The Vital Spirit Podcast with Dr. Kelly Livingston

Movement is one of the most powerful tools we have to support our health—especially in midlife—but only when we stop forcing it and start using it intentionally. In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I unpack what I truly mean by movement as medicine. This isn’t about workouts, punishment, or doing more. It’s about understanding how movement supports your nervous system, mood, hormones, lym...

What if depression isn’t something to silence but something asking to be understood? In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I continue our two-part conversation on depression in midlife by shifting from definition to healing. Instead of focusing on quick fixes or symptom suppression, I walk you through how depression actually heals when we work with the body, the nervous system, and the deep...

Today, we explore what it really means to feel emotions—not analyze them, suppress them, or power through them—but experience them safely in the body with Jenn Rapkin, a naturopathic physician, body worker, and author of The Feeling Muscle. This is a deep, grounded conversation about felt emotion, nervous system regulation, and why so many of us were never taught how to sit with hard feelings. We...

What if depression isn’t a personal failure—or even a single diagnosis—but a message from the body, the nervous system, and the life you’re living? In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I share one of the most personal and important conversations of my career. Drawing from my clinical work, my background in psychology and naturopathic medicine, and my own lived experience with depression—es...

What if stress isn’t the problem—but the way we’ve been taught to override our bodies instead of listening to them? In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m joined by my friend and colleague Dr. Erin Kinney, a licensed naturopathic doctor, stress-reset expert, and author of the upcoming book The Cortisol Cure. Together, we unpack one of the most misunderstood hormones in women’s health: co...

What if depression isn’t a flaw or a chemical imbalance but a doorway into understanding your physiology, your history, and your deepest unmet needs? In Part 2 of this powerful two-episode series, I turn inward and share my personal journey with depression, including the moments that brought me to my knees and the practices that helped me rise again.  If you’ve ever felt numb, disconnected, m...

What if everything you’ve been told about serotonin and depression was incomplete or entirely wrong? In this two-part episode, I open a deep, necessary conversation about SSRIs, the serotonin theory, and what depression actually is on a physiological level. So many women are handed antidepressants without any exploration of hormones, inflammation, trauma physiology, gut health, nutrient status, or...

What if healing chronic illness isn’t about chasing symptoms but understanding the deeper terrain of your body, your nervous system, and even your story? In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I sit down with my long-time mentor and colleague, Dr. Ginger Nash, whose work has shaped so much of how I practice today. We explore the complexity of chronic illness, the layered wisdom of homeopathy...

Have you ever wondered why your bloating, gut issues, or “SIBO flare-ups” keep coming back no matter how many protocols you try? This episode will change the way you think about SIBO—and your gut—forever. In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m breaking down why SIBO isn’t actually the root problem and why real, lasting healing starts with restoring your body’s terrain, rhythms, and nervo...

What does it really mean to trust yourself especially in midlife? In this rich and moving conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Valerie Simonsen, a deeply intuitive and experienced naturopathic physician who blends science, spirit, and storytelling in her healing work.  We talk about how your body’s symptoms can be messengers, the power of belief in your healing journey, and how tuning into your in...

If you’ve ever thought, “I eat clean but I still feel inflamed,” this episode is for you. We’re breaking down the real differences between food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances—and why understanding them could be the game-changer in your gut and hormone healing journey. From testing myths to elimination diet tips to patient stories that show what’s possible, this is your go-to food react...

What if your hardest season isn’t a setback but an invitation? In this episode, I’m sharing a deeper conversation about what so many of us go through in midlife—a chapter that’s often messy, uncomfortable, and hard to name. It might look like gut symptoms, burnout, anxiety, or the sense that your old routines and wellness tools just aren’t working anymore. But underneath all of that? There’s a sac...

If you’ve been waking up at 3 a.m. with your heart racing, or struggling to fall asleep even when you’re exhausted, this episode is for you. In this Sleep Masterclass, I unpack why sleep is one of the most overlooked but essential forms of medicine, especially in midlife. You’ll learn how your circadian rhythm, hormones, blood sugar, and nervous system all impact sleep (and what to do about it). W...

What if your hair loss isn’t just a cosmetic issue but a clue your body is asking for deeper support? In this episode, I open up about my own journey with hair loss—what triggered it, how I healed it, and the protocols I use with patients going through the same thing. From low ferritin to blood sugar swings, thyroid patterns to stress responses, we walk through why midlife hair loss happens and wh...

If you’ve ever wondered whether you really need hormone therapy—or if there’s more you should address first—this episode is for you. In Part 2 of our HPA Axis series, I take you inside my real-life clinical process, breaking down exactly what labs I run, how I interpret them, and why hormone symptoms aren’t always about hormones. We also explore the deeper spiritual and psychological aspects of he...

Ever feel like you're doing all the right things—but you're still exhausted, foggy, or emotionally on edge? In this episode, I unpack what might really be going on: your HPA axis. This system—your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis—regulates your stress response, hormones, energy, and even how well you sleep. And when it’s off? Everything else can feel off, too. This conversation is about bridgin...

If you’ve ever felt deeply exhausted—like no amount of sleep, supplements, or self-care can touch it—this episode is for you. I’m walking you through a real-life case of persistent fatigue and how Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) showed up in a way that looked a lot like burnout. You’ll hear how this virus works, why it often reactivates in midlife, and how to approach healing from a place of nervous syst...

Detox isn’t a trend—it’s a built-in process your body is doing every single day. In this episode, I walk you through what detox really means, why it’s essential for midlife health (especially hormone balance), and how you can support it daily—without fear, fads, or overwhelm. In this episode, we cover: The real reason your detox bucket might be overflowing (and how to lighten the load) Why hydrati...

If you’re feeling fatigued, foggy, inflamed—or even emotionally stagnant—this episode is a must-listen. In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m diving into the second seed of health in the Seeds of Health series: hydration and hydrotherapy. And no, it’s not just about drinking more water. We explore hydration as a deeply holistic foundation—impacting everything from your detox pathways an...

What if the missing piece in your healing journey isn’t another supplement or lab test but simply learning how to pause? In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m kicking off the Seeds of Health series by exploring why mindfulness is the very first foundation we build in the Vital Spirit Method. If you're someone who’s rolled your eyes at meditation or struggled to stick with a mindfulness...

Burnout isn’t laziness—it’s your body’s cry for support. Today, I’m diving deep into what’s really going on beneath the surface of exhaustion, depletion, and dysregulation. I’ll walk you through the physiology of burnout (hello, HPA axis and pregnenolone), the nervous system patterns that keep us stuck, and the tools I use with my patients to support true healing and recovery. If you're tired of b...

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own healing story—from the high-functioning burnout I didn’t see coming, to the post-birth control chaos that forced me to stop overriding my body and finally tune in. It was this experience that reshaped everything I thought I knew about healing. I’m sharing the philosophy that guides the way I practice as a naturopathic doctor, and why I believ...

Have you ever wondered what actually makes naturopathic medicine different from functional medicine, nutritionists, or homeopaths? In this episode, I break down the core distinctions that shape how I—and other licensed naturopathic doctors—approach healing. If you’ve ever felt confused by the alphabet soup of holistic care or frustrated by protocol-based medicine that left you feeling unheard, thi...

What if your body’s burnout was never a personal failure—just a sign that it’s time for a new kind of medicine? In this solo episode, I dive into the emotional, physical, and spiritual weight that midlife women often carry and why the conventional model of healthcare keeps missing the mark. I talk about what true healing really requires in this season of life, and why I believe women need a medici...

Have you ever noticed that your digestion slows, your breath shortens, or your skin flares during times of stress or emotional overwhelm? In this episode, we dive into the world of emunctories —the body’s organs of elimination—and explore how physical stagnation often mirrors emotional and energetic stagnation. Whether you’re feeling stuck, inflamed, or intuitively drawn to cleanse, this episode o...