Passage 1: On Endings (and the body’s first response to change)
The body often knows before we do. An email lands, a conversation shifts, a familiar rhythm we've relied on starts to fray. And even before we name it as an ending, something in us has already registered the change, signaling that we've stepped out of accustomed territory and into the unknown. Sleep patterns break. Appetite loses its usual shape. There's a hum of vigilance just under the skin.
Anatomy of Transition: Your Introduction to this Limited Series
The body tells the truth about change before the mind has words for it: sleep alters, appetite wobbles, attention narrows or scatters. That's because transition isn't just an event; its a process with its own anatomy. Something ends. There's a middle that asks more of us than we first imagined.
Longevity & Meaning
In this episode, Andrea discusses the gaps in the ever present conversation around longevity and health. Andrea posits that storytelling, meaning and fulfillment are essential to a life well lived.
What Your Midlife Symptoms Are Really Telling You
In this episode, Andrea discusses why burnout and fatigue might be guiding you toward your next act, not just another supplement. Andrea also shares how functional nutrition, narrative medicine, and deep self-awareness can create real, lasting healing.
What's Missing From The Conversation on Longevity
In this episode, Andrea discusses the unique challenges women face in midlife and beyond, why there’s no one-size-fits-all protocol for perimenopause and post-menopause, the role of hormone therapy, how Andrea applies the functional medicine matrix, why we need to pay attention to nervous system regulation, redefining identity and purpose as we age, and more.
Field Notes: Shapes of Sorrow
Today. July 16th marks my birthday. And later this week, the anniversary of Isamu’s death—twenty-three years ago.
These two dates live in tandem on the calendar. Just two days between them. And every year, I feel it—an invisible weight pulling through my chest, my breath, my skin. A kind of cellular knowing that this week hints at more than a passage of time. It’s another threshold.
Reclaiming Health through Functional Medicine
In this episode, Andrea discusses the importance of understanding the root cause of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. Listeners will gain insights on how this holistic approach empowers individuals to reclaim ownership of their health and navigate their wellness journeys with confidence.
Mending 11: boundaries
Welcome to mending, a monthly haven where words meet inner wisdom, and stories intertwine with the art of health and healing. At the heart of Narrative Medicine is a belief in the power of the human story. Words, among other human expressions, have the ability to enlighten and connect us to our most vulnerable or even seemingly insignificant moments in life.
Field Notes: The Arc of Aging
In the early morning hours—when the world is quiet and the page is still listening—I often find myself returning to the stories I’ve inherited, those I’ve told many times, and others I’m only just beginning to reclaim. Lately, as I explore the world of longevity, those stories have circled around aging—not simply as a biological process, but as a reflection of culture. A culture that tells those in midlife and beyond: you’re disappearing. Your symptoms are glitches. Your wisdom has an expiration date.
Field Notes: The Quiet Hours & The Stories They Reveal
Last time I wrote to you, I shared some thoughts about the stories we carry—about health, aging, and what it means to live inside a body that doesn’t always follow the script.Lately, I’ve been trying to listen more deeply to my own.
Mending 10: origins
Welcome to mending, a monthly haven where words meet inner wisdom, and stories intertwine with the art of health and healing. At the heart of Narrative Medicine is a belief in the power of the human story. Words, among other human expressions, have the ability to enlighten and connect us to our most vulnerable or even seemingly insignificant moments in life.
Mending 9: thresholds
Welcome to mending, a monthly haven where words meet inner wisdom, and stories intertwine with the art of health and healing. At the heart of Narrative Medicine is a belief in the power of the human story. Words, among other human expressions, have the ability to enlighten and connect us to our most vulnerable or even seemingly insignificant moments in life.
Wellbeing From Within
In this episode, Andrea discusses Narrative medicine - why ‘the story’ is so important when approaching health and wellbeing; how to practice ‘deep listening’ in your daily life; why connecting with purpose can be the key that unlocks meaningful longevity and much more!
The Interplay of Functional Nutrition & Narrative Medicine
In this episode, Andrea discusses how the conventional model—even when it's labeled "functional"—often misses the most critical piece of healing: the person. We explore how narrative, nervous system regulation, and foundational lifestyle shifts are often more powerful than the next flashy protocol.
Mending 8: surrender
Welcome to mending, a monthly haven where words meet inner wisdom, and stories intertwine with the art of health and healing. At the heart of Narrative Medicine is a belief in the power of the human story. Words, among other human expressions, have the ability to enlighten and connect us to our most vulnerable or even seemingly insignificant moments in life.
Reframing Longevity
In this episode, Andrea discusses what’s missing from the current discourse about longevity; how to switch the conversation to be about aging with purpose, grace, and dignity; and how we can develop better filters when we're being “sold” anti-aging products or strategies.
Your Purpose is the Key to Healing
In this episode, Andrea discusses the power of functional nutrition; how food, lifestyle, and mindset play a role in healing; how understanding your body’s unique needs is the key to long-term health; how we can advocate for our own well-being; and practical tips to start healing from the inside out.
The Medicine in Belonging
Belonging is a deeply human need. It's more than being surrounded by others, part of the herd or crowd. It’s about feeling seen, accepted, and understood for who we truly are. And it doesn’t always require big gestures, grand summons, or the gravitational pull of a mob. Sometimes, it’s just an unspoken understanding, care without question, a connection that quietly binds us.
The Role of Narrative Medicine in Understanding Your Body's Story
In this episode, Andrea discusses the gaps in traditional healthcare, the shifting perspective of a "healing journey", the three tiers of nutritional mastery, the role of Narrative Medicine in recovery and much more.
The Power Of Narrative Medicine For Improved Health And Wellness
In this episode, Andrea shares how engaging with the humanities (like poetry, art, and storytelling) cultivates deeper listening and understanding of who we are. She underscores that this deeper connection can facilitate healing, especially for women navigating significant hormonal and life changes in perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.