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The Trusted Pharmacist

Steve Hoffart

The Trusted Pharmacist Podcast pulls back the curtain on the healthcare industry, exposing the flaws in the system and empowering listeners to take control of their health. Hosted by pharmacist Steve Hoffart, this show delivers science-backed insights, debunks medical myths, and highlights natural and medical solutions that truly work.

Through candid solo episodes and expert interviews, Steve provides actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Whether you're looking to improve your health, understand your body's needs, or make sense of conflicting medical advice, this podcast is your go-to source for honest, practical information.

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 42 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • Thursday · 36 min

    A Small-Town Pharmacist Broke Down on TikTok. Here's Why.

    Your pharmacy might be busier than ever..and going broke. Small-town pharmacist Fair Jones went viral on TikTok the moment she couldn't take it anymore. People Magazine told her story. Now she joins me to explain what's happening behind the counter, and why your next prescription may not get filled. If you're like many people, your pharmacist is your first call when you or your family are sick. As Fair points out, " There are times in our town, people that just don't have extra money lying around to go to the doctor for every single little thing. And so they'll just call us and say, "Hey Fair, this is what's going on. What do you think?" We talk about what your hometown pharmacy actually does that mail order never will, what gets lost when a pharmacy closes, and how you can help prevent losing your pharmacy. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why your pharmacy might be struggling to pay for its next drug shipment How you're forced into brand name drugs instead of inexpensive generics The surprising share of prescriptions pharmacies lose money filling Why Fair had to sign an NDA just to see her own reimbursement contract How filling nine prescriptions for a stranded patient left her 88 cents profit One easy thing you can do to help keep your pharmacy from closing its doors Your hometown pharmacy isn't struggling because they stopped mattering. They're struggling because they're making a difference, but middlemen have made it nearly impossible to succeed while giving great care and service. For more information or to get involved, visit pharmacistsfightback.org, or ask your HR department who your PBM is. About the Guest Fair Jones, together with husband Taylor, owns Sav-Mor Drugs and Gifts, an independent pharmacy in Grenada, MS. She's also a PBM reform advocate and mother fighting for patient access and fairness. Follow Fair: @fairthepharmacist on TikTok and Instagram, FairRx on Facebook, Sav-Mor Drugs and Gifts in Grenada, MS or email: fairrx@realliferealreform.com. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • September 17 · 32 min

    This Decides If Your Hormones Work | Dr John Kim

    You've cleaned up your diet, optimized your sleep, taken all the right supplements. Maybe you're on hormone therapy or working with a functional medicine provider. But you still have fatigue and brain fog, can't lose the extra weight, and your microbiome isn't improving. What's keeping your hormones from working properly? I brought fellow pharmacist Dr John Kim, PharmD to share his perspective on cell mitochondria and how it governs hormone production, metabolism and receptor function. He's been through his own health journey, so he has a unique blend of expertise and personal experience as a patient searching for answers. What You'll Discover In This Episode The 'cell danger' response & what triggers it How the body 'protects' itself from hormone therapy & supplements Why progesterone can backfire & cause more anxiety How Dr John's heart attack at 33 revealed long-hidden root causes How overlooked drug interactions set patients up for failure P.S. Are you looking for hormone therapy tailored to your unique needs? Explore our bioidentical hormones and find the best solution for you: https://magnoliapharmacy.com/pages/bhrt-women. About the Guest Dr. John Kim, PharmD is a functional medicine pharmacist who helps patients uncover the root causes of their health challenges, with training in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. His own health struggles in 2015 deepened his understanding of complex, chronic illness, and his recovery from chronic infections, along with his work with families affected by autism spectrum disorder, shaped his focus on immune health and the body's underlying stress response. He is the founder of Kim Wellness, a virtual tele-wellness practice focused on hormone balance, immune health, and gut function, and speaks nationally and internationally on functional medicine. Learn more at https://drjohnkim.com/ About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • September 10 · 26 min

    The Fiber–Depression Connection No One Talks About w/ Dr. Oscar Coetzee (Part 2)

    If nutrition can affect anxiety and depression, what should we actually measure, change, and investigate before reaching for another prescription? Knowing that mental health can have nutritional and biological drivers is one thing. Knowing what to do with that information is another. Should we start with fiber, test vitamin D and iron, examine thyroid function, or investigate what is happening inside the cells? Without a clear approach, nutrition can easily become another world of guesswork, conflicting advice, and supposed quick fixes. In Part 2, we move from understanding the nutrition, mental health connection to identifying the practical next steps. Dr. Oscar Coetzee explains why the average American may not be eating enough fiber to properly support the gut microbiome, which nutrient deficiencies he prioritizes when evaluating mental health symptoms, and how thyroid function can influence mood and energy. He also walks us through the organic acids test and what it can reveal about cellular energy, nutrient status, neurotransmitter pathways, stress, detoxification, and microbial activity. In this episode, I continue my conversation with nutritionist, author, and speaker Dr. Oscar Coetzee. We explore how to investigate the biological factors affecting mental health without falling for quick fixes, why antidepressants should never be stopped abruptly, and the emerging probiotic research that Oscar believes could change how we support the gut and brain. What You'll Discover in This Episode Why fiber matters for the gut bacteria involved in producing the building blocks for serotonin and dopamine How the average American's fiber intake compares with the amount Oscar believes is needed to improve the microbiome Why fiber should be increased gradually instead of added in large amounts overnight The connection Oscar sees between an underfed microbiome and rising levels of anxiety and depression Why vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency are among the first problems Oscar investigates How anemia can affect mood, energy, and cognition, particularly in menstruating women Why B vitamins also deserve attention when evaluating mental health symptoms How selenium, iodine, and vitamin A support thyroid function—and why an underactive thyroid can resemble anxiety or depression The role omega-3 fatty acids and zinc play in supporting brain-derived neurotrophic factor How medication can provide short-term relief while nutritional deficiencies and other underlying problems are addressed Why Oscar is concerned about prescribing and combining multiple psychiatric medications in children and teenagers What an organic acids test can reveal that routine bloodwork may miss How this test can offer insight into mitochondrial function, B vitamin status, neurotransmitter pathways, cortisol, detoxification, and microbial activity Why mental health is too complex for TikTok remedies and one-size-fits-all solutions Why anyone taking an SSRI should never reduce or stop it without working with the prescribing healthcare professional How new technology is making it possible to deliver previously difficult-to-supplement anaerobic bacteria Why emerging probiotic research could create new possibilities for mental, metabolic, and immune health PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Dr. Oscar Coetzee is a nutritionist, published author, professor, and nationally recognized speaker, and VP of Clinical Education and Practitioner Support at Designs for Health. With more than 25 years of experience in nutritional science and research, he currently serves as a faculty member at the University of Bridgeport and Associate Director of the Nutrition Track within its Doctor of Health Sciences program. His work focuses on evidence-based nutritional science and developing nutrition intervention protocols for chronic disease. To learn more, visit https://www.designsforhealth.com/ or send an email to ocoetzee@designsforhealth.com. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • September 3 · 27 min

    Before You Increase Your SSRI, Check Your Nutrient Levels w/ Dr. Oscar Coetzee

    What if the antidepressant isn't failing because it's the wrong medication, but because the body doesn't have enough of what it needs to make serotonin in the first place? As a pharmacist, I've filled thousands of antidepressant prescriptions. But there is a question we rarely stop to ask before increasing a dose or trying another medication: Where does serotonin actually come from? An SSRI can help the brain reuse the serotonin that is already available, but the production of neurotransmitters also depends on what is happening elsewhere in the body. This means symptoms we identify as anxiety or depression may sometimes have more than one possible driver. Low vitamin D, iron deficiency, unstable blood sugar, poor digestion, inflammation, and an imbalanced microbiome can all influence how we feel. In this episode, I'm joined by nutritionist, author, and speaker Dr. Oscar Coetzee. We explore the missing nutritional and biological "third leg" of mental healthcare and why mood disorders can have a lot more to do with what's on your plate than you think. What You'll Discover In This Episode The overlooked question we should ask before assuming an antidepressant has "stopped working" Why the gut microbiome helps provide the raw materials the body needs to make serotonin and dopamine How nutrient deficiencies can interfere with neurotransmitter production even when someone is eating a seemingly healthy diet Why poor digestion may matter just as much as the nutrients we consume The "three-legged stool" of mental healthcare and the leg that is often missing How low blood sugar, anemia, and vitamin deficiencies can mimic symptoms associated with anxiety or depression Why a healthy gut depends on microbial balance, not simply eliminating every "bad" bacterium How toxins released by certain gut bacteria may contribute to inflammation in the brain Why two people with similar gut problems can experience very different mental health symptoms How genetics can reveal vulnerabilities without determining someone's future Why Oscar now considers diet, gut health, and cellular function before turning to extensive genetic testing When medication may be urgently necessary and why nutrition should complement, not replace, appropriate psychiatric care PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Dr. Oscar Coetzee is a nutritionist, published author, professor, and nationally recognized speaker, and VP of Clinical Education and Practitioner Support at Designs for Health. With more than 25 years of experience in nutritional science and research, he currently serves as a faculty member at the University of Bridgeport and Associate Director of the Nutrition Track within its Doctor of Health Sciences program. His work focuses on evidence-based nutritional science and developing nutrition intervention protocols for chronic disease. To learn more, visit https://www.designsforhealth.com/ or send an email to ocoetzee@designsforhealth.com. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • August 27 · 32 min

    Why You Never Hear About Estriol and How That Affects Your Health

    What if the estrogen missing from your hormone therapy wasn't left out because it failed, but because no one could build a profitable drug around it? Your body naturally produces three estrogens: estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Yet most hormone therapy replaces only estradiol. It is easy to assume that estriol was studied, found ineffective, and discarded. But that is not what happened. It didn't necessarily lose a scientific argument; it lost a business one, and over time, we mistook that silence for proof. That missing conversation matters because estrogen does not produce the same effect everywhere in the body. And this could help explain why some women see their hot flashes disappear on estradiol while continuing to struggle with mood changes, disrupted sleep, brain fog, gut problems, recurrent UTIs, or unexplained inflammation. Their treatment may not be failing; it may simply be addressing only part of the hormonal picture. In this episode, I talk about why you never hear about estriol, why it's not about effectiveness, and when to consider asking your doctor about it. What You'll Discover in This Episode Why your body produces three estrogens, while most hormone therapy replaces only one How estriol may have lost a business argument, not a scientific one Why the absence of an FDA-approved estriol product does not automatically prove that estriol is ineffective The crucial difference between a hormone binding to a receptor and fully activating it How estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta can produce very different effects throughout the body Why estradiol can successfully relieve hot flashes while mood, sleep, memory, gut, or inflammatory symptoms remain What research involving the brain, gut, immune system, and urogenital tissue suggests about receptor beta What human multiple sclerosis trials may reveal about estriol's potential immune effects, and what those studies cannot yet prove Why elevated cholesterol and metabolic health may further complicate estrogen receptor signaling The strongest scientific objections to combination hormone therapy—and why they deserve serious answers Why estriol being a "weaker" estrogen may be a feature in some formulations, not necessarily a flaw How poorly timed blood tests can make a compounded hormone cream appear ineffective What to ask your provider if your current estrogen therapy is helping, but you still do not feel like yourself PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Research Referenced in This Episode Every study below includes a PubMed ID (PMID), which you can use to find the original paper at PubMed. This episode discusses hormone therapy for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or a substitute for a conversation with your healthcare provider about your symptoms, medical history, and treatment. Estrogen Receptor Biology Binding affinities of 74 naturally occurring estrogen metabolites at estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Estriol demonstrated preferential binding to ERβ. Zhu BT, et al. Endocrinology. 2006. PMID: 16728493 Comparative transcriptional activity of estradiol at ERα and ERβ. Bhavnani BR, et al. Endocrinology. 2008. PMID: 18599548 Crystal structure research examining how estradiol interacts with ERβ. Souza PCT, et al. Scientific Reports. 2017. PMID: 28615710 27-hydroxycholesterol as a negative allosteric modifier of estradiol binding at ERβ. Starkey NJE, et al. Endocrinology. 2018. PMID: 29579190 Brain, Mood, and Memory Effects of an ERβ-selective agonist and estradiol on serotonergic neurons after ovariectomy. Suzuki H, et al. Molecular Psychiatry. 2013. PMID: 22665260 Antidepressant effects of estradiol and an ERβ-selective agonist after long-term ovarian hormone deprivation. Hou Y, et al. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 2019. PMID: 30565903 Effects of ERβ activation on synaptic proteins, hippocampal signaling, and memory performance. Liu F, et al. Nature Neuroscience. 2008. PMID: 18297067 Estriol treatment, cortical atrophy, remyelination, and neuronal preservation. Meyer CE, et al. Laboratory Investigation. 2023. PMID: 37245852 ERβ-mediated neuroprotection independent of peripheral anti-inflammatory effects. Tiwari-Woodruff S, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2007. PMID: 17785421 Gut Health Effects of ERα- and ERβ-selective agonists and estradiol on intestinal cell proliferation and apoptosis. Schleipen B, et al. Carcinogenesis. 2011. PMID: 21856997 The role of ERβ in intestinal tight junctions and gut permeability. Braniste V, et al. American Journal of Physiology—Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2011. PMID: 21252046 How the gut microbiome and the estrobolome influence circulating estrogen. Baker JM, et al. Maturitas. 2017. PMID: 28778332 Estriol and the Immune System Immune markers in postmenopausal women receiving oral estradiol. Itaborahy RM, de Medeiros SF. Climacteric. 2016. PMID: 27593223 Estriol treatment and changes in inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune signals in women with multiple sclerosis. Soldan SS, et al. Journal of Immunology. 2003. PMID: 14634144 Estriol-generated tolerogenic dendritic cells in an autoimmune model. Papenfuss TL, et al. Journal of Immunology. 2011. PMID: 21317386 Estriol and pulmonary inflammatory gene expression during influenza infection. Vermillion MS, Ursin RL, Klein SL, et al. Endocrinology. 2018. PMID: 30032246 Estriol regulation of TNF and IL-6 responses in a murine endotoxemia model. Zuckerman SH, et al. Inflammation. 1996. PMID: 8979148 Review of estriol's immunomodulatory role across multiple sclerosis and other immune-mediated conditions. Ali E, Mangold C, Peiris AN. Menopause. 2017. PMID: 28375935 Human Clinical Trials of Estriol Phase I trial of oral estriol in women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Inflammatory brain lesions decreased during treatment, returned after withdrawal, and decreased again when treatment resumed. Sicotte NL, et al. Annals of Neurology. 2002. PMID: 12436153 Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled trial of estriol added to standard therapy in 164 women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Voskuhl RR, et al. The Lancet Neurology. 2016. PMID: 26621682 Estriol Physiology and Ovarian Function Ovarian transplantation and immune function in post-reproductive mice. King A, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2023. PMID: 36755910 Route of Administration and Inflammation Changes in C-reactive protein among postmenopausal women using different hormone preparations in the PEPI trial. Circulation. 1999. PMID: 10500035 Effects of oral and transdermal estradiol on C-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers. Zegura B, et al. Atherosclerosis. 2003. PMID: 12732395 An Important Note About the Evidence This research includes receptor pharmacology, animal studies, and human clinical trials conducted in specific patient populations, most notably women with multiple sclerosis. These different forms of evidence cannot automatically establish that estriol will produce the same benefits for every woman using menopausal hormone therapy. There is currently no large randomized controlled trial directly comparing estradiol alone with combined estradiol-and-estriol therapy in postmenopausal women. There is also no equivalent trial establishing that estradiol alone replaces everything women may lose when natural production of all three estrogens declines. The purpose of sharing this research is not to present estriol as a miracle or to suggest that women who are doing well on estradiol should change their treatment. It is to show why the scientific conversation remains open—and to give women and their healthcare providers the sources they need to examine the evidence for themselves. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • August 20 · 46 min

    Better Sleep with No Sleep Aids? Neurologist Explains.

    What if your go-to sleep aid was keeping you from deep, restorative sleep? People come into the pharmacy every day looking for over-the-counter sleep aids or sleep supplements, so I reached out to neurologist and sleep expert Dr Stasha Gominak. She has a very different view on what's disrupting our sleep, and practical steps we can take to transform our sleep. What You'll Discover In This Episode How moving indoors wrecked the brain chemical our body needs How common sleep aids disrupt our body's natural sleep process The link between Vitamin D and sleep Sleep Trackers: The only metric that might actually be correct The dosing mistake that might push you into Vitamin D deficiency Practical dosing and timing for key vitamins About the Guest Dr Stasha Gominak is a former practicing neurologist and the creator of RightSleep®, dividing her time between helping individuals, through virtual coaching sessions and teaching clinicians and coaches how to use RightSleep concepts to improve their patients' health and well being. Dr Gominak completed a Neurology residency in 1989 at the Harvard-affiliated, Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2004 Dr. Gominak began to concentrate on treating neurological illness by improving sleep. She published a pivotal article in 2012 proposing that the global struggle with worsening sleep was linked to reduced sun exposure. In 2016 she followed with a second article linking the change in the intestinal microbiome to the epidemic of poor sleep, and described a simple process for normalizing sleep and the intestinal bacterial population, called RightSleep®. Learn more about RightSleep® at https://drgominak.com/ About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • August 13 · 43 min

    Menopause, Mitochondria, and Why Your Energy Has Gone Down w/ Jennifer Scheinman

    Why do mitochondria come up so often in conversations about energy and longevity, but rarely when women are trying to understand what is happening to their bodies in menopause? Most people have heard mitochondria described as the "powerhouse of the cell." But they also play a role in muscle function, recovery, cellular communication, and hormone production. As we age, damaged mitochondria can build up while the body becomes less efficient at clearing them away. Could some of the fatigue, brain fog, reduced strength, and poor recovery women are told to accept as part of menopause or aging also be connected to declining mitochondrial health? Perimenopause dietitian-nutritionist, Jen Scheinman, explains why mitochondria deserve a bigger place in the menopause conversation. We explore the connection between estrogen and mitochondrial function, how mitophagy helps remove damaged mitochondria, and how urolithin A may support that process. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why mitochondria are often overlooked in menopause conversations What mitochondria do beyond producing energy How mitochondrial decline may contribute to fatigue and poor recovery The connection between estrogen and mitochondrial function What mitophagy is and why it slows with age How urolithin A supports mitochondrial cleanup How urolithin A differs from CoQ10 and NAD boosters What the research suggests about strength, endurance, and recovery Why mitochondrial support cannot replace sleep, exercise, and nutrition PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Jen Scheinman is a perimenopause dietitian-nutritionist, longevity and healthy aging expert, and women's health advocate. She holds a master's degree in integrative and functional nutrition and is the founder of Next Jen Health. Jen also serves as Director of Science Communication at Timeline, where she helps translate emerging research on mitochondrial health, nutrition, and aging into practical guidance people can use to support their health and longevity. Her expertise has been featured in publications including Vogue, Glamour, Mindbodygreen, and Eat This, Not That! To learn more, visit timeline.com and follow Jennifer on Instagram. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • August 6 · 29 min

    The Hidden Side Effects of Cholesterol, Diabetes & Acid Reflux Medications

    What if the medication that's helping one health problem is quietly contributing to another? Many of the most commonly prescribed medications for cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflux, allergies, anxiety, and pain can affect nutrient levels, hormones, sleep, memory, and energy over time. But common doesn't mean the medication is harmless. In this episode, I explain why medications should never be put on autopilot. From statins and metformin to acid blockers and antidepressants, I share the questions every patient should be asking to better understand the long-term effects of the medications they take every day. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why "normal" blood work doesn't always tell the whole story How common diabetes medications may contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and nerve problems The hidden nutrient deficiencies linked to acid reflux medications What statins can (and can't) tell you about your heart health and cholesterol Why some allergy and sleep medications may affect memory as you get older How certain antidepressants, pain medications, and anti-anxiety drugs can impact mood, balance, and cognition The questions every patient should ask before automatically refilling a prescription Why medications should be monitored just as carefully as the conditions they're treating PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • July 30 · 29 min

    Natural Thyroid May Be Changing: Is Your Treatment Actually Optimized? w/ Nat Jones

    What happens if the thyroid medication that finally helped you feel like yourself becomes harder to access? Natural desiccated thyroid has been used for decades, and many women prefer it because it provides both T4 and active T3. Proposed FDA changes have raised questions about its future, but they also bring a much bigger issue into focus. Why do so many women still struggle with fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, cold intolerance, and low energy even when they are taking thyroid medication and their lab results are considered "normal"? Pharmacist and compounding expert Nat Jones explains what more complete thyroid care can look like for women in perimenopause and menopause. We explore why T4 alone may not be enough for every woman, how stress and cortisol can interfere with thyroid function, and how compounded T4/T3 therapy can offer a more individualized approach. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why some patients prefer natural desiccated thyroid to levothyroxine T4 vs. T3: why having both can make a meaningful difference What your options are if desiccated thyroid becomes harder to access Why women still feel hypothyroid when their TSH is "normal" How compounded T4 and T3 can be customized to the individual patient Why standard thyroid ratios do not work equally well for everyone The overlooked role of cortisol and chronic stress in thyroid treatment The additional thyroid markers that may reveal what TSH misses How ferritin and nutrient deficiencies can affect thyroid function Why Hashimoto's requires more than simply replacing thyroid hormone PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Nat Jones is a pharmacist and internationally recognized expert in pharmaceutical compounding. After more than 20 years as a compounding pharmacy owner, he joined Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) in Houston, Texas, in 2014, where he serves in the Pharmacy Clinical Services Department. Dermatology is Nat's primary specialty, with additional expertise in wound and scar care, autoimmune disease, endocrinology, pain management, low-dose naltrexone, GLP-1 therapies, methylene blue, ENT, urology, and men's health. He has spent decades delivering continuing education lectures at medical seminars and webinars around the world and is known for translating complex compounding science into practical strategies healthcare providers can use. Nat was awarded Fellowship status by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists in 2010. He has authored numerous professional articles, e-books, case studies, and consumer publications, and has helped develop hundreds of innovative compounding formulations used by practitioners across the United States. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • July 23 · 36 min

    Menopause Skin Care: Collagen Loss, Copper Peptides, and What Actually Helps w/ Nat Jones

    What if all the work you're doing to feel younger and healthier on the inside isn't being reflected in your skin? As women age, collagen loss can accelerate, leaving the skin thinner, less resilient, and more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and a crepey texture. But there are ways to support the collagen you still have and help your skin better reflect how good you feel. Pharmacist Nat Jones joins us to explain what happens to women's skin as they age and what we can do about it. We explore the role of hormones, inflammation, gut health, and collagen loss, as well as emerging ingredients such as GHK copper peptide, estriol, exosomes, and methylene blue. His message? Supporting aging skin is not just about choosing the right ingredient. It's about understanding how the skin changes and making sure the products you use are actually formulated to work. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why your skin may not reflect how healthy you feel inside Why preserving collagen is easier than trying to rebuild it The connection between hormones, inflammation, gut health, and aging skin GHK copper peptide: how it supports collagen and skin renewal Why more copper peptide does not always mean better results The formulation mistakes that can make skincare products ineffective Why vitamin C and copper peptide should not be used together How estriol may support thinner, aging skin What exosomes add to anti-aging skincare The surprising potential of methylene blue for sun-damaged skin How long it takes to see visible changes in fine lines and skin texture About the Guest Nat Jones is a pharmacist and internationally recognized expert in pharmaceutical compounding. After more than 20 years as a compounding pharmacy owner, he joined Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) in Houston, Texas, in 2014, where he serves in the Pharmacy Clinical Services Department. Dermatology is Nat's primary specialty, with additional expertise in wound and scar care, autoimmune disease, endocrinology, pain management, low-dose naltrexone, GLP-1 therapies, methylene blue, ENT, urology, and men's health. He has spent decades delivering continuing education lectures at medical seminars and webinars around the world and is known for translating complex compounding science into practical strategies healthcare providers can use. Nat was awarded Fellowship status by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists in 2010. He has authored numerous professional articles, e-books, case studies, and consumer publications, and has helped develop hundreds of innovative compounding formulations used by practitioners across the United States. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • July 16 · 48 min

    Lexi Yoo on Perimenopause, Peptides, and Hormone Strategies That Actually Work

    Perimenopause, testosterone, estrogen patches, pellets, and peptides are finally getting the attention they should have had years ago. More women are asking better questions. More providers are taking symptoms seriously. And more patients are realizing that brain fog, poor sleep, weight gain, anxiety, joint pain, skin changes, and muscle loss are not things they simply have to tolerate. But this hormone renaissance isn't always a good thing. When every social media post is talking about hormones like they are magic, some very important points and questions get missed. Are we using hormones, peptides, GLP-1s, or regenerative therapies in the right order, for the right patient, with the right testing, the right monitoring, and the right clinical judgment? In this episode, I'm joined by women's health, hormone and peptide expert Lexi Yoo. We talk about what women and practitioners are still getting wrong about hormone therapy, how to think about estrogen delivery when patches are hard to find, and why peptides should sit on top of the foundations rather than replace them. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why women don't have to wait until they are fully menopausal to start talking about hormone therapy The hormone myth Lexi wishes would disappear, especially around testosterone and women's brain health How perimenopause can change cycles, sleep, mood, metabolism, stress tolerance, and body composition Why symptoms matter, but testing still plays a critical role in responsible hormone care Why hormone therapy isn't automatically off-limits for women with a family history of breast cancer Why estrogen patches are becoming harder to find, and what other options may be worth discussing with a knowledgeable provider How pellets can be helpful for some women, and why poor monitoring creates so many bad experiences How hormone metabolites can reveal whether the body is processing estrogen in a favorable or unfavorable way Why gut health, detox pathways, methylation, bowel regularity, and inflammation can all affect hormone outcomes How peptides like BPC-157, tesamorelin, thymosin beta-4, and GHK-Cu may be used in gut health, recovery, body composition, skin, and hair conversations Why peptide sourcing, provider education, pharmacy quality, consent, and follow-up matter so much How the peptide conversation has been distorted by black-market products, online misinformation, and regulatory confusion Why GLP-1s can be a net positive when used correctly, but risky when prescribed without body composition monitoring Why muscle preservation has to be part of every serious weight loss conversation What women entering their 40s, 50s, and beyond should understand about hormones, strength training, skin, collagen, recovery, and long-term health PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Lexi Yoo is a double board-certified nurse practitioner, functional medicine–certified clinician, women's health expert, and longevity medicine educator. She is the CEO of Yoo Direct Health, where she helps patients get to the root of complex hormone, metabolic, and wellness concerns through a more comprehensive, functional medicine approach. Her work is especially focused on the women who have been dismissed, rushed, or told to "come back when it gets worse" despite struggling with symptoms like brain fog, poor sleep, weight changes, anxiety, low libido, fatigue, skin changes, and the physical shifts of perimenopause and menopause. In addition to seeing patients clinically, Lexi trains and mentors other providers through her academy, helping clinicians better understand hormone therapy, peptides, GLP-1s, body composition, aesthetics, and longevity medicine. Her work lives at the intersection of clinical care and education, with a focus on helping both patients and providers approach women's health with more precision, curiosity, and clinical judgment. To learn more, visit https://lexiyoonp.com/ and follow Lexi on Instagram. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • July 9 · 51 min

    Dr. LaKeischa McMillan on How Perimenopause Affects Sex, Skin, Stress, and More

    Perimenopause and menopause are inevitable. But you can either crash into this transition or glide into it, and a few key factors make all the difference. This phase can feel like your entire body changed overnight and you didn't get the memo. Suddenly, you feel like a foreigner in your own skin. The clothes that used to feel fine suddenly feel irritating. Words disappear mid-sentence. You walk from one room to another and forget what you were doing. You're used to being sharp, capable, and dependable, but now getting ready, getting out the door, leading a meeting, keeping up at work, or holding the day together can feel harder than it used to. Then there is the part many women are least prepared to talk about: intimacy. Libido can shift. Sex can become painful, with burning, dryness, and discomfort showing up in ways they never used to. Then there's the impact this can have on your relationships and how this phase can leave you feeling confused, disconnected, and alone. But it doesn't have to be this way. Women are often told they have to push through or just accept this as a part of aging and carry the blame for how their bodies are changing. To glide into perimenopause and not crash, you need healthcare practitioners who understand that "normal labs" do not always tell the whole story. You need real conversations about estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, vaginal health, stress, sleep, metabolism, and the nervous system. You need a partner who listens without making the changes personal, and families, workplaces, and communities that understand this transition is real and support you. And you need to face an uncomfortable truth: that the stress, over-functioning, and constant responsibility that you used to carry effortlessly just won't work the same way anymore. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. LaKeischa McMillan, an OB-GYN, hormone expert, author, and speaker known as "The International Menopause Whisperer." We talk about what is really happening in the body during perimenopause and menopause, why some women feel blindsided by the transition, how stress can shape the experience, why progesterone deserves a much bigger conversation, why vaginal health is medical health, and how the right support can help women move through this season with more clarity, confidence, and care. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Menopause is bigger than the ovaries Perimenopause and menopause are not just sex-hormone events. Adrenals, gut, thyroid, brain chemistry, metabolism, and nervous system all shape this transition. What gets missed when women are treated as if only their ovaries are changing? The problem with "no uterus, no progesterone" Progesterone is often treated as estrogen's "accountability partner," or as something women only need if they have a uterus. But its role may extend into sleep, calm, anxiety, palpitations, and overall quality of life. How many women are missing support because progesterone has been framed too narrowly? Vaginal symptoms are medical, not personal Burning, dryness, painful sex, and vaginal atrophy are often misdiagnosed. How much confusion and distress could be avoided if women were given better language for what is happening in their bodies? Stress is not just a lifestyle issue Stress does not cause perimenopause, but it can shape how the body moves through it. When the adrenal glands and nervous system have been in overdrive for years, what happens when the body can no longer carry stress the same way? Partners need to listen before they fix Perimenopause can affect mood, touch, libido, patience, identity, and the way a woman feels in her own body. How can partners support women without blaming, minimizing, or taking the changes personally? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Dr. LaKeischa McMillan is an Integrative OB-GYN, hormone specialist, and Amazon best-selling author, the International Menopause Whisperer™. She's also the host of the Hormone Hottie Hotline™️ Podcast. Through her practice, programs, and writing, she helps women (and the practitioners who care for them) move beyond confusion and dismissal toward clarity, balance, and energy. To take Dr. LaKeischa's free quiz, go to hormonequiz.co or go to https://www.talkhormones.com/ to register for a consultation. Follow @drlakeischamd on Instagram and TikTok. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • July 2 · 40 min

    The Testosterone Conversation Women and Men Need to Have

    Most people think testosterone is either a man's hormone, a gym hormone, or a dangerous hormone. So when a man in his 40s starts gaining belly fat, losing drive, struggling with focus, sleeping poorly, recovering slowly, and feeling like he's not quite himself, he's usually told one of two things: his testosterone is "normal," or he should jump straight into replacement. And when a woman in perimenopause or menopause loses her libido, energy, muscle, confidence, motivation, and sense of vitality, testosterone often isn't even part of the conversation. But the truth is more complicated and more important. Testosterone is not poison, and it is not magic. It is a powerful human hormone that plays a role in libido, metabolism, muscle, mood, bone health, brain function, recovery, and overall vitality. The problem is that too many providers are either afraid of it, casually prescribing it, or treating one number on a lab report instead of looking at the full picture. That's why the testosterone conversation has to move beyond the simple question of whether someone is low or not. The better question is: Is the hormone signal actually working? In this episode, I'm breaking down what testosterone really does in both men and women, why "normal labs" can miss the bigger picture, how poor dosing and delivery can create side effects, and what patients need to know before starting testosterone. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Women need testosterone, too Testosterone can play a role in libido, energy, mood, muscle maintenance, confidence, recovery, and vitality for women. Why are so many women still left out of this conversation entirely? More testosterone is not always better Too much testosterone can convert into estrogen or DHT, raising the risk of side effects. How do you find the lowest effective dose instead of chasing the highest number? Testosterone can affect male fertility For men who want children, testosterone replacement can suppress LH and FSH, the signals needed for sperm production. What should younger men ask before starting therapy? The delivery method matters more than most people realize Creams, gels, injections, sublingual forms, oral products, and pellets all behave differently in the body. Why can the wrong route or dosing schedule create problems even when the hormone itself is appropriate? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • June 25 · 52 min

    Heart Disease Prevention: The Food Your Cardiologist Never Mentions w/ Dr. William Davis

    When it comes to heart disease, conventional medicine has told us the same thing: watch your cholesterol, take the medication if you need it, eat less saturated fat, and follow the guidelines. And most women do. They get the labs done, they fill the prescriptions, they cut the butter, and they trust that the system has thought this through. What they're rarely told is that the approach they're following has been shown, in study after study, to have almost no impact on whether heart disease actually progresses. The marker their doctor is treating, LDL cholesterol, turns out to be the wrong target. And the dietary advice they've been given may be making things worse. The thing that actually moves the needle looks nothing like a prescription. For thousands of patients, it started with removing one food most of them considered healthy. Dr. William Davis is a cardiologist and the New York Times number one bestselling author of Wheat Belly. He spent nearly two decades performing cardiac interventions before concluding that the system he was trained in was treating the wrong problem, too late. In this episode, he breaks down why the standard prevention advice doesn't work, what wheat is actually doing to the body, and what women can do right now that most cardiologists will never tell them. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Standard heart disease protocol doesn't always work Studies show it has almost no impact on whether coronary disease actually progresses. Why does the conventional approach keep getting recommended when the evidence doesn't support it? Wheat does far more damage than most people realize When patients cut wheat, they lost weight, reversed diabetes, and resolved conditions unrelated to their reasons for coming in. Why does one food affect so many different systems in the body? GLP-1 drugs may be trading one problem for a much bigger one. When weight is lost through calorie reduction, muscle loss follows, and the research suggests it may be permanent. What does that mean for women's long-term health? A bacterial strain that does things no supplement is supposed to do. Patients reported better sleep, muscle retention, improved skin, and mood shifts from something that looks like yogurt and costs almost nothing to make. What is this microbe actually doing, and why does it matter especially for women? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Dr. William Davis is a well-known preventive cardiologist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wheat Belly. He's also a major advocate in the health and wellness world. He is also the author of many other bestselling books, including Undoctored: Why Health Care Has Failed You and How You Can Be Smarter Than Your Doctor. Dr. Davis works to provide powerful, personally empowering health information that frees you from the doctor and the healthcare system. His newest book, Super Body, is available to order now. https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2026/01/what-is-a-super-body/. To learn more, you can also go to williamdavismd.com and innercircle.drdavisinfinitehealth.com. For Dr. Davis Infinite Health lifestyle tools, supplies, supplements, and "yogurt" making go to: https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/shop/. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • June 18 · 44 min

    Perimenopause Symptoms Women Shouldn't Ignore w/ Dr. Anna Garrett

    A lot of women hit their mid-to-late 30s or 40s and suddenly feel like their body changed the rules without telling them. They start waking up at 3 AM. Their anxiety increases, their weight starts shifting toward the middle, even though they're eating the same way and exercising the same way. And when they finally ask for help, their symptoms are dismissed, normalized as stress. Or they are told different things: either they're too young for perimenopause, or this is just a part of aging. But perimenopause is not always a clean, obvious hormone story. It can look like burnout, thyroid dysfunction, blood sugar issues, gut problems, stress overload, poor sleep, mood changes, or a body that suddenly feels harder to manage. That's why so many women (and clinicians) miss it. Dr. Anna Garrett, pharmacist and hormone expert, helps women understand what is actually happening underneath those symptoms. Her approach is not "everyone needs hormones," and it's not "just push through it." It starts with the person in front of her. What are her symptoms? What is her stress level? How is she sleeping? Is she ovulating regularly? Is she constipated? How is her body clearing estrogen? What role are alcohol, blood sugar, gut health, exercise, under-eating, or over-functioning playing? In this episode, we unpack why your body changes so much in your mid to late-30s and early 40s, and what to do when you're sure that you're not the way you used to be. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Perimenopause can start earlier than you think Women in their 30s and 40s are often dismissed because they don't fit the outdated picture of perimenopause. So what are the signs that your body may already be entering perimenopause, even if your labs look "normal"? Your symptoms may be signals, not separate problems How do you stop treating each symptom in isolation and start asking what the body is trying to communicate? It's not random insomnia Middle-of-the-night wakeups can be tied to progesterone changes. If sleep is the symptom, what is actually waking the body up? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Anna Garrett is a clinical pharmacist, functional health coach, hormone strategist, and midlife health detective. For more than 30 years, she's helped women understand their bodies, advocate for themselves, and create a clear path forward. Dr. Garrett's work combines clinical pharmacy, functional medicine, advanced lab testing, health coaching, and mindset support to help women in midlife feel clearer, stronger, energized, and in control. To learn more, visit https://drannagarrett.com/, join her private Facebook Group, The Hormone Harmony Club, and follow her on Instagram. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • June 11 · 54 min

    Advanced Tests Don't Always Make You Healthier, Here's Why w/ Dr. Cheryl Burdette

    Food sensitivities and intolerances have become a much bigger conversation in health and wellness. More people are starting to wonder whether the foods they eat every day could be contributing to symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, skin issues, mood changes, weight-loss resistance, or inflammation. And because testing has become more accessible, many people are now ordering food sensitivity tests themselves, cutting out the foods that show up, and trying to figure it out from there. But for most people, that creates more confusion. Food sensitivity testing is still widely misunderstood. Some people dismiss it completely. Some people treat every result like a permanent diagnosis. And many people end up with a long list of foods to avoid but no clear understanding of what the test is actually showing them, why their bodies are reacting in the first place, or what they're supposed to do next. That's the problem. Elimination diets are not forever food ban lists. They were never meant to make someone's diet smaller and smaller until eating becomes stressful. They are meant to be used as a therapeutic tool: to reduce inflammation, calm the immune system, repair the gut, and eventually understand how and when foods can be reintroduced. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Cheryl Burdette, a naturopathic doctor, co-founder of Precision Point Diagnostics, and medical director for KHS. We talk about the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities, and why a food sensitivity test is only useful if it helps change the plan. We also get into the bigger issue with advanced testing in general. A lab result should not just give you a number, a list, or another thing to worry about. It should help you understand the process happening underneath the symptoms. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Elimination diets are not forever food ban lists Many people take a food sensitivity test, remove the foods, and then get stuck there. How are you actually supposed to use these diets? Food allergies and food sensitivities are not the same thing An IgE allergy can be immediate and obvious, while an IgG sensitivity may show up hours or days later. How do we understand the difference without oversimplifying either one? Leaky gut changes how the immune system sees food When the gut lining becomes more permeable, food particles and bacterial toxins can cross into places they do not belong, triggering immune reactions. What do markers like zonulin, LPS, diamine oxidase, and food antibodies actually help us see? Advanced testing should help you know what to do next Testing itself isn't the problem; testing without a plan is. How do we use labs to guide diet, gut repair, probiotics, immunoglobulins, antioxidant support, and prevention instead of just collecting more numbers? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Cheryl Burdette is a naturopathic doctor, co-founder of Precision Point Diagnostics, medical director of KHS, and Director of Education at Progressive Medical Center, which hosts a Naturopathic residency, at one of the largest integrative clinics in the Southeast. She is the co-founder of Precision Point Diagnostics, a laboratory that focuses on gut-based health and wellness. There, she designs clinical profiles and trains clinicians on their utilization. She has a rich history in the integrative medicine laboratory space. She designed and teaches the clinical curriculum for Origins Incubator, a practice management group that has helped to launch many successful practitioners. She is on the board of advisors for TheraDura Diagnostik, a German-based lab company. She serves on IRB boards, is involved in study design and translational research, and has lectured extensively worldwide. Dr. Burdette's passion is teaching about the practice of Integrative and Naturopathic Medicine, to increase awareness of evidence-based natural therapies, to both rule in and rule out tools that are effective in-patient care. To learn more, visit https://www.progressivemedicalcenter.com/ or send an email to cburdette@precisionpointdiagnostics.com. Resources Here are the five biomarkers Dr. Burdette recommends paying attention to: 8-OH-DG / 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine - oxidative stress/DNA damage marker Oxidized LDL - damaged LDL; discussed as more predictive for cardiovascular risk than standard cholesterol Vitamin D - broad immune, hormone, bone, brain, and inflammation relevance CRP / C-reactive protein — general inflammation marker Hemoglobin A1C — blood sugar/glycation marker, long before diabetes becomes the only concern About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • June 4 · 50 min

    Your Pharmacist's Role Is Bigger Than Prescriptions w/ Lauren Castle

    Most people still picture pharmacists as the people behind the counter, filling prescriptions, checking interactions, and putting pills in bottles. But the truth is, a growing number of pharmacists are asking a much bigger question: what if the answer isn't always another drug? For a long time, modern medicine has trained us to treat symptoms in isolation, but sometimes, the symptom is not the problem. It's the body's way of telling us something deeper is out of balance. What's interesting is that pharmacy didn't begin with synthesized drugs pulled off a shelf. Historically, pharmacists worked with plants, herbs, compounds, powders, tinctures, and preparations. They understood medicine as something closer to the intersection of nature, chemistry, and the body. In many ways, the rise of the functional pharmacist isn't a rejection of pharmacy. It's a return to the deeper roots of it. We're now in an era where functional pharmacists can help bridge traditional herbal approaches, modern science, nutrition, medications, supplements, lifestyle, and root-cause care. Not in a way that dismisses medicine, but in a way that asks: where is medicine needed, and where can we use lifestyle, nutrition, stress reduction, gut support, and targeted natural therapies to help the body heal? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Lauren Castle, PharmD, functional medicine practitioner, founder and CEO of the Functional Medicine Pharmacists Alliance, and board member of the Psychedelic Pharmacists Association. She shares how her husband's health struggles first opened her eyes to functional medicine, how her own hormone and grief journey changed the way she understands healing, and why functional pharmacists may become one of the most important members of a patient's care team in the future. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Symptoms aren't the problem… they're the signal We're often trained to lower the number, quiet the symptom, or add the next medication. But what changes when we ask what the body is trying to tell us? Pharmacists belong in functional medicine Pharmacists understand medications, supplements, interactions, biochemistry, and therapeutic decisions. So why aren't they more often treated as part of the root-cause care team? Your body may not be broken; it may be protecting you Hormone issues, burnout, amenorrhea, anxiety, and fatigue can look like dysfunction. But what if the body is responding intelligently to stress, under-fueling, grief, or unsafe conditions? Plant medicine is not "just herbs" From oregano and berberine to psychedelics and pharmaceutical compounds derived from nature, plant medicine sits at the origin of pharmacy. How do we use these tools responsibly without dismissing their power? Psychedelics are not magic pills Psychedelic therapies may hold promise for trauma, PTSD, addiction, and mental health, but they require preparation, supervision, and integration. What does safe, ethical use actually look like? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Lauren Castle is a PharmD, functional medicine practitioner, and founder and CEO of the Functional Medicine Pharmacists Alliance, the first professional organization representing pharmacists in functional medicine, now nearly 5,000 strong. She holds a Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, is certified through the School of Applied Functional Medicine, and sits on the board of directors of the Psychedelic Pharmacists Association. To learn more, visit fmpha.org and drlaurencastle.com. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • May 28 · 32 min

    The Ultimate Vitamin D Guide: Best Dose, Sun Exposure, and Common Mistakes

    Vitamin D is a hot topic right now. Everyone's talking about it and supplementing with it, and I get countless questions on social media and in the pharmacy. "Am I taking enough?" "Is the specific dose I was told to take on social media better?" "Should I take D2 or D3?" Even though everyone's talking about Vitamin D, it's still so heavily misunderstood, and it starts with what people think it is. It's not just the bone vitamin; it's not really a vitamin at all. It works more like a pro-hormone, influencing immune function, hormones, metabolic health, brain health, inflammation, and thousands of processes across the body. And that's why it's so critical, and easy to get wrong. The first mistake people make: Thinking there's one dose of vitamin D for everyone. The truth is, vitamin D is very individualized; the dose you need is affected by everything from where you live, your skin tone, and how old you are. So you have to know your number and test your levels to see what your body actually needs. The second mistake is thinking you can take Vitamin D in isolation for it to work. To work effectively, Vitamin D actually relies on key co-factors like magnesium and vitamin K2, so if you're not also supporting those nutrients, you could be missing out on the full benefit. So how do you supplement your Vitamin D the right way? How do you know what to buy? In this episode, I walk through the truth about Vitamin D: why deficiency is so common, why "normal" levels are not always optimal, and why the safest approach is to test, dose, and retest instead of guessing. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Vitamin D is not just about bones Vitamin D acts more like a pro-hormone than a simple vitamin. What are all the crucial functions in our bodies that it supports? What are we missing when we only think of it as a bone-health supplement? Your Vitamin D dose should be based on testing, not guessing The same dose can produce very different blood levels in different people. How do you know whether your supplement is actually working? "Normal" Vitamin D is not always optimal What range of vitamin D should you be aiming for if your goal is optimization? Vitamin D can't work alone Magnesium helps activate vitamin D, while K2 helps direct calcium into the right places instead of soft tissues or arteries. So if you're taking vitamin D but not seeing results, what else might your body be missing? P.S. Are you looking for a high-quality Vitamin D supplement you can trust? Get our Vitamin D3 5000IU: https://magnoliapharmacy.com/products/vitamin-d3-5000iu About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • May 21 · 43 min

    GI Doc Reveals Why Your Gut Test May Be Misleading w/ Dr. Vivian Asamoah

    Gut health is one of the most talked-about areas of wellness…but it's also still one of the most misunderstood. Right now, it's very easy for someone to order a stool test, get a long report back, see a list of bacteria, parasites, yeast, or "imbalances." But here's the problem: more data doesn't always mean more clarity. And when we treat gut health the same way conventional medicine often treats symptoms, we end up recreating the exact problem we were trying to solve. Because the gut is not static. It changes with food, stress, sleep, circadian rhythm, trauma, hormones, environment, and even the season of life someone is in. A single test may give us useful information, but it cannot tell the whole story. And if we're not careful, we can become so focused on fixing the numbers that we miss the person sitting in front of us. So instead of asking, "What does this test say?" we have to ask, "What question are we trying to answer?" In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Vivian Asamoah, a triple board-certified gastroenterologist trained at Johns Hopkins who went beyond conventional GI care to pursue integrative medicine. She now leads Houston Gastro Institute and an integrative functional GI practice, where she helps patients look beyond "normal" test results and get to the deeper patterns driving their symptoms. We get into why microbiome testing has limitations, what comprehensive stool testing can actually reveal, how trauma and stress affect the gut, and why PPIs are more complicated than people think. Things You'll Learn In This Episode A gut test is only a snapshot, not the whole story Your gut can shift based on what you eat and sleep, your stress levels, and even your circadian rhythm. How does current gut testing miss this? The real question is not "What test should I take?" Testing only matters when it answers a clear clinical question and changes the next step in care. So before ordering another lab, what should patients and practitioners be asking first? Gut symptoms can start outside the gut Trauma, grief, perimenopause, and nervous system dysregulation can all shape digestive health. What happens when we stop treating gut symptoms in isolation and start looking at the full timeline of a patient's life? The truth about PPIs Acid-suppressing medications like Nexium, omeprazole, and pantoprazole have become really popular. How do we know when acid suppression is necessary and when lifestyle, nutrition, and root-cause work should come first? Guest Bio Dr. Vivian Asamoah is a triple board-certified gastroenterologist who trained at Johns Hopkins and did something that most GI doctors would never do. She went further. She pursued an integrative medicine certification because she realized conventional training alone just wasn't actually enough to fix her patients. She now runs Houston Gastro Institute and has built one of the most unique root-cause GI practices in the country. To learn more, visit https://www.houstongastroinstitute.com/ or follow Dr. Asamoah on Instagram and TikTok. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

  • May 14 · 49 min

    The Real Reason Antidepressants Aren't Fixing Your Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Gut Issues w/ Dr. Sakina Davis

    When a woman is dealing with brain fog, gut issues, irritability, and just not feeling like herself… There are usually two paths she ends up taking. The first is the conventional healthcare one. A ten-minute doctor's visit, a quick look at basic labs, and then a prescription (often including an antidepressant) before being sent on her way. But here's the problem: that path never gets to the root cause. Because when a woman presents with a cluster of symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, gut issues, and low energy, the default diagnosis becomes anxiety or depression. And for many people we see, that's not what's actually going on, there's a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. There's an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune issue, immune dysfunction, or there's a breakdown happening in the body that hasn't been identified yet. And what she's experiencing aren't random symptoms; they're signals. Traditional healthcare and 10-minute visits aren't built to uncover complex, multi-system. And you definitely can't solve them by layering prescriptions on top of symptoms without understanding what's driving them in the first place. You need time, context, and someone willing to look at the full picture. And that's where a root-cause approach changes everything. Because instead of asking, "How do we manage this symptom?" It starts with a different question: "What's actually causing this in the first place?" In this episode, Dr. Sakina Davis, a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in root-cause care, returns to the show. We unpack what's really happening beneath symptoms like fatigue, gut issues, and brain fog, and why so many women are being misdiagnosed or dismissed in the process. We get into how autoimmune and inflammatory conditions actually show up, the patterns most doctors miss, and what it looks like to take a more comprehensive approach to testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Things You'll Learn In This Episode Labs can look "normal" while your body clearly isn't Most standard testing barely scratches the surface. So if everything comes back "fine," what are doctors not testing for, and what actually reveals inflammation and immune dysfunction? What a deeper diagnostic actually looks like From expanded thyroid panels to inflammatory markers and immune testing, what does comprehensive testing really involve, and how do you know when it's necessary? Your gut might be the problem, even if digestion seems "fine" You can be eating well and still not absorbing nutrients properly. What does it mean if your body isn't breaking down food the way it should—and how would you even know? The test no one wants to do… but can explain everything Stool testing sounds unpleasant, but it reveals things that nothing else can, bacteria balance, inflammation, and digestion issues. So what can it actually uncover about your health that other tests miss? Guest Bio Dr. Sakina Davis is a Bioidentical Hormone Specialist and fellowship-trained physician with 20+ years of experience. She is recognized as a pioneer in functional and regenerative medicine. As the founder of Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center in The Woodlands, Texas, Dr. Davis offers a comprehensive range of medical and aesthetic services, with a focus on hormone optimization and weight management. Dr. Davis is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging, the Institute for Functional Medicine, and is part of the Longevity Docs group. Her approach combines cutting-edge treatments with a personalized, holistic focus. She is known for her dedication to patient care and for her active involvement in the community, supporting organizations like the Montgomery County Food Bank and CASA Advocates for Children. One patient shared, "Dr. Sakina Davis is very professional and spends enough time with you to treat the 'whole you'; everything is connected, and balancing hormones helps to treat and prevent many conditions." To learn more, visit https://woodlandswellness.com/. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 1M on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Stay Ahead with Steve the Pharmacist! Loving the show? Want more insights into how your body works? Head over to TheTrustedPharmacist.com and sign up with your email! You'll get the latest episodes, plus exclusive health tips to help you take charge of your wellness. Don't miss out – join me today!

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