Too Curious MDs

What if autism isn’t a deficit, but a different way of experiencing the world? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Julia Mirer joins us to explore masking, missed diagnoses in adults, and how shifting from a deficit lens to a difference-based understanding can transform mental health, family dynamics, and self-identity. What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing...

Mental illness may look like a brain problem, but it can start as a body-and-energy problem.  In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Sophie Kwass join us to talk about metabolic psychiatry: how insulin resistance, mitochondrial function, and brain energy can shape conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis, and why a ketogenic approach can change outcomes w...

Anxiety isn’t caused by broken thinking. It’s driven by a nervous system stuck in alarm. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Russell Kennedy explains how early life stress wires the body for survival, why the mind creates endless worry in response, and what restores real safety from the inside out. Learn more about Dr. Kennedy’s work at https://www.theanxietymd.com What’s one unasked or curio...

Anxiety may not be a thinking problem at all. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Russell Kennedy, known as The Anxiety MD,  joins us to explain why anxiety is often a mind-story layered over a deeper bodily signal and how early experiences shape adult symptoms. We also explore inner child work, spirituality, psychedelics, physician burnout, and how curiosity can pull us out of fear and back...

In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Thomas Brod joins us to explore ketamine as a new kind of dreaming,’ ego dissolution, unitive experiences, and how safety, love, and loosening rigid defenses can open us back up to ourselves and the world. Dr. Thomas Brod is a psychoanalyst and ketamine clinician who weaves together neuroscience, depth psychology, and poetics in his work with patients. An E...

In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Lindsey joins us to share her experience with the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program at ShaMynds. Tune in as she talks about how childhood and relationship trauma shaped her life, how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and equine therapy helped her reclaim safety, trust, and self, and how that healing journey led her to become a therapist-in-training who now...

Your pet feels your stress more than you think. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Nadine Encarnacion joins us to explore the connection between our mental health and the physical and emotional wellness of our pets. Tune in as we dive into how animals often mirror their humans’ stress, illness, and environment, and how caring for ourselves can also help heal our furry family members. Dr. Nad...

What if you could mimic exercise… without exercising? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Sundeep Dugar joins us to explore mitochondria as the true engine of human life. He shares the story behind discovering a new endogenous mitochondrial steroid and a plant compound that mimics exercise by boosting mitochondrial biogenesis. Dr. Sundeep Dugar is a veteran drug discoverer with more than thre...

Is psychedelic therapy safe for teens? The answer is layered and essential to understand. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Philip Wolfson joins us to share how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can help adolescents move from suicidality, trauma, and arrested development toward autonomy, balance, and kindness. We also talk about the risks, boundaries, and ethics of working with a powerful med...

Ketamine didn’t erase his past—it gave it purpose. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Pranil Shankar, a veteran, author, and advocate, shares how ketamine-assisted therapy helped him break long-standing cycles of fear and grief after decades of trial-and-error care. He emphasizes the importance of safety, trust, and integration practices such as journaling and meditation in transforming one'...

Can tuning your brain’s rhythm unlock healing? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Kevin Murphy joins Drs. Simi Rahman and Alya Ahmad to explore how personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (Peak Logic pTMS) is redefining brain care—from PTSD and autism to chronic pain and peak performance. Discover how this data-driven approach uses EEG-guided frequencies to restore balance, optimize f...

Can music, mindfulness, and psychedelics rewire the brain—and your identity? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. AZA Allsop joins us to explore how music, mindfulness, and psychedelics intersect to accelerate identity change, neuroplasticity, and healing. He also shares findings from his music–mindfulness research and a vision for scalable and community-based group interventions. Dr. AZA Alls...

What does it take to finally unlock healing after years of carrying trauma? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Richard Wood, a veteran, joins us to share his moving journey with ketamine-assisted therapy for long-term depression and trauma. He discusses how the treatment served as a ‘key’ that unlocked his ability to re-envision and heal past trauma, emphasizing the power of clear intention and...

Regenerative medicine isn’t magic—it’s biology done right. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. David Wikenheiser pulls back the curtain on regenerative medicine and explains how these therapies awaken the body’s natural repair intelligence. Tune in to hear real-world cases, simple nutrient protocols that reignite energy, and why supporting the microbiome may matter more than chasing the lates...

Burnout almost ended his career—here’s what brought him back. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Joe Sherman, a physician coach, opens up about hitting burnout—and the simple shifts that brought him back to a sustainable career. He shares practical tools you can use now and a grounded take on psychedelic-assisted work with real-world integration. Dr. Joe Sherman is a pediatrician, coach, and...

At 19, Keith Kurlander faced a suicidal crisis that exposed hidden wounds and set him on a decades-long path through medication, meditation, psychotherapy, psychedelics, and integrative psychiatry. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, he shares how trauma theory, body-based healing, and ethical psychedelic use can foster growth when paired with preparation, support, and integration. Keith Kurlander...

The wounds were invisible. The pain was real. The healing? Unforgettable. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, we are joined by a courageous combat veteran who opens up about the invisible wounds of PTSD, the gut-punching triggers that almost broke him, and how ketamine helped turn his pain into progress. His journey is raw, real, and a reminder that healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about learni...

From a spontaneous awakening at 22 to becoming a maestro médico-vegetalista in the Amazon, Maestro Hamilton Souther shares how years of dieta, ceremony, and visionary diagnosis reshaped his understanding of healing, trauma, and the spirit. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , he reframes plant medicines as a form of technology, explores their resonance with meditation, and offers grounded guidance...

Cancer, grief, and depression became the crucible for Shakil Beg ’ transformation from a self-proclaimed arrogant twenty-something to a guiding light as The Inspire Coach . In this episode of Too Curious MDs , he shares how mindset, therapy, reading, faith, love, and contribution helped him transmute trauma into purpose—and why action beats intention every time. Shakil Beg, also known as ‘The Insp...

Menopause is more than hormones—and healing starts at the root. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Julia Ward shares how she is helping women navigate menopause through root-cause evaluation. She explains how bioidentical hormones, gut repair, mental health support, and everyday toxin reduction work together to ease symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, sleep disruption, hot flashes, and weight...

What if your children’s “meltdowns” were really a message—and you had the tools to decode it? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Laura Fish, a therapist and educator, shares her journey from preschool teacher to private practice, exploring the vital role of attachment, trauma healing, and tools for parents and children. She explains why “seeing the child behind the behavior” and equipping adults...

She faced stage four cancer—and found strength in surrender, faith, and fierce self-trust. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Maria Kang, known as the “No Excuse Mom,” joins us to share her powerful journey of transformation after a stage four colon cancer diagnosis. She opens up about healing through storytelling, embracing vulnerability, and reclaiming the feminine power of intuition, faith, a...

What happens when psychiatry meets integrative care? In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Laila Contractor, a double board-certified integrative child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, joins us to share her insights on the intersection of mental health, medicine, and holistic care. She discusses her unique approach to treating mental health challenges by blending conventional psychiatry wit...

Neuroplasticity is real—and it’s helping patients regain what they thought was lost. In this episode of Too Curious MDs , Dr. Nupur Hajela shares her inspiring journey as a neuroscientist and physical therapist working at the forefront of neurorehabilitation. She explores the power of movement, neuroplasticity, and innovative technologies like transcranial magnetic stimulation and virtual reality...

What happens when the system meant to protect the most vulnerable starts failing them? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Farah Karipineni joins us on the podcast again to unpack the devastating impact of Medicaid cuts and reveals what we need to address today’s healthcare crisis. This is more than a healthcare discussion—it’s a rallying cry for collective action, empathy, and systemic change...