New Normal Big Life: Functional Medicine and Holistic Health

Oct 13, 2026 · 52m

If you are running on empty and wondering why rest never fixes it, burnout recovery may depend less on doing more and more on living with authenticity. You will hear a simple 3-step approach that helps you spot pressure patterns, reset daily, and protect energy without quitting your goals. This episode is for driven professionals, caregivers, veterans, first responders, and those just entering the workplace who want to stay strong for others without losing themselves.Here on New Normal Big Life, host Antoinette Berrafato sits down with trauma informed coach Kurt Bush of Brimstone Coaching Group and co author of Live Fully, Lead Authentically. Kurt shares why being authentic is not soft, it is the guardrail that keeps stress from turning into shutdown, and how small daily choices protect health, focus, and relationships.Stay through the end, because Kurt walks through the moment his framework clicked in real life, and what to do when old pressures pull you back.Chapters:00:00 Why authenticity prevents burnout04:12 High achiever pressure trap09:40 E plus R equals T16:25 3 step daily reset24:10 Imposter pressure at work31:45 Faith values and alignment38:20 Next strong stepConnect with Kurt Bush here: https://www.brimstonecoachinggroup.com/We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkReady Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Oct 6, 2026 · 53m

Feeling foggy, inflamed and exhausted while carrying toxins and heavy metals in your brain and tissues, and wondering if zeolite detox can finally help? Founder of Zeolite Labs Jeff Hoyt shares why the body tucks toxins away for short term survival and what has to shift for you to recover and thrive later. This episode is for adults over 40, caregivers, veterans and first responders who want natural health solutions without feeling worse.Here on New Normal Big Life, we go past symptom masking to root cause medicine, nervous system regulation and TBI recovery without medication. You will hear Jeff unpack why both conventional and natural protocols can leave people sicker, toxins do during a cleanse, and what Herxheimer reactions may signal. He also previews his bind first approach with purified micronized clinoptilolite zeolite plus cellular energizing tools.Chapters02:15 Body Under Toxic Stress05:30 Symptoms Are Signals09:19 Why the Body Stores heavy metals13:35 Why Protocols Backfire15:52 Bind First Approach20:50 Detox Reactions Explained24:23 Jeffs Path To Zeolite31:16 Choosing the best quality Zeolite36:38 Dosing And Daily Use45:03 Cellular Energy Tools50:39 Detox As a Lifestyle54:16 Where To Find JeffHosted by Antoinette Berrafato, New Normal Big Life podcast host who used nature therapy (archery and kayaking) to recover from physical limitations, finding passion, purpose, and people as a recipe for mental health. We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% Ready Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Sep 29, 2026 · 49m

If you're worried your child could be heading toward addiction, you may be waiting for a clear warning sign that shows up too late. In this educational episode, drug prevention expert and author Dave Kopeny walks parents through a 5 step protocol for stepping in early, long before rock bottom. This conversation is for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone who loves a teen and wants to protect their mental health before a crisis starts.Dave has spent more than three decades working with adolescents and families. He has served as a school counselor, juvenile probation officer, gang investigator, and private investigator specializing in drug prevention and intervention. He also grew up in a family affected by addiction and has lost family members to it.Today's drug environment is not the one most parents grew up with. Dave explains what has changed, the early signs parents most often overlook, and why the old advice to wait for rock bottom can put a child at serious risk. We also look at how substance use, mental health, and family dynamics feed each other, and at the one thing Dave believes most parents underestimate about their own power to change the outcome.Chapters1:00Meet Dave Kopeny5:39 How Teens Get Targeted Today11:53 Subtle Signs Parents Miss13:55 Finding The Real Reason Why19:07 Schools, Therapists, And Support Teams24:31 Room Checks And Drug Tests26:26 Why Rock Bottom Is Risky28:52The Tip Of The Spear Plan 35:41Sponsor Break Medicinal Herb Tea 37:28Kratom Sold Like Candy41:22 Carfentanil Narcan And What’s Next45:10 Free Tools Parents Can Use46:50 Connection As Prevention49:17 Closing And Medical DisclaimerYour host, Antoinette Berrafato, used nature therapy through archery and kayaking to recover from physical limitations. She found passion, purpose, and people as a recipe for mental health, and she brings that same practical, root cause lens to every conversation on New Normal Big Life.Resourceshttps://www.davekopeny.com/  asapcommunity.orgBuy The Tip of The Spear by David Vieth Kopeny We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% Ready Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Sep 22, 2026 · 52m

What if addiction, depression, or repeated rehab stays are not willpower failures but signs of an undiagnosed brain injury no one screened for? Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) Marc McNeice explains how early screening reframes behavior, reduces shame, and opens a clearer path toward healing and stability. This conversation is for veterans, caregivers, first responders, and families supporting someone cycling through addiction, trauma, or mental health systems.Marc brings lived experience and frontline data from more than 300 screens in detox, reentry, and housing programs with a 97 percent positive history rate. He breaks down the difference between traumatic and acquired injury, why childhood impacts echo for decades, and what the NASHIA OBISSS screen surfaces that standard intake misses.Host Antoinette Berrafato, New Normal Big Life podcast host who used nature therapy (archery and kayaking) to recover from physical limitations, finding passion, purpose, and people as a recipe for mental health, adds her own TBI recovery perspective plus the gut brain link that shapes mood and cognition. Stay through the end for a preview of Part 2, a solo walk through vitamins that support mood after injury.New Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Chapters: 00:00 Welcome MarcMcNeice01:31 TBI Versus ABI02:30 Justice Data Point04:16 Why Injury Hides09:59 Marc Injury Story16:03 Screening Gap20:50 Injury Plus Trauma22:38 Gut Brain axis26:33 Acacia Fiber34:43 Inside OBISSS Screen41:28 Cost Of Missing It44:45 Stop The Bleed48:40 Part 2 Preview51:29 Hope And HealingGuest: Marc McNeice, CBIS, brain injury specialist and survivor supporting recovery, housing, and reentry programs in Massachusetts. Connect:We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkReady Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Sep 15, 2026 · 50m

If you cook with canola, soy or sunflower oil and still battle fatigue, stubborn weight or brain fog, The Truth About Seed Oils reveals a hidden driver most advice misses. In this episode, Cherie Calbom The Juice Lady, shares how to spot hidden oils, what stable fats to keep and how to reset your kitchen with confidence. This conversation is for those with chronic health challenges, women over 40, veterans, caregivers and anyone focused on functional medicine and long term metabolic health who wants steady energy and less inflammation.Way back when Ancel Keys was promoting the lipid hypothesis, Cherie asks, wait a minute, we have eaten butter, eggs, dairy, red meat, beef tallow and lard for centuries. And we never had cardiovascular disease. Why would they suddenly start causing it? You will hear how seed oils moved from industrial waste management to a dominant food commodity, why the lipid hypothesis shaped guidelines even as doubts grew, and why omega 6 overload keeps inflammation high. Cherie Calbom, M.S. in Whole Foods Nutrition from Bastyr University and 11 years of real world experience practicing in these fields, author of 36 books including Juicing for Life, brings decades of clinical and culinary insight. Her new book The Truth About Seed Oils includes a free gift download at thetruthaboutseedoils.com.Chapters00:00 Opening On Ancel Keys And Traditional Fats03:15 Meet The Juice Lady And Her Health Journey07:40 From Industrial Waste To Food Supply12:30 Heart Healthy Marketing And Suppressed Voices18:10 Lipid Hypothesis Rise And Fall 24:00 Oxidation, Lipid Peroxides And Cell Stress30:20 Omega 6 To Omega 3 Imbalance And Daily Symptoms36:00 Label Reading And Seed Oil Scout Tips40:30 Healthy Swaps And Juicing BasicsConnect With Cherie CalbomWebsite: www.juiceladyinfo.comBook: www.thetruthaboutseedoils.comIG: @juiceladycherieFB: thejuicelady YouTube: @theJuiceLadyCherieX: @JuiceladycherieLinkedIn: Cherie Calbom Trinity WellnessWe want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% Ready Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Sep 8, 2026 · 27m

If chronic symptoms and conflicting supplement advice have you searching for herbal medicine that truly supports healing, this curated mashup brings the missing context together in one place. You will hear how National Institutes of Health (NIH) backed research, medicinal teas, and everyday food choices connect to immune support and metabolic balance. This is for listeners navigating fatigue, sugar cravings, diabetes, weight loss, inflammation, high blood pressure, or gut issues who want root cause options beyond quick fixes and want to take more responsibility for their health.As New Normal Big Life podcast host who used nature therapy (archery and kayaking) to recover from physical limitations, finding passion, purpose, and people as a recipe for mental health, Antoinette Berrafato curates the top 4 themes from these expert clips and notes other topics are available inside the full episodes.Chapters00:00 - Why Herbal Medicine Matters For Chronic Symptoms01:40 - Natural Health Solutions And Medical Trust05:30 - How To Research Herbal Medicine With NIH Studies09:50 - NIH Studies On Medicinal Herbs Benefits13:40 - Supplements And Herbal Medicine Alongside Care18:10 - Herbal Tea Benefits For Sugar Cravings21:40 - Parasite Cleanse And Hidden Exposure Risks24:20 - Immune Support And Natural Remedies Tools26:05 - Dandelion Health Benefits And Insulin Resistance BasicsTry this 3 Day Proof Lab: Day 1 research one herb on NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Day 2 swap one sugary drink for a medicinal tea, Day 3 audit your pantry for one whole food swap.We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkReady Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Sep 1, 2026 · 50m

Nervous system regulation after trauma feels impossible, even when you have done the therapy, followed the protocols, and pushed harder than anyone knows. You are not broken, and you are not lazy. You are missing a layer.In this episode, Antoinette Berrafato sits down with Caleb Matthews, creator of the DNA of Design framework, to reveal why medicine treats the body and therapy treats the mind, yet most healing approaches leave out the part of you that governs everything else. Caleb breaks down his Spirit, Soul, Body method, a three-part blueprint for moving out of chronic fight or flight and into a regulated, purposeful life.At the heart of the conversation is a truth he wants every listener to hear: "You have a unique purpose, a blueprint that has been customized by God and breathed into you at conception, and you are built for more than just what you're good at. You're built for something that you're designed for. Whether you're a seer, an activator, a catalyst, a navigator, a builder, a steward, or a healer. No matter what your design is, there is a place for you in the earth. There is a place for your expression to come forth."If you are a veteran, first responder, caregiver, or anyone recovering from trauma and burnout, this episode hands you a recovery method you have never heard before. Caleb shares the story that changed everything for him, the surprising difference between being good at something and being designed for it, and why your hardest seasons never disqualified you from your purpose. He also reveals the seven design types, and which one you are may reframe your entire recovery. Antoinette and Caleb unpack her design type in this episode.Chapters:0:00 You Are Built For Purpose0:55 Meet Caleb And The Blueprint Idea2:03 Trauma Healing And The Trap Of Trying5:29 The Missing Layer Beyond Mind And Body7:34 Baby Steps Back To Childhood Joy16:19 SSB Explained With A Mirror Practice20:39 Soul Loops And Joy Versus Happiness 27:05  A Coma Story And Speaking Life31:04 The Seven Design Types Quiz In Action36:52 Nightmares As Signals Not Sentences42:02 Entrepreneurship And Designed Versus Good AtAre you a Seer, Activator, Navigator, Catalyst, Steward, Builder or a Healer? Most people are playing a game they weren't designed for. Take the free DNA of Design Quiz in under 5 minutes and discover the unique blueprint you've been overlooking your entire life.Connect with Caleb Matthews and take the free DNA of Design quiz.We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkReady Hour & My Patriot SupplyBest price on US-based preparedness and long-term storable food. Shop now with my affiliate link.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Aug 25, 2026 · 30m

Your child just left home and now empty nest syndrome has you feeling lost, restless, and more anxious than you expected. Jay Ramsden, the Empty Nest Coach, explains why that emptiness is often not depression at all, and hands you the tools to reclaim your identity, passion, and purpose.This episode is for the parent facing a quiet house, the retiree wondering who they are without a title, and anyone caught in the anxious space between one chapter of life and the next. If you're struggling with who will I be after leaving the military or law enforcement, or maybe your parents are struggling with an empty nest, this episode is for you.Couples are roughly 40% more likely to divorce in the years after their children leave home, according to the Journal of Marriage and Family. A phenomenon known as gray divorce. Gray divorce is the demographic trend of couples aged 50 and older ending long-term marriages. Rates have doubled since 1990, driven by longer lifespans, shifting social norms, and a greater focus on personal happiness in later life, according to the Cleveland Clinic.Here's what Jay sees in the people he coaches: unallocated energy and focus, a nervous system still revving high with no target on the radar, a high-velocity engine just idling in the driveway. And we know what happens to an engine that idles too long. It runs out of gas, runs out of oil, and burns up.Jay is a Certified Personal and Executive Coach and founder of This Empty Nest Life, ranked among Feedspot's Top 25 Empty Nester Influencers. His story is anything but ordinary: he lost his home to fire, overcame alcohol addiction, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and walked the Camino de Santiago as an empty nester.Listen in to hear the move from Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side, why going back to work can be purpose or escape, and the one honest first step you can take this week. Tune in to find out what Jay learned at 19,000 feet and on the trail.Chapters:02:52The Energy Crash06:42Three Stages09:32The ME Era11:02Guide on the Side12:38Back to Work13:42Marriage After Nest22:19Kilimanjaro & JOMO27:09Your First StepWe want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.

Aug 18, 2026 · 42m

People pleaser psychology hides inside high achievement, and Dr. Jack Groppel spent decades inside the world's most elite performance environments before recognizing the pattern in himself. Co-founder of the Johnson and Johnson Human Performance Institute and 11 years of real world experience practicing in these fields, he trained Olympic athletes, coached the Chicago White Sox, and advised Fortune 50 leaders. Then he hit a wall.Dr. Groppel calls it achievement addiction, a compulsion to succeed at all costs that came from a wound with his father and nearly cost him everything. In this episode, he reveals the question he now asks himself three or four times a day, the single shift that separates people who break free from those who stay trapped, and why the fix does not start where most self-help advice points.This is for high achievers, caregivers, veterans, and anyone who has ever been physically present but emotionally gone, skimming across the surface of their own life while handing their energy to everyone else.Chapters0:00 People Pleaser Psychology0:30 Meet Dr. Jack Groppel2:27 Defining The Disease To Please3:11 Gender Conditioning And Approval4:03 The Parenting Approval Wound8:40 High Achievement Without Burnout11:11 Always On Culture And Boundaries15:12 Energy Management Beats Multitasking17:49 The Hidden Cost Of Overgiving20:56 Nature As A Nervous System Reset23:56 Purpose Beyond People Pleasing30:01 Nervous System Change And Forgiveness35:40 What Matters Most Right NowNeed help forgiving someone? Forgiveness mentor Katharine Giovani shows you how in these two episodes of New Normal Big Life Podcast. Learn How to Forgive With Katharine GiovanniHow to Forgive and Heal in 3 StepsYou can find Dr. Jack Groppel's Book on Amazon.We want to solve your biggest health challenge. Send us a textDrStellaMD MarketplaceImmune-boosting Premium all-natural supplements Telehealth + wellness consultations Code NNBL 5% BeRootedInRootedIn: Magnesium Cream. Shop Now With My Affiliate LinkDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showNew here? Start with our 8‑episode playlist: https://nnbl.blog/podcast/start-here/Free listener ebooks & guides (newsletter subscribers only): https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-life-ebooks-and-guides/Rebuilding Resilient Lives Uncensored Community: https://rebuilding-resilient-lives.mn.co/share/kNbNMRnkLlpKWjar?utm_source=manualNew Normal Big Life streams free in audio and video on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.DISCLAIMER: For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare professional.