Advertise on podcast: Spark Faith Podcast Faith + functional medicine for Christian women to heal body, mind, and spirit.

Many of us live in a constant state of low-grade stress without even realizing it. In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring why our bodies sometimes struggle to calm down, how chronic stress affects the nervous system, and why willpower alone isn’t enough to restore balance. We’ll look at how regulation, rhythm, and recovery create the foundation for healing and sustainable, whole-body health. My goal is to help you understand your body without shame and recognize that healing doesn’t always mean trying harder. Sometimes, it starts with learning what your body needs to feel safe, recover, and find its rhythm again.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

I believe most people don’t struggle with their health because they lack discipline. Often, chronic stress, shame, and the pressure to do everything right get in the way of healing. In this first episode of the Living F.R.E.S.H. series, I’m exploring how self-pressure and fear affect the nervous system and why feeling safe, not simply trying harder, is an important starting point for change. Together, we’ll look at how a grace-centered approach can support our physical health while restoring hope and helping us build sustainable, whole-body health—without shame or guilt.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

Ever feel like your brain just isn't working the way it used to? You forget words, lose your train of thought, or struggle to concentrate. But does that mean your brain is failing? In this episode of Spark Faith, I’m exploring the connection between menopause, brain fog, and cognitive health. We’ll look at why thinking can feel harder even when your actual cognitive ability remains intact, and how sleep, stress, hormones, mood, and nutritional deficiencies may all play a role. I want to help you stop assuming the worst, recognize patterns, and ask better questions so you can make informed decisions about your brain health. Feeling less mentally sharp doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming less capable. Let's understand what's happening without fear, guilt, or shame—and learn to care for our changing bodies with wisdom and grace.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

Motivation fades for all of us—but what we choose to do next matters. In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m talking about what happens when the excitement wears off, the work feels heavy, and perseverance becomes difficult. Maybe you’re tempted to quit, pushing through exhaustion, or just getting started and already feeling discouraged. Through three short, focused segments and encouragement rooted in Scripture, I’ll share a grace-filled perspective on perseverance, weariness, and starting again—without shame or the pressure to have it all figured out. If you’re tired, discouraged, or wondering whether it’s worth continuing, I want to remind you that you can begin again with grace, take the next step with faith, and keep moving forward even when motivation fades.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

Chronic fatigue is one of the most common struggles I hear about, especially among women after the holidays. But what if your thyroid isn’t the whole story? In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring how chronic stress and disrupted cortisol rhythms may affect thyroid function and leave you feeling exhausted—even when your lab results appear normal. We’ll look at patterns that may contribute to persistent fatigue, why January “resets” can backfire, and why rest and nourishment are essential parts of supporting your body. God designed your body to restore, not to live in survival mode. Let’s move away from pushing harder and start listening to what our bodies need, with wisdom, grace, and without shame. Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

It’s 3:07 a.m. You’re awake again, and suddenly your brain decides it’s time to think about everything you need to do tomorrow. Sound familiar? In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring why waking up in the middle of the night becomes more common for some women in midlife. We’ll look at what happens during sleep and how daytime habits, changing hormones, and your nervous system can influence your ability to stay asleep. I’ll also discuss an often-overlooked cause of disrupted sleep in women: sleep apnea. Waking up at 3 a.m. isn’t a diagnosis. It’s an observation—and an opportunity to understand your body a little better. Let’s move beyond assumptions, ask better questions, and explore what might really be affecting your sleep.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

Calorie counting may work in the short term, but for many women over 40, constant restriction can lead to stress, frustration, and a difficult relationship with food. In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring why restriction can backfire and why supporting your metabolism requires more than simply eating less. You were never meant to fight your body. Healing begins with understanding what your body needs and making informed choices rooted in grace, not guilt or shame.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

Forgiveness can free more than your soul—it can change how you experience stress in your body, too. In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring how emotional pain, resentment, and old wounds can keep us stuck in chronic stress and affect our overall well-being, from inflammation and digestion to hormones, energy, and immune function. I’ll bring together functional medicine, neuroscience, and Scripture to unpack the connection between bitterness, the nervous system, and the process of letting go. I’ll also share a practical five-step framework for forgiveness that helps you release the debt without excusing harmful behavior or forcing reconciliation. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened. It means choosing a path toward freedom, peace, and healing.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

What if hormones aren’t the whole story? Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, weight gain, and sleepless nights are often blamed on perimenopause. But what if something else is happening, too? In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring how perimenopause can overlap with thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency, sleep apnea, and metabolic changes. Sometimes one condition contributes to another, and sometimes multiple things are happening at once. I want to help you recognize patterns, ask better questions, and become an informed participant in your healthcare—without fear, guilt, or shame. You deserve to understand what’s happening in your body rather than assume every symptom is simply part of midlife.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring the gut–hormone connection and why it matters so much for women over 40. We’ll look at how the gut influences estrogen metabolism, thyroid function, cortisol regulation, and mood—and why holiday eating and emotional stress can make symptoms worse. I’ll share practical, science-based ways to support gut health and hormone balance so you can make informed choices without getting caught up in shame or quick fixes. Building on our conversation about Faith, Food & Freedom, this episode also sets the stage for next week’s discussion on the physiological power of forgiveness and how our emotional and physical health are more connected than we may realize.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

In this episode, I’m taking you on a deeper inward journey into how grace, truth, and emotional healing can reshape your relationship with food. We’ll explore how the “food stories” we inherit can shape our habits, how shame can steal our peace, and how the Holy Spirit can renew the way we see our bodies. I’ll also look at what Scripture teaches us about meals, including how Jesus used the table as a place for ministry, connection, and grace. We’ll talk about how gratitude can shift not only our spirit, but our physiology. If you’re ready to stop moralizing food and start approaching the table with wisdom, freedom, and peace, this episode is for you.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

We work hard to appear capable, confident, and in control. But what happens when the life we present doesn’t reflect what we’re actually experiencing? Inspired by a sermon from Pastor Kyle Idleman on the Beatitudes, I’m exploring the difference between looking strong and having the wisdom to ask for help. For Christian women navigating perimenopause, admitting we don’t understand what’s happening in our changing bodies can feel uncomfortable—even embarrassing. But why should we expect ourselves to know something we’ve never been taught? In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’ll share why acknowledging our need for help can open the door to understanding, genuine community, and God’s grace. Strength isn’t pretending we have no needs. It’s having the wisdom and humility to acknowledge them.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

We spend so much time trying to figure out how to get more energy—especially during perimenopause. Better sleep, better nutrition, hormone support, exercise. All of those things matter. But what are we doing with the energy we already have? In this episode of Living F.R.E.S.H., I’m exploring energy as something we don’t just create—we spend. Work, relationships, responsibilities, worry, achievement, and even good things can consume more of our capacity than we realize. Sometimes the harder question isn’t, “How do I get more energy?” It’s “Is this still worth what it’s costing me?” As Christian women, this becomes a question of stewardship—not because our productivity or accomplishments determine our worth, but because our identity is already secure in Christ.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

In this episode, I’m talking about chronic stress, cortisol, and the impact they can have on midlife metabolism, energy, and sleep. If you’re over 40 and struggling with weight gain, cravings, or exhaustion, you may be blaming yourself when your body is actually responding to stress that has been stuck in overdrive. I’ll explain how hormonal changes can intensify stress reactions, why cortisol can spike during the holiday season, and share five simple daily changes that can help calm your nervous system. I’ll also connect the science with faith, because peace isn’t passive—it’s physiological. Together, we’ll look at how to break the cycle of overwhelm and support your emotional, spiritual, and metabolic health with grace and intention.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!

We’ve been told oatmeal is the perfect breakfast—but for many women over 40, it may not be supporting their metabolism the way they think. In this episode, I’m breaking down the connection between blood sugar, hormones, and metabolism, and why some of the “healthy eating” advice we’ve been taught may be keeping us stuck.   Let’s Stay Connected! Want to keep learning how faith, physiology, and real life come together? Join me in taking small, grace-filled steps toward renewed health.   Explore more: Dr. Kris Sargent Join the community: Living F.R.E.S.H. Collective Follow along: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube   Health isn’t a destination. It’s a direction. Let’s walk it together!