Brain inflammation doesn’t always start in the brain.

Today, I sit down with microbiome researcher Martha Carlin to explore how the gut may be driving inflammation, brain fog, and long-term neurological stress.

Martha Carlin is a microbiome researcher and entrepreneur whose work was inspired by her husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2002. After teaching herself the science behind gut health, she founded The BioCollective and BiotiQuest to advance research on the gut–brain connection and chronic disease. A recipient of a $1.2 million NIH grant and named a Colorado Titan 100 CEO, Martha is a respected voice in microbiome science and advocates for a systems-based approach to health.

In this episode we discuss:

• How gut bacteria influence dopamine, serotonin, and mood
• What endotoxin (LPS) is and why it fuels systemic inflammation
• Why antibiotics and environmental exposures can weaken microbiome resilience
• The connection between chronic constipation and neurological health
• How gut imbalance may contribute to brain fog and reduced cognitive performance

If you’re focused on optimizing brain performance, improving mental clarity, or protecting long-term neurological health, understanding the gut–brain connection is essential.

Connect with Martha Carlin:

https://biotiquest.com/

https://www.instagram.com/biotiquest/

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #brainfitness #mindfullness #guthealth

Ever feel like your workplace is draining your focus, mood, and energy?

Dr. Patrick Porter sits down with Reverend Jodi to explore a practical, education-first approach to workplace wellness: starting with brain breaks, healthier environments, and simple daily resets that support performance and resilience.

Rev. Jodi Suson is an ordained minister and brain health–focused wellness educator who transitioned from a 35-year career in marketing and finance into holistic health after years of misdiagnosis and disability led her to study how food, water, and environment affect brain and emotional wellbeing. She is the author of Emotional Healing, Toxic Free Living, and now teaches mindset and lifestyle-based approaches to support brain, emotional, spiritual, and physical balance, drawing on her training in NLP, nutrition, essential oils, and frequency-based modalities.

In this show, Dr. Porter and Rev. Suson discuss how “brain breaks” can replace the mid-afternoon coffee run, why workplace culture and environment matter (air, water, stress patterns), and how wellness rooms can encourage employees to take 20 minutes to decompress and recharge, without making medical promises.

Question for you: If your workplace had a wellness room, would you use it? Drop a comment with what you’d want included.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Misdiagnosis, overmedication, and why diagnostics matter

01:00 – Introducing Reverend Jodi + the mission for workplace wellness

02:40 – Jodi’s story: early brain injury, speech support, and long-term challenges

06:40 – Rebuilding health habits + learning wellness tools (educational discussion)

08:40 – Vision: wellness rooms + 20-minute decompression breaks

10:30 – Brain breaks vs. coffee breaks + workplace experiences

16:50 – Workplace “hidden exposures” (air/water) and practical steps

20:50 – Air filtration, scent, and common indoor air considerations

27:00 – Pets, nervous system states, and shared calm (general discussion)

33:00 – Mold awareness in buildings + testing/cleanup resources (education)

37:30 – Functional lifestyle program overview + next steps

Connect with Jodi Suson:

https://susonessentials.com/

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #BrainFitness #WorkplaceWellness #CorporateWellness #BrainBreak

What if “feeling fine” isn’t the same as being truly ready to return to sport, or even school, after a concussion?

I sit down with Dr. Ted Arkfeld to discuss how objective nervous system measurements may add clarity to performance, recovery, and readiness.

Ted A. Arkfeld, DC, MS, is a chiropractor, clinical researcher, and educator focused on the role of the nervous system in human performance, injury risk, and recovery. He is the developer of the Neuro Sport Performance Evaluation (NSPE), a model that integrates objective neurological metrics—including BrainTap’s NeuralChek—with functional movement and sensorimotor assessment. With over 35 years of clinical experience, Dr. Arkfeld collaborates with technology partners and clinicians to advance evidence-informed approaches to sports performance, concussion management, and neurological rehabilitation, while educating doctors of chiropractic on translating neuroscience into practical, measurable outcomes.

In this episode, we explore how tools like NeuralChek, which Dr. Arkfeld actively uses as part of his evaluation protocol, can support a more complete view of movement, balance, and autonomic regulation, especially when athletes (or patients) may underreport symptoms.

The conversation also touches on how BrainTap is incorporated as part of his recovery approach, supporting relaxation, sleep, and nervous system regulation alongside active care.

Please, comment and share your thoughts: Should baseline nervous system screening be a standard part of sports, recovery, and aging well?

Connect with Dr. Ted Arkfeld:

https://arkfeldchiropractic.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-a-arkfeld-dc-ms-43611522/\

https://www.youtube.com/@DefeatingPain

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #braintap