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In this episode of I AM Well MD, we explore relational health across the full lifespan with Psychiatrist, Dr. Debbie Raphael. From early childhood through adulthood and into aging, this conversation unpacks how attachment, autonomy, validation, and repair shape our most important relationships.

Dr. Raphael shares practical insights on parenting through developmental stages, navigating adolescent pushback, maintaining strong connections with adult children, and supporting aging parents through role transitions. This episode emphasizes that while relationships evolve, the foundational need for safety, understanding, and repair remains constant.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why allowing children appropriate control builds cooperation and trust
• Validation as a core parenting skill (especially during conflict)
• Navigating teenage “tantrums” without losing the parent role
• Secure attachment, autonomy, and being a “safe base”
• Reframing children’s closeness as a sign of healthy attachment
• Being okay with being “taken for granted” as children mature
• Maintaining connection with adult children without over-directing
• Repair, apology, and humility as relationship-strengthening tools
• Adult children and aging parents: role reversal, generativity, and care

Guest Bio:
Dr. Debbie Raphael is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist with extensive clinical experience working with children, parents, and families. Her work focuses on attachment, reflective functioning, emotional development, and relational health across the lifespan. She is active on LinkedIn and can also be reached through her website.

Where to Find Dr. Debbie Raphael:

• LinkedIn
• Website

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Dr. Tanikella practices General Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine, and is an expert in Mind-Body medicine. She has traveled the world to learn more about the intersection where mind, body, health, personal beliefs, and motivation meet. She is founder and CEO of Integrative Approaches to Mastering Wellness, where she brings the wisdom of mind body medicine and the power of life coaching together to help her clients break through their glass ceilings.

Learn more and join our email list at iamwellmd.com.
Drop us a message by going to iamwellmd.com/contact.

Follow I AM Well MD: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook


Disclaimer: The information shared on the I AM Well MD Podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All health-related decisions should be made in consultation with your personal medical provider.

The views expressed by me are my own and do not reflect those of my guests, employers, or affiliated institutions. The views of any guest do not represent my personal or professional opinions. The content shared on this podcast is intended to inspire thoughtful reflection, not to provide medical diagnosis or treatment.

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We’re joined by Dr. Aly Cohen, a nationally recognized expert in environmental health and integrative rheumatology. Dr. Cohen helps us unpack what “toxins” actually are, how everyday chemical exposures affect the immune and endocrine systems, and why vulnerable stages like pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence matter so much.

Drawing from over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Cohen explains how regulatory gaps in the U.S. allow harmful chemicals into our homes, food, water, and personal care products, and most importantly, what we can realistically do to protect ourselves and our families.

This conversation moves beyond fear and into practical, science-based prevention.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• What toxic chemicals are and why they matter for human health
• Why pregnancy and early development are critical windows of vulnerability
• Why most chemicals in the U.S. are not adequately tested for safety
• How household and personal care products can disrupt hormones and immunity
• The 4 A’s of Environmental Health Management
• How to choose safer baby products, skin care products, cosmetics, and household items

About Dr. Aly Cohen:

Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician with national recognition for her work in environmental health, disease prevention, and medical education. She is the author of Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them and co-author of Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World.

Dr. Cohen is the founder of TheSmartHuman.com, lectures nationally, serves as a legal medical expert for toxic exposure cases, and has received numerous awards including Top Docs NJ (2016–2025) and the Burton L. Eichler Award for Humanitarianism.

Connect with Dr. Cohen:

• Website: TheSmartHuman.com
• Social Media: @TheSmartHuman

Additional resources:
Environmental Working Group

Clearya

Yuka

Support the show

Dr. Tanikella practices General Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine, and is an expert in Mind-Body medicine. She has traveled the world to learn more about the intersection where mind, body, health, personal beliefs, and motivation meet. She is founder and CEO of Integrative Approaches to Mastering Wellness, where she brings the wisdom of mind body medicine and the power of life coaching together to help her clients break through their glass ceilings.

Learn more and join our email list at iamwellmd.com.
Drop us a message by going to iamwellmd.com/contact.

Follow I AM Well MD: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook


Disclaimer: The information shared on the I AM Well MD Podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All health-related decisions should be made in consultation with your personal medical provider.

The views expressed by me are my own and do not reflect those of my guests, employers, or affiliated institutions. The views of any guest do not represent my personal or professional opinions. The content shared on this podcast is intended to inspire thoughtful reflection, not to provide medical diagnosis or treatment.

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What does it really mean to be bold not performatively, but existentially?

In this powerful episode of The I AM Well MD Podcast, Dr. Santi Tanikella sits down with Dr. Ranjay Gulati, Harvard Business School professor and author of How to Be Bold, to explore the inner work required to live and lead with courage in a world that often rewards safety, conformity, and silence.

Rather than framing boldness as risk-taking for its own sake, Ranjay invites us to see boldness as alignment, the willingness to act from purpose even when it’s uncomfortable, uncertain, or costly.

Together, we explore:

• Why so many high-achievers feel successful yet internally constrained
• How boldness is built through self-trust, not bravado
• What it takes to step off autopilot and into intentional living
• How purpose becomes a stabilizing force during uncertainty and change

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt a nudge toward something more and hesitated.

About Dr. Ranjay Gulati:
Dr. Gulati is the Paul R. Lawrence Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and the author of Deep Purpose and How to Be Bold. His work focuses on unlocking individual and organizational potential through courage, clarity, and purpose-driven leadership. You can find him at ranjaygulati.com and on LinkedIn.

Support the show

Dr. Tanikella practices General Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine, and is an expert in Mind-Body medicine. She has traveled the world to learn more about the intersection where mind, body, health, personal beliefs, and motivation meet. She is founder and CEO of Integrative Approaches to Mastering Wellness, where she brings the wisdom of mind body medicine and the power of life coaching together to help her clients break through their glass ceilings.

Learn more and join our email list at iamwellmd.com.
Drop us a message by going to iamwellmd.com/contact.

Follow I AM Well MD: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook


Disclaimer: The information shared on the I AM Well MD Podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All health-related decisions should be made in consultation with your personal medical provider.

The views expressed by me are my own and do not reflect those of my guests, employers, or affiliated institutions. The views of any guest do not represent my personal or professional opinions. The content shared on this podcast is intended to inspire thoughtful reflection, not to provide medical diagnosis or treatment.