This episode goes straight to the root of what is happening beneath chronic illness in children, and it is far more complex than a single diagnosis or quick fix. In this conversation, Dr. Somer DelSignore joins Susan Robbins to explore the real drivers behind immune and neurological dysfunction in kids. From hidden infections and toxin exposure to nutrient depletion and chronic stress, this discussion connects how everyday lifestyle patterns shape long term health. It challenges the habit of chasing symptoms and instead brings attention to patterns, history, and the deeper factors that build over time.

What makes this episode powerful is how grounded and practical it feels. You will hear how modern life, including screen time, poor sleep, and highly processed food, keeps kids in a constant stress response and how that shows up in ways many parents miss. The conversation brings clarity without making things complicated. It highlights how small, consistent changes can shift a child’s health in a meaningful way and why prevention starts earlier than most people realize.

In this episode:

• Why chronic illness in children is rarely caused by one single factor and how multiple stressors build over time
• The impact of hidden infections on inflammation, behavior, focus, and common misdiagnoses
• How sleep, nutrition, and daily habits directly influence immune strength and brain function
• What a constant stress response looks like in children and how it affects growth, mood, and focus
• Simple ways to support your child’s nervous system, detox pathways, and overall health without overwhelm
• 
  

Dr. Somer DelSignore Bio

Dr. Somer DelSignore is a pediatric board-certified provider who blends integrative pediatric care with evidence-based medicine to address the root causes of immune and neurological dysfunction. Trained at the University of Pennsylvania and SUNY Upstate and further mentored in integrative medicine, Lyme, and PANS, she is known for highly personalized, research-driven treatment plans for children. Dr. DelSignore is an ILADS Member, a MAPS Fellow, and holds a Fellowship with the American Academy of Ozone Therapy. Her holistic 10-key approach emphasizes nutrition, environmental factors, and mental health, reflecting her commitment to whole-child care. She is the founder of Hudson Valley Integrative Health, where she helps families find clarity, hope, and a better quality of life.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dr. Somer DelSignore:

Website: https://hudsonvalleyintegrativehealth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nylymesandpans/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nylymesandpans/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somerdelsignorekidslyme/

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/05/04/episode122/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

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Episode Show Notes

We’ve been taught to believe that more exercise equals better health, stronger bodies, and faster results. This episode challenges that belief in a big way. Susan breaks down how pushing harder and training longer can actually backfire, leading to chronic inflammation, disrupted recovery, and even long-term health consequences that often go unnoticed.

This conversation goes deeper than surface-level fitness advice. It connects the dots between genetics, lifestyle, and training patterns to show why two people can follow the exact same workout plan and experience completely different outcomes. From inflammatory gene responses to stress hormone regulation and recovery capacity, your body has a unique threshold, and ignoring it can quietly work against you.

Susan also walks through how overtraining shows up beneath the surface, even when you feel “fine.” Blood markers, nervous system dysregulation, sleep disruption, and metabolic shifts all play a role in whether your body is adapting or breaking down. The goal isn’t to stop moving, it’s to train with precision, honoring your body’s rhythms, recovery needs, and individual design.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a new lens on exercise, one that prioritizes alignment over intensity, and sustainability over burnout. Because real progress doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing what actually works for your body.

In this episode:

• Why too much exercise can trigger chronic inflammation and slow recovery
• How genetics influence your response to stress, training, and inflammation
• The role of stress hormones like cortisol in overtraining and burnout
• Key gene variants (like COMT, IL-6, TNF-alpha) and what they mean for your body
• How different health types respond to exercise, and why personalization matters
• The hidden signs of overtraining, even when you feel “healthy”
• Blood markers to watch for (fasting insulin, triglycerides, CRP, glucose)
• How chronobiology (timing) impacts performance and recovery
• Why recovery, not intensity, is where real progress happens
• How to train smarter by aligning with your body’s natural capacity

RESOURCES:

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/04/27/episode121/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

In this episode of the Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable. podcast, Susan is chatting with early language expert and parent educator Cara Tyrrell to explore how the words we use with children shape their identity, emotional intelligence, and lifelong ability to connect. From infancy through the toddler years, communication isn’t just about what we say, it’s about how we create safety, trust, and connection through both our words and our presence.

Cara introduces her “Core Four” connection framework and her BEND method, offering practical, real-life strategies for navigating challenging moments with children in a way that builds confidence, emotional resilience, and mutual respect. This conversation goes far beyond parenting, it’s a powerful reminder that true connection is a learned skill, and one that impacts our health, relationships, and epigenetic expression from the very beginning.

In this episode:

• Why the first three years of life are critical for emotional and neurological development
• The “Core Four” connectors that build strong, lasting relationships
• How language shapes a child’s identity, confidence, and behavior
• The BEND method for navigating tantrums and emotional moments
• Why connection and not control, is the foundation of effective parenting
• How these communication tools apply to adults, relationships, and everyday life

Learn more about our guest Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed.

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is an early language expert, teacher trainer, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Masters in Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to teach parents and educators the power of intentional language in shaping children’s identity, confidence, and future success. She is the host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of the Talk to Them Early and Often , an intentional language guide for infant and toddler caregivers.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Cara Tyrrell:

Website: www.caratyrrell.com

Podcast: Transforming the Toddler Years

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transforming-the-toddler-years-parents-and/id1646535788

Book Pre-Order: https://www.caratyrrell.com/talktothemearlyandoften

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caratalkstoddler

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/04/20/episode120/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

In this deeply raw and eye-opening episode, Susan sits down with Nicole Bell to uncover the devastating reality of chronic Lyme disease, misdiagnosis, and the critical gaps in modern testing.

Nicole shares the powerful and heartbreaking story of her husband’s journey, from subtle personality changes and memory loss to a misdiagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s… and ultimately, the truth that was missed for far too long. His experience sheds light on a much bigger issue: how thousands of people are falling through the cracks of a system that isn’t equipped to detect complex, stealth infections.

This conversation goes far beyond Lyme disease. It’s about advocacy. It’s about asking better questions. And it’s about understanding that symptoms are not random, they are signals.

Susan and Nicole break down why traditional testing often fails, how infections can mimic neurological and psychiatric conditions, and why getting the right diagnosis could change everything.

If you’ve ever felt like something is “off” in your body but no one can explain why, this episode is for you.

In This Episode:

• How Lyme and co-infections can mimic conditions like Alzheimer’s, anxiety, and psychiatric disorders

Learn more about our guest Nicole Bell

Nicole is an experienced executive in the medical device and diagnostics industries in roles ranging from science and engineering to business development and marketing. At Advanced Liquid Logic, a company that sold to Illumina for $96M, she ran product management and interfaced with top companies across medical diagnostics. At TransEnterix Surgical, she served as the Vice President of Research and Development, driving the development of the surgical robot from breadboard design to FDA submission in 3 years and propelling the company’s market cap to over $500M.

She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from MIT in Materials Science and Engineering, as well as a Master’s of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. Her best-selling and award-winning memoir, What Lurks in the Woods, vividly details her family’s experience with undiagnosed tickborne infection. This firsthand knowledge of the devastating impact of misdiagnosed chronic illness fuels her passion to drive a new diagnostic standard of care for the industry. She also served as the primary author of “The State of Lyme Disease Research in the United States,” and regularly collaborates with the Center for Lyme Action to change the political landscape for Lyme Disease and related coinfections.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Nicole Bell:

Website: https://www.galaxydx.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galaxydiagnostics/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galaxydx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GalaxyDiagnosticsVideos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/galaxy-diagnostics-inc-/posts/?feedView=all

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/04/13/episode119/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Listeners asked, so I'm answering. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most powerful tools in personalized health: pH 360. You’ve heard it mentioned before, but today, we’re going deeper into the how and why behind it. How can a system understand your body so precisely it feels almost eerie? And why are so many people stuck spinning their wheels with one-size-fits-all approaches that were never designed for them in the first place?

This conversation breaks down the science, technology, and real-world application of a platform that analyzes thousands of data points to create truly individualized health and lifestyle strategies. From body measurements and environment to hormones, genetics, and behavior patterns, this is about understanding you at a level most people never experience.

Because your health isn’t random. It’s responsive. And when you finally stop guessing and start working with your biology instead of against it, everything changes.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, stuck, or like nothing is working… this episode will shift how you see your body, and what’s actually possible for you.

In this episode:

• What pH 360 is and why it’s a game-changer in personalized health
• How 10,000+ data points are used to create your unique “health code”
• The science behind epigenetics and how lifestyle impacts gene expression
• Why one-size-fits-all health advice often fails (and what to do instead)
• How your environment, stress, and daily habits influence your results
• The role of anthropometry (body measurements) in predicting health risks
• The 6 health types and what they reveal about your body and tendencies
• How AI-powered tools like CLIA enhance precision and personalization
• Real client transformations, from blood sugar regulation to inflammation reduction
• Why guessing your way through health is keeping you stuck

RESOURCES:

Episodes mentioned:

The Power of Chronobiology
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/79-the-power-of-chronobiology-why-timing-is/id1736527617?i=1000729045492

Chat GPT Vs. CLIA
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/85-chatgpt-vs-clia-the-ai-revolution-thats/id1736527617?i=1000732622032

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/04/06/episode119/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if the root cause of neurodegenerative disease isn’t just genetics, but something we’ve been overlooking?

In this episode, I sit down with Nikki Schultek to explore the connection between pathogens, brain health, and chronic illness. We dive into how infections like Lyme and other often undetected microbes may influence cognitive decline, and why so many people are being missed in the current system.

Nikki shares her journey from patient to researcher and the work she’s leading to uncover how infections, genetics, and environment interact to shape disease. This conversation will challenge what you think you know about Alzheimer’s, brain health, and what it really means to address root cause.

In This Episode:

• The connection between infections and neurodegenerative disease
• Why Lyme and other pathogens are often overlooked
• How infections can impact the brain across the lifespan
• The role of genetics, and why they’re not the full story
• Why standard testing may miss chronic infections
• Early signs like changes in smell and cognitive function
• How to advocate for your health and dig deeper into root causes
  
  
  

Learn more about our guest Nikki M. Schultek

Executive Director, AlzPI, Founding Director of the Pathobiome Research Center and Research Assistant Professor at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), and Principal Founder, Intracell Research Group, LLC

View the full show notes to read more about Nikki!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Nikki Schultek:

https://www.intracellresearchgroup.com/about

ilads.org

medmaps.org

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/30/episode117/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Peptides are one of the most talked-about tools in health right now, but with all the attention has come a lot of confusion. In this episode, Susan sits down with peptide expert Connor Dean for a real, accessible conversation about what peptides are, how they work, and why quality, sourcing, and proper guidance matter.

Together, they break down the difference between compounded peptides and FDA-approved options, explore common peptides like BPC-157 and GHK-Cu, and discuss the benefits and limitations of different delivery methods. They also take a deeper look at GLP-1 medications, covering how they work, who they may help, potential side effects, and why lifestyle still has to be the foundation of long-term health.

If you’ve been curious about peptides, recovery, gut support, muscle building, or GLP-1s, this episode is a powerful Peptides 101 conversation designed to help you make more informed decisions.

In this episode:

• What peptides are and how they work
  
  
• The difference between compounded and FDA-approved peptides
  
  
• Why peptide quality and sourcing matter
  
  
• Common peptides for recovery, gut health, skin, and muscle support
  
  
• The pros and cons of different delivery methods
  
  
• How GLP-1s work, plus risks and side effects to consider
  
  

Learn more about our guest Connor Dean:

I lead patient consultations for HRT, GLP-1, and peptide therapies, providing in-depth bloodwork analysis and individualized treatment plans. I focus on translating complex lab data into clear, actionable strategies for hormone balance, metabolic health and overall optimization.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Connor Dean:

Website: Arvada, CO Center | 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions

Phone Number: 720-594-1444

Email: connord@4everyoungarvadaco.com

4Ever Young Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4everyoung_arvadaco

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just_another_bodybuilder

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/23/episode116/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

There is a lot of noise online right now around cholesterol, keto, carnivore, and what actually counts as “healthy” and in this episode, Susan cuts straight through it. She unpacks some of the biggest myths being repeated in the wellness space, explains why high cholesterol should never be brushed off without deeper testing, and shares why a one-size-fits-all approach can do more harm than good.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that your body is not a trend. Susan breaks down the connection between lipids, inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, and cardiovascular risk in a way that actually makes sense. If you’ve ever been told your labs are “fine,” wondered whether high-fat diets are really safe for everyone, or wanted to better understand what testing actually matters, this episode will leave you thinking differently about your health and how to advocate for it.

In this episode:

• Why high cholesterol on keto or carnivore should not automatically be ignored
  
  
• The biggest myths Susan sees around LDL, HDL, and heart health
  
  
• Why standard cholesterol panels often miss the full picture
  
  
• The difference between LDL particle size, particle number, ApoB, and Lp(a)
  
  
• How inflammation and insulin resistance quietly raise cardiovascular risk
  
  
• Why genetics can dramatically change how someone responds to high-fat diets
  
  
• The key labs and advanced testing Susan recommends asking for
  
  
• Why personalized health matters more than following the latest diet trend

RESOURCES:

Stello Glucose Monitor

https://www.stelo.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/12/episode115/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast