Critical Conversations

SPECIAL HOLIDAY SERIES: In this festive Critical Conversations episode we take on a myth-busting journey to ensure that false beliefs don't steal our joy during the holiday season. The episode is a festive blend of insightful information from a registered dietitian and an encouraging conversation, offering practical tips to navigate common health and wellness misconceptions during the holidays and all the festive foods of the holidays. We'll also provide strategies to prevent getting caught up in the roller coaster the holidays can bring around our health and our bodies so you'll enjoy a more relaxed and joyful holiday season. If you haven’t already – here’s how you can support us in three easy steps: SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or whichever app you’re listening on. SIGN UP for our weekly e-mail newsletter. SHARE with someone who could use the information in this episode! You can also  FOLLOW on Instagram @shechangeseverything or Facebook. LEAVE US A MESSAGE and you could be on

We're thrilled to announce the podcast is back! We can't wait to reconnect with our Critical Conversations listeners and welcome new ones as well. In this special return episode, we dive into the reasons behind the hiatus and what's changing with the podcast to better support you on your wellness journey! If you haven’t already – here’s how you can support us in three easy steps: SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or whichever app you’re listening on. SIGN UP for our weekly e-mail newsletter. SHARE with someone who could use the information in this episode! You can also  FOLLOW on Instagram @shechangeseverything or Facebook. LEAVE US A MESSAGE and you could be on the podcast!  WORK WITH JENNIFER WORK WITH HEATHER Contact us with questions or comments: podcast@shechangeseverything.com

Have you ever wondered why pharmaceutical grade supplements are so much more expensive? Or more importantly, are they even any more effective? Have you heard that 'Over The Counter' vitamin brands are exactly the same whether or not they're generic or brand name? What about your multi-vitamin ... are you actually absorbing any of it, or just peeing it out? Diving into all of this + more, with Jennifer Klotz, MS, RD in this episode. THIS EPISODE IS PART TWO, A CONTINUATION FROM EPISODE 30 … Last week: we dove into the importance of supplement quality, discussed which certifications you should be looking for and which ‘added ingredients’ you really need to avoid, and why. To see Jennifer's personal suggestions for supplement brands, you can check out her personal dispensary on Fullscript: [(https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jklotz)] To shop the store on Fullscript, simply create a free account (you only have to enter your name and email to view products, no purchasing information, which she loves because even i

Branching off from the conversation we had in episode #022, all about the power of taking a high quality multivitamin versus a "bad" quality one that might actually be harming your health. That brief comment really sparked your interest and our inboxes were flooded with the following questions we promise to tackle within this episode: How can I tell if my supplements are actually “high quality”? Which brands can I trust? Which brands should I avoid? How can I tell the difference between "good" versus "bad", and what certifications can I look for? What certifications actually matter? Which added ingredients should I avoid? Is the FDA actually monitoring what's being sold over the counter? Jennifer Klotz, MS, RD is extremely passionate about this topic and very well informed. The information in this episode is imperative to your long term health, especially if you're taking even one supplement, herb, or vitamin on a regular basis. DID YOU KNOW? Taking a poor quality supplement can actually do more harm than t

Heather Young, 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher & Certified Yoga Therapist – has a lot of experience working one on one with clients and helping them achieve balance in more ways than one. She might even have the solution to take your health to the next level - when it seems like Nutrition just isn't enough. Keep in mind: It’s never just about one ailment, problem or issue – it’s all connected & we’re diving into a new approach you may never have considered before. Diving into the 4 Main Pilars: - Posture - Emotions - Breath - Mindset ... and the role they play when it comes to impacting your longterm health, stress levels and digestion. & What you can do about it.    Full Show Notes & Additional Links Available at: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode029 Join Us on Instagram @CriticalConversations

“We typically reach for caffeine because the cue is fatigue.” – If you’re reaching for caffeine more than once a day – consider the causes. Continued from Episode 27 - diving into the powerful effects that caffeine is having on your body, how much is too much, adrenal fatigue, cortisol, hormones, decaf and the certification you should be looking for. Lastly, adaptogens - and specialty coffee blends... or is it better to enjoy your coffee black? www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode028 As you know – we’re not here for the fads or promoting the trends.   In this episode: - What effects is caffeine having on my body? Health benefits included. - How much is too much? What’s the “safe’ amount? Is decaf any better? - Is adding all of the adaptogens, or trending superfoods really worth it? - What’s coffee doing to my adrenals? Stress levels? Anxiety? - How can I start cutting back without suffering the consequences? - Can I just drink my coffee black? - Favorite coffee brands, additional links and resources o

“Do better, once you know better” – Maya Angelou - it’s all about making small changes once you’ve learned something new and giving yourself the chance to upgrade your routine, not only for your health, but for the health of the planet as well. Join us for a Sustainable, Healthy & Ethical conversation around all things coffee - with Heather Young & Jennifer Klotz of shechangeseverything.com What you'll discover in this episode: - The true health benefits of coffee - The Environmental & Humanitarian impacts our purchases create - Conventional vs. Organic vs. Fair Trade certifications and what they mean - What's in that paper cup, the plastic lid, & the coffee filter you're using. - How your daily routine is impacting your health long-term ... & what you can do about it.      Get the Full Show Notes, Additional Links & Resources at  www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode027     THERE’S NEVER A PERFECT ANSWER. We’re all human Consider this Information as empowering insight to help u

This episode with Carly is full of Simple Solutions & Practical Takeaways for EVERYONE whether or not you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, or not. This information, although centered around Thyroid Health - is truly applicable to all of us on so many levels - no matter what we're dealing with. Tackling your top questions all about Thyroid Health & learning from Carly's personal experience. The answers might just surprise you and hopefully even encourage you to look a little closer at your labwork, open up a deeper discussion with your doctor and really start to tune in to a few lifestyle changes, you never knew were so important - until now. Full Show Notes & Resources available at: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode026 Including that recipe we mentioned, the water filters we talked about, the gut health episode with Brigid (#016) - as well as Carly's top resources you won't want to miss. Thank you for being here with us We show up weekly in hopes to expand this much needed

Like most of us – her story is personal. After struggling with her health for years, Carly was in pursuit of a proper diagnosis over 5 years ago. It didn't happen overnight, but she was ultimately diagnosed with Hashimoto's, a very common autoimmune hypothyroid condition. It's then, that she became increasingly passionate about pursuing answers and identifying the root cause. In this episode: We discuss her health journey pitfalls and successes - including the top 6 changes she made - to heal from the inside out. www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode025 "I had to own my state and know that no one was going to do this for me, because my health is my responsibility. That’s when everything began to improve" - Carly Johnson Brawner of @frolicandflow Carly has also recently launched an online "Healing Hashimoto's" Course - Focused on empowering Hashimoto's patients to work better with their doctors to understand their disease and really begin to build a blueprint for healing, longterm. You won't want to m

We spend 42% of our day looking at screens. That’s 6 hours and 43 minutes daily – or 7,956 days of your life. Think about how crazy that is. This effects your posture longterm which has direct impact on your mental and physical health. It also changes how people see you, whether or not they take you seriously and whether or not they choose to show you respect. Until something is directly effecting your health – it’s really easy to just brush off the small daily habits – you know you should be doing. But here's the thing - research shows that something as simple as our body posture we maintain while holding our phones, sitting at the computer or even standing in a crowd - has a significant impact on our mood, our confidence, and even our cardiovascular health. We dive into this & so much more with this week's episode - I don't want to give it all away - so be sure to tune in.  FULL SHOW NOTES: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode024 P.S.....  SHE DAY - Orange County is happening this Saturday 

It's about time we start paying attention to the symptoms and signals our bodies are sending us on a much deeper level. Skin Issues, Digestive Health, Heartburn, nutrient Deficiencies ... they're all more closely related than we realize. When you start paying closer attention to what your body is trying to tell you, you can get closer to discovering and even possibly reversing the root cause of the problem that has been developing overtime. Lifestyle, Diet, Environment, Toxins, Stress ... It's all connected. We dive into this, and so much more within episode 23 ... it's the perfect continuation and part two of the larger conversation from last week's episode. Jennifer Klotz, RD is at it again with the incredible information, statistics, and simple solutions you can start taking action on right away. Here's another AMAZING ARTICLE she's put together for you to summarize some of the key points from this episode you might want to re-read again and again.   Looking for tickets to SHE DAY? Join Us in Person, HERE.

92% of All Americans have at least ONE nutrient deficiency. Known to cause a multitude of health issues, such as: muscle cramps, joint pain, headaches, skin issues, fatigue, sleep issues, inflammation, bleeding of the gums, autoimmune conditions, etc.  & Yet, instead of paying attention to what intuitively sounds right, tastes good, and makes us feel well - the majority of us are falling victim to fad trends while losing the ability to know what our bodies actually need - intuitively. Access additional resources, articles and get the FULL SHOW NOTES on our website: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode022 Being deficient in just one nutrient is serious, and yet most of us have no idea what our labs look like. These 'imbalances' truly throw your body out of balance and can lead to chronic health issues if left unaddressed, long term. This is why adding something new to your diet with a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals to your morning routine will make you feel instantly better. (This doesn't

According to a recent survey -  88% of Americans report feeling “stressed out” for a multitude of reasons around the holidays. Topics we tackle in this episode: Perceived Weight Gain,  Shocking Statistics about the Diet Industry, Food Rules, Food Allergies, Family Opinions, Food Cravings, (Letting Go of) Meeting Expectations for Others, Food Cravings, Breaking Free from Traditions (if that's what feels right),  & stress management techniques you won't want to miss. Don’t let the “little things” overwhelm you. We’re diving into the most commonly perceived stressors around holiday traditions and gatherings. We’re here to empower you with personal stories and advice to remind you that you’re not alone. Sharing shocking statistics around weight gain and the diet industry you won't want to miss. Don’t let family conversations derail you. & Don’t miss out on the traditions of the day. Relax, Let Go, Take a Deep Breath & Enjoy the time with your family and friends while you can.   links, resources &

Continuing our last conversation from episode 16 with Brigid all about the imperative role our gut health plays in our overall health, mood, and well-being. This week – we’re focusing in on GLUTEN & why so many people are experiencing improved health once going “gluten free”, the right way. As the saying goes – “you are what you eat”. But, now we know, it’s actually more about what you “absorb” that makes you who you are. Is gluten affecting all of us negatively, or is it just a small percentage of the population? Should we all be eating gluten free? Could you potentially be intolerant and not even know it? We answer all of your questions and more. Additional show notes, links & resources available at: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode020 & Sign-up for Monday Motivation e-mails here: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/contact Americans are predisposed to having increased issues & developing a sensitivity to gluten due to the “Standard American” diet and lifestyle – otherwise know

Amanda Huggins is back from Bali and here to shatter the notion of “perfection” in your life while helping you to see the real, raw, authentic potential within. In this episode: We talk about letting go of the grip on your life with ease, kindness, simplicity - while sharpening your inner perspective to cultivate happiness from within, along the way. What you focus in on – you’ll create more of in your life. links, resources & show notes: www.criticalconversationspodcast.com/episode019

What if we told you that you could significantly reduce your chance of developing or even begin to reverse most weight problems, skin issues, hormone imbalances, autoimmune conditions or metabolic disorders? These are statistically significant problems in our society & this week, we're here to tell you: We still have the chance to drastically reverse most of these issues - all by reducing/minimizing our exposures to a special group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, found in most everyday items that most of us are being exposed to without even thinking twice about it. Jennifer Klotz, MS, RDN, LDN is here to empower us to make more informed choices when it comes to the widely available (chemical) products most of us are using on a daily basis and still bringing into our homes. It's time to take our power back and realize that everything we're exposed to - has the ability to impact our health. It's no longer just about calories in, calories out. (that's an old and very inaccurate way of looking at

Are you eating your clothes? That’s a crazy question, right? But, the answer is most likely, YES. Your clothes are shedding microfibers with every wash & these microfibers might just be a bigger deal than plastic straws when it comes to the environmental impact we all need to be aware of. Studies have shown that microfibers are flooding our planet – in fact, they've even been detected in beer, sea salt, small fish, and more. No one is talking about this loudly enough yet, so we're excited to bring Heather Young, co-founder of SHE Changes Everything, back to talk about something she’s so passionate about: microfibers and how they're impacting your health and the health of the planet. FACT: The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources estimates that 0.6 – 1.7 million tons of microfibers are released into the ocean every year. In this episode: We talk about the canary in the coal mine, plastic and how it effects your health, what microfibers are, where they come from, how you’re c

Gut Health is one of the major key factors we should all be becoming increasingly aware of when it comes to protecting our long-term health. We’re only just beginning to understand, as a society, how intricately related the balance of our microbiome is to our mood, our energy and our immune system. In this episode: Antibiotics, processed foods, refined and artificial sugars, prescription medications, pesticides covering conventional produce & all of our community parks, living in sterile work and home environments, willpower & calorie counting, as well as the impact that a lack of exposure to the outdoors, fermented foods, pre-biotics and pro-biotics are all having on our long term health. According to Brigid Titgemeier, MSN, RD, LDN -  Food cravings aren't actually a willpower problem at all – she says it’s actually a problem with the food environments that are being made available to us. Change your food “norms” - from what you believe to be acceptable, to what is actually nourishing and healing yo

 When you make small - Sustainable, Healthy, Ethical- changes that matter, over time, it truly can change everything. Simply becoming aware of the changes you can make is all we ask. Making an impact with the information you discover along the way is up to you!  In this episode, we only scratch the surface of it all, while discussing plastics, Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions, the invisible chemicals making you fat, formaldehyde, and the clothing you didn’t know was labeled as "toxic waste" before it made it to your closet. Sisters Heather Young & Jennifer Klotz are the faces behind the truly impactful website: shechangeseverything.com & hosts of the incredible events you may have already heard of, known as SHE DAY.The event will be hitting four major cities across the U.S. in 2019 & Listen closely, because there's a discount code offered specifically for podcast listeners - in this episode! They're here to inspire you, encourage you, provide you with the information you need - to make simple c

Welcoming Brigid Titgemeier M.S., R.D.N, L.D aka @beingbrigid as the newest co-host of the Critical Converations Community. She's here to help expand the conversation around health and nutrition via her incredible experience in the field of functional nutrition. Brigid graduated with her Master’s of Science in Public Health Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University & completed the (IFM) Institute for Functional Medicine’s Advanced Functional Medicine Training for Clinicians. She has even trained under and worked along side Dr. Mark Hyman, one of the top functional medicine doctors in the industry - while working as a founding dietitian of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine. Brigid is now also teaching as an adjunct instructor in a graduate level course in Integrative and Functional Nutrition as well as developing a new functional nutrition consulting practice that we will be sure to dive into deeper, soon.  At the age of 14 – Brigid was diagnosed with a rare condition known as narc