Advertise on podcast: Human Amplified

Healthy eating should be straightforward. Eat real food. Take care of your body. Feel better. So why does it feel so confusing? Somewhere between conflicting nutrition advice, evolving science, and the realities of modern life, something simple became overwhelming. What used to be intuitive now feels like a constant negotiation—between cost, time, culture, identity, and information you’re not even sure you can trust. In this conversation, nutrition scientist Dr. Mandy Willig brings clarity to the noise. From the myth of food addiction to the truth about processed foods and the deeper systems shaping our choices, this isn’t about perfect eating. It’s about understanding what’s actually happening—and what really matters.

Dr. Mark Sherwood, a naturopathic doctor, former police officer, former professional baseball player, and co-founder of the Functional Medical Institute, shares how one shocking statistic about police officers’ life expectancy pushed him to question the medical system and dedicate his life to helping people age with more strength, clarity, and resilience. This conversation gets into the deeper tension between crisis-based medicine and true health creation, including why so many people are living longer but feeling worse, how the system profits from sickness, and why functional medicine often clashes with conventional care. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by feeling dismissed, overmedicated, or stuck in a cycle of symptoms without real answers, this episode will help you think differently about pain, prevention, longevity, and the small choices that can change your health trajectory.

We’ve been taught that healing takes time and that pushing through pain is part of the process. But what if that’s only part of the story? In this conversation, Dr. Tommy Rhee breaks down what’s actually happening inside your body when you heal and why recovery, not force, is the key to getting stronger. From overtraining and injury to stem cells, longevity, and the signals that control how your body repairs itself, this episode explores where modern medicine is headed and what it means for how we live in our bodies now. If you’ve ever wondered why your body isn’t bouncing back the way it used to, or how to support it better, this is where to start.

Lawrence C. Harris, a youth empowerment speaker and author, shares how surviving severe bullying, family abuse, and Complex PTSD shaped his understanding of identity, resilience, and what it really means to become yourself in a world that keeps trying to define you. This conversation moves through the hidden cost of external validation, the long shadow of trauma, the grief of letting go of living relationships, and the tension between understanding your pain and actually doing the work to move forward. If you’ve ever struggled to trust your own worth, felt marked by your past, or wondered how to heal without losing yourself, this episode offers both emotional recognition and a grounded path toward self-respect, boundaries, and personal freedom.

Dr. John Demartini (human behavior expert, educator, author, and founder of the Demartini Institute) shares how a near-death experience as a teenage surfer became the turning point that shaped his life’s work around meaning, perception, and the deeper purpose behind human struggle. He talks about the difference between pain and suffering, why chasing happiness can leave people feeling empty, and how gratitude, values, and self-awareness can shift the way we interpret even the hardest moments of life. If you’ve ever wondered whether success, positivity, or trying to avoid pain is actually bringing you closer to peace, this episode will help you think differently about resilience, authenticity, and what it means to live with greater purpose.

Carrie Akre (musician, former grunge-era frontwoman, podcaster, and intuitive life coach) shares how growing up in Seattle’s early music scene shaped her understanding of creativity, identity, and what happens when something raw and local suddenly becomes consumed by the mainstream. We explore the hidden cost of fame, why being “special” can sometimes lead to isolation instead of fulfillment, and how modern culture pushes visibility and validation in ways that can disconnect people from their real selves. If you’ve ever questioned whether success, recognition, or fitting in will actually make you feel whole, this episode will help you think differently about self-worth, intuition, and what it means to stay authentic in a world that constantly pulls you outward.

Craig Pomranz (vocalist, performer, and author of the children’s book Made by Rafi) shares how one simple question from his godson (“Is there such a thing as a Tom girl?”) turned into a bigger conversation about identity, labels, and the quiet judgments baked into gender expectations. We unpack why “feminine” can still be treated like an insult, how boys get punished for being emotional or artistic, and what it looks like to support kids (and ourselves) in staying authentic without forcing them to fit a single “right” way to be. If you’ve ever felt boxed in by labels, or you’re raising a child who doesn’t fit the mold, this episode will help you think differently about acceptance, respect, and what being fully human really means.

In this powerful conversation, former pro basketball player and bestselling author Taylor Rochestie shares how he built a grounded mindset through high-pressure seasons — on the court, in fatherhood, and in life. We explore why goals beat expectations and how that shift can calm anxiety fast, what authenticity looks like in a social media world, and the daily practices Taylor uses to reframe adversity and bounce back quicker. If you've been carrying yesterday into today, this episode will reset your perspective — and help you build a calmer, more connected inner world.

What happens when you outgrow the version of yourself you once needed but aren’t yet who you’re becoming? That’s where many of us are right now, individually, collectively, and even in how we relate to the world around us. Human Amplified has always been about bringing more humanity to daily life, creating more connection, awareness, and inner healing. And like the people listening, the show has evolved too. Following the natural arc of who we are, where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what it all means, it’s time to focus on waking up, not all at once and not into something abstract, but into your truth, your power, and the deeper currents shaping your life. We explore identity, healing, consciousness, and what it means to live as both human and spiritual beings through conversations with storytellers, healers, mystics, scientists, creatives, disruptors, and everyday people navigating this edge in real time. There’s no hype here. No fixing. No one telling you what to believe. Just honest conversations that create space for your own insight, recognition, and inner shifts to begin. If you’re listening because something in you is stirring, you’re in the right place.

Here, we explore what it really means to wake up—to your truth, your power, and the deeper currents shaping your life. Through raw stories, breakthrough wisdom, and consciousness-expanding conversations, we create space for healing, insight, and real inner shifts to begin. If you want to recognize yourself, feel seen and heard, and become more of who you are, welcome. I’m your host, Brandi Fleck, and this is Human Amplified.

What does it mean to come home to your own work? In this bonus episode, Brandi Fleck shares the evolution of Human Amplified from its original 2018 beginnings as On Being Human to the expanded, integrated platform it is today. She opens up about instinct versus strategy, the quiet signals the body sends when something isn’t fully aligned, and why the original intro music — the sound that launched the project — is returning as the true sonic signature of this work. This is a conversation about growth that doesn’t reject the past, but integrates it. About experimenting, stretching, building structure, and eventually recognizing when the container has finally caught up to the soul. You’ll also hear what’s ahead: a curated From the Vault series featuring early interviews that were once blog-only, now released in both audio and video as a bridge into Season 7. If you’ve ever outgrown a version of yourself and then found your way back with more wisdom and capacity, this one will resonate. Welcome home.

Jessica Lowery is the founder and CEO of The Power of Elderberries. What began in her kitchen as a way to protect her family’s health during a challenging season has grown into a nationally trusted wellness brand.  Jessica opens up about how faith, prayer, and intuition became the driving forces behind her business, the importance of moving beyond symptom treatment to uncover the root cause of health issues, and why choosing high-quality supplements matters more than ever.  She shares the wide-ranging benefits of elderberries that go far beyond immune support, along with simple, affordable, and even free ways to start improving your health today.  Her journey is one of personal resilience, deep purpose, and practical wisdom—perfect for anyone seeking to strengthen their immune system, reduce inflammation, and approach wellness with more intention. **** This is our last episode for 2025. We’ll be back for Season 7 in 2026. Thank you to everyone who’s listened. Subscribe so you’ll get our episodes when we come back next season! **** Thanks to our 2025 sponsors and affiliates: Intuitive Bodywork TN - https://www.intuitivebodyworktn.com/ Bed of Nails - https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECK

What if your greatest traumas were the doorway to your deepest healing? Dr. Richard Grossman — author of Trust and Forgive: The Medicine of Your Life, acupuncturist, and plant medicine practitioner with over 40 years of experience, offers profound insight into what it means to be human and how we can release pain across generations. We explore how trauma fragments us — and how healing requires presence, integration, and courage. Dr. Grossman shares raw, transformative stories, including one harrowing ayahuasca vision that placed him in a Nazi death camp line — and how “trust and forgive” became his mantra of release. We also discuss the sacred responsibility of using plant medicine, red flags in ceremony leaders, and why purification and discernment matter more than ever in today’s spiritual landscape. **** Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails. Shop my Bed of Nails affiliate link to get yours: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECK Use code BON15BRANDI at checkout to get 15% off!

What would you do if the unthinkable happened—and you had to keep living? In this hope-filled conversation, Shirl Baker opens up about losing her daughter, DeEbony Groves, in the 2018 Waffle House shooting in Antioch, Tennessee. She shares the raw truth of that day, how the grief carved a permanent wound in her soul—and how faith, scripture, and service gave her the strength to survive. Shirl didn’t find healing through traditional grief counseling. Instead, she founded the DeEbony Groves Foundation to help other grieving mothers reclaim joy through healing retreats, pampering weekends, and red carpet moments to honor their lost children. This is a story about love over bitterness, about community over isolation, and about what it truly means to keep hope alive. **** You can DONATE to the DeEbony Groves Foundation in the following ways. Cash App: $Hope4TheFuture42218 Mail Checks: P.O. Box 1023, Gallatin, TN 37066 Go to any Regions Bank world wide and let them know you want to place a donation to the DeEbony Groves Foundation.

What are the simplest ways to plug into your local community—and actually make a difference? Len Assante, a seasoned communications educator, private pilot for over 40 years, award-winning editorial writer, and founder of TLO Media LLC, home of The Loyal Opposition podcast and radio show, breaks down how his deep commitment to civic responsibility—from championing student causes as a grad student to spearheading hyperlocal political engagement—can be distilled into easy, actionable steps anyone can take right where they live to become a true change maker. **** Support for Human Amplified comes from listeners like you. Donate to help keep this show and our mission of amplifying humanity going by making a recurring or one-time contribution of any size. 👉 https://humanamplified.com/donate