlooked realities of postpartum recovery, desk life, and training imbalances, Rachel shares practical insights you can apply immediately. She dives into simple movement benchmarks,...

What can your walking pattern reveal about your health? In this episode we sit down with Dr. Courtney Conley, founder of Gait Happens and one of the leading voices in foot health and human movement. Dr. Conley shares how her own experience with chronic foot pain led her to specialize in gait mechanics and build a practice focused entirely on the foot and ankle. The conversation dives deep into why...

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn't your circumstances, it's your inability to see past them? In this episode, we sit down with celebrity mindset coach Laura St. John, founder of Strong Confident Living, to explore the practical tools she's used to transform the lives of elite athletes, Fortune 500 leaders, and everyday people around the world, including her niece, Olivia "L...

Dr. Corey Keller, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and clinician at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, joins the ALWELLCO Podcast for a deep, thoughtful conversation on the future of brain based mental health care. As the leader of the Stanford Precision Neurotherapeutics Lab, Dr. Keller’s work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, eng...

What does it take to build lasting strength, not just chase short term results? In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast, Nicole Zapoli of NZ Fitness shares how 25+ years of coaching across gymnastics, cheer, personal training, and CrossFit shaped her “no nonsense” approach to movement, progressions, and real world performance.  Nicole breaks down the NZ Fitness Method: a system that blends functio...

In this conversation, Lisa Hendrickson-Jack shares her journey into fertility awareness and the importance of charting menstrual cycles. She discusses the misconceptions surrounding the menstrual cycle, the significance of understanding it as a vital sign, and how charting can empower women to advocate for their health. The discussion also covers the phases of the menstrual cycle, common myths, an...

Annie Cooper is a former collegiate track athlete turned coach, creator, and founder of Tune Into Fitness. In this episode, Annie shares how her fitness journey began with chasing faster mile and 5K times, then evolved into coaching after she started posting her workouts and fielding requests for plans, form help, and nutrition guidance. We dig into her “do less, do it better” philosophy: why she...

Jon Brady’s career has taken him from teaching aerobics at a YMCA in New Zealand, to building a professional rugby club from scratch, to leading one of the most iconic premium health clubs in the United States as President of Midtown Athletic. In this conversation, Jon joins Andy to unpack how sport, education, and community shaped his philosophy on leadership and wellness. He shares how he helped...

Robert Rettmann, VP of Education at Crunch Fitness, takes us inside the playbook that helped his franchise group grow from 28 to 86 clubs within a network of 500 plus locations. We trace his journey from NASM and PTA Global to building a modern education engine at Crunch with three day training camps, an in house LMS, and a head coach model that keeps learning alive on the gym floor. Rob shares ho...

Physical therapist and Perfect Stride founder Vikash Sharma joins us to unpack how a one-on-one, education-first model can take people from pain to performance. We trace his origin story in NYC, why “perfect” is a moving target, and how clinical reasoning plus honest communication outperforms cookie-cutter protocols. Vikash breaks down bridging rehab and sport, VO₂ max as a practical longevity too...

David Lloyd Clubs’ Head of Product and Programming, Michelle Dand, joins us to break down what modern GroupX really means in 2025. She shares how David Lloyd scales premium, family-first experiences across 130+ clubs, why programming now starts with “how do you want to feel,” and how community events like Blaze Community Games build loyalty. Michelle unpacks the evolution from choreography to expe...

Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Pendulum, joins us to demystify the microbiome and explain what “next-generation probiotics” really are. Colleen shares how DNA sequencing opened the door to mapping the gut, why Akkermansia is a keystone strain for gut integrity and GLP-1 stimulation, and how Pendulum approaches clinical evidence with randomized, double-blind trials. She walks through...

In this episode, Phil Heath shares his journey from a Division 1 basketball player to becoming one of the most celebrated bodybuilders in history. He discusses the importance of mental health, the influence of family, and the evolution of his training philosophy. Phil emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and authenticity in his documentary 'Breaking Olympia,' which highlights his struggles...

What does it take to push the limits of human endurance, embrace extreme environments, and build a life around adventure? Dr. Jon Kedrowski—mountaineer, professional skier, and high-altitude guide—joins us to share his journey from growing up in Vail to summiting Everest four times. With over 30 expeditions to mountains above 18,000 feet, 22 expeditions to the Seven Summits, and world records in m...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast , we sit down with Lily Nichols, RDN , a leading expert in prenatal nutrition and the author of Real Food for Pregnancy , Real Food for Fertility, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes . Lily shares her journey into the prenatal space, how she discovered flaws in conventional dietary guidelines, and why real, nutrient-dense foods are critical for maternal a...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO podcast, we sit down with Marcus Filly , former CrossFit Games athlete, coach, and founder of Functional Bodybuilding. Marcus shares his incredible story of leaving medical school in search of purpose, finding his passion in fitness, and building a thriving coaching business. We discuss: ✔️ The three core values that shaped his journey: honesty, commitment, persiste...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast , we welcome John Berardi , co-founder of Precision Nutrition , to break down the science of nutrition, the psychology of behavior change, and the art of scaling a company in the wellness space. JB shares his journey—from bodybuilding and PhDs to building the world’s largest nutrition coaching platform. We also discuss the future of AI in health , how to fil...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast , we sit down with Kelsey Koehler , founder of ProFit High Performance Medicine , to explore her journey into functional medicine and the science behind optimizing health. 🔬 The truth about functional medicine & why it's more than just supplements 🧬 Peptides, hormone optimization & how they impact longevity 💡 The biggest health mistakes people mak...

In this episode of the ALWELLCo Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Haley Perlus , a renowned sports psychologist who has helped elite athletes and professionals develop unshakable mental resilience. Dr. Perlus shares her fascinating journey from competitive ski racing to coaching top performers on overcoming mental blocks, embracing pressure, and achieving peak performance. We discuss: ✅ The power of...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast, we sit down with Adell Bridges, an international yoga teacher and movement expert, to explore the fascinating connection between neuroscience and yoga. Adell shares her unexpected journey into the yoga world, how neuroplasticity and functional neurology influence movement, and why incorporating brain-based techniques into your practice can transform your bo...

In this episode of the ALWELLCO Podcast, Nic Jarvis , a leader in fitness, behavior change, and coaching, takes us through his decades-long journey in the fitness industry and reveals what most personal trainers and gym chains are still getting wrong. We discuss: The critical role of mindset in fitness and weight loss Why personal trainers struggle to provide real value and how they can change tha...