What if the anxiety, brain fog, low mood, or restless sleep you’ve been battling isn’t “just stress”… but a signal? In Episode 105 of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable, Susan sits down with functional medicine physician Dr. Jill Carnahan to explore the gut–brain axis, and the powerful ways your microbiome can shape neuroinflammation, mental health, and resilience.
This conversation is equal parts science and soul: practical, empowering, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever felt dismissed or confused by symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a box.
Why the Gut–Brain Axis Matters More Than You Think
The gut and brain are in constant two-way communication. Your gut “talks” to your brain through pathways like the vagus nerve, immune signaling, and neurotransmitter activity. And your brain talks back through hormones and stress chemistry.
When your gut is inflamed or your microbiome is imbalanced, that communication can become distorted, showing up as mood shifts, increased anxiety, fatigue, or a sense that your nervous system is always on edge. Dr. Jill breaks down how gut permeability (leaky gut) and inflammatory messengers can influence what’s happening upstairs in a very real way.
“Diversity is King”: The Microbiome’s Secret Weapon
One of Dr. Jill’s core messages is simple and powerful: microbiome diversity is everything. A diverse microbiome supports smoother digestion, stronger immune regulation, and healthier brain chemistry.
And here’s the key: diversity doesn’t come from the latest probiotic trend, it’s built through real food, especially a wide variety of fiber-rich plants. Fiber feeds beneficial microbes that produce short-chain fatty acids, which help protect the gut lining and support balanced inflammation.
When “Healthy” Foods Don’t Feel Healthy: Histamine, Ferments, and Your Unique Body
If you’ve ever tried fermented foods (like sauerkraut, vinegar, kimchi) and felt worse, stuffy, wired, anxious, or unable to sleep, this episode will click. Dr. Jill explains histamine intolerance in a way that makes sense, and why “good for you” foods can be the wrong fit for now if the gut is irritated or there’s an internal overgrowth producing histamine.
The goal isn’t restriction forever. It’s restoration, so your body can become more resilient over time.
The Big Takeaway: Become Your Best Advocate
This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to white-knuckle your way through symptoms. You can learn your body, trust your intuition, and partner with the right support. As Dr. Jill shares from her own story, cancer at 25, Crohn’s disease, and mold illness, your challenges can become a doorway into deeper understanding, clarity, and strength.
🎧 Ready for the full conversation? Listen to Episode 105 to learn how your gut might be influencing your mind, and where to start if you’re ready to shift the pattern.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Dr Jill Carnahan:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Tg7FE_TgHuCLGrHgP8sdw
https://www.facebook.com/flatironfunctionalmedicine
https://instagram.com/doccarnahan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillcarnahan
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 consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach - Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins
Learn more about our guest Dr Jill Carnahan:
Dr. Jill Carnahan is Your Functional Medicine Expert®. She is dually board certified and is the founder and Medical Director of Flatiron Functional Medicine. As a survivor of breast cancer, Crohn’s disease, and toxic mold illness she brings a unique perspective to treating patients. She specializes in searching for the underlying causes of illness through cutting-edge lab testing and personalized medicine protocols.
Released in 2023, Dr. Jill’s Best Selling book, Unexpected: Finding Resilience though Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith is a powerful prescriptive memoir that will have you laughing and crying with her on the journey, leaving you with the key resources you need to achieve optimal health and wellness. She is also executive producer, film writer, and featured in an award winning new documentary about her journey overcoming chronic illness called Doctor/Patient, now available streaming online and on Amazon Prime.
As a popular inspirational speaker and prolific writer, she shares her knowledge of hope, health, and healing live on stage and through newsletters, articles, books, and social media. Patients and fans alike are encouraged by Dr. Jill’s science-backed medical knowledge delivered with authenticity, love, and humor. She is known for inspiring her audience to thrive even in the midst of difficulties. Be sure to follow @drjillcarnahan on Instagram for access to all her content.
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.
