The Health Detective Podcast by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

Dr. Steven Rondeau has conducted over 50,000 qEEG (quantitative EEG) brain scans, building one of the largest pattern recognition datasets in mental health. In this episode, we break down how brain patterns show up in anxiety, ADHD, trauma, mood instability, cognitive issues, and why some clients do not respond to standard protocols. This conversation shifts the lens from symptoms to patterns and what those patterns reveal about the brain. We cover: • Brain map patterns linked to anxiety, ADHD, and trauma • How nervous system dysregulation shows up in qEEG data • Why clients stay s...

Parasites, bacterial overgrowth, and gut infections are often treated as the starting point of dysfunction, but what if they're not? In this episode, Michele breaks down a clinical perspective on gut health that goes beyond identifying pathogens and focuses on the environment that allows them to exist. You’ll hear how practitioners can get pulled into marker-based thinking, why validation matters without over-identifying the problem, and how poor sequencing can lead to stalled progress or recurring symptoms. This episode also explores the concept of capacity through the lens of the Vital Reserve, and wh...

Chronic pain that keeps coming back isn’t random, and it’s rarely just about the injury itself.   In this episode, Michele sits down with movement specialist Helen Hall to break down why so many people stay stuck in cycles of chronic pain, recurring injuries, and failed rehab.   From an FDN perspective, we talk about hidden stressors in the body; the things most practitioners aren’t measuring, including movement inefficiencies, compensation patterns, and how the body adapts under stress.   Helen shares how posture, gait, and movement patterns can quiet...

What happens when even the best doctors in Los Angeles can’t help you? In this episode, I sit down with Elle Russ to share her raw, unfiltered thyroid story, from years of debilitating symptoms… to being dismissed and gaslit by top-tier doctors. At her lowest point, Elle took matters into her own hands, sourcing thyroid medication on the black market just to feel human again.   This conversation isn’t just about thyroid health… it’s about advocacy, confidence, and what happens when no one is listening. _________________________________ For health...

Addicted to meth. Time in jail. Relapse. This is where Samantha Lander’s story begins. In this episode, she shares her full transformation—what it took to break that cycle, what healing actually looked like on the other side, and why getting sober wasn’t the end of the journey… it was the beginning. Because rebuilding your life is one thing. Rebuilding your biology is another. We also touch on where peptides enter the conversation—and why timing, readiness, and physiology matter more than most people realize. This is...

Getting consistent clients in your health coaching business can be tough when you don't have a clear strategy (and with ALL the noise around going viral on social media) Many coaches we work with are stuck in a cycle of posting, hoping, and waiting, relying on social media to somehow bring in their next client. But what if the problem isn’t your content… it’s your strategy? In this episode, I sit down with Jenn Malecha to break down how to build a stable, repeatable client pipeline on repeat with REAL busine...

We’ve normalized sleeping beside a mini cell tower. Phone plugged in. Wi-Fi running. Signals bouncing around your head all night. And we never question it. But your body is electrical. Your brain is electrical. Your sleep depends on very precise signals. So what happens when that system is surrounded by noise… 24/7? Not here to scare you. Not here to make wild claims. Just here to ask a better question. Try this tonight: Turn your Wi-Fi off. Put your...

Why your gut may be driving anxiety, brain fog, and low energy Because what if your brain isn’t the problem? In this episode, I’m joined by Brendan Vermeire, Clinical Faculty for Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, and we break down what’s actually happening inside the gut–brain axis and how your gut microbiome may be driving how you think, feel, and function every single day. We’re connecting the dots between gut health, inflammation, and brain chemistry in a way that actually makes sense… so you can stop guessing and start understanding your symptom...

The Health Detective Podcast is entering a new chapter. In this transition episode, Michele Scarlet steps in as the new host and shares what listeners can expect moving forward. This podcast is dedicated to real health transformations; the kind that happen when we start asking deeper questions and looking beyond surface-level answers. Together, we’ll explore the patterns behind chronic symptoms, investigate root causes, and continually evolve our understanding of functional health. Moving forward, you can expect conversations around: • Functional health transformations and case-based insights • The art of asking better questi...

After 30 years working as a Registered Nurse, Kirstin Green-Farmer thought she understood healthcare. But when chronic symptoms continued to affect her and the family she cared for, something became clear: Working inside conventional medicine doesn’t always mean you get the answers you need to be well. In this episode, Michele Scarlet speaks with Kirstin about her journey from hospital nurse to Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, the limitations of symptom-focused care, and why more practitioners are beginning to investigate the root causes of chronic illness. This conversation explores what happens when ex...

Are fad diets and one-size-fits-all approaches really helping your health—or holding you back? In this episode, Detective Ev sits down with Dr. Wanda Parks, Integrative & Functional Health Practitioner, FDN-P, Certified Aromatherapist, Face Yoga Instructor, and Retired Military Veteran. Dr. Wanda specializes in helping women over 40 regain control of their metabolic and autoimmune health naturally—without relying on restrictive diets or temporary fixes. Dr. Wanda shares why starting with a strong foundation is essential, why bio-individuality matters, and why screening is the first step to lasting health. She emphasizes that we are not robots—every body i...

What if the key to feeling younger, stronger, and more energized isn’t found in the latest trend—but in a few foundational principles anyone can start today? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tim, founder of ChemicalFreeBody.com, to uncover the “4 Core Secrets” he teaches his private coaching clients—principles that have helped thousands reverse health decline and reclaim their vitality at any age. We explore why modern health is deteriorating at record speed and, more importantly, Tim’s top three diet and lifestyle strategies to reverse this trend. From detoxing the...

In this episode, Detective Ev sat down with Dr. Shivani Gupta, a leading voice in holistic health and chronic disease prevention, whose work bridges 5,000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom with modern functional medicine. Dr. Shivani’s journey into wellness began with her own battle with chronic illness—an experience that led her to Ayurveda and ultimately transformed her life. Inspired to help others heal, she went on to earn a Master’s in Ayurvedic Sciences and a Ph.D. focused on Turmeric, studying under renowned Ayurvedic experts in both India and the United States. At the heart...

What happens when your body begins to fail—and no one can tell you why? In this powerful episode of The Health Detective Podcast, Katie shares her deeply personal health journey through sudden illness, mold exposure, and the long road back to healing. What started as an unexplainable health collapse quickly became a life-altering wake-up call—one that forced her to become her own #1 advocate. At the time, Katie was juggling a brand-new baby and running a busy retail jewelry store she had just opened in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Despite the obvious stressors, the seve...

Is melasma really a skin problem—or is it your body asking for help? In this episode of The Health Detective Podcast, Detective Ev sat down with Ariana Juarez, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P) and founder of Alura Wellness, to uncover the truth behind chronic hyperpigmentation and melasma. If you’ve tried creams, lasers, peels, or prescriptions—only to see dark patches return—this conversation explains why those approaches so often fail. Ariana breaks down melasma as a metabolic skin condition, not a cosmetic flaw. Rather than being something to “cover up” or burn away, melasma is a...

What if alignment is the missing link to lasting health and longevity? In this episode of The Health Detective Podcast, Detective Ev sits down with Dr. Sherry McAllister, doctor of chiropractic, President of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, and host of the award-winning Adjusted Reality podcast, to discuss the powerful ideas behind her new Forbes book, Adjusted Reality. If you’re ready to move beyond symptom management and into a more empowered, aligned approach to health, this episode offers insight, clarity, and a new way forward.   Want to watch this episode on...

We are all built to overcome. Health isn’t something you earn—it’s an innate ability that emerges when the body, mind, and spirit are given the space and support to heal. Even after wrong turns, setbacks, or seasons of struggle, transformation is always possible through right choices, personal responsibility, and a truth-based mindset. In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the mind–body connection with Dylan Gemelli, a leading voice in fitness and biohacking. Known as “The Wellness Revolutionary,” “The Aging Optimizer,” and “The Mind-Body Connector,” Dylan brings insight across fitness, nutrition, cellular health, neuroscience, and an...

In this episode, Detective Ev sits down with Alisa, a Doctor of Pharmacy with over 25 years of experience who made the courageous leap from conventional medicine into the world of functional health. After years of dispensing medications to manage symptoms, Alisa began to question the system—and her role in it. What she discovered changed everything. Alisa opens up about her personal and professional journey, including the stress, burnout, and gut health crisis that led to an emergency room visit in 2023. That wake-up call forced her to prioritize her own health and ultimately guided her toward becoming a F...

In this powerful episode, Detective Ev sits down with Christine Ruch, a Holistic Transformation Guide who helps people with unresolved health conditions reconnect to their body’s innate wisdom and healing potential. Christine shares her unique process of nervous system restoration, a holistic approach that restores harmony within the nervous system to align the body, mind, and spirit. This alignment activates our inherent healing codes and creates the conditions for deep, authentic healing from within—far beyond symptom management. After spending over 20 years healing her own Multiple Sclerosis and chronic health conditions naturally, Christine now guides o...

In this episode, we dive deep into the vagus nerve—one of the most powerful yet misunderstood systems in the body—and how optimizing it can dramatically improve stress resilience, inflammation, and overall health. Our guest, Dr. Navaz Habib, also known as “The Vagus Nerve Doc,” shares his proven V.A.G.U.S. Protocol, a simple and foundational framework designed to help you activate your body’s natural healing response in both clinical practice and everyday life. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ The function and importance of the vagus nerve and why it plays a central rol...