Your Checkup: Patient Education Health Podcast

This is the final episode of our Motivation Checkup mini-series, and it’s all about turning everything you’ve learned into real, sustainable change. Over the last five episodes, we explored why motivation fades, why willpower isn’t enough, how small habits create lasting progress, what to do when motivation disappears, and how stress, sleep, and burnout sabotage behavior change.

In this episode, we bring it all together. You’ll lear...

 In this episode, we break down the difference between motivation, habits, and discipline — three tools people often confuse when trying to change their health. You’ll learn why motivation is great for starting but unreliable for consistency, why habits are the real engine of long-term change, and why discipline is best used as a short-term support, not a lifestyle. We show how relying too much on willpower leads to burnout, how “m...

 In this episode, we talk about what really happens when motivation fades — and why it’s not a sign that you’ve failed. Life stress, poor sleep, illness, and emotional overload all pull on the same limited energy system in your brain, making even good intentions feel hard to act on. You’ll learn why pushing harder usually backfires, how to use “minimum viable habits” to protect your progress on low-energy days, and how self-compass...

 In this episode, we explore why starting small is actually the most effective way to build lasting habits. Big goals can feel overwhelming, and relying on motivation alone often sets us up for failure. By focusing on tiny, repeatable actions — what we call minimum viable habits — you can protect your confidence, maintain consistency, and slowly train your brain to see yourself as someone who shows up. We break down the psychology ...

 In this episode of Your Checkup, we unpack why relying on willpower alone so often fails — and why that failure isn’t a personal flaw. Willpower is a limited resource that gets drained by stress, decision fatigue, and daily demands, making it unreliable for sustained health change. Instead of asking ourselves to try harder, real progress comes from designing systems that work with our brains: reducing friction for healthy behavior...

New year energy fades fast, and that’s exactly when most health plans fall apart. We’ve been there—patients telling us “I can’t stay motivated,” and our own early alarms that sometimes lose the argument. So we take a fresh, practical look at motivation: not as a trait you’re born with, but as a state you can design by meeting three basic needs—choice, capability, and support.

We start by ditching the willpower myth. Fear a...

 Oral Wegovy is officially FDA approved — but what does that actually mean for patients? In this episode of Your Checkup, we break down the December 2025 approval of oral semaglutide 25 mg for chronic weight management, who qualifies, how it works, and how effective it really is. We review the clinical trial data behind the approval, including expected weight loss, common side effects, and long-term expectations, and explain how or...

We trade holiday laughs and a Michelin-level dinner recap for a clear look at how five simple questions can transform a medical visit into a relationship. We show how home, routine, joy, and self-perception reveal risks and shape plans that fit real life.

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 In this episode of Your Checkup, we break down lipoprotein(a) — a largely inherited form of cholesterol that can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, even when standard cholesterol numbers look normal. We talk about what Lp(a) is, why it matters, who should be tested, and how it helps explain “unexpected” heart events in otherwise healthy people. While Lp(a) can’t currently be lowered with diet or exercise,...

We share a quick life update, welcome our first guest Mike Rozanski, and clear up the Michelin Guide origin story before shifting to a focused guide on starting GLP-1 medications. Practical strategies cover injections, nausea, constipation, muscle protection, and adjusting other meds safely.

• board certification in obesity medicine and motivation to destigmatise care
• guest segment on Michelin guide history and Phill...

We unpack new GLP-1 pricing, coverage hurdles, and whether cash-pay programs make these meds more reachable for diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea care. Along the way we share candid pros and cons of injections, tease future oral options, and weigh real tradeoffs.

• current cash-pay pricing from major manufacturers
• differences between Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound
• tighter insurance coverage and prior authorizat...

Clear guidance on benefits, risks, and how the FDA’s label changes shift conversations in the exam room about HRT
Nikki's Corner
• Philly’s first Michelin stars and what the tiers mean
• Flying taxis in Dubai 
• A cold case solved by college criminology students

Learning 
• What HRT is, routes of therapy, and who benefits
• Reframing WHI-era fears with age and timing data
• FDA label changes and clin...

We discuss a clear, practical guide to menopause, explaining what it is, why it happens, and how to manage the most common symptoms with everyday steps and evidence-based options. We set up next week’s deep dive on hormone therap. 

• Defining menopause and typical timing
• Why estrogen declines and bodywide effects
• Common symptoms across sleep, mood, and metabolism
• Hot flashes and night sweats frequency and...

We break down osteopenia and osteoporosis with clear steps to protect independence: how bones weaken, how DEXA scoring works, and which daily habits reduce fracture risk. We share nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes, and home safety that make a measurable difference.

• key stats on fracture risk in women and men over 50
• definitions of osteopenia and osteoporosis using T-scores
• hip, spine and wrist as common ...

We share a joyful wedding recap and travel bits, then pivot to a clear guide on Seasonal Affective Disorder: what it is, who it affects, why it happens, and the tools that help. Practical and compassionate advice to steady mood, sleep, and energy through winter.

• defining Seasonal Affective Disorder and its seasonal pattern
• key symptoms including oversleeping and carb cravings
• distinguishing normal winter dips...

We share newlywed joy, wild plane moments, and a clear plan for beating jet lag using light timing, hydration, naps, and simple habits that work. Direction matters, and we explain how to prep differently for eastward and westward travel so your body clock adjusts faster.

• wedding highlights and travel
• plane etiquette and seat recline awareness
• jet lag basics and circadian rhythm cues
• symptoms that signal...

 We unpack myths, the new stepwise approach, and why return to school should come before return to play.

• what a concussion is
• common and delayed symptoms including mood and sleep changes
• immediate sideline steps
• why “cocooning” is outdated and how light activity helps
• individualized recovery timelines and risk of returning too soon
• return-to-learn before return-to-play with simple accommodat...

Screen time impacts our mental health in significant ways, with research suggesting particular risks for teens who spend more than three hours daily on social media.

• Higher social media usage linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and stress
• Teens more vulnerable to negative mental health effects than adults
• Using social media to escape negative feelings raises mental health risks
• Limiting so...

Colon cancer screening saves lives by catching cancer early and even preventing it, yet only 69% of eligible adults are up to date with their screenings. We explore who needs screening, what tests are available, and how to choose the right one for you.

• Most adults should start colon cancer screening at age 45, even if healthy
• Family history may mean you need to start screening earlier
• Stool-based tests like F...