In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Georgine Nanos and Dr. Melinda Silva delve into the critical topics of women's health, hormone balance, and the evolving understanding of aging. They discuss the recent FDA changes regarding hormone therapy, the systemic issues in women's healthcare, and the importance of informed choices. Dr. Silva shares her personal journey from traditional medicine to hormone therapy, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care and the significance of balancing hormones. The discussion also highlights the empowerment of women in midlife, the role of strength training, and the importance of self-recognition and support among women.

Takeaways

The FDA's recent changes validate the importance of hormone therapy.

Women often face systemic sexism in healthcare, leading to dismissive treatment of their symptoms.

Hormonal changes in women can significantly impact their mental and physical health.

Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants and are designed to mimic natural hormones.

Comprehensive lab work is essential for effective hormone therapy.

Women should be empowered to make informed choices about their health.

Strength training can greatly enhance physical and emotional resilience in midlife.

The importance of balancing estrogen and progesterone for overall health.

Women should not feel intimidated by others' beauty; empowerment comes from within.

Aging should be viewed as an evolution, not a decline.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Hormone Balance

06:00 Personal Journey: From Traditional Medicine to Hormone Therapy

12:06 Systemic Issues in Women's Health Research

17:55 Navigating the Landscape of Menopause Specialists

23:14 The Importance of Medical Expertise in Patient Care

30:17 Navigating Menopause and Hormonal Balance

36:02 Strength Training and Longevity in Midlife

45:07 Empowerment and Self-Belief for Women

Sabrina Falquier started crying at a medical conference in Napa. Not because something went wrong, but because something finally felt right.

After years of seeing 18 patients a day in 15-minute slots, checking all the boxes of a successful medical career while feeling like something was missing, she found herself at Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives—a collaboration between Harvard School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America. The keynote speaker started talking, and tears came. One shoulder whispered all the possibilities. The other shoulder reminded her of all the reasons she couldn't pursue them.

By day two and a half, she realized something that changed everything: her current employer was just that—her current employer. Not her destiny.

Now triple board-certified in internal medicine, culinary medicine, and lifestyle medicine, Sabrina has built a career teaching medical students, consulting with community organizations like Olivewood Gardens, and showing people that the most powerful medicine might already be sitting in their pantry.

This conversation wanders through the deeply personal terrain of leaving the medical highway for the frontage road, the science behind why plants matter so much, and the quiet courage it takes to listen when something inside you says "there has to be more than this."

Key Moments & Takeaways

00:00 - 07:03 | The Conference That Changed EverythingSabrina shares the moment she knew she had to leave traditional primary care. Spoiler: it involved crying at a medical conference and realizing her employer wasn't her destiny.

07:03 - 15:22 | What Actually Is Culinary MedicineThe definition that matters: using food and nutrition to prevent and treat disease through hands-on learning. Medical students cooking in kitchens. Communities learning that canned tomatoes still count. Evidence-based nutrition that doesn't require a Whole Foods budget.

15:22 - 24:36 | The Plant Kingdom RevolutionWhy plants matter beyond fiber and nutrients. Phytochemicals, polyphenols, and the compounds that actually make your cells work better. The science behind eating the rainbow (and no, Skittles don't count).

24:36 - 32:15 | Teaching the Next GenerationMedical students learning to cook. Teenagers at Olivewood Gardens discovering that healthy food can taste incredible. The ripple effect of planting seeds with future doctors who will actually talk about food with their patients.

32:15 - 40:48 | Making It Work in Real LifeThe pantry strategy when you haven't been to the grocery store. Why frozen and canned vegetables are completely legitimate. How to think about food when your schedule is chaotic and your budget is real.

40:48 - 49:07 | Rancho La Puerta & What's NextSabrina's work at the iconic wellness resort in Tecate, Mexico. Teaching in their kitchen. Her husband rediscovering his humanity there during the pandemic. The place where boot camp and hammocks coexist.

49:07 - 54:25 | Following the PullThe scary, beautiful reality of going off the linear path. No regrets. Financial instability sometimes. The practice of saying yes to mission-aligned opportunities and no to everything else. An invitation to listen to what's calling you next.

Resources Mentioned

Sensación Salud

Website: sensationssalud.comInstagram: @sensationssalud

Dr. Sabrina Falquier's Podcasts

• Culinary Medicine Recipe (English)
• Medicina Culinaria (Spanish)

Organizations & Places

• Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives Conference (Harvard School of Public Health + Culinary Institute of America)
• Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
• Rancho La Puerta (Tecate, Mexico) - April 2025 dates available
• The Kitchenistas of National City documentary

Culinary Medicine Resources

• American College of Lifestyle Medicine
• Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

Dr. Georgine NanosWebsite: kindhealthgroup.comInstagram: @kindhealthgroup

In this episode of The Kind Revolution Podcast, Dr. Georgine Nanos sits down with Michelle White, a woman who spent decades helping others as an educator before her own body forced her to become a student of healing. After retiring from a full-time career in education, Michelle dove deep into mindfulness, Ayurveda, and mind-body medicine - completing her master's degree and PhD coursework in natural medicine.

This isn't your typical wellness conversation. Michelle gets brutally honest about hitting rock bottom with autoimmune disease, the moment she realized Western medicine alone wasn't enough, and how she rebuilt her health from the inside out using meditation, breathwork, and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom adapted for modern life. Dr. Nanos and Michelle explore why most people fail at wellness (they're trying to add MORE instead of creating space), the neuroscience behind why meditation actually works, and how to build sustainable practices that don't require perfection. They tackle the hard questions: How do you heal when you've tried everything? What's the difference between spiritual bypassing and genuine transformation? And why does everyone feel like they're supposed to be "doing" wellness instead of "being" well?

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction: Meet Michelle White02:45 - From educator to healer: Michelle's transformation story06:12 - The autoimmune wake-up call that changed everything09:30 - Why Western medicine alone wasn't the answer12:18 - Discovering meditation and Ayurveda15:42 - The neuroscience of meditation: what's actually happening in your brain19:25 - Breathwork basics: the fastest path to nervous system regulation23:10 - Common meditation mistakes (and why you don't need to "clear your mind")27:35 - Ayurveda 101: ancient wisdom meets modern life31:50 - Michelle's daily non-negotiables for wellness35:20 - Creating sustainable practices vs perfectionistic wellness culture39:45 - The "doing" vs "being" trap in healing43:30 - Self-compassion: the missing ingredient in most wellness journeys47:15 - How to start when you feel overwhelmed51:40 - Small practices, profound shifts55:20 - Integration: making it stick in real life58:50 - Michelle's advice for anyone struggling with chronic illness62:15 - Where to find Michelle and continue learning

ABOUT MICHELLE WHITE:Coach, healer, and teacher who has empowered hundreds of people on their journeys of self-healing. After retiring from education, Michelle completed her master's degree and PhD coursework in natural medicine. Certified instructor of the Chopra Center Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program, certified meditation teacher, 200-hour certified yoga teacher. Michelle blends modern techniques with ancient wisdom to help people find balance, alignment, and wholeness in their daily lives.

ABOUT DR. GEORGINE NANOS:Board-certified physician and founder of Kind Health Group. Pioneer in integrative medicine combining primary care with cutting-edge treatments like TMS therapy for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Advocate for comprehensive wellness that addresses root causes, not just symptoms.

KIND HEALTH GROUP📍 North County San Diego, California (3 blocks from the ocean)🌍 Serving patients worldwide via telemedicine🏥 Concierge primary care, TMS therapy, hormone optimization, comprehensive wellness📞 Where doctors actually have time to listen and treat the whole person🌐 kindhealthgroup.com

This conversation proves that healing doesn't always come from another prescription or another specialist - sometimes it comes from finally learning to listen to your own body and giving it what it actually needs.

SHARE THIS VIDEO: Essential viewing for anyone who's been told their symptoms are "just stress" or that they need to learn to live with chronic illness.

This content is educational. Consult qualified healthcare providers for personalized medical advice.