White Coat Black Sheep

Intro Terri Agcaoili is a healthcare marketing strategist born and raised in Kern County, working across cardiology, neurology, and OBGYN to build the practices and brands of some of the valley's most mission-driven physicians. She also just launched Fitology, a full-service wellness center in Pensacola, Florida, got engaged on a beach at sunset with a funky band playing, and somehow still had time to show up early with a sandwich in her purse. She's exactly the kind of energy this show was built for.Topics CoveredPersonal branding in a community where your name IS your reputationHealthcare marketing: what it means to build someone else's vision when you're aligned with itCollagen types 1 through 5, why chicken beats beef for type 2, and what chicken sternum, crest, and feet actually doGLP-1 medications: Tirzepatide vs. Retatrutide, accessibility, micro-dosing, and the inflammation angleChicory root in your coffee — it might not be for everyoneHiring with intention: building a team of hand-selected people, not people with a pulseFaith, alignment, and turning down money when your values aren't in lineThe "coming in hot" text and why respecting time is a form of loveSocial media and the danger of getting health information from influencersPeople and Things MentionedTerri Agcaoili — @agcaoili on InstagramFitology Wellness Center, Pensacola FL — fitologylife.comDr. Sandhu, California Cardiovascular InstituteTirzepatide (GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist, brand name Mounjaro / Zepbound)Retatrutide (GLP-1 / GIP / glucagon triple receptor agonist, in development)Collagen types 1 through 5Chicory root — common coffee alternative, in many products, not tolerated by everyoneConnect Terri Agcaoili — @terriagcaoili | [email protected] | (661) 205-4079Dr. Valerie Civelli — trifectamedical.org Trifecta Medical — 7702 Meany Ave #101, Bakersfield CA 93308 | (661) 677-2623 | [email protected] Services: HRT, Peptides, Health Optimization, Botox, IV Hydration, Functional Medicine, Dermatology, Aesthetics, Regenerative Medicine, Hair Loss Treatments, Psychiatry, Clinical Trials Guest intake: https://forms.clickup.com/9017720434/f/8cqyzkj-7997/PAKUAT3ISINQJZFNDQ

Intro Ten weeks into the podcast, Dr. Civelli and Justin take stock — what the show is doing, why it matters, and where it's headed. Then they get into it: a full listener mailbag with no softballs.Topics CoveredSnoring and sleep as the foundation of every health problemTestosterone: why total T vs. free T matters, and what 310 actually meansGLP-1s and Ozempic: the real concern isn't addiction — it's what happens when skinny becomes the goal at any costAntidepressants: how to taper off safely, and why methylene blue is worth looking atRecognizing depression in men who don't think they're depressedInflammation markers: what "eat better" actually means and what doctors missFunctional medicine explained: root cause vs. Band-Aid, and the chess game of complex healthStress and the mom who does everything right but still feels offSleep tracking tools: wearables, rings, bedside apps, and vagal nerve stimulatorsFitology Medical in Pensacola — how a Facebook poke accidentally started a wellness centerMentionedViome (customized toothpaste + microbiome supplements)BioCell collagenLion's mane, ashwagandha, chaga, L-theanine, BCAAsVivix antioxidantNMN (NAD precursor)Methylene blue / BPC-157Creatine (10mg/day split)Oura Ring / WhoopCPAP, mouth tape, jaw repositioning devicesVagal nerve stimulator (Q Collar adjacent)Retatrutide / Tirzepatide (GLP-1s)Quest Diagnostics (cash-based lab orders via Dr. Civelli's Instagram)ConnectInstagram: @drcivelliTrifecta Medical: trifectamedical.org | (661) 677-2623New patients: [email protected] inquiries / questions: [email protected]

About the Guest Jinal Patel is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Adventist Health's Chester location, where she practices in an internal medicine clinic with a growing focus on functional and integrative medicine. Originally from India and raised in Canada, Jinal earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies before relocating to Florida, where she completed her BSN and Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner while working as an ICU nurse in Orlando. Now based in Bakersfield, she provides holistic, longevity-focused care emphasizing nutrition, lifestyle, and mental wellness — treating everything from diabetes and hypertension to women's health and thyroid disorders. She is fluent in English, Gujarati, and Hindi, and is currently accepting new patients.Intro Dr. Civelli sits down with Jinal for a conversation that goes exactly where you'd hope two clinicians obsessed with functional medicine would take it — deep into the gut, the genome, and the gap between what conventional medicine offers and what patients actually need.Topics Covered Functional medicine and how the field has evolved over the past 20 years. Cycle syncing and how menstrual phases should inform workout intensity, intermittent fasting, and nutrition. The Oura Ring and heart rate variability as stress indicators. The beta-glucuronidase gene, estrogen dominance, and implications for hormone replacement therapy. Gut microbiome testing and DNA sequencing as tools for personalized treatment. Glucose monitoring and how eating order at meals affects A1C. The connection between work culture, community, and long-term health. Why the basics — sleep, diet, movement, social connection — have to come before supplements or peptides can make a meaningful difference.Mentioned Oura Ring, Glucose Goddess, Viome gut microbiome test, DNA Collect, CGM (continuous glucose monitor), functional medicine conference in Las Vegas, MTHFR gene, beta-glucuronidase enzyme, GLP-1s, NAC, glutathione, blue zonesConnect Trifecta Medical — trifectamedical.org | (661) 677-2623Jinal Patel — Adventist Health Chester | https://doctors.adventisthealth.org/provider/jinal-patel/3095648IG @np.jinalWant to be a guest on White Coat Black Sheep? We're always looking for clinicians, researchers, and health professionals who are ready to challenge the status quo. Email [email protected] to start the conversation.

About This EpisodeDr. Hugh Beatty has spent over four decades in medicine, including 25 years in anesthesiology and pain management before pivoting to functional medicine in 2013. Today he runs a thriving private practice in Bakersfield, CA, treating complex chronic conditions that traditional medicine often can't solve. In this conversation, Dr. Beatty and Dr. Civelli explore the philosophy, science, and patient stories behind functional medicine's growing impact.Topics CoveredPhysician burnout: Dr. Beatty's decision to step away from anesthesiology and the two years that reset his careerFunctional vs. traditional medicine: the diagnostic mindset shift from "what" to "why"Collaborative care: why functional medicine works best alongside specialists, not against themOzone therapy (MAH IV): mechanism, safety, and case studies including prostate cancer radiation damageThe Otto Warburg hypothesis: oxygen deprivation, inflammation, and diseaseNeuropathy, Bell's palsy, and chronic pain resolved with ozone injectionsMitochondrial health and NAD as the "money of the cell"Residency culture: 36-hour shifts, hazing, and what hasn't changedThe med school application grind: 2.6% acceptance rate and the $30K residency match processCold plunge, red light therapy, and blood flow as the foundation of healingWhy functional medicine patients and doctors tend to look healthierMentioned in This EpisodeOtto Warburg and the Nobel Prize theory on oxygen and cancerAmen Clinic (brain health and Alzheimer's support)GainsWave / shockwave therapyMAH IV ozone (major autohemotherapy)"Don't Let Your Doctor Kill You" (book referenced by Dr. Beatty)Jules Stein Eye Institute, Harbor-UCLA, Howard UniversityConnectDr. Hugh Beatty: https://www.hughbeatty.com/Dr. Valerie Civelli | Trifecta Medical: trifectamedical.org | 7702 Meany Ave #101, Bakersfield CA | (661) 677-2623White Coat Black Sheep: listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

In This EpisodeDr. Civelli sits down with Tim Pace — physician assistant, 20-plus year clinical veteran in orthopedic surgery, and doctoral candidate in lifestyle medicine graduating in 2027. What starts as a catch-up between colleagues turns into a deep, honest conversation about stress, burnout, the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, and why the people most qualified to give health advice are often the last ones following it.Topics CoveredWhat Is Lifestyle Medicine? Lifestyle medicine is built on six pillars: adequate nutrition, avoiding risky substances, restorative sleep, physical activity, stress management, and social connectedness. Tim's two favorites — stress management and social connection — are also the two most overlooked. The field goes far deeper than it sounds, because the problem isn't that people don't know what to do. It's that they don't do it.The Lifestyle Medicine Assessment When Tim completed the long-form intake questionnaire for his own program, he discovered he scored off the charts on anxiety — something he'd never considered a diagnosis. That moment of stopping, reading, and looking inward changed how he thinks about both himself and his patients. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine holds providers to living the lifestyle themselves, which Tim calls one of the most therapeutic parts of his doctorate.Box Breathing — The One-Minute Reset Box breathing is simple: inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four — and repeat while visualizing a box in your mind. The benefits are measurable: increased oxygen, decreased blood pressure, reduced cortisol and adrenaline, activated prefrontal cortex for clearer decision-making, and a calmed amygdala — your brain's fear center. You can do it at a red light, between patients, or the moment you feel yourself flooding with stress.Your Brain Can't Tell Real From Imagined When you run a stressful scenario in your head — even one that never happens — your body responds with the same chemical cascade as if it were real. Cortisol spikes, adrenaline surges, oxidative stress builds. The amygdala fires whether the threat is real or imagined. The good news is the reverse is also true: calm the thought, calm the chemistry.Medical Provider Burnout Tim and Dr. Civelli get candid about the reality of provider burnout — chugging Mountain Dews, smashing Red Bulls, eating Snicker bars at 3am between surgeries, going home with amniotic fluid on your neck. Medical training is entirely patient-focused, and providers are expected to just be okay. Burnout rates are skyrocketing alongside documentation demands, EMR systems, social media, and post-COVID anxiety. You cannot pour from an empty cup.Nutrition — Whole Food Plant-Based The evidence overwhelmingly points toward whole food plant-based eating. Not vegetarian, not giving up meat entirely — just making plants the foundation. Tim reversed his chronically elevated triglycerides and cholesterol by shifting away from meat at every meal. His weekly routine is simple: random vegetables from Trader Joe's, protein beef broth, bullet it, done. Lentils, soy, beans — protein is not a problem.Sleep, Distraction, and the Art of Recentering Both Tim and Dr. Civelli admit to the middle-of-the-night spiral — waking up, brain firing, anxiety about not sleeping compounding into anger. Tim's trick is listening to something without a storyline, like David Attenborough narrating animal facts. The key is redirecting focus away from the stressor before the amygdala takes over. Meditation is the cleanest solution, but it takes practice — real, ongoing practice, like any skill.Social Connection as Medicine Isolation is one of the most underestimated health threats. When people are stressed, they isolate. But social connection drives oxytocin, reduces cortisol, and is a documented protective factor against chronic disease. It doesn't require a big social life — wave at your neighbor, find a community around something you love, try Meetup or Bumble BFF. Small moves count.Reading Research Without Bias Tim and Dr. Civelli discuss the responsibility that comes with a platform — how easy it is to take a study, spin a narrative, and present it as truth. The goal for this show is always to create conversation, not confirm bias. Look it up yourself. If they're wrong, they want to know.Mentioned in This EpisodeThe six pillars of lifestyle medicineAmerican College of Lifestyle MedicineFITT prescriptions (frequency, intensity, time, type)Stages of change / pre-contemplation modelBox breathing techniqueAmygdala and prefrontal cortexCortisol, GABA, adrenaline, noradrenalineOxytocin and pet bonding researchCalm app / bedtime storiesDavid Attenborough sleep listeningGame Changers documentaryWhole food plant-based nutritionBumble BFF / Meetup for social connectionMedical provider burnout statisticsResearch bias and media spinConnect with Tim Pace t.paceoflifeConnect with Dr. Civelli 🌐 trifectamedical.org 📍 7702 Meany Ave #101, Bakersfield, CA 93308 📞 (661) 677-2623 📧 [email protected] Coat Black Sheep — where science gets curious and dogma gets uncomfortable.

In This EpisodeDr. Civelli sits down with Jerry Teixeira — founder of Bodyweight Strength, Marine Corps veteran, competitive jiu-jitsu athlete, and coach helping busy professionals over 40 build real strength at home with no gym required. What starts as a conversation about fitness habits turns into a masterclass on training efficiency, aging, and why most people are doing far more work than they need to.Topics CoveredFrom the Marine Corps to Bodyweight Strength Jerry never considered himself an athlete growing up on his grandparents' dairy in McFarland. He left for the Marines at 18, and the daily morning PT habit just stuck. Years later, inspired by watching gymnasts train his daughter at practice, he realized bodyweight training could deliver the same results as the gym — and built his entire business around that insight.The 80% Rule Your first set delivers about 55% of your possible gains. Sets two and three get you to roughly 80% of the total. Every set after that is chasing the last 20% at the cost of doubling your time. For most people, two to three hard sets per exercise is all they need.The Velocity Method — How to Know You're Actually Building Muscle Instead of counting arbitrary reps, Jerry teaches clients to track movement velocity. When you have to push harder to maintain the same pace, that's when muscle building begins. Push a few more reps from there — not to complete failure, but close.Reps, Ranges, and Bone Density High reps and low reps both build muscle as long as you get close to failure. But lower rep ranges of five to eight are better for strength and bone density. One heavy set per exercise is enough to stimulate bone, with the rest of your sets at higher reps if you prefer.Aging Is the Loss of Fitness Muscle loss begins in your 30s at around 5% per decade, accelerating through your 50s and 60s. Strength and power go first — even NFL players lose explosive capacity before they lose muscle size. But the research is clear: you can reverse it at any age. A 70-year-old client of Jerry's was curling 30-pound dumbbells within weeks and had visible muscle definition that made him question whether her numbers were even real.The Metabolism Myth Your metabolism doesn't slow down in your 30s and 40s. Research shows it stays stable from your early 20s all the way to your 60s. The decline after 60 may actually be driven by muscle loss — which means building muscle is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect your metabolic rate long-term.Non-Linear Aging — The Mid-40s Acceleration A recent study found that aging doesn't happen in a straight line. There are two windows where certain organ systems accelerate: the mid-40s and the mid-60s. People who get proactive before those windows hit build a biological reserve that slows the process down.Exercise Snacks and Micro Workouts The total weekly volume of work is what your body responds to — not how it's spread across time. A 45-minute dedicated workout and the same exercises broken into micro sessions throughout the day produce the same results. Jerry literally works out between cooking dinner, stepping into his garage gym between stirs.The Mindset of an Outlier Jerry started jiu-jitsu at 44 and competed at 45 against guys 20 years younger. He talks about why he eventually decided to share his story publicly — not to show off, but because someone in his demographic needed to see that it was still possible.Mentioned in This EpisodeArnold Schwarzenegger's Guide to Modern BodybuildingBodyweight Strength methodMaximum recoverable volumeReps in reserve conceptVelocity-based trainingFast-twitch vs. slow-twitch muscle fibersSarcopenia and muscle loss with agingNon-linear aging study (mid-40s and mid-60s acceleration)Metabolism stability researchOura Ring and sleep trackingDeep sleep and light disciplinePlacebo effect and mindset researchGymnastics as a bodyweight strength modelExercise snacks and micro workoutsConnect with Jerry Teixeira Website: bodyweightstrength.fit YouTube: Jerry TeixeiraConnect with Dr. Civelli https://trifectamedical.org/White Coat Black Sheep — where science gets curious and dogma gets uncomfortable.

Dr. Civelli sits down with Kristin Saban — real estate agent, insurance specialist, mom of two, and peptide enthusiast — for a candid conversation about managing health, hormones, and hustle in the middle of real life.From morning routines and the four burner method to retatrutide, cold plunging, and life insurance that pays out while you're still alive, this episode is equal parts practical and personal.The Four Burner Method Kristin shares a framework she discovered that changed how she thinks about balance — health, wealth, family, and friends. The idea is simple: not all four can run at full capacity at the same time. Something has to turn down so nothing burns out.Morning Routines & Real Consistency Kristin breaks down her 5:30am routine — Bible study, 20-30 minute workouts, Peloton, running, sauna, and cold plunging in the pool. The conversation gets honest about internal resistance, sleep quality, and what actually makes showing up easier.Peptides & Retatrutide Dr. Civelli and Kristin dig into retatrutide — what makes it different from semaglutide and tirzepatide, why it's more activating than depleting, and how it helped Kristin lose 90 pounds post-pregnancy and clear inflammation tied to Hashimoto's.Cold Plunge & Mitochondrial Health Kristin cold plunged throughout her second pregnancy. Dr. Civelli explains why the ability to tolerate extreme cold is actually a marker of mitochondrial health — and what overdoing it can do to your adrenal system.NAD, NMN & Supplements Dr. Civelli breaks down the difference between NAD and its precursor NMN, why NAD dose matters more than people realize, and how she tracks mitochondrial health through labs every three months. Also covered: Vitamin D3 paired with K2 and why that combination matters for calcium and bone health.Selank & Semax Nasal Sprays Kristin shares her experience with cognitive-enhancing nasal sprays for winding down at night — and yes, the taste is rough, but the calm is worth it.Microbiome Testing & Food Sensitivities Kristin reflects on her microbiome test results and how discovering that bell peppers were triggering inflammation changed her meal prep entirely.Alcohol & Inflammation An honest conversation about what alcohol actually does to the body, the liver's bandwidth during illness, and how quality of life factors into every medical decision — including whether to take brownies away from a grandma with dementia.Life Insurance with Living Benefits Kristin introduces the concept of living benefit riders — life insurance policies you can cash in on before death if diagnosed with a critical, chronic, or fatal illness. She shares a real story of a couple who used their policy to access $900,000 for specialty cancer treatment outside their network. He's alive today.

In this episode of White Coat Black Sheep, Dr. Civelli sits down with personal trainer David Watkins aka S.I.L.A.S. Black for an honest conversation about grind culture, recovery, and the peptide everyone in fitness is talking about. David opens up about the work ethic instilled by the women who raised him, the physical toll of never slowing down, and how his coaching philosophy goes far beyond the gym. Dr. Civelli then breaks down BPC-157 — what the research actually shows, where the FDA stands, and how it works at the cellular level to reduce inflammation and accelerate healing.Real conversation. Real science. No fluff.For educational purposes only. Consult your provider before use.

Dr Civelli sits down with addiction medicine specialist Dr Matt Bear to discuss harm reduction, opioid policy, functional medicine, and why patient-centered care may be the most powerful tool in modern medicine.Episode DescriptionIn Episode 5 of White Coat Black Sheep, Dr Civelli and Dr Matt Bear explore addiction medicine, burnout, harm reduction, and the evolving philosophy of patient-centered care.They discuss how addiction is a complex neurobiological disease, why moral narratives fail patients, and how harm reduction strategies save lives.The conversation expands into opioid prescribing, chronic pain, hyperalgesia, and the unintended consequences of regulatory fear. They also examine functional medicine, sleep optimization, inflammation, Alzheimer risk, and the future of longevity care.This episode blends science, real-world practice, and honest reflection about where medicine needs to evolve.

Dr Civelli sits down with Lord Elliot, owner of NAS Power Gym, to talk about fear, identity, discipline, vulnerability, and reversing the trajectory of type 2 diabetes through consistent lifestyle change.In Episode 4 of White Coat Black Sheep, Dr Civelli and Lord Elliot explore the psychology behind ambition and the hidden trigger word enough.Lord shares how early discipline in powerlifting shaped his identity, how emotional avoidance led to unhealthy patterns with food, and how a diabetes diagnosis forced a complete reset.They discuss:• The power of accountability• Why community matters more than branding• Emotional maturity and vulnerability• The physiology of blood sugar swings• Rebuilding health one disciplined day at a timeThis episode blends mindset, physiology, and lived experience in a way that challenges both comfort and complacency.

White Coat Black Sheep with Dr CivelliIn this episode Dr Civelli sits down with Jose Gonzalez to talk about the long path from grinding to wholenessThey unpack why health is not just labs or workouts and why living longer starts with living slowerFrom burnout to recovery and from pain to purpose they cover• The pillars of wholeness spiritual mental emotional physical• Why the grind mindset feels productive but creates damage over time• How reflection and intentional rest improve focus and longevity• Why medication can have a place but can’t replace root work• The difference between learning through pain and learning through wisdom• Why mentorship and humility are rare and powerful• How purpose changes the way you train work and leadIf you’ve ever built your life on overdrive and wondered why it still feels heavy this episode will landSubscribe for weekly conversations where science gets curious and dogma gets uncomfortableDisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not provide personal medical advice Always consult your healthcare provider for individual care

White Coat Black Sheep with Dr CivelliIn this episode, Dr Civelli breaks down why you can sleep eight hours and still wake up exhausted.If you are not dreaming, waking up multiple times a night, or living in light sleep without realizing it, this conversation will change how you think about recovery.From circadian rhythm to cortisol physiology, we unpack:• Deep sleep vs REM and why dreaming matters• Why checking your phone at night resets melatonin• The difference between light sleep and restorative sleep• Snoring, oxygen drops, and hidden sleep apnea• When to use wearables vs formal sleep studies• How stress and cortisol timing affect sleep quality• Why no heavy conversations after 5 pm can protect recoveryThis episode is for clinicians, entrepreneurs, parents, and high performers who feel tired despite doing “everything right.”If you’ve ever thought,There has to be a better way to do this.You’re in the right place.Subscribe to White Coat Black Sheep for weekly conversations where science gets curious and dogma gets uncomfortable.DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not provide personal medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for individual care.

Welcome to White Coat Black Sheep — where science gets curious and dogma gets uncomfortable. In this episode, Dr. Civelli and Nurse Sarah unpack what it actually means to practice “real world medicine” when patients, lab reports, and guidelines don’t fit neatly into a checkbox.They talk about why reference ranges can mislead, how clinicians decide what’s urgent vs. noise, and the difference between “normal” and optimal. Along the way: a story from the gym that turns into a serious safety lesson, why people misunderstand medications as “only for one thing,” and a candid conversation about hormone therapy myths that have shaped an entire generation’s decisions.In This EpisodeThe origin of White Coat Black Sheep and what the show is here to questionWhy Dr. Civelli calls herself a “hybrid” physician (and why that matters)Hospital lab priorities vs. optimization medicine: what gets missed“Don’t send the babies to war”: understanding bands and what they can signalWhy people panic at bolded lab values—and what’s often actually relevantInjection safety basics (and a serious warning about the inner-thigh/groin “triangle”)“You don’t ‘used to’ have a heart condition”: risk, denial, and the danger of ignoring dataHow medications get pigeonholed—and why side effects are sometimes the pointHormone therapy fear, the culture that spread it, and what patients are hearing nowTopical vs oral vs injection delivery: why the route changes the physiologyDr. Civelli’s philosophy: if you’re going to push limits, you don’t get to skip the data