PODCAST · health
Too Curious MDs
by Too Curious MDs
Curiosity fuels discovery, and in medicine, it’s the key to transformation. Too Curious MDs explores the frontiers of healing through narrative medicine, integrative therapies, psychedelics, and patient-centered care. Hosted by Dr. Alya Ahmad and Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, this podcast challenges the boundaries of traditional medicine, uncovering the untold stories, ethical dilemmas, and groundbreaking research shaping the future of healthcare.Join the journey—because medicine is more than science; it’s a story.
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What Do We Really Know About Psychedelic Safety? with Dr. Kelan Thomas
We came into this conversation expecting to talk about safety, and left thinking about humility. Kelan Thomas has spent years studying the pharmacology behind psychedelics, and what struck us most is how often the loudest fears (serotonin syndrome, for one) turn out to be less clear-cut than the headlines suggest, while the quieter questions (what daily microdosing does over years, what a receptor signal linked to heart valves really means) stay genuinely open.We talk about where ketamine's real risks appear and where standard therapeutic dosing looks low-risk, why the length of an experience may carry the length of its benefit, and how rapport, set, and setting can shape an outcome as much as any molecule. Kelan keeps returning to a harm-reduction frame: education over prohibition, informed consent, and the honesty to say we don't know yet. None of this is medical advice, and that's part of the point. It's an invitation to stay curious about the questions we haven't answered.- - - - -About the Guest:Kelan Thomas, PharmD, is a psychiatric pharmacist and professor at Touro University California, where his work focuses on psychopharmacology and the safety science behind psychedelic and psychiatric medicine. He trained in Cynthia Kuhn's psychopharmacology lab at Duke, with further training across UCSF, Michigan, and USC. He has published review papers examining serotonin-syndrome risk and the 5-HT2B receptor question tied to microdosing and cardiac safety, and he testified before the Oakland City Council on decriminalization. He approaches this field the way he talks about it: intellectually playful, literary, and humble about the limits of what the research can currently say.A second conversation with Kelan, on music as pharmacology, is already in the works.- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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What If Your Whole Life Was Decided by Age 8? Unlocking the Subconscious with Laura Hanson
In this episode we followed our curiosity into one of the most fascinating questions in medicine: how much of who a child becomes is shaped before they can even remember it? Dr. Laura Hanson has spent about thirty years working with children's brains, and she walks us through her model of how the subconscious mind forms from the womb through early childhood, and why she treats that window as so formative. We talk about what a 19-channel QEEG brain map actually shows, how she uses neurofeedback to train patterns beneath conscious awareness, and how retained reflexes and today's screen habits shape a child's attention.What we appreciated is that Hanson does not frame any of this as a single fix. Her approach moves across the mechanical, the chemical, and the brain itself, and she is honest that the biggest changes come when families commit to all three over time. As with everything on this show, we are sharing a practitioner's lens to think with, not a diagnosis or a promise, and there is a lot here worth sitting with. Stay curious.- - - - -About the Guest:Dr. Laura Hanson has spent roughly thirty years working with children, and some adults, through neurofeedback and biofeedback. She uses 19-channel QEEG brain mapping and runs Connect My Brain, where her team builds individualized programs for brain development and attention.She also provides chiropractic care and hosts her own podcast focused on children's brains. Her work centers on the idea that the brain can keep changing, at any age, given the right input and consistency.Website: connectmybrain.comConnect My Child's BrainSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZCdlj59NO3p6l8R23oO3z?si=afcb7d54f0b24137Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connect-my-childs-brain/id1587168142- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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What in the World Is Narrative Medicine? Listening as a Healing Art with Julia Schneider
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, I sit down with Julia Schneider, a narrative-medicine teacher, poet, and pain-care therapist I first met in our original narrative-medicine cohort at Columbia. Julia describes narrative medicine not as a fixed thing but as a mode of attention, a listening practice built on curiosity, humility, and the willingness to think with a person rather than against them. We talk about why story belongs at the forefront of a clinical visit even when time is short, what the research says about how quickly patients get interrupted, and how open-ended questions and simple silence can surface the details that a pain scale never will.From her years in manual and movement therapy, Julia reframes persistent pain as a biopsychosocial experience, one shaped by the nervous system, past trauma, and the stories we tell ourselves, and she offers practical ways to help people feel safer in their own bodies. We also get personal about burnout, the grief so many of us carry from our training, and why reconnecting to the reason we entered this work can be its own kind of medicine. It is a warm, wide-ranging conversation for any clinician or caregiver who senses that healing depends on more than the science alone.- - - - -Julia Schneider is the founder of NarrativeRx, an international learning community helping clinicians, patients, and educators deepen their listening through literature, philosophy, and the arts. She earned Columbia University's Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine (in its original online cohort) and holds a master's in literature from the University of Texas at Austin, leaving a PhD program to open her wellness center.Julia is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), with nearly two decades of hands-on work in persistent-pain care and as the founder of RISE Wellness Center in Austin.A writer and poet at heart, she facilitates narrative-medicine workshops for palliative-care teams, chaplains, physicians, and students, using close reading and reflective writing to help healers listen more deeply to their patients and themselves.Website: https://NarrativeRx.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/narrative.rxFacebook: https://facebook.com/groups/narrativemedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-schneider-3a6282126- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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How Does Physical Therapy Meet Breathwork and Spiritual/Emotional Healing? Cole Thorton from Atman PT
I have been curious about Cole Thornton for a while, so it was a joy to finally sit down with him. He's a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Atman, a movement, breathwork, and meditation studio right down the street from us, and he has a gift for making an idea feel true in your body while he's still explaining it.We start with the body. Cole says we're still living in "caveman bodies" in an artificial world, movement generalists who were built to crawl, climb, lift, and play. When we stop, he sees what he sees in any animal kept from its nature: stiffness, chronic pain, low mood, a quiet anxiety. Then we move to breath, which he calls the bridge, the one practice that is at once physical and inner, from slow, humming, nervous-system-soothing breathing to the bigger, faster work that can open a door to something deeper. And underneath all of it is a larger reframe: that we are healers, not mechanics, and our job is to guide a person toward their own healing rather than "fix" them like a car. This is Too Curious medicine at its most curious, science and spirit in the same breath. I loved every minute.- - - - -About the Guest:Cole Thornton is a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Atman, a healing and wellness studio in Sacramento where he teaches functional movement, breathwork, and meditation alongside one-on-one physical therapy. A lifelong martial artist (Aikido and Tai Chi) turned EMT turned physical therapist, he stepped away from the mainstream medical model after years of hospital and neuro-rehab work to build a cash-pay practice centered on the whole person: body, breath, and mind.His approach draws on natural human movement, both calming and more intensive styles of breathwork, and contemplative traditions, and he sees the practitioner's role as guiding a person toward their own healing. "Atman," he explains, is an old word for the self in its totality, physical, mental, and spiritual.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://atmansacramento.com- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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What Travel Really Does to Your Cells (and How to Recover Faster) with Dr. Monisha Bhanote
In this episode, we explore travel resilience with Dr. Monisha Bhanote, who spends roughly half of every month crossing continents and time zones. She reframes travel as a physiologic event, one your cells register long before you feel it, and maps the five pathways that shift in transit: digestion, immunity, focus, energy, and recovery. Along the way, she shares the research behind “gut jet lag,” why she times her meals to her destination, what actually protects your immune system in an airport, and how sunlight and a walk on arrival can help reset your rhythm.She also opens up about the golf ball that changed her life, a freak accident that caused a traumatic brain injury and sent her on a years-long effort to rebuild her own body, cell by cell. It’s a conversation about curiosity, resilience, and her guiding idea that cell care is self-care.- - - - -About the Guest:Dr. Monisha Bhanote, MD, FCAP, ABOIM, ACCM, is the only quintuple board-certified physician in the United States, with certifications spanning anatomic and clinical pathology, cytopathology, integrative medicine, and culinary medicine. After decades diagnosing more than a million disease cases at the cellular level, she founded the WELLKULÅ Institute to bridge modern molecular science with time-tested wellness traditions. She is the best-selling author of The Anatomy of Wellbeing, a global keynote speaker, the creator of the trademarked #CellCare philosophy, and the formulator behind Travela Wellness, a physician-developed travel and longevity supplement now heading into a University of Florida trial.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://drbhanote.comInstagram: @drbhanoteFacebook: @drbhanoteYouTube: @drbhanoteLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drbhanote- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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We Are the Medicine: Why Psychedelics Alone Won’t Heal You
In this episode, I sit down with Lou Dorian and Josh from Psychedelist for one of the more honest conversations I have had about what psychedelic medicine can and cannot do. We talk about the difference between reaching for a substance as a ‘set it and forget it’ fix and doing the slower work of building skills: breathwork, somatic processing, integration, and the belief work that so often surfaces the childhood trauma underneath the presenting problem. Josh shares his path from thirteen VA medications to ketamine-assisted therapy and the practices that carried him through it. Lou offers his thesis that our mental health is shaped as much by the world around us as by anything inside us. As always, we hold the science and the story together, and we ask what real, ethical, root-cause care actually looks like. Stay curious.- - - - -About the Guest:Lou Dorian is the founder and CEO of Psychedelist, a platform he describes as an ecosystem, or a ‘cyber city,’ for the psychedelic space: a directory of treatment providers, facilitators, educators, legal resources, and lab testing, built around harm reduction and responsible use. A mathematician by training, Lou came to this work through his own long and difficult history with psychedelics, grief, and trauma, and through the breathwork and somatic practices he credits with saving his life. He founded Psychedelist in 2021 and now works with clients, many of them veterans, on skill-based mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.Josh is the Executive Director of Psychedelist and a combat veteran. After leaving the military with a stack of thirteen medications and a life he describes as coming apart, he began working with Lou on belief systems, somatic healing, and later ketamine-assisted therapy through the VA. He speaks openly about childhood trauma, moral injury, and the practices that helped him come back to himself, and now helps build the platform so others can find that same support.Website: http://psychedelist.com- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Beyond the Diagnosis: A Neurologist on Functional Brain Health and the Power of the Story
In this conversation, I sit down with neurologist Ken Sharlin to ask what changes when you treat the person, not just the diagnosis. Ken spent years in conventional neurology before endurance sport, of all things, led him to functional medicine and a different way of practicing. He explains his Brain Tune Up approach: start with the foundations of sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, and connection, then layer in the more advanced tools only once that groundwork is laid.We get into the science he finds most exciting right now, from neuroplasticity and the BDNF pathway that links exercise and psychedelics to senolytics, digital tracking, and AI that helps personalize care. But the throughline is human: Ken believes the patient's story is where healing begins, and that medicine is, in his words, human behavior informed by science. We also talk honestly about physician burnout and why curiosity is what keeps the work alive. This is offered for education and curiosity, not medical advice. Stay curious.- - - - -About the Guest:Ken Sharlin, MD, MPH, IFMCP, is a board-certified neurologist and functional medicine practitioner and the founder of Sharlin Health & Neurology in Ozark, Missouri, where he directs his Brain Tune Up! Program. Trained at Emory, the University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt, he blends conventional neurology with lifestyle, functional, and regenerative medicine. He is the best-selling author of The Healthy Brain Toolbox and teaches widely on personalized, root-cause approaches to brain health.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://functionalmedicine.doctorInstagram: https://instagram.com/kensharlin.mdLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drkensharlin- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Are Normal Thyroid Labs Missing the Real Problem? with Dr. Daryl Turner
Welcome to Too Curious MDs — where medicine is more than science — it’s story, art, connection, and integration.What happens when your thyroid labs look normal, but your body keeps telling you something is wrong?In this episode, Dr. Alya Ahmad sits down with Dr. Daryl Turner, founder of NiTek Medical, to explore why fatigue, cold hands and feet, brain fog, constipation, weight changes, hair loss, mood shifts, and hormonal symptoms may deserve a closer look—even when standard testing does not provide a clear answer.Dr. Turner shares how seeing symptomatic patients dismissed because their bloodwork appeared normal led him to revisit an older method of thyroid assessment: measuring reflex speed. He explains how that work inspired the development of the Thyroflex, a device designed to assess reflex response and resting metabolic rate.Together, Dr. Alya and Dr. Turner examine the limits of relying on a single thyroid marker, the importance of listening to patient symptoms, and the connection between thyroid function, energy production, metabolism, digestion, mood, menstrual cycles, fertility, and pregnancy.They also discuss iodine, Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, thyroid antibodies, reverse T3, sleep, stress, nutrition, adrenal health, and the potential role of DNA testing in the future of thyroid and autoimmune care.- - - - -About Dr. Daryl TurnerDr. Daryl Turner is the founder of NiTek Medical and an international lecturer focused on thyroid, adrenal, iodine, autoimmune, and hormone health. Born and raised in New Zealand and now living in the United States, his work grew from a desire to help patients who experienced symptoms of thyroid dysfunction despite having laboratory results that appeared normal.Drawing from the historical use of reflex speed in thyroid assessment, Dr. Turner developed the Thyroflex, a device designed to evaluate reflex response, neurotransmitter speed, and resting metabolic rate. He now teaches clinicians internationally about symptom-based thyroid assessment, iodine, Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, hormone balance, DNA testing, and approaches intended to help patients improve their quality of life.- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Is Psychedelic Therapy a Malpractice Risk? with Bill Green Malpractice Insurance Expert
Welcome to Too Curious MDs — where medicine is more than science — it’s story, art, connection, and integration.In this episode, Dr. Alya Ahmad sits down with Bill Green for a timely conversation about medical malpractice, standard of care, informed consent, documentation, patient advocacy, and the evolving risks surrounding ketamine and psychedelic medicine.With 40 years of experience in medical liability, brings a practical and deeply human perspective to one of the most important issues facing patients and clinicians today. Together, they explore what happens when new treatment options enter the medical system before there is a long history of legal precedent, and why that matters for providers using ketamine, psychedelic-assisted therapies, and other emerging approaches.This conversation also looks beyond legal risk. Dr. Alya and Bill discuss trust, communication, shared decision-making, patient advocacy, bedside manner, burnout, documentation burdens, and the emotional weight patients often carry when they arrive at care. Bill also shares part of his own personal story, reflecting on trauma, mental health support, suicidal ideation, and the healing power of a strong therapeutic relationship.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:Why medical malpractice is about standard of care, not a guaranteed cureHow informed consent should be more than a signed formWhy documentation matters so much in medical liabilityHow ketamine and psychedelic medicine may create new risk questionsWhy patients should feel safe asking questionsHow trust and communication can protect both patients and providersWhy the doctor-patient relationship still matters in a fast-moving healthcare system- - - - -About Bill GreenWilliam “Bill” Green brings 40 years of experience in medical liability, malpractice insurance, sales, marketing, and risk management education. His path began through the U.S. Olympic Committee after his career as an elite track athlete, setting three American records and placing fifth at the Los Angeles Games.He has worked with Johnson & Higgins, the Southern California Physicians Insurance Exchange, The Doctors Company, and the Medical Insurance Exchange of California. In this conversation, he brings a grounded perspective on malpractice risk, informed consent, standard of care, and why trust remains vital to the relationship.- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Rewriting the Story: Migration, Medicine, Motherhood, and Slow Healing with Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman
Welcome to Too Curious MDs — where medicine is more than science — it’s story, art, connection, and integration.In this episode, Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman steps into the chair as both interviewer and interviewee. She traces the chapters that shaped her life and work, from moving to the United Arab Emirates as a child, to attending medical school in Pakistan, to training in New York City, raising children in Kansas City, and eventually building a new chapter in Los Angeles.Through each chapter, she explores how identity, culture, family, medicine, and story shaped the way she sees patients and herself. What began as a life of observation slowly became a deeper understanding of narrative medicine, trauma-informed care, listening, and the importance of slowing down in a medical system designed to move faster.Together with her own reflections, she examines what it means to unlearn old scripts, make meaning from difficult transitions, and recognize that healing is not always about getting the right answer. Sometimes, it is about being witnessed, being heard, and finding the space to ask what a crisis may be calling us to change.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:Why your own story matters more than you thinkHow childhood migration can shape observation and identityWhy medicine often leaves out the human storyHow burnout can become a turning pointWhy slowing down may create space for deeper healingHow listening can change the way we care for others- - - - -About the Host:Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman is a physician, medical educator, and co-host of Too Curious MDs. A graduate of Aga Khan University Medical College, she completed her pediatric residency at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has more than two decades of clinical experience, including work as a pediatrician at Los Angeles General Hospital.She earned her Master’s in Medical Education from the Keck School of Medicine at USC, where she also coaches medical students. Her work brings together narrative medicine, trauma-informed care, integrative psychiatry, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy training, reflecting her deep interest in how stories, listening, and human connection shape healing.- - - - - Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Detoxification: How Toxic Burden, Stress, and Environmental Exposure Shape the Body’s Response with Jeff Hoyt
Welcome to Too Curious MDs — where medicine is more than science — it’s story, art, connection, and integration.In this episode, Dr. Alya Ahmad sits down with Jeff Hoyt, wellness innovator, founder of Zeolite Labs, and host of The Detox Experience podcast, for a nuanced conversation about detoxification, toxic burden, heavy metals, environmental exposures, and what the body may be trying to do when it stores what it cannot immediately process.As detox becomes an increasingly popular conversation in wellness, Jeff brings a grounded and curious perspective on what detox actually means biologically, emotionally, and environmentally. Rather than treating detox as a quick fix, he explains why the body is always working to protect itself, why stress can slow natural detox processes, and why forcing detox too aggressively may create more symptoms for some people.Together, they explore how modern exposures from food, water, air, heavy metals, mold, Wi-Fi, personal care products, agricultural chemicals, and emotional stress may all contribute to the body’s total load. They also discuss gut health, mental health, binders, zeolite, detox reactions, and why reducing exposure is only one part of the larger healing conversation.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:Why detox can feel confusing or overwhelmingHow heavy metals and environmental exposures may affect the bodyWhy the body may store what it cannot process right awayHow gut health, stress, and mental health may be connectedWhy listening to the body matters more than forcing detox- - - - - About Jeff HoytJeff Hoyt is a wellness innovator, founder of Zeolite Labs, and host of The Detox Experience podcast, a platform dedicated to exploring detoxification, root cause healing, heavy metal toxicity, and integrative wellness.Through conversations with physicians, functional medicine practitioners, health educators, and individuals navigating chronic illness, Jeff has become known for challenging the status quo around detoxification. His work explores environmental toxins, nervous system regulation, gut health, real-world healing stories, and what it means to approach wellness from a root cause perspective.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://www.zeolitelabs.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hoyt-51362438/- - - - - Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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56
How does Yoga, The Gut-Brain Axis, and Stress Intertwine? - with Emily Wolbers
Welcome to Too Curious MDs — where medicine is more than science — it’s story, art, connection, and integration.In this episode, Dr. Alya Ahmad sits down with Dr. Emily Wolbers, naturopathic doctor, yoga teacher, and expert in gastrointestinal health and the gut-brain connection, for a deeply engaging conversation about the hidden relationship between stress, digestion, hormones, inflammation, and emotional resilience.As modern medicine increasingly validates the importance of the gut-brain axis, Dr. Emily brings a unique perspective that bridges evidence-based science with ancient practices rooted in yoga, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation.Together, they explore how chronic stress reshapes the body, why so many symptoms are dismissed as “just anxiety,” and what yoga traditions may have understood about the nervous system long before neuroscience caught up.This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:Why stress shows up physically in the bodyWhy gut symptoms and anxiety are often deeply connectedHow breathwork changes physiologyWhat the vagus nerve actually doesAnd what true resilience looks like—not just mentally, but biologically- - - - -About Dr. Emily WolbersDr. Emily Wolbers is a naturopathic doctor specializing in gastrointestinal health and the gut-brain connection at QC Natural Health. Recognized as a Top ND in the United States, she integrates evidence-based medicine with yoga, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation to help patients heal through a whole-person approach.She has taught yoga and meditation since 2013 and presents internationally on mind-body medicine, blending science with compassionate care and practical tools for resilience.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://www.qcnaturalhealth.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qcnaturalhealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/qcnaturalhealthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-wolbers- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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55
How does Anti-Aging and Pyschedelic Medicine Harness the Power to Heal within? - Dr. Jordana Quinn
Healing becomes more powerful when the body, mind, and story are treated together. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Jordanna Quinn shares her journey from conventional physical medicine and rehab into longevity, regenerative medicine, and psychedelic medicine, explaining why she felt called to practice in a way that honors the whole person.The conversation explores stem cells, ketamine, psychedelic preparation, epigenetics, nutrition, cellular health, and the importance of integration. Dr. Quinn also reflects on the power of the mind-body connection, the role of physicians as guides, and the deeper question of where science, spirituality, and indigenous wisdom meet.- - - - -About the Guest:Jordanna Quinn, DO, MS is a physician, integrative health innovator, and founder of Kore Regenerative Medicine. She specializes in longevity, regenerative medicine, and psychedelic medicine, with a focus on helping patients optimize the body before and after transformative therapies.She is also the founder of Quintessential Journey, a wellness company developing supplement protocols designed to support neuroplasticity and cellular health. Her work bridges clinical science, the mind-body connection, and a deep belief that healing is both biological and spiritual.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://koremedicine.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kore-medicine/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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54
Does the Art of Medicine Change in Low-Resource Settings - Pakistan?
What if medicine wasn't only about tests, protocols, and outcomes—but about story, art, and human connection? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, physician and poet Sumaiya Malik shares her lived experience practicing medicine in Pakistan, where resilience, listening, and care guide daily clinical decisions.Our conversation explores healthcare in low-resource settings, narrative medicine, cultural context, and the role of poetry in understanding patient suffering. Through reflections on listening, intuition, and human connection, she offers a powerful reminder that healing happens in relationships, not just treatment plans.- - - - -About the Guest:Sumaiya Malik is a physician practicing in Pakistan with training in obstetrics and gynecology. She has worked extensively in government hospitals, caring for patients in low-resource settings while navigating complex social, economic, and cultural challenges.Alongside her clinical work, Sumaiya is a poet and reflective writer whose work explores the intersection of science, art, spirituality, and medicine. Her approach emphasizes listening, narrative medicine, and treating patients as whole human beings.- - - - -Social Handles:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sumaiya-malik-641853206/Step into the multiverse of self‑discovery with 30: Reinvent Yourself. This poetic anthology blends science, art, and mysticism to explore transformation, resilience, and the beauty of thought. Available now on Amazon.- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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53
"Listening to Earthsong: an artist in ceremony with Mother Earth” with artist & filmmaker Deborah Anderson
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Suraiya Rahman speaks with Deborah Anderson (Aura), an artist and filmmaker whose work has evolved from photography into immersive storytelling centered on Indigenous voices and the relationship between humanity and Mother Earth.The conversation explores her global journey across multiple continents, where she lived among Indigenous communities, participated in ceremonies, and captured their languages and perspectives. Through experiences with plant medicine, grounding practices, and deep listening, Deborah reflects on how presence, curiosity, and reconnection to nature can guide us back to our true selves and reshape how we live in the modern world.- - - - -About the Guest:Deborah Anderson, also known as Aura, is an artist, filmmaker, and creator with nearly 18 years of experience as a photographer. Her work has included photographing well-known public figures before evolving into a deeper focus on storytelling through film.Her recent work centers on capturing the voices, languages, and lived experiences of Indigenous communities around the world. Through her creative projects, she explores themes of connection, healing, and humanity's relationship with Mother Earth.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://deborahanderson.com/LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/deborah.andersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahandersoncreative/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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52
What We're Missing in Adolescent Mental Health
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Suraiya Rahman joins Dr. Andrew Greenland in Voices in Health and Wellness to share her journey from pediatric hospital medicine into integrative and psychedelic-informed care.The conversation explores how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is being used in cases of treatment-resistant depression, trauma, and complex mental health conditions. Dr. Rahman emphasizes that the medicine itself is only one part of the process, true healing depends on preparation, integration, ethical care, and a supportive relational environment. From family systems to global adoption, this episode offers a grounded, nuanced look at a rapidly evolving space in mental health care.- - - - -Dr. Andrew Greenland is a UK-based medical doctor, integrative and functional medicine practitioner, and host of Voices in Health and Wellness. With over two decades of clinical experience, he combines conventional medical training with expertise in root-cause medicine, naturopathy, and preventative care to help individuals optimize health, performance, and longevity.As the founder of Greenland Medical, Ltd, a UK-based functional medicine practice, Dr. Greenland focuses on personalized, whole-person care, blending evidence-based medicine with lifestyle and integrative approaches. Through his podcast, he brings together clinicians, innovators, and thought leaders to explore what's working, what's changing, and what the future of healthcare could look like.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://greenland-medical.com/Website: https://www.voicesinhealthandwellness.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenland_medical_clinics/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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51
Can Spiritual Care Belong in Modern Medicine?
What if the healing medicine needs most cannot be measured by data alone? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Joe Tafur explores grief, spiritual care, ayahuasca, nature, and why suffering is pushing modern medicine to reopen the conversation around psychedelic healing.What's one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments—your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.- - - - -About the Guest:Joe Tafur, MD is a family physician, researcher, and author whose work sits at the intersection of modern medicine and spiritual healing. He is the author of The Fellowship of the River and Medicine Song, and has spent decades exploring how psychedelics, ritual, nature, and consciousness can deepen the way we understand healing.A leading voice in the psychedelic renaissance, Dr. Tafur is also connected to Modern Spirit, a nonprofit focused on demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. His work challenges medicine to widen its lens, bringing greater humility, connection, and meaning into conversations around trauma, grief, and transformation.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://www.drjoetafur.com/Website: https://www.modernspirit.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.joetafur/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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50
What Are You Carrying? Trauma, Healing, and Connection in Hard Times
Trauma is not just personal. It lives in families, communities, world events, and the body. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Suraiya Rahman and Dr. Alya Ahmad reflect on ancestral healing, generational trauma, and the emotional weight of living through a time shaped by conflict, uncertainty, and collective distress. She explores how psychedelic healing, especially in group settings, may help people process what they are carrying and create space for resilience, embodiment, and new ways of responding.The conversation also turns toward retreat as a healing container. Dr. Rahman and Dr. Alya Ahmad discuss creativity, ritual, narrative medicine, and the importance of connection in helping people move from survival into deeper presence. From ketamine and group healing to art, intention, and the question 'What are you carrying?', this episode is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to heal while the world is still hurting.- - - - -About the Host:Dr. Suraiya Rahman and Dr. Alya Ahmad are the co-hosts of Too Curious MDs, a podcast rooted in story, art, connection, and integration. Together, they create conversations that explore trauma, healing, curiosity, and the deeper human questions that shape how people care for themselves and one another.Their approach blends reflection, creativity, and dialogue, drawing from themes in narrative medicine, embodiment, group healing, and the power of being truly witnessed.- - - - -Social Handles:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbloggermd_/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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49
What is Phantom Limb Pain, Phil Wolfson's Ketamine Free National Clinical Trial
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Phil Wolfson unpacks the mystery of phantom limb pain—a condition where the brain continues to project sensation, position, and intense discomfort from a body part that no longer exists. He explains how the brain can become 'stuck,' replaying the trauma as if it's still happening, creating a loop of pain that can last for years.The conversation also introduces a new, free clinical trial for patients with phantom limbs nationwide, exploring ketamine as a potential way to interrupt this loop. By working at both the neurological and psychological level, ketamine may help the brain update its perception and release the signal of pain. For those living with phantom limb pain, this trial offers a rare opportunity to take part in a new approach that could change how this condition is treated.- - - - -About the Guest:Dr. Phil Wolfson is a pioneering psychiatrist and psychotherapist, widely recognized as a leading voice in ketamine-assisted therapy. He is the co-founder of the Ketamine Research Foundation, where his work focuses on advancing clinical practice, education, and research in the therapeutic use of ketamine.With decades of experience, Dr. Wolfson has helped shape modern understanding of ketamine as more than a pharmacological tool—positioning it as a catalyst for insight, healing, and transformation. His work spans clinical protocols, training programs, and innovative research, including current efforts to explore ketamine's potential in treating phantom limb pain.----Our team is now actively recruiting participants for our Phantom Limb Pain Research Protocol.About the Study Participants: ~25–30 adults with significant phantom limb pain (ClinicalTrials.gov)Duration: 6 monthsTreatment:Intramuscular (IM) ketamineUp to 16 sessionsMinimum 7 days between sessionsDose: individualized escalation (max ~120 mg) Sponsor: Ketamine Research Foundation Principal Investigator: Dr. Philip WolsfonParticipation is entirely voluntary—and there is no cost to patients or referring providers.If you know someone who may qualify, we warmly invite you to help spread the word.Referrals or Questions: [email protected] - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://philwolfsonmd.com/Website: https://ketamineresearchfoundation.org/Clinical Trials: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07276542- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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48
From Meds to Meaning: A New Model of Mental Health
What if the biggest limitation in modern psychiatry isn't lack of tools… but lack of perspective?In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Scott Shannon reflects on his journey through conventional and integrative psychiatry, challenging the narrow focus on diagnosis and medication.The conversation explores a broader, systems-based approach to mental health—one that includes lifestyle, relationships, spirituality, and community. From physician burnout to the rise of psychedelic medicine, this episode highlights how healing becomes possible when we move beyond reductionism and reconnect with the full human experience.- - - - -About the Guest:Scott Shannon, MD, is a pioneer in integrative psychiatry and a leading advocate for whole-person mental health care. With decades of experience, he has challenged conventional psychiatric models by expanding treatment beyond medication to include nutrition, lifestyle, relationships, and spirituality.An author, educator, and clinician, Dr. Shannon has dedicated his career to developing systems-based approaches to mental health that honor the interconnected nature of body, mind, and spirit. His work continues to shape the evolution of psychiatry toward more personalized, meaningful care.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://wholeness.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shannon-md-- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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47
What Science Teaches Us About Spirituality
What if staying healthy today requires more than just avoiding disease and asks us to rethink how we live, eat, connect, and heal? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Russell Jaffe shares a wide-ranging conversation on toxicity, trauma, integrative medicine, and the human healing response.Our conversation explores environmental toxins, emotional burden, chronic stress, detoxification, alkaline living, and the role of love, safety, and deep listening in healing. We unpack how small daily choices can reduce toxic burden, support resilience, and help us live with more vitality, discernment, and connection in a chemically burdened world.- - - - -About the Guest:Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD, CCN, is a physician, scientist, toxicologist, and pioneer in integrative and functional medicine. Trained in internal medicine and laboratory medicine, he also served at the National Institutes of Health and later expanded his work to include systems-based, whole-person healing.Known for his work in preventive health, detoxification, and 'The Alkaline Way,' Dr. Jaffe blends scientific rigor with deep curiosity about the emotional, spiritual, and environmental factors that shape health. His work emphasizes practical strategies for reducing toxic burden, supporting resilience, and helping people thrive in the modern world.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://www.drrusselljaffe.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrusselljaffe/?hl=enLinkTree: https://linktr.ee/drrusselljaffe- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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46
Psychedelics, Hospice & the Law: What Physicians Need to Know
What if relief from end-of-life suffering already exists… but patients can't legally access it?In this episode of Too Curious MDs, lawyer and end-of-life care advocate Kathryn L. Tucker explores the legal barriers surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly for patients facing serious and terminal illness. Drawing from decades of advocacy in end-of-life care, she explains how federal scheduling laws, regulatory delays, and limited legal pathways continue to restrict access despite growing clinical evidence.The conversation breaks down what physicians can safely discuss with patients, the difference between education and participation, and the emerging pathways patients are using today, including clinical trials, state programs, and international retreats. It also highlights ongoing advocacy efforts, including rescheduling petitions and federal legislation, aimed at creating a legal framework that aligns with the science and supports compassionate care.- - - - -About the Guest:Kathryn L. Tucker, JD, is a leading legal advocate at the intersection of medical decision-making, end-of-life care, and therapeutic access. With over 35 years of experience, she has played a pivotal role in advancing patient rights, including landmark work in death with dignity legislation and expanding care options for those with serious and terminal illness.Her recent work focuses on creating legal pathways for access to psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly for patients experiencing anxiety and depression at the end of life. Through litigation, policy advocacy, and national initiatives, she continues to push for alignment between emerging science and compassionate care.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://www.cascadianow.org/end-of-life-liberty-projectLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynlt- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Breaking Habit Loops: The Fastest Way to Change Your Life (Part 2)
What actually changes when transformation happens? In Part 2 of this Too Curious MDs conversation, Jonathan Mozenter goes deeper into ego, metacognition, habit loops, and the practical mechanics of human flourishing. From neuroscience and psychedelic states to archetypes, trauma integration, and conflict resolution, this episode bridges mystical awareness with grounded, real-world change.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.- - - - -About the Guest:Jonathan Mozenter is an organizational psychologist, coach, and facilitator. With an MBA from Boston University and years of experience working on safety and performance systems, he blends analytical rigor with contemplative practice.Drawing from Vajrayana Buddhism, psychology, and lived transformation, Jonathan focuses on discernment, habit loop awareness, and helping individuals access deeper states of consciousness. He is passionate about collaboration, community building, and practical tools for human flourishing.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://mozenter.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mozenter/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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44
Breaking Habit Loops: The Fastest Way to Change Your Life
Transformation isn't about adding something new, but remembering what you already are. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Jonathan Mozenter shares how identity, ego, discernment, and conscious awareness shape personal evolution, and why upgrading your 'operating system' may be the real path to human flourishing.What's one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.- - - - -About the Guest:Jonathan Mozenter is an organizational psychologist, coach, and facilitator. With an MBA from Boston University and years of experience working on safety and performance systems, he blends analytical rigor with contemplative practice.Drawing from Vajrayana Buddhism, psychology, and lived transformation, Jonathan focuses on discernment, habit loop awareness, and helping individuals access deeper states of consciousness. He is passionate about collaboration, community building, and practical tools for human flourishing.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://mozenter.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mozenter/- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.comhttps://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Are You Living Out of Sync With Your Biology?
Are we sick because modern life no longer matches human biology? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Daniel Chille breaks down how microbial depletion, modern toxins, and timing-driven metabolism shifts can quietly shape everything from anxiety and insulin resistance to autoimmunity and resilience.What's one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.- - - - -About the Guest:Dr. Daniel Chille is the founder of TBD Fit / Total Body Diagnostics, a holistic wellness clinic based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, serving individuals nationwide. With a background in Division I and professional soccer, he blends performance-based discipline with a root-cause approach focused on the microbiome, lifestyle foundations, and advanced diagnostics.Through his clinic and TBD Fit Podcast, he teaches practical frameworks around sleep, nutrition, stress, and gut health to help people restore resilience and function.- - - - -Social Handles:Website: https://tbdfit.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/TotalBodyDiagnosticsYoutube: https://youtube.com/@TotalBodyDiagnostics🎧 TBD Fit Podcast Take charge of your health with real, practical strategies—Dr. Chille makes complex topics like hormones, peptides, and regenerative medicine simple and actionable. Follow the S.P.E.N.D. philosophy: Sleep, Play, Exercise, Nourish, Donate.Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsListen on iHeart Radio- - - - -Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs- - - - -PODCASTThank you for listening.Please subscribe and share.This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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42
Why Anxiety Is a Clue, Not a Flaw
Anxiety isn’t a character flaw. It’s often a biochemical signal that your body isn’t getting what it needs. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, functional nutritional therapist Laurie Hammer explains how targeted amino acid therapy restores neurotransmitter balance, reduces cravings, and supports calm, clarity, and nervous system regulation at the foundation.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Laurie Hammer is a functional nutritional therapist and the creator of the Calm Mom Method, with a clinical focus on amino acid therapy for mood, anxiety, and nervous system regulation. Her work integrates biochemistry, functional nutrition, and practical mindset tools to support real-time symptom relief.She is also the founder of the Mind Thrive Certification, a six-month practitioner training program teaching targeted amino acid protocols, case-based learning, and whole-person support. Laurie’s approach is shaped by her own recovery journey and emphasizes restoring balance at the most foundational level of brain and body health.Website: LaurieHammer.comInstagram: Instagram.com/takebackmybrainLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/laurie-hammer-ab84ab8🎧 Take Back My Brain with Laurie Hammer A compassionate, empowering journey into brain health, trauma recovery, and whole-body healing:Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsListen on iHeart RadioDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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From No Excuse Mom to Sacred Becoming - Maria Kang's Journey
Healing starts with telling yourself the truth. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Maria Kang shares how writing ‘Sacred Becoming' during a stage 4 colorectal cancer journey became a process of release, alignment, and self-trust.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Maria Kang is an author and speaker known for her work on women’s identity, resilience, and self-leadership. She is the author of ‘The No Excuse Mom’ and ‘Sacred Becoming', a book she wrote largely in a two-week surge of focus and silence during her stage 4 colorectal cancer journey. Her work emphasizes helping women choose themselves, release inherited roles, and live with greater alignment and intention.Website:https://www.mariakang.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.kang/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariakangfitness/Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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40
What ADHD Actually Feels Like on the Inside
What if the thing you were ashamed of was never a character flaw at all? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Ryan Thom shares how a late ADHD diagnosis transformed his understanding of himself, reshaped his healing, and ultimately led him into the work of therapy.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Ryan Thom is a licensed marriage and family therapist with years of experience conducting emergency room mental health assessments, often meeting people at their most vulnerable moments. His work is deeply informed by his own lived experience, including a mental health breakdown and a late diagnosis of ADHD that reshaped his identity and life path.Ryan is also the co-host of the Mental Chillness Podcast, an honest exploration of psychology, mental health, and self-understanding. His approach emphasizes compassion, clarity, and the power of being truly seen.Website: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ryan-christopher-thom-roseville-ca/1056916LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-c-thom-a5556395/Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-chillness-podcast/id1851782745Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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How Psychedelics Reconnect Us With Our True Self
What if the part of you that feels broken is actually the doorway to transformation? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Jared ‘Rudrananda’ Turner shares how trauma, ritual, community, and embodied awareness can help us come back into the body, build a container for healing, and remember who we truly are.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Jared ‘Rudrananda’ Turner is a contemplative chaplain and trauma-informed spiritual care provider with almost three decades of experience in the fire service, where he served as a firefighter-paramedic and administrative captain. His work is informed by decades of frontline crisis response, spiritual practice, and deep engagement with trauma and healing.A published Kirtan artist and graduate of Naropa University’s contemplative chaplaincy program, Jared integrates devotional practice, embodied awareness, and community-based healing. His approach honors each person’s unique path while helping others build the inner and outer containers needed for lasting transformation.Learn more about the Astrology Awakened Course by Jared Turner: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j6QQdP0uHt14TleWXMxp7vqRomRa8BS5/view?ts=6969a166Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Why Walk-and-Talk Therapy Works Better Than You Think
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Phil Sarpong explains walk-and-talk therapy, how movement and nature lower psychological barriers, and why integrating lifestyle, mental health, and medical care can create lasting change.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments—your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Phil Sarpong is a clinical psychologist, academic coach, and mentor who integrates mind, body, and spirit in his approach to growth and wellbeing. Born in Accra, Ghana, and raised in the United States, he earned a degree in neuroscience from Indiana University and a master’s in health sciences from Boston University before completing his doctorate in clinical psychology.With experience as a clinical informatics specialist and a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise, Phil bridges mental health, movement, and lifestyle medicine. His work focuses on practical, movement-based approaches, such as walk-and-talk therapy, to help people build confidence, resilience, and sustainable change.Website: https://philsarpong.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsarpongDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Unmasking Autism: Emerging Science and Stories
What if autism isn’t a deficit, but a different way of experiencing the world? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Julia Mirer joins us to explore masking, missed diagnoses in adults, and how shifting from a deficit lens to a difference-based understanding can transform mental health, family dynamics, and self-identity.What’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments! Your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Dr. Julia Mirer is a physician whose work bridges pediatrics, mental health, and personalized care. With experience spanning traditional medicine, psychedelic-assisted care, and neurodevelopmental exploration, she brings a nuanced, compassionate perspective to autism, focusing on masking, missed diagnoses, and the importance of understanding internal experience rather than surface behavior. Her work emphasizes strength-based reframing, individualized support, and helping people rewrite stories shaped by misunderstanding.Dr. Julia Mirer, MDLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jmirermd/Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Mental Illness Isn’t Just in the Brain
Mental illness may look like a brain problem, but it can start as a body-and-energy problem. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Sophie Kwass join us to talk about metabolic psychiatry: how insulin resistance, mitochondrial function, and brain energy can shape conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis, and why a ketogenic approach can change outcomes when traditional care only stabilizes.Learn more about Accord at accordmh.comWhat’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments—your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Dr. Matthew Bernstein is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist with training at UCSF and over 25 years in clinical practice. His work focuses on metabolic and integrative approaches to serious mental illness, including ketogenic therapy and lifestyle-based interventions aimed at improving brain energy, functioning, and long-term outcomes.Sophie Kwass is a clinical social worker and the program director at Accord, with experience in inpatient psychiatric care and specialized work in bipolar and psychotic disorders. She supports clients through immersive metabolic psychiatry treatment by combining education, therapeutic support, and practical skill-building, helping individuals sustain nutrition and lifestyle changes while rebuilding connection, community, and purpose.Website: accordmh.comInstagram: instagram.com/accordmh/Facebook: facebook.com/accordmhLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/accordmh/Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Healing the Alarm: Dr. Russ Kennedy on Anxiety, Safety & the Inner Child Part 2
Anxiety isn’t caused by broken thinking. It’s driven by a nervous system stuck in alarm. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Russell Kennedy explains how early life stress wires the body for survival, why the mind creates endless worry in response, and what restores real safety from the inside out.Learn more about Dr. Kennedy’s work at https://www.theanxietymd.comWhat’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments—your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Dr. Russell Kennedy is a physician, neuroscientist, and the author of the bestselling book Anxiety RX: A New Prescription for Anxiety Relief From the Doctor Who Created It.Known as The Anxiety MD, he merges medical science, developmental psychology, and somatic practice to create an integrative framework for healing anxiety. Dr. Kennedy’s approach was born from his own struggle with anxiety and panic, shaped by early trauma and years in conventional medicine. His MBRX method helps people move from mental rumination to body-based safety through awareness, compassion, and reconnection.Outside the clinic, he brings a unique twist to medicine—as a former stand-up comedian and certified yoga instructor, he infuses humor and humility into healing, reminding us that laughter, breath, and curiosity are also forms of medicine.Dr. Russell Kennedy, MDWebsite: https://dr-russ.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/theanxietymdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theanxietymdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrusskennedy/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theanxietymdAuthor of "Anxiety Rx" – Get the bookDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Healing the Alarm: Dr. Russ Kennedy on Anxiety, Safety & the Inner Child Part 1
Anxiety may not be a thinking problem at all. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Russell Kennedy, known as The Anxiety MD, joins us to explain why anxiety is often a mind-story layered over a deeper bodily signal and how early experiences shape adult symptoms. We also explore inner child work, spirituality, psychedelics, physician burnout, and how curiosity can pull us out of fear and back into connection—with ourselves and our patients.Learn more about Dr. Kennedy’s work at https://www.theanxietymd.comWhat’s one unasked or curious question from your own story, your healing journey, or your exploration of the science of anxiety, ketamine, or psychedelics?Post it in the comments—your curiosity might just spark our next episode of Too Curious MDs.Dr. Russell Kennedy is a physician, neuroscientist, and the author of the bestselling book Anxiety RX: A New Prescription for Anxiety Relief From the Doctor Who Created It.Known as The Anxiety MD, he merges medical science, developmental psychology, and somatic practice to create an integrative framework for healing anxiety. Dr. Kennedy’s approach was born from his own struggle with anxiety and panic, shaped by early trauma and years in conventional medicine. His MBRX method helps people move from mental rumination to body-based safety through awareness, compassion, and reconnection.Outside the clinic, he brings a unique twist to medicine—as a former stand-up comedian and certified yoga instructor, he infuses humor and humility into healing, reminding us that laughter, breath, and curiosity are also forms of medicine.Learn more about Dr. Kennedy’s work at https://www.theanxietymd.comDr. Russell Kennedy, MDWebsite: https://dr-russ.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/theanxietymdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theanxietymdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrusskennedy/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theanxietymdAuthor of "Anxiety Rx" – Get the bookDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Opening the Gift of Life: A Psychoanalyst's Perspective on Healing
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Thomas Brod joins us to explore ketamine as a new kind of dreaming,’ ego dissolution, unitive experiences, and how safety, love, and loosening rigid defenses can open us back up to ourselves and the world.Dr. Thomas Brod is a psychoanalyst and ketamine clinician who weaves together neuroscience, depth psychology, and poetics in his work with patients. An English major who always knew he would become a psychoanalyst, he later immersed himself in neurofeedback and EEG, bringing a brain-based curiosity to questions of dreaming, consciousness, and change.With thousands of hours of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, Dr. Tom has developed a distinctive approach that blends psychoanalytic treatment with a focus on consciousness, dreaming, and brain-based insights. His evolving invocation, ‘Open the Gift of Life’, guides patients through ketamine journeys to loosen defenses, rediscover awe, and reconnect with the ordinary as sacred.Dr. Thomas M. Brod, MDWebsite:DrThomasBrod.infoWebsite: EEGym.comLinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/thomasbrodmdDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Reclaiming Your Story: A Ketamine Therapy Transformation
In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Lindsey joins us to share her experience with the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program at ShaMynds. Tune in as she talks about how childhood and relationship trauma shaped her life, how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and equine therapy helped her reclaim safety, trust, and self, and how that healing journey led her to become a therapist-in-training who now helps others find their own path forward.Lindsey Phipps is a trauma survivor and therapist-in-training whose life has been shaped by both early childhood trauma and an abusive relationship during her formative years. After years of feeling unsafe, fragmented, and stuck in PTSD patterns, she entered a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy program at ShaMynds and experienced a profound shift in her sense of power, safety, and self, an experience she describes as life-saving.Inspired by that journey, she returned to graduate school in March 2024 to become a therapist and is now in an internship, practicing as a therapist trainee. With an undergraduate degree in equine science and hands-on experience in equine-assisted psychotherapy, she blends her love of horses with a passion for trauma-informed care, ecotherapy, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Lindsey is committed to helping others heal without being re-traumatized, using nature, animals, and carefully paced inner work to support people walking a path she knows intimately.Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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When Pets Mirror Their Humans: The Hidden Health Connection
Your pet feels your stress more than you think. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Nadine Encarnacion joins us to explore the connection between our mental health and the physical and emotional wellness of our pets. Tune in as we dive into how animals often mirror their humans’ stress, illness, and environment, and how caring for ourselves can also help heal our furry family members.Dr. Nadine Encarnacion is a licensed veterinarian and intuitive strategist who has spent over a decade on the front lines of veterinary medicine, from kennel attendant and emergency room team lead to a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. Known for her keen pattern recognition, she weaves clinical expertise with trauma awareness and body-based intuition to spot what others miss in the exam room. She helps pet parents understand how their own stress, habits, and environments shape their animals’ health, teaching a form of ‘intuitive self-defense’ that includes reading the room, grounding the nervous system, and caring for the human–animal bond as a shared ecosystem.Dr. Nadine EncarnacionLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nadine-encarnacion-3b28b197Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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30
Energy Powerhouse: Mitochondria and More!
What if you could mimic exercise… without exercising? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Sundeep Dugar joins us to explore mitochondria as the true engine of human life. He shares the story behind discovering a new endogenous mitochondrial steroid and a plant compound that mimics exercise by boosting mitochondrial biogenesis.Dr. Sundeep Dugar is a veteran drug discoverer with more than three decades of experience developing therapies across oncology, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease. He is the co-founder of BlueOakNx and has held leadership roles at Schering-Plough, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Johnson and Johnson, where he contributed to major milestones, including the acquisition of Scios and the global licensing of Xarelto.Best known as the co-inventor of the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drugs Zetia and Vytorin, he has earned multiple awards recognizing his contributions to chemistry and pharmaceutical innovation. He received his doctorate from UC Davis and completed postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich and Cornell University. His current work focuses on mitochondrial health and the discovery of natural compounds that support cellular energy and resilience.Sundeep Dugar, PhDWebsite: blueoaknx.comFacebook: facebook.com/blueoaknxInstagram: instagram.com/blueoaknxLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/blueoaknxDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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29
Ketamine as a Spiritual Technology with Philip Wolfson
Is psychedelic therapy safe for teens? The answer is layered and essential to understand. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Philip Wolfson joins us to share how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can help adolescents move from suicidality, trauma, and arrested development toward autonomy, balance, and kindness. We also talk about the risks, boundaries, and ethics of working with a powerful medicine in young people.Dr. Philip Wolfson is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and long-standing leader in psychedelic medicine whose career spans more than five decades. Trained at Brandeis University and NYU School of Medicine, he brings deep expertise in family systems work, group therapy, forensic psychiatry, and alternatives to traditional inpatient care.A pioneer in the early legal days of MDMA psychotherapy and a founding member of the Heffter Research Institute, he later served as Principal Investigator for the MAPS-sponsored MDMA study for people with life-threatening illnesses. His writing on psychedelics, spirituality, politics, and trauma has shaped conversations far beyond psychiatry, and his practice continues to blend contemplative traditions with clinical innovation.Dr. Wolfson has also led projects in complementary medicine, earned multiple patents in herbal therapeutics, and founded a major green-lighting technology company. He brings a rare mix of scientific rigor, artistic creativity, and spiritual depth to the field and to every patient and family he serves.Dr. Philip WolfsonWebsite: philwolfsonmd.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philip-e-wolfson-md-85ba6833Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAP Website: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Breaking The Cycle: A Veteran's Journey of Healing, Purpose and Transformation
Ketamine didn’t erase his past—it gave it purpose. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Pranil Shankar, a veteran, author, and advocate, shares how ketamine-assisted therapy helped him break long-standing cycles of fear and grief after decades of trial-and-error care. He emphasizes the importance of safety, trust, and integration practices such as journaling and meditation in transforming one's purpose, relationships, parenting, and community service.Pranil Shankar is a veteran, author, entrepreneur, and mental-health advocate whose healing journey with ketamine-assisted therapy inspired his book Breaking the Cycle. After two decades of conventional care, he found transformation through a therapeutic process emphasizing safety, trust, and integration. Pranil donates all proceeds from his book to efforts that prevent school shootings and protect children. Professionally, he works in security and safety and founded Spade Security Services to bring advanced protective tools to communities. He also serves his city through arts and civic boards, focusing on building safer, more connected neighborhoods.Pranil ShankarWebsite: spadesecurityservices.com/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pranilshankar/Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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27
From PTSD to Peak Performance: Rebalancing the Brain with TMS
Can tuning your brain’s rhythm unlock healing? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Kevin Murphy joins Drs. Simi Rahman and Alya Ahmad to explore how personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (Peak Logic pTMS) is redefining brain care—from PTSD and autism to chronic pain and peak performance. Discover how this data-driven approach uses EEG-guided frequencies to restore balance, optimize function, and bridge the gap between neuroscience and human experience.Kevin Murphy, MD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist who specializes in treating tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), or brain and spinal cord. Dr. Murphy founded the Stereotactic Radiosurgery Program at UCSD in 2005. His expertise includes using novel technologies such as frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity modulated stereotactic radiosurgery (IM-SRS) and hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery to treat brain tumors in both adults and children.Dr. Murphy has co-authored several book chapters and many abstracts and peer-reviewed articles on behalf of UCSD. His work has appeared in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, Translational Cancer Research, and Practical Radiation Oncology, among others. He is a frequent speaker at both national and international medical conferences, having over 100 invited lectures in 23 countries.More recently, Dr. Murphy founded PeakLogic, a medical software company, and MindSet Treatment Center, both based in San Diego. He has gained wide expertise over the last 5 years in the emerging field of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and has created a proprietary, personalized approach to rTMS treatment termed PrTMS. Dr. Murphy uses PrTMS at MindSet and is well regarded by Navy SEALs veterans and pro athletes who have an interest in maintaining high-level human performance.Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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26
Music, Neuroscience, and Community
Can music, mindfulness, and psychedelics rewire the brain—and your identity? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. AZA Allsop joins us to explore how music, mindfulness, and psychedelics intersect to accelerate identity change, neuroplasticity, and healing. He also shares findings from his music–mindfulness research and a vision for scalable and community-based group interventions.Dr. AZA Allsop is an artist, neuroscientist, and psychiatrist whose work bridges social cognition, music-mindfulness, and psychedelics to relieve mental suffering and boost overall health. He studied biology, philosophy, and jazz studies at North Carolina Central University, earned his doctor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, doctorate in neuroscience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was an Emerson Scholar at Berklee College of Music. At Yale, he completed a psychiatry residency, served as co-chief resident of the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, and earned certification in psychedelic therapy and research. He is currently an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale and director of the Center for Collective Healing at Howard University. A teacher of meditation, yoga, and music, he also co-founded organizations that fuse arts, science, and community to drive social change.Dr. AZA Allsop, MD, PhDWebsite: www.azalab.orgLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/azaallsopmdphdInstagram: www.instagram.com/azathemessengerTwitter: x.com/azaallsopDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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25
Rewriting the Past: A Veteran’s Healing Journey with Ketamine Therapy
What does it take to finally unlock healing after years of carrying trauma? In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Richard Wood, a veteran, joins us to share his moving journey with ketamine-assisted therapy for long-term depression and trauma. He discusses how the treatment served as a ‘key’ that unlocked his ability to re-envision and heal past trauma, emphasizing the power of clear intention and self-discovery.Richard Wood is a proud veteran who embarked on a powerful journey of recovery after a long-term struggle with depression and the cycling nature of his mental health. He is a testament to the transformative power of deep self-work and achieving profound healing through ketamine-assisted therapy. Richard now openly shares his experience to inspire others to approach their own recovery with courage, clear intention, and profound curiosity.Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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24
Your Body Can Heal Itself: The Truth About Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine isn’t magic—it’s biology done right. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. David Wikenheiser pulls back the curtain on regenerative medicine and explains how these therapies awaken the body’s natural repair intelligence. Tune in to hear real-world cases, simple nutrient protocols that reignite energy, and why supporting the microbiome may matter more than chasing the latest treatment trend.Dr. David Wikenheiser is a naturopathic physician specializing in natural and regenerative medicine. His practice integrates advanced therapies such as platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy with ultrasound guidance, and ozone therapy. He also offers low-dose immunotherapy for autoimmune conditions, personalized brain nutrition plans, and comprehensive general health programs. With decades of clinical experience, he helps patients reactivate their body’s natural ability to heal—safely, precisely, and sustainably.Dr. David Wikenheiser, NDWebsite: www.drwik.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidwikenheiserDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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23
Physician Burnout and Coaching
Burnout almost ended his career—here’s what brought him back. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Joe Sherman, a physician coach, opens up about hitting burnout—and the simple shifts that brought him back to a sustainable career. He shares practical tools you can use now and a grounded take on psychedelic-assisted work with real-world integration.Dr. Joe Sherman is a pediatrician, coach, and consultant helping physicians and healthcare teams thrive through wellness, leadership growth, and career clarity. A master certified physician development coach and trained facilitator with the Center for Courage and Renewal, he guides individuals and groups through coaching, retreats, and workshops that foster resilience and authentic connection.With almost four decades of experience in pediatrics, he has devoted his career to caring for underserved and medically complex children in Washington, D.C., Tacoma, Seattle, Uganda, and Bolivia. He has held multiple academic roles and currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.Dr. Joe Sherman, MDWebsite: https://www.joeshermanmd.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeshermanmd/Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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22
What Saved Me: Psychedelics, Trauma, and the Long Road to Healing
At 19, Keith Kurlander faced a suicidal crisis that exposed hidden wounds and set him on a decades-long path through medication, meditation, psychotherapy, psychedelics, and integrative psychiatry. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, he shares how trauma theory, body-based healing, and ethical psychedelic use can foster growth when paired with preparation, support, and integration.Keith Kurlander is a coach and psychotherapist who helps high-performing individuals break through long-standing patterns and create deeply fulfilling lives. He specializes in guiding people struggling with mood issues like anxiety and depression, relationship challenges, financial missteps, addiction, and complex PTSD.Keith is the co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and Integrative Psychiatry Centers and co-host of the Higher Practice Podcast. Holding a master’s degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, he’s spent over a dozen years helping people integrate cutting-edge mental health practices with meaningful personal transformation. His own two-decade journey of overcoming severe mental illness fuels his mission to show what healing and thriving are truly possible.Keith Kurlander, MA, LPCWebsite: https://keithkurlander.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkurlander.ma/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keith.kurlander.1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/higherpracticeDr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamynds/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pala_medicine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palamedicine.pasadena/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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21
Invisible Wounds, Visible Healing: A Veteran’s Journey with Ketamine
The wounds were invisible. The pain was real. The healing? Unforgettable. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, we are joined by a courageous combat veteran who opens up about the invisible wounds of PTSD, the gut-punching triggers that almost broke him, and how ketamine helped turn his pain into progress. His journey is raw, real, and a reminder that healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about learning to ‘struggle well’ and reclaim life.Tim is a combat veteran who has lived through the invisible wounds of PTSD. After years of denial and coping through overdrinking, he reached a breaking point during the isolation of COVID, when helicopters and empty streets triggered overwhelming body-based reactions. His healing journey began with ketamine infusions, but it was only through a therapeutic model that he experienced lasting transformation. Tim now shares openly about his path to ‘struggling well,’ encouraging others to embrace tools, support, and daily practices that make recovery sustainable.Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDsProduced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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20
Plant Medicine as Technology: Healing Spirit, Trauma, and Society
From a spontaneous awakening at 22 to becoming a maestro médico-vegetalista in the Amazon, Maestro Hamilton Souther shares how years of dieta, ceremony, and visionary diagnosis reshaped his understanding of healing, trauma, and the spirit. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, he reframes plant medicines as a form of technology, explores their resonance with meditation, and offers grounded guidance for young healers navigating fear, rupture, and the call to serve.Maestro Hamilton Souther is a maestro médico-vegetalista trained in the Peruvian Amazon, where he apprenticed beginning in 2002 and was recognized in 2004 as the first Westerner to hold the title Maestro Medico Vegetalista under renowned healer Julio Llarena Pinedo. Over more than two decades and 15,000 client interactions, he has combined rigorous Amazonian training—dietas, hundreds of ceremonies, and visionary diagnosis—with a grounded respect for Western medicine, referring when appropriate. Through Blue Morpho Academy, he now trains sitters, facilitators, and master facilitators to work safely and ethically with plant medicines.-----Website: https://bluemorphoacademy.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueMorphoAcademy-----Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/----Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs----Produced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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19
From Cancer Survivor to Inspire Coach in Fitness and Healing
Cancer, grief, and depression became the crucible for Shakil Beg’ transformation from a self-proclaimed arrogant twenty-something to a guiding light as The Inspire Coach. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, he shares how mindset, therapy, reading, faith, love, and contribution helped him transmute trauma into purpose—and why action beats intention every time.Shakil Beg, also known as ‘The Inspire Coach,’ is an executive fitness and mindset coach, podcast host, and cancer survivor whose work blends practical health strategies with emotional, spiritual, and psychological growth. After a misdiagnosed illness at 24 and the sudden loss of his father, he rebuilt through therapy, disciplined learning, faith, and daily action—turning trauma into purpose.Today, Shakil coaches clients to shift identity from competition to contribution, prioritize empathy and love, and anchor routines in nutrition, movement, and mindset. He co-hosts the Chasing 100now podcast and shares clear, actionable content across social media to help people become a better version of themselves than yesterday.-----Connect with Shakil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinspirecoach/, https://www.instagram.com/chasing100now/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theinspirecoach, https://www.tiktok.com/@chasing100nowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chasing100nowLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theinspirecoachAmazon Recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theinspirecoach-----Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/----Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/----Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs----Produced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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Menopause, Mood, and the Microbiome: What Every Woman Needs to Know
Menopause is more than hormones—and healing starts at the root. In this episode of Too Curious MDs, Dr. Julia Ward shares how she is helping women navigate menopause through root-cause evaluation. She explains how bioidentical hormones, gut repair, mental health support, and everyday toxin reduction work together to ease symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, sleep disruption, hot flashes, and weight changes.Dr. Julia Ward is a board-certified physician with over a decade of expertise in functional medicine and a background in urgent and emergency care through her distinguished service in the United States Navy. After earning her medical degree from the University of Southern California and completing an internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology, she practiced general and emergency medicine in California and Okinawa, Japan.Her own struggles with overwhelming fatigue led her to functional medicine, where she found answers conventional care could not provide. In 2016, she completed a fellowship with the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine (A4M) and has since dedicated her career to a root-cause, holistic approach. Today, she empowers patients through bioidentical hormone therapy, gut repair, lifestyle strategies, and toxin reduction—always with the goal of supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.Julia Ward, MDWebsite: https://drjuliaward.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjuliaward/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-ward-md-55b7672a/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.juliaward6691-----Dr. Alya Ahmad, MD, FAAPLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alya-ahmad-md-0601b190/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drblogger123/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamyndsWebsite: https://shamynds.com/----Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, MD, FAAPWebsite: https://palamedicine.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-rahman-palamedicine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suraiya.rahman.md/----Too Curious MDsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocuriousmds?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooCuriousMDs----Produced by DrTalks: https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Curiosity fuels discovery, and in medicine, it’s the key to transformation. Too Curious MDs explores the frontiers of healing through narrative medicine, integrative therapies, psychedelics, and patient-centered care. Hosted by Dr. Alya Ahmad and Dr. Suraiya Simi Rahman, this podcast challenges the boundaries of traditional medicine, uncovering the untold stories, ethical dilemmas, and groundbreaking research shaping the future of healthcare.Join the journey—because medicine is more than science; it’s a story.
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Too Curious MDs
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