When most people think about toxins, they picture heavy metals, mold, pesticides, or environmental chemicals. But what if one of the most overlooked toxins isn't something you breathe or eat—it's something you experience?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Pompa sits down with Dr. Amy, author of The Biology of Trauma, to explore how unresolved trauma can become a hidden driver of chronic illness. Together, they explain why the body doesn't distinguish between physical, chemical, and emotional threats, and why healing often requires addressing all three.
Drawing from personal experiences, clinical practice, and neuroscience, they reveal how trauma reshapes the nervous system, influences chronic disease, and—most importantly—how it's possible to rewire those patterns and heal.
One of the biggest misconceptions about trauma is that it only applies to catastrophic events.
Dr. Amy explains that trauma isn't defined by what happened—it's defined by how the nervous system experienced it.
Two people can live through the same event and respond very differently. One may recover quickly, while the other carries the effects for decades.
The body records these experiences as survival patterns.
Dr. Pompa relates this to his own life. For years, he dismissed his childhood dyslexia as insignificant compared to other people's struggles. Yet the shame, embarrassment, and fear of being judged quietly shaped many of his behaviors as an adult.
Only later did he realize those emotional wounds had become part of his healing journey.
Trauma isn't about comparing pain. It's about recognizing how unresolved experiences continue to influence your body, your health, and your life.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Pompa returns to a central idea:
Trauma is a toxin.
Just as the body stores chemical toxins, it can also store unresolved emotional stress.
He explains that chronic illness rarely comes from one event alone. Instead, illness often develops when multiple stressors accumulate until the body's “bucket” overflows.
Those stressors may include:
When the burden becomes too great, symptoms begin appearing.
Many people describe it the same way:
“I've never felt the same since.”
Often, the final event wasn't the true cause—it was simply the last straw.
Dr. Amy's understanding of trauma didn't begin in medical school.
It began when she became a foster parent.
She welcomed a four-year-old boy named Miguel into her home after he had spent nearly his entire life in foster care. Because of severe behavioral challenges, he was on the verge of being placed in a group home.
She believed that love, stability, and a safe environment would be enough to help him heal.
Instead, she encountered violent outbursts, intense emotional reactions, and behaviors that seemed completely beyond his control.
Miguel wasn't choosing these reactions.
His nervous system had learned to survive through them.
Watching him transformed Dr. Amy's understanding of trauma.
She realized the body can remain trapped in survival mode long after the danger has passed.
That realization eventually became the foundation of her life's work.
One of the most valuable insights from the conversation is that trauma isn't stored only in the mind.
According to Dr. Amy, unresolved trauma affects three interconnected systems.
Trauma shapes beliefs about ourselves and the world.
People often develop deeply rooted beliefs such as:
These beliefs quietly influence relationships, careers, and daily decisions.
The body also remembers trauma.
A person involved in a serious car accident may later drive the same road and suddenly experience:
Logically, they know they're safe.
But the body reacts as if the danger is happening again.
The nervous system remembers what the mind has already moved past.
Trauma also affects the body's biology.
When the nervous system believes survival is threatened, it changes how cells function.
Energy production decreases.
Inflammation increases.
Detoxification slows.
Hormones become imbalanced.
Instead of focusing on long-term health, the body prioritizes immediate survival.
One of the most important distinctions Dr. Amy makes is this:
Trauma itself doesn't necessarily make someone sick.
Unresolved trauma does.
She shares the story of a patient who developed autoimmune disease one year after a car accident.
Initially, it seemed obvious that the accident caused her illness.
But as they explored her history, they discovered years of unresolved childhood fear and chronic stress.
The accident simply pushed an already full stress bucket past its limit.
Dr. Pompa compares it to his “Perfect Storm” model.
Illness rarely results from one isolated factor.
It's usually the combination of physical, chemical, and emotional stress that overwhelms the body's ability to adapt.
According to Dr. Amy, the nervous system constantly evaluates a single question:
Am I safe?
If the answer is yes, the body focuses on:
If the answer is no, survival becomes the priority.
That's when the body shifts into fight, flight, or freeze.
Unfortunately, many people never fully leave survival mode.
Dr. Amy identifies several common trauma patterns.
People disconnect from their emotions, bodies, or relationships.
They stay busy, numb uncomfortable feelings, or avoid vulnerability.
Despite wanting change, they sabotage opportunities or struggle to move forward.
The nervous system believes staying small is safer than growing.
The body conserves energy because it believes resources are limited.
People often feel exhausted no matter how much they sleep.
Many people unconsciously change their emotional state through:
These behaviors temporarily relieve emotional discomfort without resolving its source.
The body remains tense.
Shoulders tighten.
Breathing becomes shallow.
The nervous system never fully relaxes because it still expects danger.
Dr. Pompa draws an important parallel between healing and athletic training.
Exercise doesn't make people stronger.
Recovery does.
Stress without recovery eventually causes breakdown.
The same principle applies to emotional health.
Growth occurs when the body has enough capacity to recover after stress.
When recovery never happens, the nervous system remains trapped in survival mode.
One of the most practical lessons in the conversation is surprisingly simple.
Before working through deep trauma, the body must first experience safety.
Dr. Amy demonstrates this using a somatic exercise.
Rather than trying to think differently, she helps Dr. Pompa notice how placing a pillow across his abdomen immediately creates a feeling of comfort and protection.
His breathing slows.
His shoulders relax.
His body shifts naturally toward safety.
This illustrates an important principle:
Sometimes changing the body's state is more effective than trying to change thoughts alone.
Fortunately, trauma isn't permanent.
The brain and nervous system are capable of change through neuroplasticity.
Just as learning to ride a bicycle creates new neural pathways, repeatedly practicing safety creates new patterns within the nervous system.
Over time, the body begins expecting safety instead of danger.
That shift influences:
Healing becomes a biological process, not simply a mental exercise.
Another myth Dr. Amy challenges is the belief that cortisol is always harmful.
Cortisol is a protective hormone.
During stress, adrenaline rapidly prepares the body for action.
Cortisol then helps regulate inflammation and sustain the stress response.
The problem isn't cortisol itself.
The problem occurs when the body remains stuck in chronic survival mode, causing the normal stress response to become dysregulated.
Rather than trying to suppress cortisol, the goal is to restore the nervous system so it naturally returns to balance.
Healing from trauma doesn't begin by reliving every painful memory.
Instead, it begins by helping the body recognize that the danger has passed.
Some practical principles from the conversation include:
The conversation between Dr. Pompa and Dr. Amy offers an encouraging reminder that healing isn't only about removing toxins or treating symptoms.
Sometimes the greatest obstacle to recovery is a nervous system that never learned it was safe again.
Whether trauma began in childhood, through illness, loss, or life circumstances, the body is capable of change. By addressing emotional wounds alongside physical health, we create the conditions where true healing can take place.
The journey isn't about erasing the past—it's about helping the body realize it no longer has to live there.
What happens when life's deepest pain becomes the catalyst for meaningful change?
In this conversation, entrepreneur Andy Schoonover shares the deeply personal journey that transformed him from a successful business owner into the founder of a healthcare movement challenging the traditional insurance model. After experiencing both tremendous business success and unimaginable personal tragedy, Andy found himself asking bigger questions about purpose, family, and the future of healthcare.
Along the way, he discovered that some of life's greatest challenges can shape not only who we become, but the impact we're called to make.
Andy describes himself as an unlikely entrepreneur.
Growing up, he was a rule follower who preferred staying on the traditional path. Even while attending Stanford Business School during the rise of Silicon Valley, he didn't see himself joining companies like Google or Facebook. Instead, he chose a less conventional route by raising capital to acquire and grow an existing business.
That decision led him to purchase a medical alert company serving older adults.
Rather than simply responding to emergencies after they happened, Andy shifted the company's focus toward proactive health monitoring. By helping customers monitor blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other health markers before emergencies occurred, the company grew dramatically.
Within six and a half years, the business increased in value from approximately $10 million to over $100 million.
From the outside, it looked like the ultimate success story.
But when the sale was complete and the money arrived, something surprised him.
Instead of fulfillment, he felt a sense of emptiness.
The achievement he'd spent years pursuing didn't provide the purpose he thought it would.
Less than a year after selling the company, Andy and his wife experienced every parent's worst nightmare.
During a routine 12-week ultrasound, they learned their daughter, Grace, had a fatal condition called anencephaly. They were told she would not survive after birth.
For the next six months, they lived with the painful reality that their time with their daughter would be incredibly short.
Rather than withdrawing, they intentionally treasured every moment they had.
They traveled together, celebrated every kick, and embraced the pregnancy, knowing those memories would become priceless.
Grace lived just ten and a half hours after she was born.
The loss devastated their family.
Like many couples facing profound grief, Andy and his wife struggled to process the pain together. Each coped differently, and their marriage reached the point where divorce seemed like the easiest option.
Through counseling, faith, and time, they eventually found healing.
Looking back, Andy believes those difficult years reshaped him completely.
Instead of chasing success for its own sake, he began pursuing work that genuinely served others.
One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation is the idea that suffering often produces unexpected purpose.
Andy explains that losing Grace softened his perspective on life.
Before, his motivation had been driven by achievement and business success.
Afterward, relationships mattered more.
Serving people mattered more.
Creating something meaningful mattered more.
He now believes the hardships his family endured prepared him for the mission he would eventually embrace.
Following Grace's passing, Andy and his wife welcomed two healthy daughters.
While grateful, those pregnancies carried understandable anxiety.
The experience also intensified Andy's desire to protect his children.
That instinct eventually extended beyond his own family.
As he watched chronic illness become increasingly common among children, he began questioning why healthcare seemed focused almost entirely on treating disease rather than preventing it.
That question would soon become deeply personal.
After selling his business, Andy no longer received employer-sponsored health insurance.
He purchased an Affordable Care Act plan for his family, believing they were protected if something went wrong.
Then his youngest daughter developed recurring ear infections.
An ear, nose, and throat specialist recommended placing tubes in her ears after fluid buildup caused her eardrum to rupture. The procedure lasted only about fifteen minutes.
Weeks later, Andy received an $8,000 bill.
Shortly afterward, his insurance company informed him they would not cover the procedure because they considered it “medically unnecessary.”
For Andy, the experience was infuriating.
His daughter had gone from constant pain and sleepless nights to finally finding relief, yet the insurance company refused to pay.
Even more surprising, he later discovered the exact same procedure could have cost dramatically less if he had simply paid the physician directly in cash.
That realization led him to ask an important question:
Why was healthcare often more affordable without insurance?
As Andy researched the healthcare industry, he discovered what he believed was a fundamental problem.
In his view, both hospitals and insurance companies benefit when healthcare prices continue rising.
He explains that insurance companies earn revenue based on premiums. As premiums increase over time, their earnings can increase as well.
Meanwhile, hospitals also benefit from higher reimbursement rates.
According to Andy, this creates a system where neither side has strong incentives to reduce overall healthcare costs.
Patients, meanwhile, often remain disconnected from the true price of medical care because insurance obscures the actual costs.
The result is a system that many families find increasingly difficult to afford.
Rather than accepting the status quo, Andy decided to build an alternative.
He founded Crowd Health with a simple idea:
Instead of paying premiums into a traditional insurance company, members help fund one another's major medical expenses through a community-based model.
When significant healthcare events occur, the community contributes directly toward those costs.
According to Andy, this allows patients to negotiate directly with providers, often resulting in substantially lower prices than those charged through traditional insurance arrangements.
Over time, thousands of members have used the platform to fund medical expenses ranging from emergency surgeries to cancer treatment.
Another difference Andy emphasizes is prevention.
Traditional health insurance generally doesn't reward healthy behavior in meaningful ways.
Crowd Health attempts to encourage healthier lifestyles by offering discounts tied to metabolic health measurements, including fasting insulin and visceral fat levels.
The goal is simple:
Healthier members tend to require fewer expensive medical interventions, benefiting both individuals and the broader community.
Andy also explains that the community excludes smokers and individuals with obesity, believing this helps maintain affordability for everyone involved.
Perhaps the biggest difference Andy highlights is the human element.
Rather than interacting with anonymous insurance representatives, members work directly with dedicated care advocates who guide them through medical situations.
He shares stories of advocates supporting families not only financially but emotionally, including sending thoughtful gifts and checking in during difficult moments.
For Andy, those relationships represent the heart of the organization.
His goal isn't simply paying medical bills.
It's creating a healthcare community where people genuinely care for one another.
One of the most memorable insights from the conversation is Andy's reflection on success.
Selling a company created financial freedom.
Losing his daughter created purpose.
While money can certainly provide comfort and opportunities, Andy believes lasting fulfillment comes from serving others and building something that improves lives.
That realization continues to shape every decision he makes.
Dr. Pompa closes the conversation by returning to the podcast's central theme: pain to purpose.
Both he and Andy reflect on how life's greatest hardships often become the foundation for our greatest contributions.
Rather than allowing tragedy to define him, Andy used it as motivation to build something he hopes will improve healthcare for countless families.
His story serves as a reminder that purpose often emerges from places we would never choose to visit.
Andy believes losing his daughter transformed his focus from pursuing financial success to creating meaningful impact.
His frustrating healthcare experience led him to examine why medical costs continue rising and whether a different approach was possible.
Encouraging healthier lifestyles may reduce long-term healthcare costs while improving overall quality of life.
Healthcare becomes more personal when relationships, transparency, and shared responsibility replace bureaucracy.
This conversation goes far beyond healthcare policy or entrepreneurship.
It's ultimately about what happens when life's hardest moments redefine our purpose.
For Andy Schoonover, profound personal loss became the catalyst for challenging an industry he believes isn't serving families well. Whether or not someone agrees with every aspect of his approach, his story illustrates how pain can inspire innovation, compassion, and a commitment to helping others.
Sometimes the experiences we would never choose become the very ones that shape the work we're meant to do.
Optional: Fry on the stovetop over medium heat in 1⁄2 an inch of coconut oil until golden, approximately 3 minutes per side.
Fasting has been practiced for centuries across cultures and religions, yet modern science is only beginning to uncover why it has remained such a powerful health practice. While many people associate fasting with weight loss, its potential benefits extend far beyond the number on the scale.
In this conversation, Dr. Pompa explains why fasting may be one of the most effective ways to support the body's natural healing processes. From promoting cellular renewal and metabolic health to improving hormone sensitivity and gut function, he argues that fasting works by giving the body an opportunity to do what it was designed to do—repair itself.
More importantly, he emphasizes that fasting isn't about deprivation. It's about creating the right conditions for the body to restore balance.
At the heart of Dr. Pompa's philosophy is a simple belief: the body is designed to heal when obstacles are removed.
Rather than forcing the body to function through medications or constant interventions, fasting allows the body's built-in repair mechanisms to take over. One of the key processes behind this is autophagy, a natural cellular cleanup process where the body removes damaged or dysfunctional cells and recycles them for energy.
According to Dr. Pompa, this process supports healthier aging by clearing out cells that contribute to inflammation, chronic disease, and age-related decline. As old cells are removed, the body also stimulates stem cells to help generate new, healthy ones.
This is one reason he believes fasting should be viewed as a foundational wellness practice rather than simply another diet trend.
Many people assume fasting is simply another form of eating less.
Dr. Pompa explains that there is an important distinction.
Long-term calorie restriction often causes the body to lower its metabolic rate, making weight loss more difficult over time while increasing the likelihood of losing muscle mass.
Fasting, when done appropriately, creates temporary periods without food that encourage the body to burn stored fat while preserving lean muscle through increased growth hormone production and improved hormone sensitivity.
Instead of slowing metabolism, properly structured fasting encourages the body to become metabolically flexible—switching efficiently between burning glucose and burning stored fat for energy.
While losing body fat is often what attracts people to fasting, Dr. Pompa believes the greatest benefits occur beneath the surface.
Throughout the discussion, he highlights several potential advantages associated with fasting, including:
Autophagy helps the body clear away damaged or aging cells that may contribute to inflammation and chronic disease while encouraging the production of healthier replacement cells.
Rather than focusing only on hormone levels, fasting may help cells become more responsive to hormones, supporting better metabolic function and overall hormone balance.
Fasting allows the digestive system to rest while promoting changes in the gut microbiome. Dr. Pompa discusses research suggesting fasting may increase microbial diversity, an important factor for digestive and immune health.
During fasting, ketone production increases as the body shifts away from relying solely on glucose. These ketones provide an alternative fuel source that may support cognitive function and neurological health.
By reducing inflammation, encouraging cellular repair, and activating longevity-related biological pathways, fasting is presented as a strategy for maintaining health as we age.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Pompa shares several deeply personal experiences that strengthened his belief in fasting.
One story involves his wife, who was diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. After studying fasting extensively, he encouraged her to complete an extended fast before pursuing additional interventions. According to Dr. Pompa, follow-up testing showed significant improvement, and she has remained healthy since.
He also recalls a serious accident involving his son, who suffered severe injuries after jumping from a cliff into shallow water. While awaiting further medical decisions, his son underwent several days without food. Dr. Pompa believes fasting helped reduce inflammation and supported his recovery alongside medical care, allowing him to recover beyond expectations.
He is careful not to suggest that fasting is a cure for every condition. Instead, these stories illustrate why he believes the body possesses remarkable healing potential when supported appropriately.
One of the biggest myths Dr. Pompa addresses is the belief that fasting is the same as starvation.
He explains that starvation occurs when the body has exhausted its available energy reserves, while fasting is a voluntary period without food during which the body adapts by using stored energy.
Another misconception is that everyone should follow the same fasting schedule.
According to Dr. Pompa, fasting is a form of stress. Like exercise, the goal is to apply enough stress for the body to adapt—not so much that it becomes overwhelmed.
This is especially important for individuals with thyroid concerns, adrenal issues, or other metabolic challenges, who may benefit from shorter fasting windows and a more gradual approach.
Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all method, Dr. Pompa discusses several approaches.
For most people, intermittent fasting is the easiest place to begin.
Extending the overnight fasting window by delaying breakfast or finishing dinner earlier allows the body to experience periods without constant digestion while remaining sustainable for daily life.
For beginners or individuals with hormone challenges, partial fasting provides reduced calories and protein without requiring a complete water-only fast.
Longer fasts lasting several days are described as an opportunity to maximize autophagy and deeper cellular renewal. However, Dr. Pompa recommends working toward this gradually rather than attempting extended fasts without preparation.
According to Dr. Pompa, many people unknowingly reduce the effectiveness of fasting by making a few common mistakes.
Every person's metabolism, health history, and stress tolerance are different. A fasting schedule that works well for one person may not be appropriate for someone else.
More isn't always better.
Without regular periods of adequate nourishment, the body may eventually interpret prolonged restriction as chronic stress. Dr. Pompa recommends balancing fasting with intentional “feast days” that include sufficient calories and healthy nutrients.
After an extended fast, digestive enzymes and gut bacteria require time to recover.
Instead of immediately eating large meals, Dr. Pompa recommends gradually reintroducing food with lighter options such as soups, cooked vegetables, healthy fats, and fermented foods before returning to a normal eating pattern.
One of the most practical messages throughout the discussion is that fasting works best alongside healthy habits.
During eating windows, food quality still matters.
Choosing whole, nutrient-dense foods supports the benefits of fasting, while relying on highly processed meals can work against many of the body's healing processes.
He also encourages people to pay attention to their body's feedback. Energy levels, sleep quality, muscle maintenance, and overall well-being provide important clues about whether a fasting routine is appropriate or needs adjustment.
Dr. Pompa's message is ultimately one of simplicity. Rather than constantly searching for the next supplement, diet, or health trend, he encourages people to embrace one of the oldest healing practices known to humanity.
Fasting isn't presented as a miracle cure or a replacement for medical care. Instead, it is described as a powerful tool that may help activate the body's natural ability to repair, restore, and adapt.
Whether someone begins with a simple overnight fast or gradually works toward longer fasting periods, the goal remains the same: create space for the body to do what it was designed to do.
When approached thoughtfully and tailored to individual needs, fasting may become more than a strategy for weight loss—it can become a lifelong practice for supporting resilience, metabolic health, and healthy aging.
