Episode 106. Staying positive through a SH1T load of health challenges with Emmilia O’Sullivan
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
Release Date: 08/13/2025
Episode 120. Resilience, Menopause & Vibrant Health: My Honest 2025 Reflection
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
This reflective solo episode marks a special milestone: the 120th episode of the Prescribing Lifestyle podcast and the close of 2025. I share openly about my professional growth, personal health journey, and the challenges and wins that have shaped this year. What’s inside this episode Professional growth and expansion How Melbourne Low Carb Clinic has grown from 1 to 5 physical locations across Melbourne (Wantirna, Pascoe Vale South, South Yarra, Beaumaris, Canterbury) plus telehealth across Australia. Collaborations with like‑minded clinics and practitioners, including Aston Rx, Core...
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Episode 119. Building stronger bones with Wutti
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I'm joined by Wutti Oparkcharoen , founder of OsteoStrong South Melbourne, for a deep dive into bone health and how to take powerful, science-based steps to prevent and even reverse osteoporosis. Wutti shares how a personal passion for health and a family experience with osteoporosis led him to bring OsteoStrong to Australia. We discuss the revolutionary, evidence-based approach to improving bone density using "osteogenic loading" — specialized, safe machines that let members generate forces five to ten times their body weight in just 10 minutes per week. We cover: The...
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Episode 118. What our poop tells us with Katie Kirklin
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this fascinating episode, I speak with Katie Kirkland, a certified functional nutrition counselor and registered nurse from Cincinnati, Ohio, who shares her inspiring journey from nurse to functional nutrition coach. Katie opens up about her personal health challenges, including anxiety, depression, gut issues, and cervical dysplasia, and how she transformed her understanding of nourishment—beyond dieting—to a truly individualized, whole-body approach. We explore: The importance of patching health "holes" with a holistic, functional nutrition strategy The vital role of bowel movements...
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Episode 117. How to be an Imperfectionist with Dr Zen Zeng
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Dr Zen Zeng—a concert pianist, conference interpreter, professional speaker, and master teacher whose work bridges music, psychology, leadership, and personal growth. Zen draws on decades of international performance and coaching, sharing her journey from perfectionism and burnout to embracing imperfection and self-compassion. Zen introduces her signature STAGE framework—a practical inward journey designed to help high achievers find sustainable excellence without burnout: S: Stillness—learning how to pause, listen deeply, and...
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Episode 116. Spinal cord injury and burnout with Dr Olivia Ong
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this deeply personal episode, I speak with Dr Olivia Ong, a Melbourne-based GP and rehab physician, about her life-changing experience with a severe spinal cord injury, her journey through rehabilitation, and how she overcame multiple episodes of burnout. Olivia shares vivid memories of the accident, her emergency spinal surgery, regaining mobility, and what it taught her about resilience and mindset. She explains how the rehab system shaped her path and how she developed an evolving approach to recovery and wellness, combining medical knowledge with nervous system coaching and somatic...
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Episode 115. Punch Positive with Lita Mae Button
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this empowering episode, I chat with Coach Lita Mae Button, speaker, nurse, professional boxer, and founder of Punch Positive, joining me all the way from Canada. From battling depression and self-doubt to becoming a national Golden Glove champion and motivational coach, Lita shares her powerful story of resilience, courage, and transformation — one punch at a time. We explore how boxing, both physical and symbolic, can heal the mind, build confidence, and teach you to “step back in the ring” against life’s toughest challenges. Lita also breaks down her unique mindset...
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Episode 114. Self Love for Permanent Weight loss with Marleen Mour
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this inspiring episode, I chat with Marleen Mour — speaker, coach, and founder of the Self-Love for Permanent Weight Loss Movement. Marleen shares her journey of losing 49 kg, transforming her mindset, and helping thousands of women around the world ditch diet culture and lose weight — permanently. We discuss how freeing yourself from guilt, restriction, and emotional eating leads to lasting transformation — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Her story is one of courage, self-discovery, and radical self-love. 🌿 What We Cover in This Episode ...
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Episode 113. From Flow to Function: Lymph, Lipoedema, Pelvic Floor & Bowel Health Explained with Physiotherapist Amelia Santos
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I speak with physiotherapist Amelia Santos, an expert in lymphatic health, lipoedema, pelvic floor, and bowel function. Amelia explains how she became a leading clinician in pelvic floor and lymphatic therapy, and shares essential insights on often-misunderstood conditions like IBS, lipoedema, lymphedema, and chronic bowel and pelvic floor challenges. We explore: How pelvic floor physio can help with IBS, chronic constipation, and incomplete bowel emptying, especially when medical tests have ruled out other causes The differences between lipoedema and lymphedema, why they're...
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Episode 112. Salad with a side of Fries with Jenn Trepeck
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, I sit down with health coach, podcaster, and consultant Jenn Trepeck, host of Salad with a Side of Fries. Jenn shares her personal journey from the business world into health coaching—a shift sparked by her own experiences with endless diets, weight struggles, and ultimately, finding a sustainable wellness approach. I loved hearing how Jenn escaped the diet rollercoaster and dedicated her career to helping others do the same. We dug into her health coaching philosophy, which centres on four key elements: low glycemic impact nutrition, focusing on body composition, building...
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Episode 111. Thriving through divorce and life’s big changes
Prescribing Lifestyle with Dr Avi Charlton
In this episode, Naomi shares her deeply personal journey—from a sudden separation and navigating family court to founding thriving support groups and helping others through the process of divorce and major life splits. Together, we unpack: Naomi’s story of self-representation, overcoming financial and emotional hurdles, and the power of community support The realities of the family court system, why self-care is crucial, and how it’s possible to move from isolation to connection after a split Naomi’s unique coaching approach, customised for each client—no cookie-cutter solutions,...
info_outlineIn this episode of Prescribing Lifestyle, I sit down with the incredible Emilia O’Sullivan — award-winning author, podcaster, motivational speaker, and mentor. Emilia’s story is one of unshakable resilience and determination in the face of extraordinary health challenges.
From being born with kidney disease, undergoing a transplant, battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, surviving sepsis and a cardiac arrest, to enduring multiple rare tumours — Emilia has faced more than 10 life-threatening medical conditions before the age of 32. Yet her mindset, grit, and refusal to give up have carried her through every hurdle.
We talk about:
💚 Emilia’s powerful health journey from birth to today
💚 How she stayed positive through surgeries, cancer treatments, and uncertainty
💚 The moment a doctor told her she might be “terminal” — and why she refused to accept it
💚 Her strategies for coping, setting goals, and keeping life moving forward
💚 Why self-care, joy, and listening to your body matter more than ever after illness
💚 How she now helps others through speaking, mentoring, and her podcast I’m in Control
Whether you’re facing your own health battle or simply need a dose of perspective and inspiration, Emilia’s story is a reminder of the strength we can find when we choose life, hope, and action — no matter the odds.
🔗 Connect with Emilia
🌐 Website: emmiliaosullivan.com
📱 Instagram: @emmiliaosullivan
📘 Facebook: Emilia O’Sullivan
🎧 Podcast: I’m in Control on all major platforms
📚 Book: I Should Have Been Dead — available via her website
📚 Pre-order my new book: Prescribing Lifestyle
A doctor’s prescription for lasting weight loss and vibrant health
Pre-order now at www.mlcclinic.com.au
Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please speak to your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.