Thursday Tea with Sami

Send us Fan Mail Chronic Illness & the Nervous System: Healing the Mind-Body Connection with Christina Kantzavelos What if chronic illness isn't just something happening to your body, but a signal that your whole system — mind, body, and nervous system — needs attention? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Christina Kantzavelos, a trauma-informed th...

Send us Fan Mail What if your skin could tell you something your doctor hasn't figured out yet? In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Dr. Sharad Paul — physician, professor, and author of Biohacking Your Genes — to explore the surprising connections between skin health, nutrition, genetics, and emotional well-being. Dr. Paul opens with a guiding principl...

Send us Fan Mail High performance isn't reserved for professional athletes. In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , I sit down with Dr. Jonathan "JJ" Jenkins, clinical and sport psychologist, educator, and co-author of Mentality Wins , to explore how the same mental skills used by elite athletes can help all of us navigate pressure, build resilience, and thrive in everyday life....

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to better energy, focus, and mental clarity wasn't a 60-minute workout — but a few minutes of movement sprinkled throughout your day? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Lois Manzella Marchitto, health and fitness expert with over 20 years of experience and founder of Fitness Knocking, to talk about one of the most access...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Samia sits down with Amber Mikesell, founder of Suivera and author of Silence Your Inner Critic , to explore how our inner dialogue quietly shapes everything — from how we sleep and move, to how we show up in relationships and make daily choices. Amber shares her personal journey through a life-altering health crisis at 21 that led her to integrative health an...

Send us Fan Mail Do you look like you have it all together on the outside while quietly running on stress, overwhelm, and survival mode on the inside? You're not alone — and there's actually a name for it. In this episode, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with licensed therapist and coach Alyssa Booth to unpack the "go-go-go crash cycle" — the exhausting pattern that keeps high-func...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel drained just looking around your home? You're not imagining it — your environment has a real impact on your stress levels and mental clarity. In this week's episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Tina O'Keeffe, professional organizer and Chief Organizing Officer of Stow and Behold, to talk about what clutter is really costing...

Send us Fan Mail What if your skin condition was actually a signal — not just a symptom to manage? In this week's episode, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Gayle Pritchard, a holistic therapist and rosacea mentor who spent over 10 years navigating her own chronic skin journey before finding relief through a whole-person approach. Gayle shares how she moved from frustration and conventional tr...

Send us Fan Mail Is anxiety running your life — or is it trying to help you? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, licensed professional counselor and nervous system expert Alexandria Williams joins us to completely reframe the way we think about anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation. Alexandria shares how anxiety isn't a flaw or a malfunction — it's a signal, like a check engin...

Send us Fan Mail Here's an episode description for this anniversary episode: Episode Description: In this special anniversary episode, Dr. Samia Estrada pauses to reflect on one full year of Thursday Tea with Sami. Released on a meaningful date — her grandfather's birthday — Sami shares the personal story behind why this podcast exists and the core lessons that kept showing up across eve...

Send us Fan Mail What if connection is one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Tamika Carlton , relationship coach and host of The Real Connect , for a heartfelt conversation about how connection, emotional wellness, boundaries, and daily routines shape both our mental and physical health. Tamika shares her pe...

Send us Fan Mail Can what you eat affect your mood, your cravings, and even your recovery from addiction? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, host Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Charlotte Abbate, Certified Nutrition Specialist and Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, to explore the powerful connection between food, brain chemistry, and mental wellness. Charlotte breaks down how whole food nu...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know your home could be quietly working against your mental health, sleep, and daily habits — without you even realizing it? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Rebecca West, author of Happy Starts at Home and design psychology specialist, to explore how our living spaces shape everything from how we cope with stress to how well we s...

Send us Fan Mail What if the anxiety, brain fog, or depression you've been struggling with isn't just in your head — but in your airway? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Dr. Max Kerr, a dentist and sleep health expert, for a conversation that just might change the way you think about sleep forever. Dr. Kerr shares the deeply personal story of how...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Dr. Candice Seti — licensed clinical psychologist and founder of The Weight Loss Therapist — for an eye-opening conversation about why dieting is failing us and what to do instead. Did you know that 98% of diets fail? If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of losing weight and gaining it b...

Send us Fan Mail Posture, chronic pain, stress, sleep, and movement are more connected than most people realize. In this episode, Dr. Sami Estrada talks with Ellie Dalton (Posture Ellie) about why posture is not just about “sitting up straight,” but about improving the way the whole body moves. Ellie shares how posture therapy can help reduce pain, improve breathing, support better sleep, and infl...

Send us Fan Mail Can food affect your mental health, mood, or unexplained symptoms? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Kathlena “The Allergy Chef”, a food allergy expert who has lived with over 200 food allergies and intolerances. After spending more than 20 years searching for answers, Kathlena discovered that food can trigger symptoms far beyond the commo...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the difference between belonging and fitting in —and why do so many people feel like they don’t fully belong anywhere? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with clinical psychologist Kailyn Bobb, PsyD to explore the psychology of acculturation, identity, and the human need for belonging . Together, they unpack why people often feel caught b...

Send us Fan Mail What if your fatigue, brain fog, skin flare-ups, or mood swings had something to do with your gut? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada welcomes Alicia Galvin, MEd, RD, IFNCP , Head of Scientific Affairs at Microbiome Labs , for a deep-yet-accessible conversation about microbiome health and why it matters for everyday life. Together, we cover: What the mic...

Send us Fan Mail What if strengthening your relationship could improve your sleep, lower stress, and support your overall health? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Michelle Garraway , Registered Social Worker and founder of The Relationship Agency (Ajax & Oshawa, Ontario), to explore why human connection is one...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Nita Talwar , founder of Uppy! , to talk about one of the most overlooked foundations of wellness: hydration . Nita shares why many people are mildly dehydrated without realizing it , the early signs of dehydration (like headaches, low energy, poor focus, sleep issu...

Send us Fan Mail What if stress isn’t only something you “manage” with willpower—but something your body can learn to regulate more effectively? In today’s episode, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Kristin Derus Dore , a biofeedback practitioner whose work focuses on FDA-approved biofeedback for stress reduction and pain management . Kristin breaks down what biofeedback is (in normal-people languag...

Send us Fan Mail What if the “weeds” in your backyard are actually part of your wellness toolkit? In this inspiring episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada, Psy. D., DipABLM sits down with Michelle McAninch , founder of Tamarac Garden , to explore the heart of herbalism and how everyday plants can support natural wellness and self-care . Michel...

Send us Fan Mail What if renewal didn’t require a major life overhaul—but simply a shift in awareness? In this deeply grounding episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Sandeep Nath , creator of the Renewalism Movement, to explore how energy, consciousness, and simple daily habits can help prevent burnout and restore clarity—both personally and professionally. Sandeep s...

Send us Fan Mail What if “getting healthy” wasn’t about dieting or chasing a number on the scale—but about building strength, consistency, and confidence in your body? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada (clinical psychologist and lifestyle medicine specialist) sits down with Fjorino Musaku , a wellness professional with a powerful...