The Energy Blueprint Podcast By Ari Whitten

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Heather Sandison, a naturopathic doctor, published researcher, and the author of a new book you’ll definitely want to read, Reversing Alzheimer's: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health. Dr. Sandison’s work is extraordinary in many ways, but, in my opinion, one of her most impressive achievements is creating Marama Memory Care, the first residential memory care facility to have the goal of returning cognitively declined residents to independent living! I loved speaking with Dr. Sandison, and I know you’ll learn a lot from this podcast. Enjoy! In this podcast, Dr. Sandison and I discuss: The true underlying drivers of chronic illness, and dementia specifically, and why the conventional approach is not working An incredibly surprising role of amyloid beta plaque (thought to be the major contributor to dementia) that no one is talking about 6 factors Dr. Sandison addresses in her Alzheimer’s patients to achieve cognitive improvement at the cellu

In this episode, I’m speaking with Robert Lufkin, MD, a physician and medical school professor at UCLA and the University of Southern California, about his new, provocatively titled book Lies I Taught In Medical School.

In this episode, I’m speaking with my friend and brilliant functional doctor, Dr. Datis Kharrazian, on the most evidence-based and practical ways to support your brain.  This is a re-release of a MUST-LISTEN episode if you have any cognitive concerns, such as a history of brain injury or fatigue, or if you’re concerned with keeping your brain healthy as you age. Dr. Kharrazian draws on his decades of clinical experience to share his top tips for brain health and life-long optimization. We cover a LOT of ground with tons of great takeaways you’ll want to hear! This podcast was originally published in February 2021  

In this episode, I’m speaking for a third time with Borge Fagerli about some powerful mindset techniques he uses in his coaching practice that will help you achieve your fitness, muscle-building, and weight-loss goals.  If you haven’t yet, be sure to listen to our first two episodes. In them, Borge explains his simplified but highly effective approach to training, gives us some insight into his history, and explains why he’s now focused on psychology and mindset rather than the common hyper focus on relatively trivial details that tends to dominate the world of evidence-based fitness.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with holistic dentist and educator Dr. Judson Wall about how oral health is the overlooked gateway to full-body health and the most potent ways to keep your teeth and gums (and every other body system!) working optimally. This podcast was initially released in April 2022.  In this podcast, Dr. Judson and I discuss: The top nutrient deficiencies that contribute most to dental decay, decreased bone density, and nerve issues (and a whole host of other problems) Does fluoride work…in toothpaste or drinking water? And is it really as harmful as some people say it is? Why our ancestors didn’t need to brush their teeth or floss (and what we can learn from them) The best natural alternatives to commercial toothpaste products Why the pH of the mouth is the most vital aspect of avoiding gum disease…do you know your oral pH? Why root canals and silver fillings are terrible practices (along with effective alternatives and remedies) Tips for avoiding sleep apnea and poor craniof

In this episode, I’m re-releasing an episode with Dr. Stephan Guyenet and Dr. Mario Kratz, two impressively experienced nutrition researchers with a wide range of expertise, about their organization Red Pen Reviews, a non-profit dedicated to publishing unbiased, scientifically accurate reviews for current nutrition books hitting the market. Today, we focus on two popular but controversial books—Dr. Steven Gundry’s The Plant Paradox and Carnivore Code from Dr. Paul Saladino. This podcast was originally published on August 27 2022 In this podcast, Dr. Guyenet, Dr. Kratz, and I discuss: How difficult it is to parse out accurate versus inaccurate and biased information and the regulated and systematic role of Red Pen Reviews in clearing up the confusion The 3 focus areas Dr. Guyenet and Dr. Kratz use to score the books they review and the importance of each How the health claims made in Carnivore Code compare to research AND anecdotal reports of people eating the diet…and how the main claim that humans evol

In this episode, I’m happy to welcome Borge back for another conversation about fitness. But this time, he’s focusing on the importance of mindset.  However, this isn’t the same mindset information you’ve heard in other places. Borge has decades of experience as a fitness expert, and he’s now approaching health through an incredibly authentic, honest, and highly effective lens that I think will help you achieve your goals, too. In this podcast, Borge and I discuss: Why he switched his focus from purely muscle building to mindset, and the fascinating concept of the Dunning-Kruger effect that fueled this shift Why a big-picture view of health, fitness, and even life might be the best context for understanding new information (and living happily!) versus getting lost in the details Our own personal journeys in the fitness industry and why comparison truly is the thief of joy The role of social media in how we perceive ourselves and the illusion of optimal that it promotes; unfortunately, the algorithm ra

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Titus Chiu, a functional neurologist and author of Leaky Brain Fix, his 5-step protocol for not just healing but optimizing brain function. Dr. Chiu is a brilliant clinician who will share how to heal from brain injuries such as concussions or brain trauma AND how to take a healthy brain from normal to super-human!  

In this episode, Alex is back for part 2 of our myth busting discussion—be sure to listen to our conversation from last week if you haven’t already! Before you dive into this episode, I want to tell you that this is a powerful podcast – especially if you’re overweight or if you have insulin resistance/type II diabetes.  Alex and I thoroughly discuss the research and ideas we’ve been compiling for over 2 years, and he presents a novel and evidence-based paradigm of metabolic health and insulin resistance (which are at the core of many of the chronic diseases that kill us)…one that may just change your health forever! Why does this matter?  9 out of 10 people in the United States (or possibly even higher) have poor metabolic health. And these issues are connected to heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease…the major killers faced by everyone in modern society.   

In this episode, I’m speaking with nutrition expert Alex Leaf, someone you may remember from past episodes.  I’ve been lucky to work closely with Alex for the past few years—he’s a highly informed researcher and science writer, and he’s rare in the world of nutrition. He’s extremely scientifically literate and able to break through popular trends to provide practical and accurate interpretations of sometimes complicated research. I’m really excited for you to hear our latest conversation…we cover a lot of ground, including what the research says about weight loss and calories in/calories out, low-carb versus low-fat diets, the best diet for fat loss, how a low-protein diet affects life span, and, one topic I know you won’t want to miss; Alex’s opinion on a recent publication showing that time-restricted eating leads to a much higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease…is this true? To celebrate Alex’s appearance on the podcast, I’m offering The Fat Loss Blueprint for $200 off the regular price of $497.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Brian Keane, Ireland’s top nutrition and exercise expert, who shares his hard-won experience with us on the best ways to move and eat for fat loss, moving and looking good as we get older, and how to have more energy every day. In this podcast, Brian and I discuss: Calories in/calories out versus hormone balancing—is one better than the other for fat loss?  If the ketogenic and carnivore diets are useful for people trying to lose weight Brian’s “fat loss prioritization pyramid” to help clients achieve their goals, and the surprising part of this plan that has nothing to do with nutrition!  The importance of your individual needs in any diet or exercise plan—every person is different, so what approach is right for you?  The best exercise strategies for fat loss, disease prevention, and increased energy…and how you can start incorporating these into your everyday life! Exercise pursuits that do NOT promote long term health but why they’re still valuable for some pe

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Christiane Northrup, a board-certified OB/GYN physician, leading authority in the field of women’s health and wellness, and the New York Times best-selling author of Dodging Energy Vampires. In this podcast, Dr. Northrup and I discuss: The startling statistic that 1 in 5 people are energy vampires…individuals who steal your vibrancy, dim your light, and might be the hidden source of fatigue  Why menstrual problems, menopausal symptoms, or chronic pelvic pain might be related to your toxic relationships  The biochemical marker that becomes elevated when you’re dealing with an energy vampire in your life The links between sugar cravings, depression, and even immune dysfunction and living with a narcissist  The key difference between male and female energy vampires and the crucial aspects of your own personality you should be aware of to avoid getting drained Specific characteristics to be on the lookout for so you don’t get sucked into a narcissistic relationsh

In this episode, I’m speaking with Børge Fagerli, creator of an innovative and highly efficient resistance training method called Myo-Reps, which is a way to create 80% of the results in a fraction of the time.    Børge has spent over 25 years as a fitness coach and is known for his evidence-based approaches to nutrition, training, mindset, and lifestyle optimization. We became friends about 10 years ago (through a funny story you’ll hear in the podcast) and we went on to have many years of fruitful discussions and debates on a variety of health topics, and worked together to produce content on the interface of nutrition and circadian rhythm. He’s a great expert on fitness and body composition, and I think you’ll gain a lot of insights from his thoughts on training.    In this podcast, Børge and I discuss:   His background as an engineer and bodybuilder and his research-backed reasons for focusing on fundamentals instead of getting caught up in wellness hype The 3 most essential factors you need to know t

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Tom O’Bryan about his upcoming docu-series, The Inflammation Equation: Decoding the Steps to Optimal Well-Being, why he believes inflammation is at the core of disease, and his approach to solving it.  >> Click here to gain access to The Inflammation Equation 7-part docuseries to go deeper into what inflammation truly is and exactly how to keep it in check for optimal, full-body health.

  In this episode, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Mel Hopper Koppelman back for the third time! Today, we continue our conversation on the overlooked importance of brain development but go on to explore heart rate variability (and how it can easily be misinterpreted), Polyvagal Theory, and her fascinating, physics-based thoughts on how our heart rate variability connects us to the universe! In this podcast, Dr. Mel and I discuss: An easy way to visualize brain development: the brainstem is the root that grows up into the trunk of our brain and branches off into the right and left hemispheres The underlying driver of illness for many people with chronic symptoms and why gut or immune health might continue to suffer if this isn’t addressed A clear, easy-to-understand explanation of heart rate variability and why this often-misinterpreted marker is crucial for vital health The 10-second at-home test Dr. Mel recommends to better understand your heart rate variability findings AND the functioning of your vagus

In this episode, I’m back with Dr. Mel Hopper Koppelman, discussing what she believes is one of the most important and overlooked areas in health—how brain development in childhood might be at the root of the health problems you’re experiencing as an adult. You’ll likely have some ‘aha!’ moments (maybe big ones) while listening to the podcast.  In this podcast, Dr. Mel and I discuss:   The fascinating fact that we actually have 2 brains…and how brain imbalances impact your immune system and overall health How evolution led to our specialized, complex brain design and the main purposes it serves Myths debunked: The misunderstood idea that the left brain controls math and logic and the right brain controls creativity, and whether it’s true that we only use 10% of our brain  The overlooked brain imbalance called “functional disconnection” and why this might be at the root of health problems such as autism, ADHD, gut dysfunction, autoimmunity, dyslexia, depression, anxiety, or even chronic infections  T

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Mel Hopper Koppelman about her powerful and unique view of medicine, a context that I believe is much more effective than the conventional or even functional medical models we’re used to.  I’m really excited to share this episode with you; Dr. Mel and I had a fantastic conversation that, if practically applied, points us in a new and much more effective direction for building true health. In this podcast, Dr. Mel and I discuss: How some scientists and clinicians get stuck in the “biochemical weeds” instead of working from a bigger, more accurate picture of health, aka, first principles thinking The 2 ways we can view lab tests (blood, stool, hormone, or even organic acid tests) and why most practitioners—even functional practitioners—get it WRONG! Why even a “good” result on a blood test might not mean much for your quality or length of life! Her favorite tool to practically address health imbalances and disease that fits perfectly into a big-picture paradigm T

In this episode, I’m speaking with Patrick McKeown, author of The Oxygen Advantage, who shares his amazing expertise on the breathing habits you need to know to reduce stress and anxiety, raise your energy levels, and boost performance…and they’re NOT what you expect! I’m also incredibly excited to share that I’ve partnered with Patrick to offer a one-of-its-kind Breathing for Energy program, the ONLY course available that teaches you how to use your breath to battle low energy, brain fog, depression, and chronic anxiety. Save $200 on this revolutionary course when you order today!  In this podcast, Patrick and I discuss: The negative impact modern life has on our breathing patterns and why just 24 hours of stress or being sedentary can shift us out of optimal breathing habits Why the popular advice of “just take a deep breath!” might be the worst thing you can do for your physical and mental health! The “oxygen paradox” and the extreme importance of a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide…and how t

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Jason Hawrelak, world-renowned microbiome expert, gastrointestinal specialist, and author of over 60 research papers dedicated to gut health. He is, in my opinion, one of the foremost gut/microbiome experts on the planet. So this is a MUST-listen. In this podcast, Dr. Hawrelak and I discuss: The invisible but highly active “organ” that affects everything from mitochondrial function to our nervous system to cancer treatment outcomes The truth behind microbiome testing and what to know before you get your results 3 primary connections between your microbiome and mitochondria  The mitochondrial poison some people produce in their own GI tract connected to Alzheimer’s, blood sugar dysregulation, and neurotransmitter imbalance 2 GI and mitochondrial-damaging substances that most Americans consume every day The crucial short-chain fatty acid created by your microbiome that feeds your colon…and your mitochondria