Take Back My Brain

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Daniel Chille, a functional and integrative medicine practitioner specializing in root cause medicine, microbial medicine, and advanced diagnostics.

Daniel Chille shares his personal health journey after years of chronic digestive issues led him to discover the power of functional medicine. Together, they discuss how the gut microbiome influences nearly every system in ...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. Chris Molda about amino acid therapy and the importance of individualized amino acid trialing for improving brain health.

They explain why traditional blood, urine, and stool testing often fails to identify functional neurotransmitter deficiencies and how guided amino acid trialing provides immediate feedback by observing how the body responds in real time. The conv...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. Joe O'Tool, a board-certified functional neurologist, about the science of concussions, functional neurology, pediatric brain health, and neuroplasticity.

Dr. O'Tool shares how his passion for neurology began after his younger brother suffered an undiagnosed concussion that was followed by serious ACL injuries. His journey deepened even further after his own daughte...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Brad Pitzele, founder of One Thousand Roads, about the healing potential of Exercise With Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) and red-light therapy.

Brad shares his personal journey from years of chronic illness—including autoimmune arthritis, Lyme disease, melanoma, severe fatigue, brain fog, and chronic pain—to rebuilding his health through a focus on oxygen utilization...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer welcomes cycle alchemist and East Asian medicine practitioner Adrienne Irizarry to discuss women's hormonal health, menstrual cycles, and perimenopause.

Adrienne explains that many menstrual symptoms—including severe cramps, PMS, irregular periods, and emotional instability—are often signs of underlying imbalances rather than an unavoidable part of being a woman. She d...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer welcomes Jannine Krause, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, wellness educator, and host of the Health Fix podcast, for a conversation about healthy aging, stress, travel, and the foundational habits that support long-term wellness.

Jannine shares her perspective on travel as a powerful reset for the nervous system. Rather than filling every vacation with sightseeing and rigid s...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer welcomes functional medicine dietitian and gut health expert Lisa Smith for a conversation about what truly drives healthy aging and longevity. Lisa explains why healthspan—the quality of life we maintain as we age—is just as important as lifespan, and why foundational habits should come before advanced wellness interventions.

The discussion explores Lisa’s simple nutrition framework ...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer speaks with Dr. Emily Splichal about the often-overlooked connection between the feet and the brain. Dr. Splichal explains how walking is a highly neurological process influenced by balance, toe strength, and movement efficiency. She breaks down how walking speed and arm swing reflect overall brain and body health, and why the ability to balance on one leg is a key marker of longevity.

The conversation...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Jen Beyst, founder of the Cognitive Function Development Institute, about what she describes as the brain’s “hidden operating system”—the cognitive networks that govern attention, memory, learning, and emotional regulation.

Jen explains how Cognitive Function Development Therapy (CFDT) uses objective assessment and targeted, multisensory training...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Laura Abshire, founder of Credit Dusters, about the powerful connection between credit, mindset, and financial freedom. Drawing from both personal experience and years of helping clients rebuild their credit, Laura shares how financial struggles often begin with limiting beliefs, fear, and survival-mode thinking rather than a lack of ability.

The conversation explores p...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. Dusty Hess, founder of Upstream Health, about reclaiming health through faith, stewardship, family culture, and alignment with God’s design. Dr. Hess explains the difference between emergency-based healthcare and long-term wellness care, encouraging families to focus less on fear and more on intentional daily habits that support physical, emotional, and spiri...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer interviews pharmacist and wellness innovator Nayan Patel about the science of glutathione and its potential role in brain health, aging, detoxification, energy, and skin health. Nayan explains how oxidative stress impacts the body and brain, why glutathione levels decline with age, and how low glutathione may contribute to brain fog, fatigue, inflammation, and cognitive decline. ...

In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer guides Brenda Mundt through a live amino acid therapy trialing session to explore how neurotransmitter imbalances may affect anxiety, stress, emotional health, sleep, focus, and chronic tension. Brenda shares her personal healing journey through grief, breathwork, and personal development while experiencing real-time responses to amino acid supplements designed to support seroton...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer sits down with Dr. Pat McShane to discuss healthy aging, women’s health, menopause, and the importance of health span over lifespan. Drawing from her decades as a fertility specialist, Dr. McShane shares insights on how movement, sleep, nutrition, social connection, and mindset influence vitality later in life. The conversation also explores loneliness, ageism, and why maintaining independence a...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer speaks with Dr. Monica Jauregui about gut health and the root causes of digestive issues like IBS and SIBO. Dr. Jauregui explains how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, impaired gut motility, and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) can contribute to a wide range of symptoms beyond digestion, including fatigue, brain fog, and chronic inflammation. The conversation highlights a root-cause ...

In this episode, I’m sharing a featured interview I did for a summit hosted by Dr. David Jockers, where I was invited to speak about amino acid therapy and mental health. I walk through how neurotransmitter imbalances, blood sugar regulation, and everyday lifestyle habits impact anxiety, depression, and brain function—and how targeted nutrition and amino acids may help support balance and healing.

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Mind Thr...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Lauren Hubbard about her journey off long-term SSRIs and into amino acid therapy. Lauren discusses safely tapering medication, processing repressed trauma, and improving both emotional and physical wellness. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, support, and investing in your health for long-term mental and emotional transformation.

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Mind Thrive Course: Learn more abo...

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Katie Kirklin, RN and functional nutrition counselor, about gut health and digestion. They discuss what constitutes healthy bowel habits, factors that disrupt digestion, and practical strategies for supporting a diverse microbiome through a whole-food diet. Katie emphasizes sustainable lifestyle changes, blood sugar balance, hydration, sleep, and mindset shifts to prevent disordered eating....

In this episode, Laurie Hammer interviews Brady Lowe, founder of Taste Network, about his journey from Des Moines, Iowa, to building a business centered on food, wine, and sustainable farming. Brady shares how his passion for cooking, wine, and cigars evolved into a mission to support small family farms, heritage breed pigs, and sustainable food systems.

They discuss the benefits of heritage farming over factory farming, emphasizing...