The Autoimmune Wellness Podcast

Episode 85: Developing Your Personal Health Vision with Jaime Hartman
When starting the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to focus on the details—what to eat, what to remove, and how to do everything “right.” But there’s a deeper question that often gets overlooked: what are you actually working toward?
In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Jaime Hartman, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, educator, and co-teacher of the AIP Certified Coach Program, to explore the concept of a personal health vision.
This conversation introduces a foundational mindset shift—moving beyond short-term goals and into a clear, personalized vision of what health means to you. Jaime explains how this approach helps guide decisions, build resilience, and create a more sustainable path through AIP and beyond.
Together, they explore how defining your vision can help you stay grounded, communicate your needs, and navigate the complexities of chronic illness with more clarity and purpose.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The difference between a health goal and a personal health vision
Why having a clear vision makes AIP more sustainable and meaningful
How different models of health (medical, holistic, and wellness) shape your perspective
Why a personal health vision acts as a compass during challenging moments
How to use your vision to make decisions about priorities, support, and care
Real-life examples of how health vision influences daily choices and long-term strategy
How your vision can help guide reintroductions and lifestyle flexibility
Why personal values, relationships, and purpose are essential parts of healing
Journaling prompts and visualization techniques to help define your vision
How to approach this process if you feel discouraged, disconnected, or unsure what’s possible

Resources:
Jaime Hartman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimehartman22/
Website: https://gutsybynature.com
AIP Summit: https://aipsummit.com

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory: https://aipcertified.com
Episode Timeline:
00:00 – Why AIP needs a bigger “why” beyond food rules
01:57 – Introducing Jaime Hartman
03:10 – What a personal health vision is (vs. goals)
05:57 – Medical, holistic, and wellness models of health
09:45 – Why vision matters in autoimmune healing
12:09 – How to use your health vision in real life
17:11 – Journaling prompts to define your vision
22:59 – How to begin if you feel discouraged
25:00 – Final reflections and encouragement

Episode 84: Troubleshooting AIP — How to Identify What’s Going Wrong | Deep Dive
When you start the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to expect a fairly straightforward path: remove certain foods, focus on nutrient density, support your lifestyle—and over time, feel better.
And for some people, that’s exactly what happens.
But for many others, the process feels more complicated. You might feel worse when you begin, struggle to stay consistent, stop seeing progress after a few months, or feel confused during reintroductions.
If you’ve ever wondered, What am I doing wrong? or Why isn’t this working for me?—you’re not alone.
In this episode of the AIP Deep Dive series, Mickey introduces troubleshooting as a normal and essential part of the process. Rather than seeing obstacles as failure, this episode reframes them as useful feedback—and gives you a clear way to identify what might be getting in the way and how to move forward.
Mickey explains when it actually makes sense to troubleshoot (and when it doesn’t), outlines the three main layers where issues tend to arise, and walks through how to make thoughtful adjustments without creating more confusion.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What troubleshooting really means—and why it doesn’t mean you’ve failed
When to troubleshoot vs. when to give the process more time
The three layers of troubleshooting: implementation, physiology, and medical factors
Common challenges in each phase (transition, elimination, and reintroduction)
Why lack of progress after 30–90 days may require a different approach
How to avoid overcomplicating the process with too many changes at once
Why mindset and patience play a key role in long-term success

Resources:
The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – A practical guide to implementing AIP with a focus on preparation, sustainability, and personalization
AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with food lists, meal plans, and beginner tools
Episode 52: Tracking & Preparing for AIP

Episode Timeline:
00:00 – Why AIP doesn’t always go as expected
03:05 – What troubleshooting actually means
06:32 – When to troubleshoot—and when not to
09:51 – The three layers of troubleshooting
10:15 – Implementation challenges
11:58 – Physiological adjustments
13:41 – Underlying medical factors
14:57 – Troubleshooting across AIP phases
15:07 – Transition phase challenges
18:59 – Elimination phase troubleshooting
22:41 – Reintroduction phase challenges
25:19 – The mindset of troubleshooting
27:41 – Key takeaways and closing

Episode 83: The Menopause Gut — A Gut-Centered Approach to Perimenopause with Cynthia Thurlow, NP
What if the return of symptoms in midlife isn’t a setback—but a signal? What if shifting hormones during perimenopause and menopause are actively reshaping your gut, your immune system, and your resilience?
In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by Cynthia Thurlow, nurse practitioner, bestselling author, and expert in perimenopause and metabolic health. Her new book, The Menopause Gut, explores how hormonal changes in midlife impact the microbiome, immune regulation, and inflammation—and what women can do to adapt.
This conversation is especially relevant for the autoimmune community. Many women experience stable symptoms for years, only to find new flares, food sensitivities, sleep disruption, or anxiety emerging in their 40s. We explore why this happens, how estrogen and progesterone shifts influence gut and immune function, and how to support your body through this transition with clarity and intention.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why perimenopause can trigger new autoimmune symptoms—even after years of stability
How declining estrogen reshapes the gut microbiome and increases inflammation
The connection between hormone fluctuations, histamine, and new food sensitivities
Why perimenopause is a time of increased autoimmune risk (and what that means)
How microbiome diversity influences immune tolerance and gut permeability
The role of stress, sleep, and the nervous system in midlife immune health
How bone density is connected to gut health and inflammation
Why “gray area” foods can become more reactive during hormonal shifts
Foundational strategies for supporting gut and immune health in midlife
How hormone replacement therapy (HRT) fits into an autoimmune-aware approach

Resources:
Cynthia Thurlow, NP
Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com
Instagram: @cynthia_thurlow_
Facebook: The Midlife Pause
Podcast: Everyday Wellness
Book: The Menopause Gut

Episode Timeline:
00:00 – Why midlife symptoms aren’t a failure of your protocol
02:25 – Introducing Cynthia Thurlow
04:20 – What perimenopause and menopause actually are
13:02 – How the microbiome changes in midlife
17:01 – Microbiome diversity and immune tolerance
22:47 – Estrogen, histamine, and new food sensitivities
30:57 – Bone density, inflammation, and gut health
37:37 – Practical strategies for gut and immune support
44:57 – Hormone replacement therapy and autoimmunity
50:31 – Wrap-up and closing

Kitchen Confidence: The Lazy Person’s AIP Meal Template (Small Bite) | Episode 82
If you’ve ever felt like AIP requires too much thinking in the kitchen, you’re not wrong.
Between figuring out what to cook, how to combine ingredients, and whether you have what you need, relying on recipes for every meal can quickly become overwhelming.
But AIP doesn’t have to feel that complicated.
In this Small Bite episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott introduces a simpler approach: flexible meal templates that take the guesswork out of cooking.
Instead of starting from scratch every time, these templates give you a repeatable structure you can use with whatever ingredients you have on hand—making meals easier, faster, and more sustainable.
You’ll hear about:
Why relying on recipes can increase decision fatigue
How meal templates simplify everyday AIP cooking
The foundational formula: protein + vegetables + fat
How to batch cook and mix-and-match meals throughout the week
The skillet meal method for quick, one-pan cooking
How to layer ingredients for better texture and flavor
The “fridge dump” soup and stew approach for using leftovers
How to build a satisfying, balanced “big salad”
Why flexible structure supports long-term consistency

You don’t need more recipes to succeed on AIP—you need a system that works on your busiest days.
Resources
The New Autoimmune Protocol – Pre-Order

Episode Timeline
00:00 – Why AIP can feel like too much thinking
01:09 – Template 1: Protein + vegetables + fat
04:41 – Template 2: Skillet meal
08:16 – Template 3: Soup or stew
11:40 – Template 4: The big salad
14:00 – Recap & next steps

Episode 81: AIP Community Update — Events, Advocacy & Research
Living with autoimmune disease is deeply personal—but the systems that shape diagnosis, treatment options, and long-term outcomes extend far beyond the individual. Research advancements, policy decisions, and community-led initiatives all play a role in what care looks like today—and what becomes possible in the future.
In this second Quarterly Community Update episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott zooms out to explore what’s currently unfolding across the autoimmune landscape. These quarterly conversations are designed to keep you informed and grounded—without overwhelm—so you can better understand the bigger picture while navigating your own healing journey.
This episode focuses on three key areas shaping autoimmune care in real time: research, advocacy, and community education. Mickey is joined by three returning contributors who bring both professional expertise and lived experience to these important conversations.
First, Sybil Cooper, PhD, immunologist and AIP Certified Coach, breaks down emerging research on CAR-T therapy—an innovative and highly targeted treatment approach that may transform how autoimmune disease is treated in the future.
Next, Jamie-Nicole Martin, chronic illness advocate and founder of the AIP BIPOC Network, shares insights from recent advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, along with updates on community-driven initiatives like the ROCK Summit and ROCK the Block, which aim to improve awareness, access, and equity in autoimmune care.
Finally, Jaime Hartman, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, AIP Summit organizer, and co-teacher of the AIP Certified Coach Program, discusses trends within the AIP community, including how coaching support is evolving and how more practitioners worldwide are integrating AIP into their work.
Together, these conversations highlight how innovation in research, progress in advocacy, and growth in community education are all interconnected—and why they matter for anyone living with autoimmune disease.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What CAR-T therapy is and why it represents a promising new direction in autoimmune treatment
How CAR-T differs from traditional systemic treatments by targeting specific immune cells
Why this research could shift the conversation from symptom management toward potential remission or cure
How advocacy efforts are pushing for increased autoimmune research funding and policy change
The role of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research and why coordinated data matters
Common barriers patients face with insurance, including step therapy and copay policies
How community-based events like ROCK the Block and ROCK Summit are improving awareness and access
Why advocacy happens at both the individual and systems level—and how they connect
Where people commonly get stuck on AIP, especially during reintroductions
How AIP Certified Coaches provide personalized support to help navigate those challenges
How the AIP community is expanding globally, with more practitioners and diverse specialties
Practical ways to find AIP-trained support and connect with ongoing education

Resources:
AIP BIPOC Network – Advocacy initiatives, events, and community programs
AIP BIPOC Network Donation Link – Support ongoing advocacy and programming
Autoimmune Association – Advocacy resources and policy initiatives
Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (NIH) – Federal research coordination efforts
AIP Summit – Annual event, replays, and community access
AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and global directory

Episode Timeline:
00:00 – Introduction to the Quarterly Community Update series
01:10 – Meet the recurring contributors
02:31 – Research update with Sybil Cooper, PhD
03:07 – What is CAR-T therapy?
07:08 – Future implications of CAR-T for autoimmune disease
10:33 – Advocacy update with Jamie-Nicole Martin
11:25 – Autoimmune Association fly-in and policy efforts
16:25 – ROCK Summit & ROCK the Block recap
20:07 – Upcoming initiatives from AIP BIPOC Network
21:49 – Community trends with Jaime Hartman
22:47 – How AIP Certified Coaches support clients
25:59 – Trends in the current AIP coaching community
28:50 – How to find the right AIP Certified Coach
32:02 – Closing reflections and wrap-up