Category Archives: FxMed Sponsored Podcast

The GLP-1 Problem No One Is Talking About: A New Metabolic Approach

GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the way we approach obesity and metabolic disease. The results can be remarkable. But as their use continues to expand, I think we need to be asking a bigger question: what does long-term metabolic health look like beyond weight loss? In this episode of New Frontiers, I sit down with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj and Dr. Alexis Gonzales to explore a completely different way of thinking about metabolic intervention. Rather than systemically suppressing appetite or altering hormonal signaling, we look upstream at digestion itself, specifically whether changing the rate at which carbohydrates and fats are broken down can meaningfully alter postprandial glucose, visceral adiposity, lipids, and body composition.

The Skin Longevity Breakthrough | Carolina Reis Oliveira

The skin has long been treated as a cosmetic concern, but emerging science suggests it’s much more than that. As our largest organ, the skin serves as a critical barrier between us and the outside world, yet it also plays an active role in immune function, inflammation, and healthy aging. As skin ages, the accumulation of senescent cells and declining barrier integrity may contribute not only to wrinkles and visible aging, but also to the chronic, low-grade inflammation that underlies many age-related diseases.

What New Science Says About Building Muscle | Brad Currier

Muscle is having a moment—and for good reason. As functional medicine clinicians, we recognize that muscle isn’t just about strength or athletic performance. It’s central to metabolic health, resilience, mobility, healthy aging, and longevity. Yet resistance training can still feel intimidating for many of our patients, and even for some of us. That’s one of the reasons I was so excited to sit down with Brad Currier, PhD. Brad was part of the team behind the first major update to the American College of Sports Medicine resistance training guidelines since 2009, and he has a remarkable ability to translate exercise science into practical, evidence-based strategies that clinicians can use immediately. In partnership with Timeline, we also explore the emerging science of Urolithin A and mitochondrial health, including exciting research on muscle function, recovery, and performance across sedentary adults, older individuals, and elite athletes. This is an approachable, practical conversation that I think will change how many of us think about prescribing—and supporting—movement as medicine. ~DrKF

How He Reversed MS & Beat a Stroke | Montel Williams

New Frontiers in Functional Medicine® Podcast Sponsors Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is eternally grateful to our sponsors who, by blogging, podcasting and advertising with us, enable me and my team to devote energy and time to writing and publication. This episode is brought to you in partnership with MitoQ, a mitochondrial antioxidant designed to target oxidative…

The Estrogen Effect Nobody Talks About | Kiran Krishnan

Cardiovascular disease is the number one threat to healthspan and longevity. But, aging in women doesn’t follow the same trajectory as it does in men. Alongside perimenopause, as the protective effects of estrogen wane, dyslipidemia, metabolic dysregulation, and weight gain arrive in a rush. This transition still catches even our healthiest patients (and their clinicians) off guard. The downstream effects are vast–brain, bone, microbiome, joints, and barriers (including intestinal and endothelial) all become compromised. Cardiovascular risk can skyrocket.

When High Protein Backfires in the Gut | Dr. Tom Fabian

It feels like every patient walking into our offices right now is hearing the same message—eat more protein. But maybe the more important question isn’t just how much protein someone is eating, but whether their gut can actually digest and absorb it effectively. Dr. Tom Fabian, Research Specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, joins me again to unpack the emerging science around the gut–muscle axis and what it may mean for our patients. And in a moment when so many people are on GLP-1 medications that suppress appetite and slow digestion, that becomes an especially important clinical lens. It’s a fascinating shift in how we think about gut health and muscle resilience. ~DrKF

The Tough Gut Playbook: Rebuilding Gut Resilience in IBS-Prone Patients

More and more in practice, we’re working with what I often think of as “tough guts,” patients arriving on increasingly restricted diets, afraid to expand foods because nearly everything seems to trigger symptoms. A big part of our work now is helping rebuild resilience: restoring dietary diversity, supporting the microbiome, and getting people back to eating, and living more fully again. That’s one reason I was so glad to welcome Colleen Cutcliffe back to the podcast. I’ve long admired Pendulum’s philosophy of supporting the microbiome as an ecosystem rather than chasing quick fixes. This conversation really reflects the direction many of us are moving clinically—toward rebuilding function, flexibility, and long-term resilience for our patients. ~DrKF

Why Bone Loss Accelerates With Aging: The Gut–Bone Connection

I just had a really fascinating conversation with the scientists at Sōlaria biō—Mark Charbonneau and Alicia Ballok—about a line of research that genuinely made me stop and rethink how we approach bone health. We talked about their journey from isolating microbes living inside edible plants, to identifying synergistic microbial interactions, to building out the preclinical work and then taking it all the way into human clinical research. It’s a rare and thoughtful progression, and the science is compelling. Their first clinical focus has been bone loss, and the results they’ve seen so far are striking. In an early clinical study, they reported a substantial reduction in bone loss—up to 80% in certain groups—along with meaningful reductions in CTX, one of the key markers we use to assess bone turnover. They’re now recruiting for a follow-up study in postmenopausal women in collaboration with Harvard, and we’ll share details in the show notes for anyone who may be eligible. This is a rich, science-forward conversation, and I think you’ll find it as interesting as I did. ~DrKF

Platelet-Derived Exosomes in Aesthetics: Data, Safety, and Real-World Use Cases

Exosomes are having a moment right now, but this is the first time I’ve felt like I was able to sit down and really unpack what matters, the science behind them, the variability in sources, and why not all exosome products are created equal. In our conversation, Alisa Lask, CEO of Rion Aesthetics, helped bring clarity to a field that’s quickly becoming noisy, and I found myself genuinely impressed by the rigor and precision behind the platelet-derived exosomes she describes. For those of us watching regenerative aesthetics evolve, this discussion offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what’s real, what’s emerging, and what clinicians should be paying attention to. I think you’ll find it as illuminating as I did.

The Hidden Immune Signal Accelerating Aging & the Beta-Glucan That Fixes It | Bob Rountree & Chris D’Adamo

New Frontiers in Functional Medicine® Podcast Sponsors Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is eternally grateful to our sponsors who, by blogging, podcasting and advertising with us, enable me and my team to devote energy and time to writing and publication. Exclusive Offer for New Frontiers Listeners Book a practitioner call and receive a complimentary bottle of beta-glucan…