When you think of hypnosis, cancer treatment probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but after this episode, it just might be.

This week on Everyday Epigenetics, Susan sits down with clinical hypnotherapist Garry Coles, who’s spent over 20 years working in the fascinating field of hypno-oncology, helping cancer patients improve outcomes, reduce side effects, and rewire their mindset for healing through the power of the subconscious.

What started as skepticism turned into groundbreaking research, hospital partnerships, and over 2,500 patient journeys supported by Garry’s work. Whether you’re a science nerd or a total newbie to hypnotherapy, this conversation will open your mind to what’s possible when we treat the mind and body as part of the same healing system.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How one hypnotherapy session cured Garry’s lifelong nightmares (and sparked his new career)
• What hypno-oncology really is, and how it helps before, during, and after cancer treatment
  The surprising impact of pre-surgery hypnosis on pain perception, recovery speed, and medication use
• What psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) means, and how emotions literally affect your immune system
• Why “self-fulfilling prophecies” can make or break your healing
• Real stories of patients who went from devastation to empowerment (and even triathlons!)
  
  
  

Learn More about Garry Coles

With over 20 years’ experience as a full-time hypnotherapist, Garry holds an MSc in Clinical Hypnotherapy, for which he carried out research into the effects of presurgical hypnosis on the recovery quality in breast cancer operations. Garry was contracted, for over 19 years, to a major UK NHS hospital for oncology-based hypnotherapeutic work, in addition to practicing from within a local GP surgery. Garry is a regular presenter, worldwide, at conferences as well as presenting his own popular masterclasses and monthly mentoring services.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Garry Coles:

Website: https://hypno-oncology.com/

Website: https://releasehypnotherapy.com/

Email:  Garrycoles@hotmail.com

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/05/09/episode56/

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if the secret to living past 100 isn’t hidden in your DNA, but in how you think, feel, and connect with others? In this must-listen episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., host Susan Robbins and soon-to-be co-host Kate King welcome the groundbreaking Dr. Mario Martinez, a clinical neuropsychologist who’s devoted decades to unlocking the mysteries behind healthy centenarians across the globe. Get ready to rethink aging, longevity, and what it truly means to thrive.

Prepare to have your assumptions turned upside down as Dr. Martinez shares the surprising truth: genetics play only a small role in reaching a vibrant, long life. Most of what matters, he reveals, comes from our beliefs, emotional habits, rituals, and cultural conditioning. From the eight core factors for healthy aging to the mind-body effects of gratitude and self-worth, Dr. Martinez unpacks practical wisdom anyone can apply, at any age.

In this episode:

• The real reason some people live well over 100, and why genes don’t tell the whole story
• How emotions and perceptions shape stress, inflammation, and healthspan
• The difference between routines and rituals (and why meaning matters)
• Myths about aging and anti-aging that might be shortening your life without you knowing it
• Why culture, self-valuation, and curiosity radically impact your biology
• Practical steps to embody longevity and create your own centenarian mindset (it’s never too late!)

Listen in for a fascinating fusion of science, psychology, and real-life tools to help you write your own healthiest story, one inspired habit at a time.

Learn More about Dr. Martinez

Dr. Martinez is a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in how cultural beliefs affect health and longevity. He proposes, based on multidisciplinary research evidence, that longevity is learned, and the causes of health are inherited. For the past 25 years, he has studied healthy centenarians (100 years or older) worldwide and found that only 20 to 25% can be attributed to genetics - the rest is related to how they live and the cultural beliefs they share. He is the author of the bestselling book The MindBody Code that teaches his theory and practice of biocognitive science for the general public as well as professionals in the life sciences. In addition to longevity, he also lectures on why our immune system is not just a protector. Instead, it responds to the cultural premises we learn to perceive and emote the world: How Meaning-Making Affects Biology.

RESOURCES:

Sign up for Dr. Martinez May 10 webinar! https://www.biocognitiveculture.com/event-details/solitude-loneliness-longevity

Connect with Dr. Martinez

Check out all of Dr. Martinez’s links and articles over on the show notes!

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/05/02/episode55/

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What happens when you stop waiting for the “right time” and start saying yes to the opportunities that light you up, even if they terrify you?

In this episode, I sit down with the powerhouse that is Dana Ayers, author, speaker, decorated veteran, former White House staffer, and someone who has made a career of walking straight into the unknown and discovering just how capable she really is.

From her first internship at the White House, on 9/11, no less, to deployments overseas and even her surprising side gig in a D.C. cover band, Dana shares how following the breadcrumbs (no matter how small) has led to some of the biggest, boldest adventures of her life.

We talk about:

• Why fear is not the enemy, and how it can actually lead you home
• How to build confidence by doing the uncomfortable
• Her hilarious journey from strategic comms to singing onstage
• What it really means to live authentically and chase your dream life
• And how to stop talking yourself out of the very thing you’re meant to do

This episode is part story, part pep talk, and full permission slip to get out of your own way and go after the life you were meant to live.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in indecision, overwhelmed by what people might think, or too afraid to take the leap, this conversation is exactly what you need to hear.

Press play and let Dana’s journey remind you just how powerful (and fun!) life can be when you dare to go for it.

Learn More about Dana Ayers

Dana Ayers is an author, speaker, decorated veteran, and long-time national security professional. She’s someone who thrives on inspiring others to push their limits and achieve their goals. Dana has burrowed her way into all sorts of places she had no business being, including herding celebrities in green rooms, working as an armed communicator in Afghanistan, serving as a White House staffer, and advising special forces. She is passionate about sharing insights she's learned for getting out of her comfort zone and going after dreams where she didn’t fit the typical mold.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dana Ayers

My website is: dcdana.com

Socials:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-ayers-a123aa5

Instagram: http://instagram.com/DanaAyersAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaLAyers

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode54

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Hair loss is one of the most emotionally devastating health challenges, especially for women, and it’s far more common than most people think. But what if we told you it’s not the real problem?

In this transformative episode, Susan sits down with Carrie Hicks, a salon owner turned Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, to uncover the deeper truth about hair loss. What begins as a conversation about thinning strands quickly becomes a powerful exploration of root cause healing, the ripple effects of stress, and how lifestyle choices, not genetics, are often the missing link to lasting recovery.

Carrie shares her journey from stylist to health advocate after witnessing alarming levels of post-pandemic hair loss in her clients. Her story is one of heartbreak, relentless curiosity, and a commitment to helping women reclaim their health, confidence, and power, starting from the inside out.

Together, Susan and Carrie explore how digestion, mineral imbalances, metabolic health, and emotional wellbeing are intimately connected to hair loss, and why no serum, supplement, or PRP injection can replace the foundational work of living in alignment with your body.

This episode is a call to action for anyone who’s been told their hair loss is “just genetic,” for those feeling like a stranger in their own skin, and for anyone ready to stop chasing surface-level fixes and start healing at the root.

Your hair is trying to tell you something. Let’s finally listen.

Learn More About Carrie Hicks:

She is the founder of Crimson & Clover Hair Studio in Flagstaff, AZ and Nurish.d Hair Loss + Wellness, is a licensed Cosmetologist, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, and a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Carrie Hicks:

http://carriehicks.com/store/3-mistakes-hair-loss-guide

carriehicks.com

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode53

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Thyroid nodules are more common than most people realize, affecting up to 80% of the population, and yet, the truth about them is rarely talked about.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever been blindsided by a diagnosis, felt dismissed by the medical system, or wondered if there was a better way.

Thyroid advocate and educator Jennifer Holkem shares her powerful journey from fear and frustration to fierce advocacy. After a misdiagnosis and a near-surgical intervention, she discovered a groundbreaking, non-surgical treatment option that not only saved her thyroid, but reignited her life’s purpose.

You’ll learn:

• Why most thyroid nodules are not cancer, and what to actually do about them
• The surprising reason doctors often push unnecessary surgery
• The revolutionary procedures that preserve your thyroid and your quality of life
• How Jen turned her story into a movement, empowering thousands around the world
• What it really takes to advocate for your health and reclaim your voice
  
  

This is more than a medical conversation, it’s a wake-up call, a guide, and a dose of hope for anyone who’s been told to “just live with it.”

Healing is never just about one procedure. A huge part of Jen’s journey, and her ongoing transformation, has come from lifestyle optimization. That’s where our work together has been key. From functional lab testing to DNA-based insight and pH360, Jen is living proof that when you address the root causes and support your body the way it was designed, healing happens.

If you’ve ever felt like no one was listening, this episode proves that your voice, your health, and your choices matter.

Learn more about Jennifer Holkem and find all of her links over on the show notes: healthyawakening.co/episode52

RESOURCES:

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode52

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Piper Gibson, and let me tell you, this conversation is packed with insight, truth bombs, and hope for anyone dealing with chronic health issues that feel confusing, overwhelming, or unsolvable.

Dr. Gibson is an epigenetics expert, a functional medicine practitioner, and the founder of Elite Gene Labs and the Tic Disorder Institute. She brings years of experience working with families, especially those navigating tic disorders, anxiety, ADHD, autoimmune symptoms, and chronic inflammation. We dive into how our genetics and environment interact, how symptoms are often signals (not life sentences), and what’s actually possible when we start asking better questions.

We talk about:

• Why so many kids are being dismissed with “they’ll grow out of it” and why that’s not good enough
• What tic disorders really are and how to decode them
• The critical role inflammation and gut health play in anxiety, ADHD, and other neurological symptoms
• Why genomic testing matters, how it works, and what it can actually tell you
• The myth of “one-size-fits-all” health and how personalization changes everything
• How Dr. Piper's own son’s health crisis led her to this work, and what she's learned from helping hundreds of families since

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the system, overwhelmed by information online, or unsure of where to start, this episode is for you. Dr. Piper and I are both passionate about helping you feel seen, heard, and empowered to take control of your health in a real, personalized way.

You are not broken. Your body is trying to talk to you. Let’s start listening together.

Learn more about Piper Gibson:

Dr. Gibson founded the Tic Disorder Institute: Regenerating Health and Elite Gene Labs, where she empowers families and healthcare professionals to address tic disorders and optimize wellness. She is a Doctor of Functional Medicine, Advanced Holistic Nutrition, and a Board-Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine.

Dr. Gibson helps individuals address the root of their symptoms through functional lab testing, nutrition, and genetic insights. She is also the author of Tic Talk: Common Misconceptions, Natural Approaches, and Real Conversations about Tic Disorders.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Piper Gibson:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RegeneratingHealth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regeneratinghealth/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ticdisordersecrets

Show Links:

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES:healthyawakening.co/episode51

Connect with Susan:

Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!

To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susan

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

We made it to one year and 50 episodes, and this one’s from the heart.

In this special anniversary episode, Susan is hitting record solo (two weeks in a row!) to celebrate Everyday Epigenetics' first birthday, reflect on the wild ride so far, and say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who's made this podcast possible, from our incredible listeners to the brave guests who’ve shared their stories and the powerhouse women stepping in as co-hosts for what’s next.

This isn’t just a look back. It’s a peek ahead.

You’ll hear about:

• How this podcast went from a scary dream to a real-deal show with thousands of listeners
• The mission behind Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable. and why personalized health is no longer “the future” (it’s now)
• Big shifts coming soon, including a brand new co-host, a dynamic new rhythm to the show, and what it means for you as a listener
• A brand-new personalized health group program launching this year
  
  

This episode is about celebrating growth, honoring the community that’s formed, and giving you the inside scoop on the exciting direction we’re headed.

Whether you’ve been listening since day one or just found us, thank you. This podcast exists because of you.

🎧 Tap play and help us celebrate 50 episodes, 1 powerful year, and the epigenetic evolution still to come.

Big Changes Ahead: Meet Your New Co-Host, Kate King!

As Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable steps into its second year, we’re thrilled to announce a powerful evolution in the podcast: the addition of a new co-host, Kate King, starting June 2025!

This next chapter brings a fresh energy and a deeper dive into what it really means to live a radiant life through the lens of epigenetics.

Read more about Kate King and our upcoming podcasting plans in the show notes!

RESOURCES:

Check out Kate’s Previous episodes:

Episode 11: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-cycles-epigenetics-trauma-and-the-power/id1736527617?i=1000659244010

Episode 30: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/understanding-emotional-unavailability-and-emotional/id1736527617?i=1000674681526

Episode 43:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identifying-and-moving-on-from-relationships-that-do/id1736527617?i=1000690785478

Show Links:

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode50

Connect with Susan:

Schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/healthyawakening

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

You’ve heard me talk about epigenetics, personalized health, and how our environment shapes our genetic expression. But have you ever wondered what I actually do?

Well, today’s the day I set the record straight. In this rare solo episode, I’m diving deep into DNA testing, epigenetics, and how to truly understand what your genes are telling you.

Here’s what we cover:
- The biggest myths about DNA testing (and why some tests are totally useless)
- Why your genes aren’t your destiny—how epigenetics changes the game
- The #1 mistake people make with DNA testing that leads to wasted money & panic
- How to tell if a test is worth your investment (or just clever marketing)
- The real power of genetic testing and how it transformed my health

This episode is packed with game-changing insights that could completely shift how you approach your health. If you’ve ever been curious about genetic testing, or just want to make sure you’re making the most informed choices—this one’s for you.

Listen now! (And don’t forget to DM me with any questions, I want to hear from you!)

Disclaimer: Quality Score: Internal research team quality score. Yes, a bit biased ;) but based on number of SNPs and quality of data behind those SNPs. One SNP/One outcome for a particular trait vs many possible outcomes for a particular trait. All data are compiled from comparable reports.

RESOURCES:

Show Links:

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode49

Connect with Susan:

Schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening

Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/healthyawakening

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast