Small Changes Big Shifts With Dr. Michelle Robin

“The families we serve can feel isolated – even scared at times. We want to provide a tangible first step that brings comfort and creates a path.” - Heath Burch  The latest research shows 1 in 44 children are on the autism spectrum – a major change from the early 2000s when those numbers were 1 in 150. While environmental factors are something to consider, researchers say we have made advances over time that have helped build a greater understanding and awareness to it. During today’s show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Heath Burch from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to talk about their Special Needs Planning Center. Heath shares an inspiring and personal story about why he and his business partner, Scott Adams, decided to launch this center. Both of them quickly realized that families oftentimes felt stuck when raising a child with special needs. They couldn’t rely on a book or course to walk them through each of their unique situations – which is what inspired them to do something about it. Today, they have he

Today’s show is a special treat as Dr. Michelle Robin is celebrating her 57th birthday this weekend. During her solo episode today, she spends some moments reflecting on the things that she and our listeners have learned from all of our guests on the show in the last few months. She’ll also tee up what’s to come on the podcast in the next few months and they are some near and dear topics to her heart. To end the show, she will also explain some wellness tips she’s embodied over this last year and the things she’s taking with her as she walks into this new year of life. She wraps up with some tips about how you can celebrate this year with her, and how you can watch some changes she’s been seeing in the younger generations through the Big Shifts Foundation.    Mentioned in the Episode:  Big Shifts Foundation birthday fundraiser  Big Shifts Foundation scholarship  Big Shifts Foundation new video  Big Shifts Foundation website  Sit in Peace meditation video  Dr. Robin’s 30 lessons  Isaac Lee Collins episode  K

“Counseling helped me befriend my nervous system.” - Brooke Seiz Did you know we only need one teaspoon of sugar in our body at a time? During today’s episode, Dr. Robin invites Brooke Seiz to unpack why sugar can oftentimes be a culprit for anxiety. Brooke shares what inspired her to become a counselor and functional medicine practitioner for others, including her own bout with anxiety, an eating disorder, and other mental health challenges. She goes on to describe why there can often be many root causes of anxiety, but when our blood sugar levels are too high or low, our cortisol levels (stress response) get activated and we easily enter that fight or flight mode. Brooke also covers how sugar is often disguised on labels, and how fast our bodies can experience inflammation (even pain) after we consume too much sugar. By the end of the episode, she’ll provide some ways you can test if sugar may be causing problems. She’ll also provide what foods can help aid in regulating sugar levels. Grab a pen and paper –

“Overseeing your own health is so valuable – and we’re at the cusp of it in America. We are giving people the information that can finally help themselves in a unique way.” - Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer   Did you know trillions of dollars are being poured into chronic conditions in America – and many of them are unknowingly rooted in glucose challenges or mismanagement? During today’s show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer to share his reasons for co-founding Signos – a CGM technology that shows how your body uniquely reacts to what you eat, plus other lifestyle factors such as stress patterns and sleep habits that are affecting your glucose levels. Sharam tells his personal journey of weight management issues growing up and why he finally figured out that glucose spikes and dips were causing more harm on the overall body than he realized. He explains how Signos technology works and some stories of people who have tried everything from diets to exercise, but the Signos CGM monitor is the first t

“Blood sugar is like comparing water to Kool-Aid – while water flows through our body, Kool-Aid can’t flow as well because it’s stickier. When we have too much sugar in our bloodstream, our body has a harder time carrying out the processes it needs to.” - Dr. Georgia Nab   About 1 in 5 people in the United States have diabetes but don’t know it, according to the CDC. While people generally know sugar isn’t good for the body, most people don’t know why our consumption of it needs to be managed – not eliminated. In today’s show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Dr. Georgia Nab – a Functional Medicine doctor at Your Wellness Connection – to help people understand what’s really happening in the body once we consume sugar and why it’s then converted to blood sugar. If you have ever wondered what glycemic and glucose mean – or the difference between metabolic syndrome (prediabetes), Type I, Type I.5, Type II, and Type III – this week’s episode will give you a clearer understanding of each one in very simple terms. Dr. Na

“Our CEO was very passionate about making a positive impact in our community, and what better way to do that than to give people a direct connection to the resources that they need, all in one single place.” – Amy Grothaus   Many people don’t know where to turn when they have a goal in life, especially when it’s a financial one. CommunityAmerica Credit Union is an advocate for changing that, and they are doing it through their brand-new Community Access Center in Kansas City. During today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Amy Grothaus to talk about what this center is helping to fulfill in our community. The space is designed to promote the overall well-being of its all who enter its door. The entire 6,000-square-foot top floor is occupied by the Metropolitan Community College (MCC), which offers classes and other educational support to compliment the resources that CommunityAmerica provides. Their goal is to help break down barriers of banking and promote financial literacy for all, but to also to conne

“You have to feed both hearts – the one in your chest and the one that is upstairs.” - Dr. Michelle Dew    As we continue to celebrate the heart this month – both mechanically and emotionally – Dr. Michelle Robin has invited a cardiologist on the show today to share why the heart encompasses so much of how we experience life around us. Dr. Michelle Dew shares her inspiring journey of becoming a cardiologist, including how one family emergency greatly impacted her. Her encounter with a remarkable doctor and their energy in a room will remind listeners how important every individual is on earth – because you never know when (or how) your presence will change someone’s life forever. At the end of the episode, Dr. Dew explains why joy is a vital part of our well-being, why the heart needs it, and how she founds hers.  About Today’s Guest:  Dr. Michelle Dew is a Board-certified cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery. She joined AdventHealth in 2022 and provides general

“We’re all connected to serve.” - Mark Hulet    Mark Hulet’s life was forever changed when he decided to leave football coaching days behind him and take a job at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, where he would serve for the next 22 years in a variety of roles. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Mark to share his journey with the Y, and how this organization brings people in from the community to build a connection with others. Because this month’s theme is about heart, Mark will also share how the Y supports the heart for people – not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. People may come in to get on a treadmill or take a swim, but he shares that once they come inside and get to know the “heart” of the organization, a lifetime relationship is made. At the end of the episode, Mark shares his dream of being able to take people forward with all the seeds they are currently planting in our community.  About Today’s Guest:  When Mark Hulet left college, he began college football coach

“Happy and healthy people do great things.” - Nicole Wilt  Did you know 80% of cardiovascular events may be preventable? In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Heath Wilt and Nicole Wilt to share what they are doing to help families better understand the different ways they can prevent heart trouble. Through their family-owned business called ABC’s of Health, this husband-and-wife duo shares why their kids inspired this movement for them, and why they are advocating for other families to discover their rhythm around wellness. Dr. Heath, who is a cardiologist at AdventHealth in Kansas City, also shares some ways that practitioners are viewing the heart differently now – specifically the emotional component becoming a more prominent connection to heart health. As a certified yoga instructor, Nicole also explains how they encourage their kids to embrace big feelings and the other emotional weight that comes with life – teaching them that there are many elements that impact their heart such as what’s on

“A new level of presence came to me, and I don’t want to lose what I learned from her.” - Brett Blair  Our lives take us through turbulent seasons. Most of us wait for a page to turn – a new chapter to begin – and sometimes, it feels like we’ve finally reached happiness and the life we were born to live. But what happens when that newfound happiness is shattered with a shocking diagnosis – especially if it’s the love of your life? In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Brett Blair to share his story about love, loss, and what it means to flourish in the hardest season of all. Shortly after meeting his soulmate Kim, Brett shares how their time together was cut short when his healthy, vibrant wife was unexpectedly diagnosed with ALS and passed away just 12 months after the news was delivered. Brett will share the most impactful lessons he learned from Kim as she battled the disease, such as how to love other people in a way that he didn’t know was possible. Through his journey, he’s compiling his next b

“My passion was to find a career that I felt like I was helping people.” - Whitney Bartelli  Money can enable us to do the things we love – take vacations, buy things we want, and even help us celebrate the big milestones. However, money can also block us in ways, too. When we are financially unwell (in debt or unable to save), anxiety builds up in our body – causing us to miss some of life’s greatest moments because we’re worried about the future – even tomorrow. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Whitney Bartelli to share more about those barriers that money can create in our life – and how it can even derail us from discovering our purpose in life. She will share a few stories about how she fell into her purpose, but also why having a financial plan was crucial to her getting to this point in her life. By the end of the episode, she will provide some small steps someone can take to get on a financially healthy road – and ultimately, get that much closer to living their best life and fulfilling

“Pausing and intention are key to self-fulfillment.” - Kim Newton  Did you know 36% of women aren’t following their dreams? Kim Newton was one of them several years ago, and it took some monumental people (and moments) to help her realize there was so much more to life. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Kim to unfold what was going on inside her heart when she began to sense a change was needed. Her story is both inspiring and action-oriented, meaning it wasn’t the inspiration that took her forward but the people around her that made her take steps toward a life full of happiness, abundance, and fulfillment. The decision to “disrupt her life” and take time to pause was exactly what she needed to quiet her head talk, and tune into her heart. Kim will help you think about what your truest “joy” is inside your own heart. She will ask some emotionally-charged questions for you to reflect on, but also share how her passion was something that had actually been part of her for a majority of life already

“We all have gifts. I think it is my responsibility to use mine to build into as many lives as possible in my life, beyond my reach, and beyond my life. I don’t know how to build bridges, I don’t have a whiz bang invention, but I do know how to influence others and change their thinking. Their changed thinking changes their lives. That is my job – by speaking, writing, or coaching.” - Dr. Roger Hall  Author of Staying Happy, Being Productive: The Big 10 Things Successful, Dr. Roger Hall helps people learn to monitor and manage their thinking. For over 25 years, he has consulted with leaders from all types of companies, judges in federal courts, university faculty, social workers, teachers, nurses, construction workers, landscapers, and box-makers. He helps his clients become better versions of themselves so they can improve their own lives and the lives of those they serve. About Dr. Roger Hall Roger does his best as a speaker to keep people like him engaged in what he's talking about. He has had the good for

“You can't run from your passion or your purpose, it will try to find you.” - Dr. Michelle Robin  Dr. Michelle Robin gives listeners a special treat today – a solo episode that celebrates the beginning of her 10th season of the podcast. She will share the story behind how the podcast was born, but more importantly, what has propelled her to continue making episodes all these years later. She will also highlight the most memorable conversations and moments she’s had with guests over the years. If you are seeking guidance on to remain true to yourself, and grounded this year, you don’t want to miss this episode. She will reveal her one-word this year as well, and how it always helps her feel more anchored to her well-being. By the end of the episode, she will share the wisdom she learned in 2022, which are now the lessons she is taking forward into 2023.  About Dr. Michelle Robin:  Dr. Michelle Robin is the founder of Your Wellness Connection, Small Changes Big Shifts®, Big Shifts Foundation®, and the Kansas Ci

“We can find purpose in everything that we do.” - Isaac Lee Collins  From the outside, it may look like Isaac Lee Collins encountered a smooth journey toward success. At 23, fresh out of college, he opened his own chocolate-making store that quickly earned him a half-a-million dollars. However, what people don’t always see is the “life story” that got him to where he is today – which is the owner of seven other businesses (plus one non-profit), ranging from handmade chocolates, construction, real-estate investing, health supplements, yoga teaching, frozen yogurt, and now business coaching. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Isaac to share his story – the ups, downs, and even some of the trauma he endured in life that he managed to turn into good for the sake of humanity. He will uncover some secrets that will help others discover their purpose, and also help listeners see the extraordinary things that can come out of ordinary places.  About Today’s Guest:  In 2011, Isaac’s college football season

“While I was packing, the only thing I was thinking about was how grateful I felt and how I could thank that cab driver who changed my life forever with a small act of kindness.” - Tareq Hadhad  Tareq Hadhad’s life was changed forever during a cab ride home one day. His driver, who was singing and smiling as he drove, noticed that Tareq looked heavy-hearted. After explaining what was on his mind, the driver shared an idea with him that would positively impact Tareq’s entire future – and his family’s safety. It was the answer he had been searching for. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Tareq to share his awe-inspiring story about his family’s refugee journey from Syria to their new home in Canada. He provides a glimpse into what was going through in his mind during this incredibly challenging time of war in their country, but also what he noticed about his father who was losing everything he had built for his family – including his chocolate factory. Enjoy this special holiday episode, which remin

The colder months can make it difficult to stay active, which is why today’s episode is all about how to keep our bodies moving, even indoors. During today’s show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Danelle Husk from the YMCA to share how organizations like theirs are offering new ways for people to stay active during the wintertime. Danelle shares some of her favorite indoor activities, but also speaks to the YMCA 360 portal that allows their members to explore classes that promote a spirit, mind, and body connection to stay well this winter. She provides some examples of why this new platform has been so successful for their members, especially since it gives people an opportunity to try a new workout inside the comfort of their own home rather than a public gym. Later in the show, Dr. Robin welcomes Ant the Trainer, who shares his inspiring story of how he lost 65lbs in 8 months by becoming a mailman – and what motivated him to begin learning the science behind how our bodies work and what they need. He covers so

“We now understand in the rapidly growing field of traumatology, those kinds of traumas can be more damaging to our nervous system regulation and the state of our brain than adverse childhood experiences.” - Dr. Lissa Rankin  Dr. Lissa Rankin didn’t expect to go down a particular path when she left her promising career as an OBGYN in 2007. The plan was to focus on her own health and well-being during a two-year sabbatical, but she soon came face-to-face with people who were doing all the right things – eating well, yoga, and other popular wellness practices – yet they were some of the sickest people she had ever met. When she started asking them deep-rooted questions about their lives, her passion and purpose suddenly revealed itself. She realized what was holding people back from feeling better – developmental trauma. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Dr. Rankin to unpack the story behind what made her go around the globe to collect tools from the world’s medicine bag (from experts, traditions,

“We can’t judge people today who could be different tomorrow.” - Michael Glauser  The greatest of happiness occurs in relationships, yet as a society, we have lost our way in building and sustaining meaningful relationships. We don’t talk to our neighbors as much as we did a decade ago – and the detrimental effects of this lost art is greatly affecting the next generation to lead our world. Over 40% of high school students are persistently sad and feeling hopeless, while 40% of college students say they are too depressed to do their school work. Additionally, 60% of college students say the loneliness epidemic is a very real problem in their own lives. After years of pulling research together about the principles for happiness and civility, Mike Glauser decided it was time to put it all into book form and call it One People One World. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin asks Mike what those six universal truths are that he presents in his book. While these truths have been on this earth for 5,000 years – a

“Stress tends to occur when there’s an imbalance from a demand being placed on you, and it seems like you might be incapable of meeting that demand.” - Megan Walker Many people experience higher stress levels during the holidays, mainly due to having a lot more on our plate. However, creating a stress response toolkit can better help your body and mind manage that stress. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Megan Walker, who is the Healthy Living Director at the YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area to talk about what that toolkit can include for you. She dives into the importance of understanding what stress is in the body and why it happens, then provides some steps you can start making today before the holiday parties and family events begin. Some key tips that are mentioned include reframing our mindset, physical activity to release stress, blood sugar, hydrating with water, the role fiber has in your body, and where we need to allow more self-compassion on ourselves during the holidays. About