In this raw and eye-opening conversation, co-hosts Susan Robbins (certified epigenetic human performance coach) and Kate King (licensed psychotherapist and board-certified art therapist) welcome Dr. Navaz Habib, aka “The Vagus Nerve Doc,” to unpack one of the most overlooked superpowers in your body: the vagus nerve.

Dr. Habib shares how stress, inflammation, and poor vagal tone can silently erode your health, and why your heart rate variability (HRV) is the key biomarker you should be tracking. From sleep and gut health to resilience and emotional regulation, your vagus nerve plays a starring role in how you feel and function every day.

Whether you’re a health nerd, a burnt-out parent, or someone in your 30s–60s wondering why your “brakes” feel fried, this episode is packed with empowering science and actionable tools. Learn the game-changing V.A.G.U.S. Protocol (Validate, Activate, Gut-Brain, Unburden, Sustain) and find out how to start rewiring your stress response, no matter your age.

In this episode:

• The science of vagus nerve regulation and HRV
• Why most people are living with worn-out “brakes”
• Signs of low vagal tone, and how to rebuild it
• Dr. Habib’s V.A.G.U.S. Protocol for lifelong resilience
• Why breathwork (and even mouth taping!) can change your life
  
  

Learn more about Dr. Habib’s work at healthupgraded.com and check out his book Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve. You can also find him on Instagram @drnavazhabib and listen to his podcast The Health Upgrade.

Learn more about our guest Dr. Navaz Habib on the episode show notes!

About Susan Robbins and Kate King

Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dr. Navaz Habib:

Website: https:/healthupgraded.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnavazhabib
Books: Activate Your Vagus Nerve, Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Dr-Navaz-Habib/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ADr.%2BNavaz%2BHabib

TruVaga Device: https://www.truvaga.com/

The Oxygen Advantage - Patrick McKeown: https://www.amazon.com/Oxygen-Advantage-Scientifically-Breathing-Techniques/dp/0062349473

Breath - James Nestor: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art-ebook/dp/B0818ZZNLR/

Find all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/08/18/episode71/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Connect with Kate: https://theradiantlifeproject.com/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Ever feel like one part of you wants to say yes... while another part screams no?

You're not crazy, you’re human. And today’s episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable. dives into why that happens, and how to work with it, with Kate King leading the conversation on Parts Work and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

IFS is a powerful, non-pathologizing therapeutic model that helps you understand the different "parts" of your personality, like your inner perfectionist, your people-pleaser, or your avoidant protector. These parts aren’t problems. They’re protectors trying their best to keep you safe… even if their strategies no longer serve you.

In this episode:

• What IFS (Internal Family Systems) is and how it works
• Why parts form in childhood, and how they affect us in adulthood
• The difference between exile, manager, and firefighter parts
  The 8 C’s of True Self: a compass for inner healing
• How to tell when you’re being “flooded” by a part (and how to come back to center)
• The surprising connection between parts work, epigenetics, and nervous system regulation
• Creative tools like journaling and “Parts Cards” to start exploring your inner world
• When to seek professional support and how to begin your IFS journey
• And why there are no bad parts, only misunderstood ones

Whether you’re feeling out of alignment, curious about how past wounds shape present behaviors, or just want to understand yourself better, this episode offers deep insight, humor, and hope.

RESOURCES:

Kate's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRadiantLifeProject

IFS Playlist on Kate's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLD14_nXiLme65kY8fzBoNvHi9J9jMEO1

Richard Schwartz’s book No Bad Parts:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=no+bad+parts+by+richard+c+schwartz&hvadid=694915120712

Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup

Show notes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/08/11/episode70/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

Connect with Susan:

• Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
• Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE Personalized Health Strategy Session, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
  Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach
• Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Connect with Kate King:

• Kate’s Website: https://TheRadiantLifeProject.com
• Kate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theradiantlifeproject

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What happens when a former pro athlete and a public health PhD candidate marry their passions for performance and purpose? You get Mark and Jill Addy, a power couple in every sense of the word.

In this episode, we sat down with two of Kate’s closest friends to talk about what it really takes to live a long, vibrant, and meaningful life. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about what you eat or how often you work out.

We cover it all, from how VO₂ max and grip strength are actually better predictors of longevity than most people realize, to how loneliness is quietly wreaking havoc on our health. Mark brings the science and strategy, Jill brings the heart and human connection. Together? They’re pure magic.

Here’s a taste of what we dive into:

• Why muscle is the new “anti-aging serum”
• How social connection literally affects your gene expression
• What to focus on daily if you want to feel strong, energized, and fulfilled
• The surprising truth about purpose (and how it might be the key to living longer)
• The tiny habits this couple swears by to stay connected, inspired, and healthy
  
  

Whether you're on a personal health journey, navigating relationships, or simply want to live more on purpose, this convo will leave you feeling both empowered and grounded.

Learn more about our guests Jill and Mark Addy on the show notes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/08/04/episode69

About Susan Robbins and Kate King

Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.

RESOURCES:

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/08/04/episode69

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

Connect with Jill and Mark Addy:

Mark: https://www.instagram.com/24athlete

Jill: https://www.instagram.com/jillian.addy

Connect with Susan:

• Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
• Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
  Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach
• Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Connect with Kate King:

• Kate’s Website: https://TheRadiantLifeProject.com
• Kate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theradiantlifeproject

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast