Dr. Shani Robins is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Wisdom Therapy™, a therapeutic approach he pioneered in 1998. He teaches psychology and wellness courses at a number of schools including Stanford University, Foothill College, and College of San Mateo.

Dr. Robins holds a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from UCLA, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, and a second Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. He has been a California Board Licensed Psychologist for over 20 years.

Blending the best of Western psychology—including Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—with Eastern practices like mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, and humility, Dr. Robins helps people reduce suffering and live with greater wisdom.

He specializes in psychotherapy for anxiety, anger management, and career counseling, working with individuals, couples, and groups. His integrative approach combines CBT, Mindfulness Meditation, and Wisdom Therapy to help clients lower stress and enhance well-being.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Robins shares practical strategies and timeless wisdom to help you break free from anxiety, pain, and emotional struggles—whether you’re healing from an autoimmune condition or simply seeking to live a more meaningful life. Learn how to reframe challenges, overcome cognitive distortions, practice mindfulness, and cultivate self-compassion, gratitude, optimism, and humility. Dr. Robins shows us how to be wiser and freer, starting with your very next thought.

Quote: “How we think significantly influences how we feel.”

What’s inside this episode?

02:26 How wisdom and well-being can be defined when it comes to dealing with and healing chronic illness

13:54 Wise vs. unwise thought patterns, and the understanding that how we think directly correlates with how we feel

20:05 How we can approach and respond to new health challenges in a wiser and more skillful way

25:26 Understanding mindfulness as a practiced skill that allows us to consciously observe our thoughts and create the opportunity to shift them

35:35 How shifting our perspective through actively changing our biological default for survival and practicing gratitude frees us from suffering

43:50 How we can practice more humility, self-compassion, and optimism

59:00 Final words from Shani on the practice of living a wise life

Resources mentioned:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) workbooks:

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think - https://amzn.to/4i8pW7S

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - https://a.co/d/6jUl00S

Shani’s website: Wisdomtherapy.com

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/apply/

I’m delighted to be joined again today by Dr. Keesha Ewers, a board-certified Functional and Ayurvedic medicine expert, Doctor of Sexology, trauma-informed psychotherapist, conscious dying doula, MAPS certified MDMA-assisted psychotherapy therapist, and founder of the Academy for Integrative Medicine Health Coach Certification Program.

With over 40 years in medicine, she developed the HURT Model to understand how childhood trauma impacts adult health, leading to her Freedom Framework for reversing autoimmune disease.

Dr. Keesha is a best-selling author of several books, including Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle: The Woman’s Guide to Reclaiming Emotional Freedom and Vibrant Health. She also co-hosts Liberating Generations with her daughter, a podcast on breaking free from intergenerational trauma.

I’ve had the pleasure of being part of Dr. Keesha’s Reverse Autoimmune Disease Summit and she has been on the podcast before (episode #50) discussing the profound links between childhood trauma and autoimmunity. In this episode we dive deeper into the opportunity for healing from autoimmune disorders by listening to our bodies and applying both ancient and intuitive wisdom ideally as early as possible.

Quote: “You can’t bathe yourself everyday every minute in resentment and think you’re going to get better, it won’t happen.”

What’s inside this episode?

03:12 Dr. Keesha Ewers story and how perfectionism drove her body into overdrive and autoimmunity

14:10 The four corners of where Dr. Keesha Ewers suggests that people start on their healing journey

22:35 How your body is trying to communicate to you

27:55 Highly sensitive persons (HPS’s), autoimmune relationships, and boundaries

34:00 Trauma as imprinted patterning that’s no longer serving you

40:04 The best way to let go of conditioned self-criticism and how to change your mind and the way you think

46:43 Dr. Keesha’s pebble practice to help shift your perception

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Keesha’s website: https://www.drkeesha.com/

Dr. Keesha’s book: Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle - https://a.co/d/2SRSoT1

Dr. Keesha’s 21 Day Quick Start: https://go.drkeesha.com/21day-quickstart-program

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/apply/

Sunjya Schweig, MD is an integrative medical doctor and the founder and president of the California Center for Functional Medicine. A leading expert in complex chronic illnesses, Dr. Schweig specializes in rigorous investigation and personalized management strategies. With over 25 years of experience, he takes a deeply investigative, data-driven approach to patient care.

He is also the founder of the non-profit Functional Medicine Research and Technology Center, which advances research and programs focused on first responders, tick-borne illnesses, long COVID, and data visualization.

In this episode, Dr. Schweig shares the investigative steps his functional and integrative practice takes to detect and treat chronic illness—plus foundational steps you take to support your health starting today.

Quote: “You're not crazy, you have a lot of things going on, and any one of these could be the reason you're sick.”

What’s inside this episode?

01:26 Dr. Sunjya Schweig’s story and what caused him to go into integrative and functional medicine as a conventionally-trained medical doctor

08:54 The landscape of autoimmune disorders today based on conditions he sees most commonly in his practice

19:06 Foundations for healing that you can get started on before even starting to work with a functional medicine practitioner

26:36 After taking on the foundational components of healing what’s the next step while working with a practitioner

30:16 Why it’s so important to address infections when you’re facing autoimmunity

34:48 Gut and stool tests that Dr. Schweig’s practice prefers

38:07 When mold comes into the hypothesis of what may be wrong with somebody, and what it's like to work with a “mold dog”

46:28 A message to those who are feeling fearful and overwhelmed

47:40 What Dr. Schweig is working on and how AI comes into play

Resources mentioned:

California Center for Functional Medicine: https://www.ccfmed.com/

CCFM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccfmed_ca/

Trauma healing and nervous system reset resources:

Book: When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

The Gupta Program: https://guptaprogram.com/

Alex Howard: https://www.alexhoward.com/

Primal Trust: https://www.primaltrust.org/

DNRS: https://retrainingthebrain.com/

Aimiee Apigian: https://traumahealingaccelerated.com/

Amy B. Scher: https://amybscher.com/

Sleep Resources:

Dhru Purohit podcast: Sleep Masterclass with Dr. Schweig: https://dhrupurohit.com/dp-ep378/

Book: Why We Sleep by Mathew Walker: https://amzn.to/3XrOQYt

Gut Resources:

Genova GI Effects stool test: https://www.gdx.net/products/gi-effects

ParaWellness parasite and yeast stool test: https://parawellnessresearch.com/order/

Mold Testing and Inspection:

Real Time Labs urine test: https://realtimelab.com/

MyMyco immune response blood test: https://mymycolab.com/

Mold Dog services: https://mold-dog.com/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/apply/

My guest today is Dr. Keesha Ewers, a board-certified Functional and Ayurvedic medicine expert, Doctor of Sexology, trauma-informed psychotherapist, conscious dying doula, MAPS certified MDMA-assisted psychotherapy therapist, and founder of the Academy for Integrative Medicine Health Coach Certification Program.

With over 30 years in medicine, she developed the HURT Model to understand how childhood trauma impacts adult health, leading to her Freedom Framework for reversing autoimmune disease.

Dr. Keesha is a best-selling author of several books, including Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle: The Woman’s Guide to Reclaiming Emotional Freedom and Vibrant Health. She also co-hosts Liberating Generations with her daughter, a podcast on breaking free from intergenerational trauma.

I’ve had the pleasure of being part of Dr. Keesha’s Reverse Autoimmune Disease Summit and deeply appreciate our generative and expansive conversations. Today, we’re diving into the well-established connection between childhood trauma and autoimmunity—and the profound potential for healing.

Quote: “You weren’t robbed of a life you were supposed to have, you’re living the life that you’re supposed to live.”

What’s inside this episode?

02:30 Dr. Keesha’s big “wake up” and how she discovered the connection between trauma and autoimmunity

11:53 Understanding the perception and belief that everyone has some level of trauma

25:28 The approach of curiosity for reversing autoimmune, and when are you “done” working on your trauma?

34:42 What well-digested trauma looks like

39:55 What the best form of trauma healing is

44:27 The impact or trauma on you if you consciously or subconsciously forget it

49:20 Ways to access trauma that your body knows or feels, but that you can’t remember

52:37 Final words of wisdom from Dr. Keesha

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Keesha’s website: https://www.drkeesha.com/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/functional-medicine-autoimmune-reversal-program/

Dr. Heather Moday is a board-certified physician and immunologist who specializes in integrative and functional medicine. In addition to her medical degree, Dr. Moday pursued a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Weil. She is also a certified functional medicine practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Moday is the author of "The Immunotype Breakthrough: Your Personalized Plan to Balance Your Immune System, Optimize Health, and Build Lifelong Resilience," a wonderful book that explores different immune system types with strategies for achieving optimal health.

Today Dr. Moday helps people transform their health by teaching them how to optimize their environment, nutrition, and stress management to balance their immune systems. I’m delighted to have her join me today to share simple lifestyle habits you can embrace to balance your immune system so you can both heal and prevent autoimmunity.

Quote: “Your immune system doesn’t care if you have a deadline.”

What’s inside this episode?

02:30 Dr. Moday’s story and transition from allergist and immunologist to integrative and functional medicine practitioner

08:45 The patterns Dr. Moday saw emerge and the four different immunotypes

14:35 Where you can find quizzes and other resources to help you identify what type of immune system you have

15:16 What Dr. Moday is seeing as the main drivers of autoimmunity

23:54 What’s the first step Dr. Moday takes when a patient comes to her with a constellation of symptoms and autoimmune disorders

29:00 Top solutions and strategies you can do to address chronic stress and other things that are contributing to autoimmunity

35:24 How to identify types of stress reduction techniques that work for you

40:50 Final message from Dr.Moday regarding patience and being gentle with the healing process

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Heather’s Website and Immunotype book: https://modaycenter.com/

Follow Dr. Moday on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctormoday/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/functional-medicine-autoimmune-reversal-program/

Dr. Bill Rawls has spent over 30 years in medicine as an OBGYN, but a personal battle with chronic Lyme disease in his 40s led him to discover the limitations of conventional medicine and the potential of alternative treatments. Through holistic and herbal therapies, he restored his health and became passionate about promoting cellular wellness to address and defend against microbes and other root causes of illness.

Today, Dr. Rawls helps others achieve wellness through modern herbology. He shares his insights in his bestselling books, Unlocking Lyme and The Cellular Wellness Solution, highlighting the importance of herbal phytochemicals in protecting cellular health and boosting the body's defenses.

I’m thrilled to have Dr. Rawls back with me again today (previously featured in episode #41 talking about healing at a cellular level through herbal medicine) to dive into healing from chronic Lyme.

Quote: “Cells are what make us work and when they’re not working right you get symptoms.”

What’s inside this episode?

01:18 Dr. Rawls primary chronic Lyme symptoms, what didn’t work, and what did work

03:10 What is Lyme? How long has it been around? How do you get it? And, is it a life sentence?

07:35 The ways that Lyme can be transmitted

11:20 Why some people who get bitten by ticks never have symptoms and some people are taken down

17:15 Is healing from Lyme about eradicating the disease completely or to keep the microbes dormant?

24:16 Lyme as an autoimmune condition, and what makes the host more susceptible to Lyme

31:05 A recap of what lifestyle factors are necessary to heal

35:35 Cellular health and wellness explained

41:00 Healing in a moldy environment

45:38 How you can use herbs to heal

54:15 Top herbs for addressing Lyme and their effectiveness

58:30 How long should you take the herbs

01:02:00 Addressing the cell and the power of root cause functional medicine

01:05:57 Where to find Dr. Rawls and free resources for your healing

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Rawls’ website, book, articles, health consults: https://rawlsmd.com/

Dr. Rawls’ books:

The Cellular Wellness Solution: Tap Into Your Full Health Potential with the Science-Backed Power of Herbs - https://amzn.to/3Ug1Sqh

Unlocking Lyme: Myths, Truths, and Practical Solutions for Chronic Lyme Disease - https://amzn.to/3A4FcT6

The book that got herbs on everyone’s radar and changed Dr. Rawls’ life: Healing Lyme: Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis, 2nd Edition by herbalist, Stephen Buhner - https://amzn.to/4g0qbAN

Dr. Rawls store: supplements & health coaching: https://vitalplan.com/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you live in the continental U.S. and are committed and determined to reclaim your best health, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/functional-medicine-autoimmune-reversal-program/

Adrian Klaphaak is the founder of A Path That Fits, a holistic career and life coaching company that serves clients all over the world. His company IS his life’s work – his path that fits. He’s poured all of himself into creating the most effective and meaningful coaching programs possible because he wholeheartedly believes that everyone has a path that fits, and he knows what a difference it makes to find it. Adrian’s formal training comes from The Coaches Training Institute, Hakomi Mindfulness & Somatic Psychology, and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). He’s one part coach, one part purpose guide, one part entrepreneur, and one part therapist. He’s also studied mindfulness meditation, rites of passage, and has a deep reverence for nature and its wisdom.

Now, you may be wondering, What in the world does career coaching have to do with autoimmune healing? Here’s my short answer: healing is about becoming who you truly are, whole and aligned with your authentic self, mind, body, and spirit.

I personally worked with Adrian many years ago when I was struggling with finding my own path that fit. While I was good at and enjoyed my corporate roles in high tech sales and marketing I intuitively knew that these jobs in the corporate world weren’t the meaning I was seeking or my life’s purpose. That there was something else deeper, more meaningful, and more authentically me that I was seeking, and Adrian helped me Find My Path That Fit.

In this replay episode which originally aired as episode #20 in January 2024, I’m thrilled to be able to reshare this timely and meaningful conversation with Adrian about alignment, about finding purpose, about becoming more YOU.

Quote:

“There is a lot of vitality, wellness, and health in doing work that you love and feel aligned with.”

What’s inside:

02:22 Adrian shares his own career crisis and mismatch

06:24 Back pain and sciatica was a big catalyst for change but would last 15 years

10:22 The birth of Adrian’s daughter was the event that brought healing and a pursuit of mind-body medicine

14:51 Adrian discovers that he was not in touch with internal anger and grief; that being a people-pleaser, a nice guy, and putting pressure on himself to achieve was keeping him from expressing more difficult emotions.

17:51 My riff on the autoimmune personality types: people pleaser, perfectionist, overachiever, striver, and the added risk for autoimmune issues decades later

22:15 One of the things Adrian sees often in clients is, “What I thought I should be doing…;” or “Because my parents wanted me to do this…” or “I grew up without resources…”

24:26 I share my experience working with Adrian in 2012 when I was trying to find my path that fit.

33:29 Adrian highlights the steps of his process for career change

38:20 The importance of the informational interview

39:50 How doing a career change “test drive” can make the change easier, more real, and more natural

47:00 How pain or illness can be a huge teacher or catalyst for growth. And how it’s about doing the best we can while still being human.

51:23 Where to find Adrian and a bit about his group coaching program.

Resources mentioned:

Adrian’s website: https://apaththatfits.com/

I am a proud supporter of and affiliate for Adrian’s 3-month Career Pathfinder Coaching Program. Enter coupon code: beatautoimmune for $100 off: https://apaththatfits.com/the-career-pathfinder/

My case study working with Adrian: https://apaththatfits.com/blog/palmer-case-study/

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you live in the continental U.S. and are committed and determined to reclaim your best health, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/functional-medicine-autoimmune-reversal-program/