Our friendships aren’t just emotional support systems, they’re biological influencers. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable, Susan Robbins and Kate King dive into the fascinating science of how friendship impacts everything from your hormones to your gene expression.
The Science of Connection
Your relationships literally change your chemistry. When you feel seen, supported, and connected, your body releases oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, neurochemicals that lower stress, strengthen immunity, and promote longevity. These “feel-good” signals tell your genes that the environment is safe, allowing your body to focus on repair, balance, and growth.
But when friendships are filled with conflict, disconnection, or emotional strain, the opposite happens. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline surge, inflammation increases, and your body shifts into survival mode. Over time, this can lead to fatigue, burnout, or even physical symptoms that no specialist can seem to explain.
The Epigenetics of Friendship
Epigenetics is the science of how your environment, including your relationships, influences how your genes are expressed. The people you spend the most time with become part of that environment. Supportive, reciprocal friendships activate pathways that promote resilience and well-being, while toxic or draining dynamics can suppress those same systems.
Kate and Susan share personal experiences of how clearing misaligned friendships or setting healthy boundaries can create noticeable shifts in both mood and physical health. From pain relief to improved energy, your social circle plays a bigger role than most realize.
Communication, Reciprocity, and Boundaries
Healthy friendships require more than shared history, they need honesty, kindness, and mutual respect. Reciprocity doesn’t mean keeping score; it means both people feel valued and heard. Open communication helps regulate the nervous system, allowing both friends to relax into trust rather than tension.
Susan and Kate also explore how different health types experience connection, some thrive in large groups, while others recharge best in quiet one-on-one settings. Understanding these differences helps create friendships that honor both sides.
A Challenge for Listeners
Reach out to one person today, someone who nourishes you or someone you’ve lost touch with. A simple message, a phone call, or even a kind note can spark the cascade of positive chemistry your body craves.
Because friendship isn’t just emotional medicine, it’s biological. The people who make you feel safe, seen, and supported are literally helping your genes thrive.
RESOURCES:
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Publisher Link
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1421453479?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_2R3BGMCJAVY744SE9D3E_9&bestFormat=true
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Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links
Connect with Susan:
- Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
- Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE Personalized Health Strategy Session, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach - Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins
Connect with Kate King:
- Kate’s Website: https://TheRadiantLifeProject.com
Kate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theradiantlifeproject
Learn More about Kate King:
Kate brings nearly two decades of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and board certified art therapist, combined with her work as a Radiant Life coach to the table. She is also the multi-award-winning author of three powerful self-help psychology books. Kate’s work integrates epigenetics through a relational, behavioral, and intergenerational family trauma lens. She also incorporates brain and nervous system science with psychology, spirituality, and creativity for a dynamic approach to deep inner work and personal healing.
Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
Their Synergy
Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.
