Episode 124: Drs. Laura Buchanan and Matt Calkins
Release Date: 12/07/2022
Episode 294: Cynthia Thurlow
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, bestselling author, and leading voice in women’s metabolic health. With over two decades of clinical experience, she’s known for translating complex science into practical strategies—helping women navigate perimenopause, optimize fasting, and reclaim energy, resilience, and long-term wellness. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Cynthia talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:30) Why Cynthia became so interested in the gut microbiome as a women’s health expert (10:07) Gut health, blood sugar, and insulin resistance (12:04) Fiber, carnivore, and the...
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Episode 293: Brenda Sowers Shares Her Remarkable Recovery from Spike Protein Toxicity
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Brenda Sowers has had an incredible and crazy health journey—survivor of brain cancer, two brain tumors, and spike protein-related health complications. Before her health took a turn for the worse in 2019, Brenda was an active, healthy, ultra-runner. Thanks to her discovery of Dr. Thomas Seyfried and others in the metabolic health space, she has been able to reclaim her health from the brink of disaster. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Brenda talk about… (00:00) Intro (03:13) Brenda’s battle with brain cancer (08:27) Brenda’s experience of going through radiation and chemo...
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Episode 292: Elliot Overton
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Elliot Overton is a nutritionist based in France, and is considered to be an expert in the clinical application of high-dose thiamine therapy. Elliot frequently lectures and speaks at educational events aimed at practitioners, helping to broaden the understanding and application of thiamine in clinical settings. Furthermore, he is cofounder and CEO of Objective Nutrients, a nutraceutical company specializing in excipient-free thiamine derivatives and related supplements. Elliot’s overarching aim is to increase awareness about the benefits of thiamine through education and advocacy,...
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Episode 291: Dr. Kimberly Albarran
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Dr. Kimberly Albarran is a physician and thoughtful voice in modern medicine, known for her patient-centered approach and commitment to improving health outcomes beyond the exam room. With a background that blends clinical expertise and a deep understanding of lifestyle-driven health, she brings a nuanced perspective to topics like prevention, metabolic health, and sustainable behavior change. Dr. Albarran is passionate about empowering patients with practical tools and clear, evidence-based insights to take control of their well-being—making her a compelling and relatable voice in today’s...
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Episode 290: Joe Duarte
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Joe Duarte is a social psychologist focused on how culture, identity, and group dynamics shape the way we think, behave, and connect. His work explores the psychological forces driving polarization, belonging, and belief formation in modern society. Drawing on both research and real-world insight, Joe brings a nuanced perspective to some of today’s most pressing social questions. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Joe talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:17) Joe’s work on ideological bias (16:12) Jay Bhattacharya and the NIH (29:09) Fixing systemic bias in medicine, academics, and federal...
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Episode 289: Veronica Thompson
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Veronica Thompson, LCSW, is a certified trauma therapist, a committed Christian, and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She has dedicated more than twenty years to helping children, teens, and families navigate and overcome the trauma of sexual abuse. In her writing and clinical work, Veronica explores the intersection of the Christian faith with the best clinical psychotherapy practices. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Veronica talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:12) The varieties of early traumatic childhood experiences and how they impact people later in life (10:58) Childhood sexual abuse...
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Episode 288: Dr. Jason Fung
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Dr. Jason Fung is a Canadian nephrologist and leading voice in metabolic health, best known for making the science of fasting and insulin resistance simple, practical, and empowering. Through his books, lectures, and clinical work, he’s helped thousands rethink weight loss, type 2 diabetes, and long-term health by focusing on hormones, not just calories. Dr. Fung is the co-founder of The Fasting Method and a sought-after educator on metabolic health. In this episode, Drs. Brian, Tro, and Jason talk about… (00:00) Intro (05:46) The new dietary guidelines and food pyramid (08:02) The...
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Episode 287: David Schmitz
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
David Schmitz, along with his wife, is the co-founder of Keto Keto Carnivore. Keto Keto Carnivore is a keto/carnivore-centered bakery and restaurant on Route 66 in Kingman Arizona. They offer Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Seed Oil-Free products! In this episode, Dr. Brian and David talk about… (00:00) Intro (03:50) How FBOMB foods by Ross Taylor changed David’s life (07:48) David’s bipolar diagnosis and how it impacted his life (11:06) How carnivore and Fenbendazole radically improved David’s bipolar symptoms (23:38) Striking the balance between killing unwanted parasites and co-existing...
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Episode 286: Kayla Girgen, RD
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Kayla Girgen, RD, LD, CPT is a registered dietitian and metabolic health coach helping people move beyond dieting into sustainable strength and metabolic health. Known for integrating nutrition with practical movement, she champions rucking as a simple, powerful tool for improving blood sugar balance, resilience, and body composition. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Kayla talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:53) Rucking (06:51) Kayla’s journey to becoming a metabolic health-focused RD (12:57) Why rucking is a great form of exercise (20:51) Research on the benefits of rucking (26:40) Tips for...
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Episode 285: Dr. Ron Elfenbein
Life's Best Medicine Podcast
Dr. Ron Elfenbein is an emergency physician and healthcare entrepreneur who found himself at the center of a high-stakes legal battle after being indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges. Maintaining his innocence, he mounted a determined fight against the allegations, challenging the government’s case and drawing national attention to the complexities of medical billing, regulatory overreach, and due process in modern healthcare. In this episode, Drs. Brian and Ron talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:20) What it’s like being an ER doctor (08:04) Dr. Ron’s experience working in the ER...
info_outlineThank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Laura Buchanan and Matt Calkins are a husband and wife team with a mission and a passion to help as many people as possible age successfully. Laura earned her M.D. from the University of Florida and holds a B.Sc. in biomedical sciences. Matt is an emergency medicine resident who loves studying the science of longevity, the optimization of all phases of health, and applying his knowledge to physician and patient wellness. Matt earned his M.D. from the University of Florida and holds a B.Sc. in physics.
In their conversation, Brian, Matt, and Laura talk about how each of them came to realize the power of the low-carb diet, the many benefits of the direct primary care model of healthcare for both doctors and patients, how to motivate and empower patients to take control of their own health, how the predominate health care model in the United States could be better described as a sick care model, how the low-carb/keto diet and the DPC model might be able to make more of a breakthrough into the mainstream, the power of lifestyle/dietary intervention for mental health and mood, the difficulties involved in going through residency, and physician-burnout statistics.
Life’s Best Medicine According to Matt: “I get a lot of fulfillment out of leaving things in a better state than I found them—even if it’s incremental. That’s why I like primary care. You don’t have to change someone’s lifestyle all in one day, but we can really be fulfilled in the small day-to-day changes that patients make.”
Life’s Best Medicine According to Laura: “It’s the relationships—the people in my life. That’s family, first and foremost, friends, even patients, and the people you encounter on a regular basis. All of those relationships make me excited to be alive. And if I can help make their lives better too then that is a win-win.”
Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and stay healthy!
Links:
Drs. Laura Buchanan and Matt Calkins:
Dr. Brian Lenzkes: