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

We all know what we “should” be doing to feel better, eat healthier, sleep more, stress less, move your body, but why is it so hard to actually do it?

Today Susan and Kate are talking about the real reasons we stay stuck in habits and environments that don’t support our health… and what it actually takes to create lasting change at the genetic level.

They explore how fear, resistance, and old stories, whether rooted in trauma, biology, or autopilot living, keep us in our comfort zone, even when that zone is anything but comfortable. And they share actionable, compassionate strategies to help you take the first small step toward a better future.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we often choose the “familiar discomfort” over the “unfamiliar possibility”
• How each health type responds differently to change (and why that matters)
• The biological, psychological, and emotional blocks that keep us stuck
• Simple, sustainable lifestyle changes that actually move the needle
• How one decision, just one, can shift your entire genetic expression
  
  
  

Whether you’re ready to make a major life pivot or just want to feel more like yourself again, this episode will meet you where you are—and give you the insight, tools, and inspiration to take the next step.

Listen now and start shifting your inner and outer environment to create real, lasting change.

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/2025/07/25/episode68/

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

The Way of Integrity - Martha Beck: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Integrity-Finding-Path-Your/dp/1984881485

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

In this episode, we sit down with Nichole and BJ Fessant to talk about what it really looks like to take your health into your own hands, and how powerful it is to have someone by your side who supports it. You will feel the energy of love coming from this conversation!

After months of fatigue, stress, and feeling stuck, Nichole made a choice to approach her health differently. With hubby BJ cheering her on, she began making personalized changes, tweaking her routines, adjusting how and when she eats, and finally aligning her lifestyle with what her body actually needs. The result? More energy, more ease, weight loss, and a return a passion she’d put to the side.

In this episode:

How personalized lifestyle shifts (like changing when you work out or what time you eat) can change everything

Why following generalized wellness advice might be doing more harm than good

What true support looks like in a partnership, and how to create it

How understanding your health type can make change feel easier, not harder

What it takes to find your spark again (even when it feels like it's gone)

Learn more about our guests Nichole and BJ Fessant:

Nichole Fessant is an inspirational country recording artist and homeschool ninja.

BJ Fessant is a special educator with a major crush on his wife.

Together they have chosen to take back their health and encourage others along the way.

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/2025/07/21/episode67

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 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

True healing isn’t just physical, it’s energetic, emotional, and spiritual.

In this rich, real, and deeply inspiring episode, Susan and Kate welcome Marek Chromik, martial arts teacher and holistic wellness guide, for a conversation that bridges ancient Eastern practices and modern-day epigenetics.

With decades of experience in Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Qigong, Marek shares how slowing down, tuning in, and softening your strength can transform your body, your energy, and your life. He dives into the importance of breath, awareness, fascia, intention, and emotional integration, and how these all influence your genetic expression.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of how emotional blocks show up as physical tension (and how to release them)
• Why “slowing down” is the secret weapon for nervous system healing and resilience
• The underestimated role fascia and breath play in your vitality
• How to move through life as a Peaceful Warrior, with grounded strength, clarity, and compassion

If you’ve ever felt like healing has to be hard or that you need to push your way through, Marek offers a refreshing, embodied alternative rooted in presence and possibility.

"You are here to experience life, not just survive it."

Marek is based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and offers both in-person and digital workshops. Learn more at EclecticGround.com.

Learn more about our guest Marek Chromik:

Marek started his journey in Martial Arts in 2002 with a Brazilian martial art called Capoeira. His accomplishments in martial arts include a black belt in Sorim Kung Fu and a title of Sifu (Master) with the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association – Wing Chun Kung Fu. In the 20+ years of studying martial arts, Marek has traveled to the Wudang mountains in China for Kung Fu and Tai Chi with the Taoist Monks, and Qigong and intrinsic energies of Tai Chi in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Experiencing the internal energy component of martial arts was life changing.

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 Marek Chromik:

https://eclecticground.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EGmartialarts

https://www.instagram.com/eclecticground/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclectic-ground

https://www.tiktok.com/@eclecticground

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuAhJVA7T3_721RtvCbn77Q

Find all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes!

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

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

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/07/14/episode66

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

Sooo… what does Susan actually do?

This week, we’re bringing a fresh perspective to Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable. In a special twist, co-host Kate King steps into the interviewer’s seat, flipping the script to spotlight our very own Susan Robbins. Together, they dive deep into the transformative world of pH360 HealthTypes—what they are, how they work, and why they’re the ultimate key to personalized health that truly delivers results. Get ready for an engaging conversation that unpacks the science, the stories, and the strategies behind this groundbreaking approach to health and wellness.

Kate recently went through Susan’s full ph360 onboarding and coaching process herself (spoiler alert: she’s an Activator, too, but they are still very different), so she’s asking the juicy questions you actually want answers to.

This episode is a lively, eye-opening conversation that’s sure to leave you laughing, nodding, and saying, “OMG, that’s me!” Susan dives deep into the fascinating connections between your biology, lifestyle, and personality, explaining how ph360 and the HealthTypes unlock the secrets to your unique health blueprint. From the energetic Activator to the nurturing Guardian, Susan shares relatable examples and surprising insights that will have you seeing yourself, and your health, in a whole new light. Whether you’re curious about personalized health or just love those “aha” moments, this episode is packed with inspiration, humor, and practical wisdom. Tune in and discover how your biology shapes the way you live, love, and thrive!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What ph360 Health Typing truly is, and why it’s far more than your average wellness tool.
• The 6 unique HealthTypes (and how to start recognizing which one resonates with you).
• Why timing is the secret ingredient for optimizing food, movement, and stress management.
• How two people can share the same HealthType on paper but express it in completely different ways.
• The reason most “one-size-fits-all” health advice fails, and how personalized strategies can transform your results.
• Mind-blowing client stories, including one where a simple shift in movement timing led to an 11-pound weight loss!

Ready to discover your unique health type and finally take control of your health? Reach out to Susan directly at susan@healthyawakening.co

Whether you’ve been listening for ages or just found us, this is the perfect episode to understand what Susan really does, and how this kind of personalized approach can help you unlock a whole new level of well-being.

RESOURCES:

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

Find all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links on the show notes!

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/07/07/episode65/

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

Buckle up for a mind-blowing episode that challenges everything you thought you knew about thyroid health. We’re joined by internationally renowned functional medicine expert, Dr. Eric Balcavage, co-author of The Thyroid Debacle and host of the Thyroid Answers Podcast. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Eric delivers a radically different approach to thyroid care, one that focuses less on managing symptoms and more on true recovery at the cellular level.

If you or someone you love has been told, “your labs are normal, everything looks fine,” but you still feel like garbage… this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. If you’ve been managing thyroid issues with medications, yet not improving…this is the episode you need to listen to.

We go deep into why many thyroid treatments fail, the difference between glandular and cellular hypothyroidism, and how chronic stress, lifestyle choices, emotional trauma, and even your beliefs can keep you in a cycle of burnout and dysfunction, no matter how many meds or supplements you take.

This conversation goes way beyond bloodwork. It’s about reclaiming your health by addressing the deeper, root-level imbalances that most approaches overlook.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between managing and recovering from hypothyroidism
• Why TSH and labs alone don’t tell the full story
• What the Cell Danger Response is, and how it changes EVERYTHING about thyroid healing
• The critical role of lifestyle, stress, and mindset in chronic conditions
• How overmedication can stall progress and why “more” isn’t always better
• When emotional work and psychotherapy should be part of the healing plan
• Why your body isn’t broken, it’s protecting you

This isn’t just another thyroid talk. It’s a holistic masterclass in how to truly optimize your health from the inside out. Whether you're new to functional medicine or deep into your healing journey, this episode will change the way you think about your body, and what it really needs to thrive.

Resources:

Learn more about our guest Dr. Eric Balcavage and check out all of his links on the website show notes! https://healthyawakening.co/2025/06/30/episode64/

Connect with Dr. Eric Balcavage:

Website: http://drericbalcavage.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/drericbalcavage

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@askdreric

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.

Find all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links on the show notes!

Shownotes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/06/30/episode64/

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