The Real Health podcast is brought to you by Riordan Clinic. Our mission is to bring you the latest information and top experts in functional and integrative medicine to help you make informed decisions on your path to real health.
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“I mean, I believe so strongly that food, what we eat, matters.” —Jen Nolan In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Michelle Niesley is joind by Jen Nolan, owner of Remission Nutrition and nutrition advisor at Riordan Clinic, to explore nutrition recomendations and the differences between what is recommended during active treatment and after treatment. 👉 Learn more about Jen Nolan and Remission Nutrition 👉 Learn more about Dr. Michelle Niesley 👉 Learn more about becoming a co-learner ...
Dr. Kirsten West and Jen Nolan discuss the nervous system's role in health, especially for cancer patients, moving beyond the simple fight or flight model to the polyvagal theory. They explain how chronic stress impacts inflammation and immune function, and how heart rate variability reflects adaptability. The conversation highlights the vagus nerve's critical function as a two-way communicator and "neural break" on inflammation, concluding with actionable steps like breathwork, nature exposure, and yoga to enhance vagal tone and foster a sense of safety for true healing and "thrivership."
“Words give feelings meaning.” —Dr. Drew Rose Mental health is often treated as something separate from physical health, even though the two are closely connected. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Michelle Niesley sits down with Dr. Drew Rose to talk through how a whole-person approach can support mental and emotional well-being. Dr. Drew shares how factors like nutrient levels, inflammation, and daily habits can influence mood and mental clarity. They discuss the role of lab test...
"The body wants to be well." —Dr. Kirsten West Every person’s health story looks different. Some people arrive after a diagnosis. Others come in after years of feeling dismissed, exhausted, or stuck searching for answers. In this first episode of the Riordan Clinic Provider Roundtable, Dr. Drew Rose is joined by Dr. Stacy Dunn and Dr. Kirsten West to discuss what led each of them to medicine, how they approach integrative care, and why individualized support matters. They discuss the differences...
This episode delves into supporting bone health during and after cancer care, highlighting how treatments like chemotherapy and hormone therapies can impact bone density. Drs. Niesley and Dunn discuss the importance of DEXA scans, key nutrients like vitamin D, K2, and magnesium, and the significant role of resistance training. They also clarify common misconceptions regarding medications, melatonin, and soy intake.
“Orthomolecular medicine is about giving the body what it needs to function at its best.” —Dr. Richard Z. Cheng There are many ways to approach health. Some focus on managing symptoms. Others take a step back and look at what the body needs to stay well in the first place. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake sits down with Dr. Richard Z. Cheng to discuss how orthomolecular medicine fits into the bigger picture. 👉 Learn more about Dr. Richard Z. Cheng Dr. Cheng shares...
“We are only going to heal you as fast as your body can allow.” —Dr. Clayton Dir Pain doesn’t always need more appointments. Sometimes it needs a different approach. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Drew Rose sits down with Dr. Clayton Dir, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Clinical Director of Natural Wellness Physiotherapy, to talk about what’s missing in many recovery plans and how a more thoughtful, patient-centered approach can change outcomes. 👉 Learn more about Natural Wellne...
"Medicine is a team sport. We’re going to figure this out together." —Dr. Drew Rose A new chapter at Riordan Clinic begins with a familiar face and a shared vision for the future. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake sits down with Dr. Drew Rose to talk through his journey into the role of Chief Medical Officer and what it means for the next 50 years of care at Riordan Clinic. As Dr. Drew steps into this position, Dr. Ron will continue to see co-learners while serving ...
"You can have two people with the same diagnosis and completely different plans." —Dr. Stacy Dunn World Health Day is a reminder to step back and look at the full picture of health beyond a diagnosis. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Michelle Niesley sits down with Dr. Stacy Dunn to talk about integrative oncology and how it’s practiced at Riordan Clinic. If you’ve ever wondered what integrative oncology actually means, this conversation gives a clear look at how it works in a cli...
"This is a circulation upgrade." —Dr. Ron Hunninghake Many people recovering from COVID continue to deal with fatigue, brain fog, and symptoms that don’t fully resolve. For some, standard testing comes back normal, even when they don’t feel back to baseline. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake and Dr. Michelle Niesley discuss long COVID, microclots, and how changes in circulation are being studied in relation to ongoing symptoms. They walk through what clinicians are ...
"We’re moving from reactive care to proactive care." —Dr. Michelle Niesley Some people feel like they’re always reacting to symptoms without really understanding what’s underneath them. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake sits down with Dr. Michelle Niesley to discuss leadership at Riordan Clinic and what it means to move toward a more proactive approach to care. They talk about how communication across teams shapes the experience for co-learners, and why that matters...
"This is a circulation upgrade." —Dr. Thomas Levy Many people recovering from COVID describe persistent fatigue, brain fog, or a sense that their body has not fully returned to baseline. These experiences continue to raise questions for both patients and clinicians. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake welcomes Dr. Thomas Levy to discuss circulation, microclots, and how blood flow may influence recovery patterns. They discuss how circulation delivers oxygen throughout ...
"If you don’t measure, you’re guessing." —Dr. Ron Hunninghake This episode is a recording from our February 26, 2026, Lunch & Learn at Riordan Clinic in Wichita. Energy that rises and crashes. Mood changes that feel difficult to explain. Sleep that looks fine on paper but never feels fully restorative. Many people are told their labs are normal, yet they still feel off. This Lunch & Learn is designed for individuals who want a clearer understanding of how hormones and metabolism influenc...
"Measure, measure, measure." —Dr. Ron Hunninghake Fatigue that lingers. Brain fog that will not clear. Sleep that never feels restorative. Many people are told their labs are within normal ranges, yet they still do not feel like themselves. This conversation is designed for anyone looking to better understand hormone health, thyroid health, and metabolic patterns that can shape daily energy. In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake and Dr. Drew Rose explore how hormones an...
Update (February 25, 2026): Dr. Cynthia Aks is no longer with Riordan Clinic. “Healing involves addressing the whole person — body, mind, and lived experience.” — Dr. Cynthia Aks In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, welcomes Cynthia Aks, DO, FACOS, ABIHM, to the Riordan Clinic team. A board-certified General Surgeon and Integrative Healthcare Practitioner, Dr. Aks brings more than three decades of experience in breast health, integrative medicine, and whole-person per...
Dr. Ron Hunninghake and Dr. Stacy Dunn demystify recent concerns about melatonin's long-term use, critiquing a study that suggested risks while highlighting its established safety and broad benefits. They delve into melatonin's potent antioxidant properties, its crucial role in mitochondrial function, and its significant applications in integrative oncology, including reducing chemotherapy side effects and inhibiting cancer growth. The discussion emphasizes individualized care, quality products, and reframes melatonin as a vital "life antioxidant aid" far beyond its common perception as merely a sleep supplement.
“Every case represents a new pathway to better health.” —Dr. Ron Hunninghake This episode of the Real Health Podcast looks ahead to the future of integrative care at Riordan Clinic. Dr. Drew Rose and Dr. Ron Hunninghake explore how the clinic is building on 50 years of learning, research, and co-learning to guide the next era of patient support. Dr. Ron reflects on the turning points he has witnessed over his 34 years at the clinic, including early RECNAC research, the evolution of integrative o...
“You’ve got to have a really good imagination to see the bigger picture.” —Dr. Ron Hunninghake In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake and Dr. Michelle Niesley discuss how medical thinking has shifted over the decades and how those shifts have shaped the Riordan Clinic. They revisit the first, second, and third “medical revolutions,” what each one focused on, and how the clinic continues to blend scientific understanding with whole-person context. They share stories from ...
“OMM helps us look beyond the place where pain shows up and understand what may be contributing to it.” —Dr. Drew Rose In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, sits down with Drew Rose, DO, to explore how Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) offers a hands-on way of understanding the body’s structure and movement patterns. Dr. Drew explains how structure and function are interconnected, why touch can offer insight that standard testing may not provide, and how OMM can ...
“When you bring care back to patients and providers, everyone heals faster.” —Shaun Noorian In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake is joined by Shaun Noorian, CEO and founder of Empower Pharmacy, for a conversation about how innovation and integrity are transforming the future of medicine. Shaun shares how a personal health journey led him to reimagine what pharmacy could be — one built around compassion, access, and individualized care. He and Dr. Ron explore how integr...
“When you understand the why behind illness, that’s when healing truly begins.” —Dr. Michelle Niesley In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake is joined by Michelle Niesley, ND, MS, FABNO—Chief Executive Officer of Riordan Clinic, clinical research, and naturopathic doctor specializing in integrative oncology—to explore how science, compassion, and curiosity come together in modern medicine. Dr. Niesley shares her path from research to leadership, the Clinic’s 50-year lega...
“True healing happens when medicine honors both evidence and intuition — when we use science to guide us, and humanity to connect us.” —Dr. Lise Alschuler In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake sits down with Dr. Lise Alschuler, a leading naturopathic oncologist, educator, and author who has spent more than three decades advancing integrative approaches to cancer care. Together, they explore how the next generation of oncology is being redefined through the union of meas...
Dr. Paul Anderson explores how integrative oncology has evolved from focusing solely on tumors to embracing whole-person care, addressing biochemistry, immunity, and lifestyle. He highlights the scientific understanding of the tumor microenvironment and environmental factors contributing to rising cancer rates. The discussion emphasizes the power of natural therapies like mistletoe and IV vitamin C, advocating for collaboration between conventional and integrative medicine to achieve better patient quality of life and treatment success.
"Cancer is not a single-cause disease. It’s a web of factors — metabolic, mitochondrial, emotional — and each patient needs a personalized path to healing." —Dr. Pradeep Nair In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake speaks with Dr. Manickam Mahalingam, founder of the Mirakle Integrative Health Center in Coimbatore, India, and Dr. Pradeep MK Nair, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research at Mirakle. They share how their center has pioneered an integrative model of cancer ...
“Toxins are everywhere — in our food, water, and air. They damage our mitochondria, disrupt metabolism, and open the door to disease.” —Dr. Richard Cheng In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, sits down with Richard Cheng, MD, PhD, ABAARM — physician, researcher, and editor of Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — to explore how environmental toxins and mitochondrial dysfunction are driving today’s rise in chronic illness and cancer. Dr. Cheng shares how decades of res...
"The disease is the oxidation. Oxidative stress isn’t what leads to disease — it is the disease." —Dr. Thomas Levy In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, sits down with Thomas Levy, MD, JD, cardiologist, attorney, and internationally known author, to explore his provocative thesis: that all disease stems from a single root cause — excess oxidation inside the cell. Drawing from decades of clinical experience and research, Dr. Levy explains how toxins, infections, and hea...
"If we can reset the memory of the stem cell back to zero, we can help the body create healthy cells instead of cancer cells." —Dr. Ilyes Baghli In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, speaks with Ilyes Baghli, MD, President of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, about his groundbreaking hybrid orthomolecular protocol. From Algeria to Japan, Dr. Baghli has championed integrative and nutritional approaches that target mitochondria, stem cells, and even ...
“Medicine is not just about treating disease — it’s about helping people discover health.” —Dr. Drew Rose In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Ron Hunninghake, MD, welcomes Drew Rose, DO, Riordan Clinic’s new Clinical Medical Director. A Wichita native, Dr. Drew brings deep training in internal and osteopathic medicine, years of experience as a hospitalist, and a passion for integrative, patient-centered care. He shares his personal journey from early health challenges, to global rotation...
“I had a daughter who faced cancer three times. After she died, there was nothing to do but to get on with it, and we’ve been at it ever since.” —Robin Daly In this episode of the Real Health Podcast, Dr. Ron Hunninghake speaks with Robin Daly, founder and Executive Chair of Yes to Life, the UK’s integrative cancer charity. Born from Robin’s personal journey through his daughter’s illness, Yes to Life has grown into a pioneering organization offering education, resources, and community support f...
“I could do everything right and still die, or do everything wrong and still live. Ultimately, my life was in God’s hands.” —Ivelisse Page What does it look like to face a stage IV cancer diagnosis, lean into faith, and turn survival into service for thousands of others? In this conversation, Dr. Ron Hunninghake is joined by Ivelisse Page, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Believe Big, to share her extraordinary journey of healing and hope. From mistletoe therapy and integrative care to the s...
