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The Health And Wellness Coach Journal

The Health And Wellness Coach Journal

Written by: Center For Health And Wellness Coaches
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 The Health and Wellness Coach Journal is a blog and podcast that shares valuable information for coaches related to health, wellness, and coaching. This is a resource designed to support coaches, discuss best practices, and cultivate a sense of community. Join your host, Dr. Jessica Singh, MD, NBC-HWC, ACC, a Yale-trained emergency medicine physician who, after completing the first one-year physician wellness fellowship in physician wellness at Stanford University, transitioned careers to practice holistic health and wellness. Through healing from her own burnout, Dr. Singh gained knowledge and experience in various holistic health and healing modalities, including yoga, Ayurveda, mind-body techniques, and coaching. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the podcast, discussing topics such as advocacy for coaching to help bridge gaps in healthcare systems, professional fulfillment, integrative health practices, entrepreneurship, and more. The podcast is provided by the Center for Health and Wellness Coaches. Our mission is to support the professional development of coaches through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and advocacy for certification and standards of practice. For more information and content, visit our website: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/ New episodes are released monthly on the second Tuesday of each month. To be notified of new episodes, subscribe here: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/stay-connected The Health and Wellness Coach Journal podcast is also available on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, and Amazon.© 2026 2024 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Careers Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Success
Episodes
  • Navigating Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Culture Change and Inclusion

    Navigating Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Culture Change and Inclusion
    Feb 10 2026
    In this episode of The Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh is joined by Dr. Michael Baran, social scientist and CEO of Iris Inclusion. Through his speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, workshop facilitation, and digital products, he and his diverse team help organizations build cultures of inclusion, psychological safety, innovation, and performance. Before making the shift to full-time consulting work, he taught courses at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, and he worked as an applied researcher at the FrameWorks Institute and the American Institutes of Research. His book, Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions was coauthored with Dr. Tiffany Jana. The book has won several awards, has been a Hudson News and Amazon bestseller, and has been named by Forbes as one of “11 Books to Read to Be a More Inclusive Leader.” In this episode, Dr. Baran shares how his journey into inclusion work began with curiosity about inequity, exclusion, and belonging. This curiosity led him to doctoral research in cultural anthropology, extensive fieldwork in Brazil, and eventually to applied research, teaching, and consulting with organizations seeking meaningful culture change. A central focus of the episode is the concept of subtle acts of exclusion, a framework Dr. Baran co-developed with Dr. Jana as a more accessible and actionable alternative to the term microaggressions. He explains how subtle acts of exclusion often emerge from a disconnect between intent and impact—moments where someone may be trying to connect, help, or compliment, yet the interaction lands as hurtful, stressful, or exclusionary. Over time, these repeated experiences can have significant mental, physical, and organizational consequences. Dr. Baran shares why reframing the language has helped reduce defensiveness, increase buy-in, and create more productive conversations about culture and inclusion. The episode also explores how cultural insight becomes practical action. Dr. Baran describes how anthropological research methods—such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups—help organizations better understand what is actually happening within their systems and day-to-day practices. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions, this approach allows organizations to design culture change strategies that are responsive, effective, and grounded in lived experience. Drawing from his work in healthcare, Dr. Baran shares a case study from Tufts Medical Center, highlighting what large-scale culture change can look like in complex, high-pressure environments. He discusses the importance of leadership buy-in, thoughtful framing, and scalable strategies that respect the realities of frontline work. Dr. Baran also addresses the broader political and cultural uncertainty surrounding inclusion work today. He reflects on how polarizing language and shifting external pressures have affected organizations’ willingness to engage in this work, and why focusing on clear values—such as inclusion, fairness, and belonging—remains essential. The episode closes with a message of empowerment for coaches and healthcare professionals. Dr. Baran emphasizes that culture is shaped not only by those in formal leadership roles, but through everyday interactions. Coaches, regardless of niche or title, play a vital role as culture shapers by helping individuals develop awareness, empathy, and the capacity to respond thoughtfully to subtle acts of exclusion. For detailed show notes, resources, and information to connect with Dr. Baran, visit: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/blog/navigating-subtle-acts-of-exclusion-dr-baran-on-culture-change-and-inclusion To be notified of new episodes, subscribe here: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/stay-connected Timestamps: 0 - 2:01 Introduction 2:02 - Learning Inclusion by Living It: Dr. Baran on Fieldwork, Culture, and Understanding 6:35 - From Research to Practice: Dr. Baran on Workplace Culture Change and Inclusion 9:38 - Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Reframing Microaggressions 14:09 - When Culture Shifts: Dr. Baran on Buy-In and Impact 18:43 - Dr. Baran on Navigating Inclusion in Uncertain Political Times 22:25 - Dr. Baran on Approaching Subtle Acts of Exclusion as Human Learning Moments 24:56 - Building Inclusion in Healthcare: Dr. Baran’s Culture Change Work at Tufts Medical Center 30:13 - Coaches as Culture Shapers: Dr. Baran on Inclusion in Practice 35:54 - Takeaways
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    39 mins
  • A Hidden Cause Behind Chronic Disease: Dr. William Davis on Microbiome Disruption & Rebuilding Gut Health

    A Hidden Cause Behind Chronic Disease: Dr. William Davis on Microbiome Disruption & Rebuilding Gut Health
    Jan 13 2026

    In this eye-opening episode of The Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh speaks with Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist and New York Times bestselling author of Wheat Belly, Wheat Belly Cookbook, Wheat Belly 30-Minutes (or Less!) Cookbook, and Wheat Belly Total Health, as well as Wheat Belly 10-Day Grain Detox, Undoctored, and Super Gut. His newest book, Super Body: A 3-Week Program to Harness the New Science of Body Composition and Restore Your Youthful Contours, explores emerging science on body composition, the microbiome, and long-term metabolic health.

    Dr. Davis shares how his work as a cardiologist—and a personal turning point—led him to reexamine conventional approaches to heart disease risk. He discusses why wheat and sugar contribute to metabolic changes that negatively affect whole-body health.

    The discussion moves beyond diet to explore why removing harmful foods may only be the beginning. Dr. Davis explains how antibiotics, numerous medications, modern food, environmental exposures, chronic stress, and disrupted sleep deplete protective microbes, impacting various aspects of health.

    This episode also explores microbiome implications for women’s and maternal health, infant development, SIBO, and the relationship between stress, sleep, circadian rhythm, and the gut–brain axis. Dr. Davis offers practical guidance for coaches and healthcare providers seeking credible, evidence-informed microbiome resources.

    Together, Dr. Singh and Dr. Davis discuss the education gap in medicine—particularly around nutrition and the microbiome—and why clinicians often need to expand beyond traditional training to support prevention and long-term healing.

    This conversation is a call to rethink prevention and recognize that rebuilding the microbiome is a powerful way to reclaim agency and improve health.

    For detailed show notes, resources, and information to connect with Dr. Davis, visit: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/blog/A-Hidden-Cause-Behind-Chronic-Disease-Dr-William-Davis-on-Microbiome-Disruption-&-Rebuilding-Gut-Health

    To be notified of new episodes, subscribe here: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/stay-connected

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    1:29 - Challenging the Health Narrative: Insights on Wheat and Heart Disease from Dr. William Davis

    10:49 - Why Diet Alone Isn’t Enough: Microbiome Health and Restoring Key Microbes from Dr. William Davis

    17:21 - Super Gut Takeaways: Insights on Lost Microbes and Their Role in Health and Disease by Dr. William Davis

    19:48 - The Critical Education Gap in Medicine: Nutrition and the Microbiome—Why Clinicians Must Learn What Training Missed from Dr. William Davis

    27:27 - Insights on the Microbiome in Maternal and Women’s Health from Dr. William Davis

    32:41 - SIBO Is More Common Than You Think: Insights on Hidden Microbial Overgrowth, Health Effects, and Rebalancing the Microbiome from Dr. William Davis

    43:09 - The Impact of Stress and Sleep on the Gut: Insights on Circadian Rhythm and Microbiome Health from Dr. William Davis

    47:37 - Finding Credible Microbiome Resources: Guidance for Coaches and Healthcare Providers from Dr. William Davis

    51:12 - Takeaways
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    53 mins
  • From Heart Attack to Awakening: Dr. J. Paul Luftman on Redefining Healing

    From Heart Attack to Awakening: Dr. J. Paul Luftman on Redefining Healing
    Dec 9 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Jessica Singh is joined by Dr. J. Paul Luftman, a family and sports medicine physician with over 25 years of experience in academic medicine, clinical practice, and healthcare leadership. After surviving a near-fatal widowmaker heart attack, Dr. Luftman entered a new chapter of healing, characterized by quiet reflection, emotional honesty, and a new understanding of health and wellbeing.

    Drawing from his new book The Widowmaker’s Gift: Balancing Science and Well-Being in Healthcare, Dr. Luftman shares how he uncovered the deeper layers of stress and emotional strain that had gone unrecognized for years. His story highlights a powerful truth many healthcare workers and coaches relate to: how caring for people is especially difficult when we are disconnected from ourselves.

    Together, Dr. Singh and Dr. Luftman discuss the importance of self-awareness in healing and the need to redefine what it means to succeed in medicine and helping professions. They also examine the importance of healing partnerships and emphasize that responsibility and agency are essential for sustainability.

    The conversation also gently touches on spirituality and meaning-making. Dr. Luftman explains how stillness and reflection create space for clarity and connection. His approach is grounded, open, and accessible, offering an invitation rather than a command.

    This episode encourages coaches and clinicians to slow down, notice their inner experience and honor their own humanity.

    For detailed show notes, resources, and information to connect with Lewin Keller, visit:https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/blog/from-heart-attack-to-awakening-dr-joseph-luftman-on-redefining-healing

    To be notified of new episodes, subscribe here: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/stay-connected

    Timestamps:

    0 - Introduction

    2:49 - Dr. Luftman’s Story - Healing, Transformation, and The Widowmaker’s Gift

    6:20 - The Widowmaker’s Gift: Book Overview & Highlights

    10:05 - Heart Attack as a Journey: From Victimhood to Self-Awareness and Empowerment

    13:25 - The Importance of Partnerships in Healing and Transformation

    15:39 - The Power of Self-Awareness in Healing and Transformation

    22:05 - Holistically Redefining Success

    26:21 - Spirituality in Healing, Health, and Well-Being

    32:31 - Takeaways
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    36 mins
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