In this episode of the Seaworthy Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews women's health coach Saoirse Nash about her personal journey with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the broader systemic issues surrounding women's healthcare. Saoirse shares how recurring UTIs in her youth were normalized and dismissed, leading to years of inadequate treatment until she took control of her health through holistic and functional approaches. The discussion explores the intersection of anatomy, immune and gut health, poor diagnostic tools, and the role of chronic stress and environmental toxins in women’s health. Together, they emphasize the importance of patient empowerment, lifestyle changes, and the need for better research and advocacy—highlighting organizations like Live UTI Free that offer critical support and information.

Timestamps:
(00:00) UTIs common, especially in women
(01:51) Saoirse’s health journey begins with UTIs
(06:25) Gut health linked to immune defense
(08:13) Standard UTI tests often fail
(30:35) Trust your body and instincts

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Key Takeaways:
Chronic UTIs are often misdiagnosed and undertreated.
Gut health is vital for immune defense.
Stress and trauma impact physical health deeply.
Women’s symptoms are too often normalized.
Trust your body—advocate for better care.

In this episode of the "Fieldnotes" podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Courtney Cowie, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and certified coach, about her personal and professional journey through chronic gut health issues, including IBS, IBD, mold toxicity, and Lyme disease. Courtney shares her powerful origin story—from childhood stomach aches and years of ineffective conventional treatments to her transformative experience with Chinese medicine in Japan and her eventual embrace of functional medicine. Together, they explore the critical role of functional testing, the gut-brain connection, and the importance of root-cause approaches in healing chronic digestive conditions. Courtney also highlights how personalized testing, diet, and trauma-informed care can empower patients to regain their health and vitality.

Timestamps:
00:48) Courtney discusses her IBS diagnosis
(05:00) Bathroom stops planned during runs
(06:11) Herbalist urges eating meat
(14:31) Microscopic colitis finally diagnosed
(17:17) Mold toxicity and Lyme uncovered

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Key Takeaways:
Chronic gut issues often start in childhood.
Conventional medicine may overlook root causes.
Functional testing reveals hidden gut dysfunction.
Mold and Lyme can mimic IBS symptoms.
Diet, stress, and trauma impact digestion deeply.

In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey welcomes Dr. Darin Ingels, a naturopathic doctor and expert in environmental and allergy medicine, to discuss alternative and functional approaches to managing allergies. Dr. Ingels explains how conventional allergy treatments, like shots, often fail to address the root causes of immune overreaction. He explores lesser-known but effective methods such as sublingual immunotherapy and Low Dose Allergen (LDA) therapy, which aim to retrain the immune system for long-term relief. The conversation highlights how allergies can manifest in surprising ways, even affecting mood and cognition, and emphasizes the need for personalized, root-cause solutions beyond standard protocols.

Timestamps:
(00:29) Dr. Ingels joins allergy discussion.
(02:42) Alternatives to allergy shots explained.
(06:04) Allergies affect brain and behavior.
(17:48) Immune therapy improves depression symptoms.
(26:48) Remote testing and treatment possible.

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Key Takeaways:
Allergies are immune system overreactions.
Standard allergy tests can miss triggers.
Sublingual therapy is safe and effective.
Allergies can affect brain and mood.
Root-cause treatment leads to long-term relief.