Today's topic is so simple that it’s often overlooked. It’s a breathing technique that can impact your weight, improve your sleep and energy, increase concentration, reduce breathlessness during exercise, heighten athletic performance, and improve  cardiovascular health. 

Today’s guest, Patrick McKeown, has written 8 books on breathing, including the international best-seller, The Oxygen Advantage, which is something of a bible on nose breathing. His book has helped create a buzz about a revolutionary technique based on the Buteyko method. 

Over the past 15 years, Patrick has been focused on breathing re-education. He has trained thousands of people around the world with his scientifically validated techniques. And the results have been dramatic… with increase of oxygen flow to all of your body’s systems. And what that translates to a host of benefits, which we’ll talk about today. 

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

If you want to turn your walk into a workout, try this 30-minute Pump Up The Pace guided walk. This free audio incorporates brief interval bursts shown to help break through any weight loss plateaus and improve your cardiovascular health. 

Make sure to visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast for more.

I know this is a bold question… but what if I asked you if you were satisfied with your sex life? You might think, “That’s a little  too personal to be talking about.” 

Today’s guest, Cindy Eckert,  is at the forefront of a movement to de-stigmatize this discussion, of sexual vitality, specifically as it relates to low libido.

Cindy is the creator of Addyi, a little pink pill to treat women with low or no  sexual desire. It has been labeled by the media as the female viagra. 

She fought an uphill battle to get ADDYI approved by the FDA, and sold her company for 1 billion dollars.

Through that experience, she got a first-hand lesson of what it meant for women to advocate for each other…. for better health outcomes, for better research for women, and for better business opportunities for women. 

Cindy is on  a mission to put women on top.  And that’s what prompted her to launch The Pink Ceiling in 2016… It was her way of helping female-focused businesses with capital as well a s mentorship. 

You can’t miss Cindy when she walks into the room. She’s unapologetically pink... from her clothes to her accessories. 

I’m excited about today’s show. Cindy is such a powerhouse when it comes to getting the attention and funding for women’s health issues… something that is desperately needed in this country! 

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Today, we welcome back Dr. Alan Christianson. He’s been a guest on the show before, and he's back to discuss his new book, The Metabolism Reset Diet. The book offers a 28-day program which works to heal the core issue behind a slow metabolism —a n overloaded liver. 

That’s right… the liver! How many times have you thought about your liver... specifically when it comes to weight loss? Most of the time, we think about our liver when we’ve had too much to drink, and we think, “Oh my gosh… what am I doing to my poor liver?”  And yet, Dr. C reveals in his book that the liver is actually a key to a healthy metabolism.

With clinical studies on tens of thousands of people, he is revolutionizing the way that we look at weight loss.  His participants are losing inches and weight (specifically around the midsection) many of whom had tried countless diets, and nothing seemed to work. The best part? They’ve kept the weight off and no longer felt like they are slaves to exact foods and exact portions.

Dr. Alan Christianson is a Naturopathic Endocrinologist who focuses on Thyroid function, specifically Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, and Graves’ disease. For more information, visit https://www.drchristianson.com/.

For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

If you knew there was a technique where you could achieve just about anything you want by learning how to focus on your strengths and what you’re good at - instead of trying to correct your weaknesses - would you want to learn that technique? I sure would! That’s why I’m so delighted to have Fatima Doman the author of Authentic Strengths on the show today. 

Fatima is one of the most influential voices in positive change...in other words, how to focus on what’s going strong instead of what’s going wrong your life. She's a Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Executive Coach, and has motivated audiences across six continents to leverage their authentic strengths for personal  transformation. Today, we’re going to talk about her incredible system that will help you achieve your goals and stay motivated… especially when life gets busy, chaotic, and you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed.

For more information, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Chances are good that you, or someone you know, is dealing with anxiety. One in five Americans over 18, and one in three teenagers 13 to 18, reported having a chronic anxiety disorder during the past year.  

Now, everyone worries sometimes. But if you’re repeatedly feeling panicky, or anxious, or find yourself avoiding situations because of irrational fears, then you’re going to want to listen to today’s podcast.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and it was no coincidence that when I was shopping for an outfit for burning man, I met today’s guest, Julian Brass. Little did I know that chance meeting would lead to today’s podcast about a subject that I’m passionate about. 

His international best-selling book, Own Your Anxiety, takes you on an inspirational journey of self-discovery, to transform anxiety into your secret edge. With 99 bite-sized, powerful tips in the book, you may discover that anxiety is your greatest  gift. 

For more information, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Throughout the years, we hear about the latest innovations in fitness that claim to change the way we’re going to workout forever. Although most of these trends don’t really catch on, there is always one that manages to break through and get identified as a game changer. Well, the buzz right now is about “blood flow restriction training.” It is one of the newest training tools to hit both the rehab and sports performance worlds and it’s also being recognized as a potent tool for all of us aging baby boomers. There’s a lot of research that supports it, which is why Blood Flow Restriction or BFR is becoming more popular with athletes, physical therapists, trainers, and even celebrities like Mark Wahlberg. 

While the idea has been around for decades, it’s only now that we’re seeing it becoming more mainstream...and largely because of our next guest, Dr. Jim Stray-Gundersen. Jim runs the SG Performance Medicine Center. He is also the chief medical officer of B STRONG, a Utah based company he co-founded in an effort to make blood flow restriction training safe, effective, and affordable for the general public. 

For more from Kathy, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone! A comfort zone is something you carry with you as you move through life. This comfort zone is very much like an invisible bubble of sorts that surrounds your psyche. And as you go about your day and encounter different circumstances, this bubble constantly expands and constricts depending on your situation. 

Having peak performance in life and in fitness starts by seeking that edge, that threshold, and staying there.  If you can’t confront something that’s outside of your comfort zone, then you won’t venture forward. And you can’t expand. In other words, you keep yourself limited. 

When it comes to this philosophy, Coach Bob Larsen was the master. When the running craze was in its infancy in the ‘70s, Coach Larsen took an unconventional group of young, rag-tag track and cross-country runners and launched them onto the national stage. During the course of his career, Coach Larsen developed sought-after training techniques that made him one of the greatest coaches of all time. 

Our guest is Matthew Futterman, author of Running to the Edge, which presents a riveting account of visionary coach Bob Larsen, who changed the sport of running in America.

The book is about the coach, the runners, and the training techniques. But even if you're not a runner, don’t miss this episode. There's a big takeaway for everyone, no matter what you do or who you are. This is a story about taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, changing your destiny, and knowing that if you work hard, you can do better tomorrow than you did yesterday.

Matthew is a New York Times Deputy Sports Editor, and has previously worked for The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Star-Ledger of New Jersey, where he was a part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News. And, Matthew is also an avid runner.

For show notes, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Today’s podcast is a 10-minute visualization that I recorded that helps you break old patterns and switch away from negative and limiting ideas and put your energy into more positive outcomes. 

These types of visualizations are powerful. I like to start my morning routine with a visualization. Because it helps me focus on what I want to accomplish for the day… and I get so much more done! 

Remember, your thoughts create our actions...your actions create your habits… our habits create our character… and your character becomes your destiny. 

Where your focus goes, energy flows. 

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

CBD is popping up nearly everywhere. It’s in oils, lotion, toothpaste, bath bombs, shampoo, and even ice cream. It’s definitely moved from the experimental fringes and into the mainstream. 

Today, let’s dive into how CBD is different than THC - and how hemp is different than marijuana.

There's a lot of info in today's episode and, luckily, today’s guest is here to sort things out. Naturopathic doctor Dr. Melissa Gallagher has a YouTube channel that delves into the science, the safety, and the benefits of CBD. With her hundreds of thousands of followers, she’s helping to set the record straight on a subject that can be a bit complicated. So get ready for CBD 101 the beginner's course!

Dr. Gallagher's Endocannibinoid Deficiency Quiz: 

https://naturalhealthresources.com/cbd/edsquiz.html

Let me ask a question. Do you feel like you’re at a point in life where you feel like something has to shift...it could be changing a job, losing weight, moving to a new state, improving or ending a relationship?

If you’re frustrated or confused about how to take action and get started in that process, then today’s show with Julie Weiss is for you. Julie wrote the book, The Miles and Trials Of A Marathon Goddess.

Imagine having the determination to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks...it seems impossible. But that’s exactly what Julie did.

In her book, she opens up her soul and talks about the tough stuff that happened in her life...the dark side, the demons, the bad choices she made, and when she finally hit bottom and felt completely overwhelmed, she decided to finally reclaim her life. And she did it one step at a time...or should I say, 26.2 miles at a time. And along the way she raised over half a million dollars for a cause near and dear to her heart.

Julie’s powerful message of determination will give you the courage to step outside your comfort zone and make the changes you want.

If you’re ready to spread your wings and make things happen, listen up!

Today, we're talking about vitamins. It might have started with chewable Flintstones that your mom gave you as a kid, then in college it was vitamin infused water, and now there is an edgier and somewhat controversial method called vitamin vaping. Although the delivery systems might have changed through the years, this idea of supplementing your diet with vitamins has been something that’s been part of our lifestyle since the time we were little ones.

So the question is: Do we even need to take vitamins?

We know that taking vitamins and minerals is never going to justify less-than-healthy eating habits. But, there’s growing evidence that the right supplements can improve your health and vitality, including maintaining bone density and muscle mass, improving brain function and mental clarity, balancing hormones and rejuvenating skin, hair and nails.

One trip down the vitamin aisle and you’re bombarded with hundreds of options, and some with outrageous claims. That can cause decision fatigue and opting out of adding any of the supplements to your cart.

So, if your head starts to spin when you start to talk about vitamins, welcome to the club! But that’s all about to change because today’s guest Shawn Wells is here to clarify the confusion and simplify a conversation that can tend to be very complicated. Shawn has a divergent background. He is a Registered Dietitian with a decade of experience as a Chief Clinical Dietitian in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. He is also a Certified Sports Nutritionist and has worked with celebrity clients and professional athletes. All of this experience combined with his extensive background in formulating supplements for big companies converge to make him the world’s greatest formulator.

Aging comes subtly. Sometimes, the changes might feel like joint stiffness in your hip or shoulder, or sometimes the signs are stooping posture, increasing belly fat and loss of muscle mass... those changes are easy to see and feel. Yet other changes are completely hidden.

I hear over and over again from my friends and listeners that after their annual bone-density scan, they’ve been diagnosed with thinning bones. It’s expected that by 2020, half of all American men and women over the age of 50 will have, or will be at risk of developing osteoporosis of the hip... and even more will be at risk of developing it elsewhere.

What if I told you that you can increase your bone density and actually reverse bone loss with a technique that requires only 10 minutes a week. Are you listening now? It seems unbelievable!

Make sure you listen to this show all the way to the end, because today’s guest Dr. John Jaquish has developed a device that’s placed in over 300 clinics worldwide. These clinics, called Osteostrong, focus on osteogenic loading (which basically means putting strain on the bone that applies enough impact or pressure to stimulate new bone growth). It has now helped over 30,000 individuals with their bone health.

We have a lot to cover and we're lucky to have Dr. Jaquish here to help us. He is an inventor, author, and scientist, and stumbled upon his life’s mission to promote bone health after his mother was diagnosed with osteoporosis. He is currently advancing osteogenic loading research and speaking worldwide, as well as developing other biotechnology devices and products that will aid in the advanced health and wellbeing of people all around the world.

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

What’s the optimal way to eat for good health? That’s a topic that seems to be very controversial right now. With all the conflicting information, it can get muddled and confusing, and often times emotional.

To help clear up some of the confusion is Dr. Joel Kahn, a cardiologist who has seen first-hand the devastating effects of your diet on your heart and on your health.

He’s also the founder of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity in Michigan. He’s authored hundreds of articles on heart disease, and, he happens to be the owner of GreenSpace Café, advertised as plant-based and pure, where health tastes amazing.

In addition, Dr. Kahn is the author of five books, including The Whole Heart Solution and his newest offering, The Plant-Based Solution.

For more from Kathy, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Back by popular demand, we welcome Drew Manning to the show! If you listened to our last conversation, you know that he went from Fit to Fat to Fit! He actually was in killer shape, then gained 70 pounds in 6 months on purpose, and lost it again in 6 months...just to get a better understanding of the weight loss process. And, he wrote about it in his New York Times best-selling book, Fit2Fat2Fit.

In Drew’s latest book, Complete Keto, he gets PRACTICAL about how to live a ketogenic lifestyle that works with your daily routine.  The ketogenic diet is the world's fastest-growing diet, and I have been getting so many questions about it on social media, so today's episode dives into the why, how, and the whats.

This is where Drew comes in. He has a solution that goes way beyond willpower, offering a program that's based on a deep understanding of the challenges in starting a keto program, and sticking with a keto program so you can enjoy the benefits for life.

For show notes, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

The ketogenic diet is the world's fastest growing diet - and with good reason. When practiced correctly, it burns fat, reduces inflammation, fights cancer, balances hormones and gut bacteria, improves neurological diseases, and even increases lifespan. Unfortunately, many people are still confused about several of the key factors that are crucial to the diet's success... and that sets them up for frustration and failure.

In his new book, Keto Diet, Dr. Josh Axe sets the record straight on how to start a ketogenic diet the right way...for your body and your lifestyle. He joins Kathy to discuss the book and ways to implement the keto diet for yourself!

More complete notes, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

My guest today is Dr. Jonathan Greenburg, celebrity dentist and snore expert who, for the past ten years, has focused his practice exclusively on the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. He’s the inventor of a simple and effective way to eliminate sleepless nights and the health issues that may result from chronic snoring. Even Shaquille O'Neal, one of the nation's most publicly notorious snorers was cured by Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, and thousands of others have credited him for saving their marriages.

Do you lie awake in bed thinking about your never-ending to-do list and those upcoming deadlines? Or, maybe you keep replaying a conversation where you wish you would have responded differently? Perhaps falling asleep isn’t the issue, but STAYING asleep is your achilles heel?

Joining me today is Dr. Michael Breus, also known as  “The Sleep Doctor”. He is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in sleep disorders.

In his book, The Power of When, Dr Breus helps you understand your personal inner clock - from the best time for you to work out, eat, and even go to sleep. Getting in sync with your own circadian cycle can help you live a more healthy, energetic life.

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Over the years, I’ve run into Petra time and time again at fitness conferences. It’s easy to spot her from a block away, because she radiates confidence, vitality, and a passion for life. It was only through reading her newest book, The Perfection Detox, that I started to understand her inner struggles with perfectionism, and the destructive impact it had on her life. Her book provides 21 steps that will help if you're struggling with your own bout of perfectionism.

As a two-time cancer survivor, she is passionate about waking people up to the precious gift of time. Her mission is to inspire people to move more and fear less, so that they can stretch their dreams, strengthen their courage muscle and build an inspired life, full of joy and gratitude.

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Drew Manning went from fit2fat2fit - which is also the name of his New York Times best-selling book. In 2011, Drew did an experiment where he went from being in incredible shape, then put on 70 pounds in 6 months... on purpose! Then, over the course of another 6 months, he lost it all again. His journey was featured on shows like Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, The View and many more. And, his experiment has since become a hit TV show, airing on A&E and Lifetime. Even though he gained and lost all that weight, what happened on the inside of his body was even more fascinating - and that's why you have to listen!

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.