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In this episode of The Healthspan Collective, host Nicole Doran sits down with Dr. Will Cole, leading functional medicine practitioner and bestselling author, to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic illness: shame. Dr. Cole introduces the concept of “shame-flammation,” explaining how unresolved trauma, chronic stress, and adverse childhood experiences can trigger the same inflammatory pathways as gut dysfunction, toxins, and hormonal imbalances, and why no amount of supplements will fix a nervous system stuck in survival mode.
Dr. Cole brings his signature blend of clinical depth and radical honesty to some of the most talked about and most misunderstood topics in functional medicine right now. From the rise of GLP-1s and what they might be doing to relationships and addiction patterns, to the overhyped parasite cleanse trend and the truth about MTHFR testing, this conversation cuts through the noise and gets to what actually moves the needle on long term health.
🔥 What “shame-flammation” is and how unresolved trauma silently drives chronic inflammation
🧬 Hidden signs of metabolic dysfunction in people who appear outwardly healthy
💉 GLP-1 agonists, dosing, lifestyle, and their surprising effects on addiction and relationships
🧫 The real story on leaky gut, parasites, MTHFR, mold, EMFs, and tick-borne illness
🌿 Tools for healing the emotional root of inflammation including EMDR, journaling, and vagal nerve work
🤰 Postpartum depletion, autoimmunity, and what functional medicine still gets wrong
Chapters:
00:00 What Is Shame-Flammation and Why It Matters
04:34 Trauma, ACE Scores, and the Inflammation Connection
09:06 Tools for Healing Shame and Regulating the Nervous System
15:20 PCOS, PMOS, and the GLP-1 Conversation
28:15 Hidden Metabolic Dysfunction in Healthy-Looking People
33:59 Parasites, Leaky Gut, and the Trends Worth Being Skeptical Of
41:47 Toxins, Mold, EMFs, and Tick-Borne Illness Explained
44:41 MTHFR, Mast Cell, and Long COVID
51:24 Postpartum Depletion and Celebrity Protocol Gone Wrong
58:26 Rapid Fire Hot Takes and Nonnegotiables
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