Rawfork Podcast

With more health experts than ever, we have more complexity and confusion about what it actually takes to be healthy in 2025. My podcast guest today helps to dispel myths and mysteries by using data to examine bio-individuality in real time. We talk about using smartwatches, smart rings and other wearables to track stress levels through observing Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - and how this can help your health goals. Dr. Torkil Færø is a GP and emergency physician, documentary filmmaker, author and photographer. Over a 26-year career as a freelance doctor, he has worked all over Norway, had hundred thousand consultations and thus gained a unique picture of the diseases that plague us. He learned that the cause is most often found in the stresses our lifestyles place on our bodies. When Torkil’s father died at 73, he realized that he had to change his own lifestyle. Being 40 pounds overweight, under-trained, over-stressed, under-slept and drinking alcohol daily, he learned that this lifestyle could deprive

Being a pharmacist is exciting–as long as you're willing to try new things. These are wise words from my returning guest on today’s podcast, who has been paving the way for integrative pharmacy. Dr. Swathi Varanasi is an award-winning pharmacist passionate about the intersection of personalized medicine, patient outcomes, and innovation. With experience spanning patient care, biotech, research, academia, and consumer product goods, Dr. Swathi has paved the way for healthcare professionals to pursue non-traditional career paths through creating postdoctoral training programs, industry internships, and online educational programs. She co-founded and serves as Chief Scientific Officer of the Life Sciences Division at Element Apothec, and serves as a Principal Investigator at contract research organization, Citruslabs. Dr. Swathi received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the Medical University of South Carolina and Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Carleton College. She was the first-ever pharmacist in the United Sta

I’m beyond grateful to be doing the work that I do and meet the amazing individuals that I do on my podcast. Today I got a surprise bonus gift from my guest in the form of a mini-healing session with her after we recorded the podcast episode. Her mission is to help as many individuals as possible come out of struggle and suffering without having to use willpower, and I got to experience this transformative work first hand. Judy Lynn Koons, author of SpellBound No More, empowers individuals to break free from the burdens that hold them back, helping them embrace their true selves with passion and peace. Through her work, she guides others in shedding accumulated struggles, creating space for authenticity to emerge. She believes that only we can undo our own "spellbinding," and she is dedicated to supporting those ready to step into their full potential. Judy has been supporting individuals in coming back to true health mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually for decades. You’ll find her using the F

I’m back this week after a whirlwind weekend of attending the 2025 Integrative Healthcare Symposium and getting over some bouts of sickness in my household. Today’s guest is a true master of systematic approaches to tackling health challenges - you don’t want to miss this one! Reed Davis, Double-Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and Certified Nutritional Therapist (CNT), is a globally recognized expert in functional lab testing and holistic lifestyle medicine. As the visionary founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN), Reed has pioneered the FDN Certification Course, which has empowered over 4,000 practitioners across 50 countries to take charge of their clients' health. With more than a decade of experience as Health Director at a Southern California wellness center, Reed has personally guided over 10,000 clients to optimal wellness, making him one of the most sought-after clinicians in his field. His motto is to be the “last health practitioner” anyone has to see to get to the caus

Welcome back to Season 8 of the Holistic Pharmacy Podcast! With this opening episode, my guest and I discuss a very controversial topic that doesn’t have a great solution in the medical field. Tune in to learn why the power of touch and Reflexology is important in relieving physical, mental and emotional pain as a medication and addiction free alternative without side effects. Dr. Njideka N. Olatunde, is a visionary and creative energy behind Focus On Healing Wellness Institute, she is an accomplished Naturopath and a leading authority on the cultural integration of traditional health practices with conventional medicine for mind, body and emotional wellness. She is an author, acclaimed speaker, Podcast Host, Master Reflexologist, Pain Relief Educator and consultant who has helped thousands of chronic pain sufferers relieve pain first with addiction and medication-free pain relief treatment, using the power of touch and Reflexology, as an alternative in addressing the opioid epidemic. Connect with Njideka v

I’m closing out the season with another wonderful and inspiring guest who shares her quest for health that led her to look at herself from a lens of love and starting from the basics. Kortney Leany, born near the picturesque Rocky Mountains of Colorado, grew up as the middle child in a loving family. Her journey of self-discovery began early, balancing parental expectations with her desire to forge her own path. Despite a small frame and an awkward growth spurt in high school, Kortney found her passion in weightlifting in 2012. Competing in four fitness competitions, she marveled at the body’s adaptability but also faced the harsh realities of strict diets, leading to health issues like anxiety and extreme fatigue. Driven by her experiences, Kortney delved into gut health, sharing her struggles on social media and connecting with many who faced similar challenges. Her quest for natural healing led her back to basics: grounding, sunshine, and whole foods. Now, as a mother of two, she is dedicated to educatin

I hope everyone is enjoying the unseasonable warm weather of November (though it makes me double down in my own awareness and efforts for a sustainable climate positive future). Today I had the best time recording this episode with a colleague I’ve known from the holistic pharmacy field for quite some time and we chat about taking control of your health, and living your healthiest, happiest life possible. I’m thrilled to introduce Rene Jahnke —a pharmacist-turned-holistic practitioner with a powerful story of taking control of her health and transforming her life. After working as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager for 26 years, she realized that putting everyone else’s needs first had taken a toll on her own mental and physical health. That wake-up call led her to pursue her passion for holistic health, training through various courses, and ultimately earning her Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner Certification in September 2023. Today, she not only works as the Course Administrator at FDN, suppor

Hey everyone, I hope you all have been enjoying the fall weather and the start of the fall holidays. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome a guest who brings a unique and empowering perspective to health and wellness. A self-proclaimed ‘rebel’ in the wellness space, her goal is to inspire us all to become our own health advocates. Jen Yundt Coles is an AFMC Certified Functional & Integrative Medicine Health Coach and a Certified Acupressure Practitioner. She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve optimal wellness by promoting positive food and lifestyle changes. With over a decade on her own healing journey, Jen has personally faced gluten intolerance, intense abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, SIBO, Candida, and chronic stress. Her experiences have given her a deep sense of empathy and expertise, making her especially adept at helping creatives and high-achievers improve digestive health and manage the mood imbalances that often come with it. As both a former patient and a health coach, Jen truly understands the i

David strives to raise awareness about health and environmental dangers and proposes valuable alternatives and affordable substitutes to ensure families can keep their loved ones safe from these harmful substances. He delves into how everyone can turn shopping choices into personal activism and push politicians toward passing tough laws that demand public disclosure of carcinogens and reproductive toxins and impose stiff civil penalties for violations. David is the best-selling author of Raising Healthy Kids: How to Protect Your Children from the Hidden Chemical Toxins in Our Everyday Lives, and he is also the chief officer of the nation's most active consumer rights nonprofit, the Healthy Living Foundation, which has won court cases against big brands such as Herbal Essences, Pantene, Patagonia, Johnson's, and others. David strives to raise awareness about environmental dangers and proposes valuable alternatives and affordable substitutes to ensure families can keep their loved ones safe from these harmful

Today’s guest takes a holistic approach to healing body, mind and soul through an unconventional journey with plant medicine. Whether or not you come from a health background, tune in to learn how improved wellbeing is possible with the safe use of psychedelics Neil Markey is the co-founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, the world’s only psychedelics retreat program backed by 25 years of scientific research and an ecosystem of expertise that honors global wisdom traditions. A former Captain in the US Army Special Operations 2nd Ranger Battalion, Neil served in Iraq and Afghanistan before studying at Columbia University, where he struggled with depression and PTSD. This led him to explore mindfulness and psychedelics as part of his healing journey. Prior to Beckley, he was Chief Growth Officer for a $450M private equity portfolio company and a consultant at McKinsey & Co. Neil believes in the synergy between science and spirituality. Connect with Neil via: Email: neil@beckleyretreats.com Website: http://ww

I had so much fun and learned a lot about PEMF from Tim Daniels on today’s episode! His mission is to help people live physically enjoyable lives well into their golden years. As a Wellness Plan Manager, Tim is dedicated to helping individuals live better, healthier lives and thrive physically well into their golden years. He customizes wellness plans to each person's unique needs that include but not limited to non-pharmaceutical pain management, stress mastering, age adjusted exercise, quality sleep, mental well-being, nutrition, social activities, PEMF Therapy (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field) a healthy home. His diverse background in collegiate wrestling, Chinese internal martial arts, strength training, operating as corporate executive in demanding situations, and running an in-home care agency for over 7.5 years equips him to craft effective wellness strategies. Tim partners with health and wellness providers to enhance client outcomes while increasing profitability. He offers scientifically-sound, FD

I can’t believe summer is coming to a close very soon, and my son has already started school. However I am also looking forward to having a more structured and organized schedule after an eventful and busy summer season. And I have a treat for you for the Labor Day weekend with my latest podcast guest, with whom I share a strong hope for health and healing with structure, education, practical tools, and lots of grace. Kathleen Klug is a 40-year veteran in the Health & Wellness profession, and currently serves as an (IIN) Holistic Health Coach, a Health Educator at Kaiser Permanente, and a Speaker. She is the creator of the START with ONE eCourse, and author of the book, START with ONE - A Simple Approach to Upgrade your Health - Body, Mind, and Spirit. On these platforms, she inspires, informs, motivates, and walks alongside people on their journey to revitalizing their health and wholeness. Learning new behaviors can be complicated, as it's so often that one has practiced unhealthy behaviors for decades.

Hey everyone, I hope you have been enjoying the summer! I just took a week off from technology (well as much as one can nowadays) and immersed myself in nature so I’m feeling recharged. And I can’t wait to introduce my next guest, who completely changed the way I look at acne and skin health. Join me as I interview Yug Varma, PhD, the Cofounder & CTO of Phyla, the world’s most advanced probiotic acne system. He has 10+ years of microbiome research experience including an extensive background in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, and synthetic biology. Dr. Varma received his scientific training at several distinguished academic institutions, including Johns Hopkins University (PhD) and University of California, San Francisco. His scientific work has been published in many prestigious journals, including Nature. Dr. Varma’s mission is to change the way we treat chronic bacterial diseases, and is working tirelessly to achieve this goal with a microbiome-based technology platform. He is passionate about promo

I firmly believe that holistic lifestyle medicine is the way to better overall health outcomes and it can be an easy addition to your existing practice. So I recently had a Masterclass with today’s podcast guest covering the 5 Critical Daily Business Activities For Massive Impact And Growth In 2024 - and she is sharing some of these tips on today’s episode! Laura Baum is a holistic business coach who helps health service-based providers, who work on their feet many hours a week, shift into new types of product offerings that don't require as much energy or time out of them, but still adds impact, value and money to their bottom lines. She also helps these providers step into new leadership roles to strengthen their industries. Laura is the creator of Everyday Holistic, a health coaching model that makes herbalism and holistic lifestyle tools very easy for health service-based practitioners' patients/ clients to implement without many hours-of-service fulfillment required by them. This creates a sustainable

I’m back this week with another fascinating conversation about the foundation of health. You guessed it, we are diving deep into the gut again today! I’m joined by a fiercely passionate and intelligent woman who is innovating healthcare by combining technology and integrative screening tools with accessibility. Linta Mustafa's mission with Vitract is to make a significant impact on patient experience and quality of care by making gut microbiome health less elusive and far more accessible. As the CEO and co-founder of Vitract, a next-generation microbiome test, Linta leverages her MSc in medical science with a specialization in genetics. Before founding Vitract, she spent several years in banking and building another company that utilized proteomics to understand longevity. Connect with Linta via: Email: linta@vitract.com Website: Vitract.com IG: @lintaaaa_, @vitractofficial Linked In: Linta Mustafa Linta has generously offered a discount for your first test with Vitract for podcast listeners with the co

Hi dear listeners, I cannot wait to share this next episode with you so you can meet today’s guest. Her vision is to remove 100,000 leaders from the hustle culture to create meaningful impact and authentic abundance with more peace, ease, and flow, in alignment with their true authentic selves. Tammy Cho is a former registered nurse turned international best-selling author, Body Whisperer, and Chief Energy Officer of Path To The Heart. Having served in healthcare, and in the psycho-spiritual industry for over 20 years, Tammy blends a proven face and body analysis system, neuroscience, NLP, energy alchemy, and metaphysical laws to help high-achieving entrepreneurs and leaders uncover subconscious challenges and dissolve patterns at the mental, physical, and emotional and energetic levels to step into their authentic self-leadership. As a burnout survivor, Tammy is passionate about helping clients reach their full potential without sacrificing themselves. Path To The Heart’s Mission is to create a more loving

Welcome back to the show everyone! Summer swept in swiftly and it’s already scorching here in NYC. Summer Solstice has just passed, which marks the halfway point between summer and winter. Lots of people are caught up in events and celebrations, graduations, etc. With that said, I’m here with a guest that is not only able to survive as a busy mom, professional, and entrepreneur - but has found a way to balance it all and thrive. She hopes to inspire listeners, help them honor their true desires, and provide some practical advice. Dr. Sarah Townley, PharmD, BCACP, offers one-to-one coaching for those who want to reverse type 2 diabetes and get off their diabetes medications by addressing the root cause of this disease. As a certified life coach and board-certified clinical pharmacist with years of experience doing this work, she can address just about any physical or mental obstacle to creating a lifetime of peace and freedom from diabetes. She lives in Billings, Montana with her husband and 7 children. Conn

The age-old Hippocratic saying that all disease begins in the gut is proven time and time again in practice. It is one of the greatest legacies that he bestowed upon the medical field, along with the Hippocratic oath to “do no harm.” So today, my guest and I will explore how the gut can have a hand in every disease state, and also can be a therapeutic target to promote health. Dr. Inna Melamed is a Doctor of Pharmacy, a functional medicine practitioner, an expert in gut and hormone health, and a Crohn’s patient in remission. Her career started as a traditional pharmacist and her mission later became to heal herself and help others with chronic gut and hormone problems. She became certified in functional medicine clinical training with Dr. Daniel Kalish. In December of 2017 she earned her PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree from one of the top pharmacy schools in the U.S., University of Florida, graduating cum laude, to broaden her clinical knowledge and incorporate that into her functional medicine practice.

Welcome back to the show everyone! I’m so excited to talk to you today about a very hot topic right now in both the pharmaceutical and wellness spaces. My guest today will be discussing the hemp/CBD industry by sharing his company’s expertise and experience as licensed hemp cultivators and premium CBD product distributors. Datron Branch manages all aspects of diapedic’s from soil-to-shelf business model; including field and processing operations, product development, marketing, and supply chain and distribution channel strategies. In the spirit of true entrepreneurship, Datron is applying and leveraging his more than 25 years of sales and account management experience as well as tapping into his engineering and manufacturing background, to help elevate the diapedic brand in the CBD industry. A Monticello, Arkansas native, Datron earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. An active community volunteer with various nonprofit and civic organization

Although I’m recovering from a cold as I record this, I cannot be more excited to introduce you to my next guest on the Holistic Pharmacist Podcast, who truly embodies a holistic approach to health and wellness. I believe we truly captured her beautiful essence as well as that of her beautiful botanical brand. Shameless plug: check out her products for Mother’s day this weekend (and I’ve also sent an email about my products and a partner brand if you’re looking for herbal teas and alcohol-free tinctures. And if you’re not on my email list - head to my website to sign up or shoot me an email to marina@rawfork.com). So back to today’s episode. Eziaku Ogbonna, PharmD , MBA, BCPS, PMP, “Dr. O.G” (she/her) is a Nigerian-American Clinical Pharmacist, Project Management Professional and Herbalist with a passion for an integrative approach to health and wellness. Growing up in Nigeria, she would see her grandmother using herbs as part of her holistic healing process. This memory sparked her interest and curiosity fo