A Healthier Michigan Podcast

A Healthier Michigan Podcast

A Healthier Michigan Podcast is dedicated to navigating how we can improve our health and well-being through small healthy habits we can start implementing today. Every other week, host Chuck Gaidica will sit down with a certified health expert from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to deep dive into topics covering nutrition, fitness and much more.

Episodes

December 24, 2025 16 mins

Binge drinking is more common than you think—discover its hidden risks to your body and mind in this must-listen episode.

Dr. William Beecroft, Medical Director of Behavioral Health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, explores the surprising ways binge drinking affects your physical health, mental well-being and overall lifestyle. From short-term consequences to long-term risks, you’ll learn the warning signs of excessive alcohol...

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When the daylight hours get shorter, it can really affect our mood. On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Senior Health Care Analyst Josh McCullough. Together, they discuss the winter blues, happy lights and other ways to improve your mood.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • Why we need sunlight
  • Do “Happy Lights” really work?
  • How Vitamin D can help us in winter months
  • What other factors can improve ou...
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November 26, 2025 16 mins

Both short term and long-term stress can have a negative impact on our health. On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Care Management Physician Dr. Angela Seabright. Together, they discuss the effects of stress on us both mentally and physically.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How stress affects us
  • How does stress increase risk of disease?
  • Who does stress effect the most?
  • How to manage stress

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November 13, 2025 16 mins

Anxiety vs Stress: What’s the difference? It’s important to know and understand the difference. On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Medical Director of Behavioral Health, Dr. William Beecroft. Together they discuss how stress and anxiety are caused, symptoms of each and how to deal with them.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How are anxiety and stress different?
  • What can cause them?
  • Can there be ...
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October 30, 2025 16 mins

When our schedules get busy, we have to be able to stick to our routines. On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Senior Medical Director of Provider Engagement, Dr. Heather Stamat. Together they discuss how important it is to have healthy goals and how to prioritize yourself when your schedule is limited. 

 

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: 

 

  • How to eat healthier on the go 
  • How planning can prevent ...
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October 16, 2025 14 mins

Red Light Therapy: is it a scam or does it have any real health benefits? On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Clinical Director of Blue Care Network, Dr. Peter Graham. Together they discuss Red Light Therapy, its effects and the differences between professional care and at-home devices.

 

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

 

  • What are the benefits, if any, of Red Light Therapy?
  • Do smaller devices hav...
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More than just the latest TikTok trend, fibermaxxing has real benefits. On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian Shanthi Appelö, together they discuss what the trend is, why you need fiber and how much you should have.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • What are the benefits of fiber?
  • What are some easy ways to increase fiber intake?
  • How much does the average adult need?
  • What does th...
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September 18, 2025 15 mins

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by the Director of Behavioral Health & Planning for BCBSM, Dr. Julia Isaacs. Together, they talk ways to enjoy exercising, what is temptation bundling?, and what other strategies are there to change your mindset?

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How much exercise you need?
  • What tools are there to help you workout more?
  • How can you avoid the gym and still worko...
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On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by the Clinical Director of Blue Care Network, Dr. Peter Graham. Together, they talk about the AQI, what is it?, and how it can help prepare you for the day.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How to read the AQI?
  • Who is most effected by air quality?
  • What changes air quality?
  • What you can do to help yourself

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August 21, 2025 21 mins

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Care Management Physician for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dr. Angela Seabright. Together, they talk about the good and bad of energy drinks, what's in them, and some other ways you could get the energy you need to go about your day.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • What's in energy drinks
  • How they effect the body
  • Are they a danger to us
  • what are some alt...
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On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Shanthi Appelö. Together, they explore ways to combat inflammation, why its bad long term and how small changes in your lifestyle can help fight it.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • What causes inflammation
  • What some of the long term effects can be
  • Diets that can reduce inflammation
  • Other ways t...
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Affordability isn't just about medical bills—it's about addressing what drives health in the first place. When people have stable housing, access to healthy food and support for mental health, they use the health care system less and live healthier lives. In this episode we explore how health care affordability starts far upstream—from food security and housing stability to behavioral health and chronic disease prevention. This ...
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Uninsured individuals often rely on hospitals for emergency care, the most expensive part of the health system. That cost doesn’t disappear—it shows up in everyone’s insurance premiums. This episode helps reframe affordability by examining how charity care, Medicaid, and federal subsidies work together to manage that cost upstream. In this episode, we explore the hidden costs of uncompensated care, how hospitals and insurers wor...
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Health care affordability isn't just a consumer problem—it's a system accountability issue. Consolidated health systems promised lower costs. Insurers and employers are demanding more value. This episode brings together health systems, insurers and business leaders to explore how each player in the health care system can do more—collectively—to lower the cost of coverage. From legacy partnerships to forward-looking value-based mode...

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April 10, 2025 15 mins

From aging to genetics, we’re exploring the balance between nutrition and metabolism in this four-part series.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Shanthi Appelö. Together, they explore the science behind nutrient timing.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • What is nutrient timing?
  • How intermittent fasting can have benefits like reducing c...
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From aging to genetics, we’re exploring the balance between nutrition and metabolism in this four-part series.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Shanthi Appelö. Together, they explore how the nutritional value of food plays a bigger role than just calorie count.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How nutrient-dense foods such as vegeta...
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March 13, 2025 16 mins

From aging to genetics, we’re exploring the balance between nutrition and metabolism in this four part series.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Shanthi Appelö. Together, they explore how to optimize food choices to fuel our body.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • How different types of food affect energy levels and metabolism
  • Nutrient...
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February 27, 2025 14 mins

From aging to genetics, we’re exploring the balance between nutrition and metabolism in this four part series.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Registered Dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Shanthi Appelö. Together, they explore the truth about metabolism.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • What exactly is metabolism?
  • How much of our metabolism is determined by genetics.
  • Common myt...
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February 13, 2025 15 mins

In this series, we’re exploring the balance between what you can and can’t control when it comes to your health.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dr. James Grant. Together, they explore how small changes to our lifestyle can positively impact longevity.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • The most impactful h...
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January 30, 2025 30 mins

In this series, we’re exploring the balance between what you can and can’t control when it comes to your health.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Senior Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dr. Raymond Hobbs. Together, they explore how to embrace the natural aging process while focusing on the areas of our health we can actively maintain.

In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:

  • H...
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