Sila Gatti thought she was doing everything right to keep herself healthy, but that all changed when she was diagnosed with Graves Disease. After becoming disillusioned with the treatment she was being offered by the conventional medicine system, she decided to look at alternatives which included taking some time out from consuming caffeine. To her surprise, not only did her thyroid heal, but so too did her vertigo and anxiety. Tune in to hear Sila's remarkable story and how it inspired her...

Hi everyone, today’s podcast is an excerpt from a training session that I recently delivered in our Healthy Shift Worker Skool Community Membership – where I discuss rethinking the current healthcare model and looking towards a more holistic approach to healing. Because I feel it’s time for a paradigm shift – to challenge the conventional healthcare system's sole reliance on external medical treatments, along with a narrative that our bodies are broken and need to be “fixed”. Now as a shift...

Do you struggle with willpower when it comes to implementing healthy habits into your life? If so, you're not alone!  Putting healthy habits into practice on a consistent basis can be one of the biggest hurdles we face when trying to make changes and improve our health and well-being for the better.In today's conversation I chat with Health and Wellness Coach, Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist Jason Goodman as we explore the complexities of forming and maintaining healthy habits.Some of...

In this episode Audra discusses the critical issue of desynchronisation faced by shift workers, what it is and how it impacts their health. She explains how chronic misalignment of circadian rhythms can lead to various health problems, including metabolic dysfunction, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Whilst desyncronisation is inevitable for anyone working 24/7, there are  strategies that can be implemented in order to help mitigate some of the...

In this podcast episode, endocrinologist and herbalist Dr. Kelsey Dexter from Jackson, Tennessee, discusses the intricate relationship between hormonal health, metabolic health, and circadian rhythms.Some of the topics covered include how... - Circadian health is often overlooked in medical discussions.- Artificial light exposure can disrupt metabolic processes.- Metabolic flexibility allows the body to utilize different fuel sources effectively.- Leptin resistance can lead to weight gain and...

In this episode I had the honour of chatting with ophthalmologist and 2020 Australian of the year recipient Dr James Muecke on all things metabolic dysfunction, diabetes and eye health. Given shift work is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and many shift workers are insulin resistant and/or pre-diabetic, but don't even know it - this is a MUST LISTEN. Topics Include:- How real food and dietary change can potentially reverse type 2 diabetes and reverse the blinding...

Did you know studies have found no significant association between sunscreen use and reduced risk of skin cancer?   Given the skin is an extremely important circadian organ that influences every aspect of our biology, have 'experts' got it wrong when it comes to sun exposure? In this conversation, Audra chats to returning guest, Zaid Dahhaj around the misconceptions and dangers surrounding sun exposure and skin cancer.Topics include:- How different spectrums and frequencies of light have...

This week's guest on 'The Healthy Shift Worker' podcast is best-selling Author and Alcohol-Free Life Coach Amanda Kuda.In this episode, Amanda discusses her personal journey with alcohol and the inspiration behind her book on breaking up with alcohol. She also  highlights: Some of the negative effects of alcohol on sleep quality and overall health, emphasising that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. The long-term benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol, including improved...

In light of events over the last few years, this podcast has to be the most profound interview I've done thus far. As Daniel Roytas, a former University Lecturer, Nutritionist and Naturopath, challenges the long-held belief that colds and flus can be caught. He discusses the research and experiments that have been done to investigate the transmission of colds and flus, and how they have failed to convincingly demonstrate person-to-person contagion. Other topics include: Alternative...

Evidence indicates between 20% and 30% of the adult global population can be characterised as having Metabolic Syndrome - a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately for those that work shift work, the risk of developing metabolic syndrome increases further due to the disruption placed on the body's natural circadian rhythms which affects metabolism, hormone regulation, and glucose metabolism.  A Metabolic Syndrome Trifecta! Join...

Did you know that our eyes are one of the MOST IMPORTANT circadian organs?  They literally influence our biology in a myriad of ways so we need to take super care of them - no matter our age!In today's podcast chat, it was a treat to have New York based Optometrist and Quantum Biology Practitioner Dr Valerie Giangrande talking all things eye health including artificial light exposure, vitamin D, quantum and circadian health and SO much more.Some of the things discussed include: How excessive...

In today's episode Dr Keshav Grover and his wife, Dr Evita Singh, discuss their experiences as healthcare professionals working shift work and the impact it has on their personal and family life.They share their backgrounds and how they ended up doing shift work, and provide advice for those currently working or about to embark on a shift working career, emphasising the importance of self-care, having a plan, and advocating for better working conditions. So much wisdom from this husband and...

So enjoyed this chat with Nutritionist, Pulmonary Scientist, Podcaster and Health Coach Cameron Borg on why it's important to look beyond nutrition when it comes to optimising our health. Cameron dives deep into some of the key drivers and their mechanisms as to why so many are struggling with chronic health diseases including: Considering factors like light exposure and electromagnetic fields. How the circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock, plays a crucial role in health outcomes and...

A fascinating discussion with Naturopathic & Traditional Medicine Clinician, Educator, Research Scientist and University Academic, Dr Nicky Schoendofer on the topic of Energy Medicine.Some of the things discussed include:- How creating balance and harmony in the body's energy can help in the prevention and reversal of disease.- How our emotions can manifest into physical illnesses.- Why addressing the underlying causes of physical ailments is crucial for healing.- How the power of belief...

In today's episode I'm joined by educator, clinician, Myotherapy & Musculosketal Therapist Emerys Goldsworthy as we dive deep around the topic of the vagus nerve and it's role in regulating the nervous system.We discuss how shift workers - as a result of disrupted sleep and circadian patterns, can experience vagus nerve dysfunction which can present as a myriad of symptoms such as fatigue and gut complaints.To watch the episode on YouTube CLICK HERE. To learn more about Emrys, including...

Shift work causes havoc on our health in a number of ways, but there other factors which can play a role. In this episode, Alex Stewart from Low Tox Life discusses the impact of toxins in our food, personal care products, and environment on our hormones and health. She emphasizes the importance of making informed choices and reducing our toxic load. Alex provides practical strategies for choosing safer personal care products, reading labels, and cooking nutritious meals. She also highlights...

Did you know sunlight therapy, also referred to as heliotherapy, was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by dermatologists and ophthalmologists as a therapy to heal many conditions? In fact, the healing properties of sunlight was even embraced in hospital settings as patients were moved outside in the sun, in lieu of being left indoors under artificial light.Hard to imagine here in Australia (and in many countries around the world), as sun is often demonised as the number one cause...

A great conversation with medical doctor, GP Registrar and decentralized health educator Dr Max Gulhane around the topic of preventative health care and why we need to be adding additional strategies to the sleep-nutrition-exercise equation when it comes to optimising our health. Having spent time working in the emergency department in hospitals around Australia, Max was able to experience first-hand the negative effects of working through the night and into the early hours of morning whilst...

In this podcast we talk to Dr Emily Manoogian, a postdoctoral researcher and chronobiologist from the Salk Institute in San Diego, California, as she shares research on how time restricted eating (TRE) improved the health of firefighters.Results from this randomised controlled trial, titled The Healthy Hero's Study, is the first of it's kind as it involved real-life shift workers in their workplace setting as opposed to being a laboratory.In this interview we discuss:- Why shift workers are...

In this episode we're talking with Sleep Researcher and PhD candidate Alexandra Shriane from the Appleton Institute at Central Queensland University on her latest research titled - 'Healthy sleep practices for shift workers:  consensus sleep hygiene guidelines using a Delphi methodology'. As a former Paramedic from the QLD Ambulance Service, Alexandra brings a personal background of shift work to her research which makes for a refreshing conversation! Published in the journal, SLEEP, her...

This interview was recorded for members of The Healthy Shift Worker Club, but is too good not to share far and wide!Chloé is a small animal vet and surgeon based in the UK where she graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2012.  She is also the founder of VetYogi – an online membership site for veterinarian professionals.In this interview with Chloé, we discuss:- What inspired her to take up yoga.- The different styles and disciplines of yoga.- How it supports the nervous...

Shift work is tough, incredibly tough.  It's why those that work outside the traditional 9-5 model are prone to developing chronic health conditions.In this episode, Dr Keshav Grover shares his personal story of working a variety of shifts in a high-stress hospital environment and how this stress has become "normalised", which ultimately led to the burnout of both himself and his fellow shift working family members.Topics discussed include stress, medical errors, patient care and ratios,...

We're continuing on from episode number 105, where we discuss the correlation between declining hormone levels and the difficulties experienced by many shift working peri-menopausal and menopausal women in wanting to lose weight.We talk about the influence of another sex hormone - progesterone, and how it's decline leads to an elevation in the stress hormone cortisol, and subsequent increase in the distribution of belly fat.We then wrap up the episode by discussing 3 ways to help lower rising...

Are you going through peri-menopause or menopause and struggling to lose weight whilst working 24/7?  If so, you're not alone!  There are 1000's of women worldwide who are struggling with this scenario too.In this episode, I explain how declining levels of estrogen can lead to insulin resistance, and the subsequent rise in the distribution of fat around the body, along with offering 3 tips to help minimise this weight gain. To learn more about Audra's work, or to get in contact,...