Sleep isn’t just about whether your child seems tired. It can influence their mood, behavior, concentration, immune function, physical health, growth, and ability to learn. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan sits down with JaNae Haycock, certified pediatric nurse practitioner, pediatric sleep specialist, and founder of Sleep Stars Kids, to unpack why children’s sleep deserves much more attention.

With 25 years of experience in pediatric healthcare, JaNae has helped thousands of children and families navigate medical and behavioral sleep challenges. She breaks down what healthy sleep can look like from infancy through the teenage years, why routines matter, how genetics can influence sleep, and the impact phones and screens may have at bedtime. Susan and JaNae also discuss how poor sleep can sometimes show up as hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, trouble concentrating, anxiety, or poor academic performance. Plus, JaNae shares important red flags parents should know, including snoring, breathing disruptions, extreme daytime sleepiness, and excessive restlessness.

In This Episode:

• How much sleep children actually need at different ages
• The connection between poor sleep, behavior, mood, learning, and physical health
• Why some sleep issues can look similar to symptoms associated with ADHD
• How genetics, routines, screens, and environment can influence sleep
• Why snoring and restless sleep in children shouldn’t automatically be considered normal
• Sleep disorder red flags that may warrant further evaluation

Learn more about our guest JaNae Haycock:

JaNae Haycock is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and the founder of SleepStars Kids. She earned her master’s degree in nursing and has spent the past 25 years working in pediatric healthcare. After years working in pediatric primary care, JaNae specialized in sleep medicine, helping thousands of children conquer complex medical and behavioral sleep struggles. Today, she runs a virtual behavioral sleep medicine practice for families in Colorado, where she is licensed as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

She created SleepStars Kids to expand her reach, bringing her expertise to parents worldwide through dedicated one-on-one coaching and self-guided educational tools.

JaNae breaks down complex medical insights into actionable, easy-to-understand advice. As a mother of four who has faced her own fair share of sleepless nights, she knows there is no one-size-fits-all sleep solution. She blends her clinical expertise with practical, compassionate strategies, tailored to fit the unique needs of every parent and child. When she’s not helping families get the rest they need, she can be found enjoying the great outdoors in beautiful Colorado.

RESOURCES:

Connect with JaNae Haycock:

Website: https://www.sleepstarskids.com/

Facebook - SleepStars

IG - https://www.instagram.com/sleepstarskids

Full Shownotes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/10/05/episode143

Connect with Susan:

https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

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Your brain and immune system may be more connected than you realize. In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with Dr. Jackie Kilraine, they explore how chronic stress, trauma, anxiety, pain, and a brain stuck in survival mode may influence the way we feel throughout the entire body. Jackie shares what she has observed through years of working with neurofeedback and discusses research exploring connections between brain activity, immune pathways, chronic pain, and neurological health.

Susan and Jackie also dive into the gut-brain connection, thyroid health, autoimmune conditions, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and what can happen when the brain remains hypervigilant long after the original threat is gone. They discuss neurofeedback and light and sound therapies, how Jackie uses brain mapping in her work, and why addressing lifestyle without considering the nervous system may leave an important piece of the puzzle untouched. This conversation is a powerful reminder that the body does not operate as isolated systems. To understand what is happening physically, sometimes we have to look at what the brain has been carrying.

In This Episode

• How chronic stress and an overactive brain may interact with immune pathways
• The connections Jackie sees between anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, and autoimmune conditions
• Why the gut, brain, thyroid, nervous system, and immune system cannot always be viewed separately
• What happens when the brain remains stuck in fight-or-flight and hypervigilance
• How neurofeedback and brain mapping are used to identify and retrain dysregulated brainwave patterns
• Research Jackie discusses around brainwave frequencies, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury
  
  

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dr. Jackie Kilraine:

Website: https://www.mydivinelife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiekilraine/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@expressingoptima4750

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/09/21/episode141/

Connect with Susan: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if the missing piece to better health isn't another supplement, diet, or protocol, but your brain? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Susan Robbins sits down with Dr. Jackie Kilraine, chiropractor, board-certified neurofeedback specialist, and fellow epigenetic human performance coach, to explore how the brain influences everything from stress and sleep to chronic pain, focus, and overall well-being.

Together, they unpack the science behind brainwaves, why so many people get stuck in survival mode, and how unresolved stress can shape the way we think, feel, and function. Dr. Kilraine explains how neurofeedback works to retrain dysregulated brain patterns, helping people move beyond anxiety, overwhelm, insomnia, and burnout so they can experience greater calm, clarity, and resilience. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" but still don't feel your best, this conversation offers a powerful new perspective on where healing truly begins.

Key Takeaways

• What neurofeedback is and how it helps retrain dysregulated brain patterns
• The different brainwave states and how they influence stress, sleep, focus, and overall health
• Why chronic stress and unresolved trauma can keep your brain locked in survival mode
• The connection between brain function, chronic pain, anxiety, and emotional well-being
• How genetics, lifestyle, and brain health work together to shape long-term wellness
• Simple ways to begin supporting a calmer, more resilient brain

Be sure to tune in next week for Part 2, where Susan and Dr. Jackie Kilraine connect the dots between the brain, the immune system, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, PTSD, and why calming the brain may be one of the most overlooked strategies for improving long-term health.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dr. Jackie Kilraine:

Website: https://www.mydivinelife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiekilraine/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@expressingoptima4750

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/09/14/episode140/

Connect with Susan: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What if the way we’ve been thinking about iron is missing a much bigger part of the story? Low ferritin, fatigue, anemia, iron supplementation, and infusions are incredibly common conversations in health and wellness, but according to Morley Robbins, we need to be asking a different question: Why is iron dysregulated in the first place?

In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan sits down with Morley Robbins, founder of the Root Cause Protocol and author of Cure Your Fatigue, for a deep dive into the relationship between iron, copper, energy production, stress, and genetic expression. Morley challenges many commonly accepted beliefs about iron and explains why he believes bioavailable copper plays an essential role in iron recycling and overall metabolic function. Susan and Morley also explore ferritin, thyroid function, histamine, methylation, vitamin A, parasites, supplementation, mitochondrial health, and why looking at one marker in isolation can lead us down the wrong path. This conversation will challenge what you think you know and, more importantly, encourage you to start asking better questions about what is happening inside your body.

In This Episode:

• Why Morley believes iron dysregulation is often misunderstood as iron deficiency
• The relationship between copper, iron recycling, and cellular energy production
• Why ferritin and other blood markers need to be considered within a bigger picture
• How stress may influence iron regulation, mitochondrial health, and genetic expression
• The connections between copper, thyroid function, histamine, methylation, and vitamin A
• Why Susan and Morley believe individualized health requires better questions instead of chasing isolated symptoms

RESOURCES:

Connect with Morley Robbins:

Phone:  847-922-8061

Email: morleyrobbins@gmail.com

https://therootcauseprotocol.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/therootcauseprotocol/

Articles Mentioned:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/medical-hypotheses/vol/71/issue/2

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links on LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/09/07/episode139/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

What happens when you’re doing everything you think is healthy, but your body keeps telling you something is wrong? In Part 2 of this special sister series, Susan sits down with Leslie to share her deeply personal journey from exhaustion, weight gain, brain fog, hormone struggles, and constant self-diagnosing to finally understanding what her individual body needed.

Leslie had spent years immersed in natural health, researching symptoms and trying to make informed choices. But by the time she came to Susan, she was exhausted, taking two- to three-hour naps, struggling to think clearly, gaining weight despite her efforts, and navigating hormone therapy that wasn’t addressing the complete picture- and making things worse. By looking at Leslie’s genetics, labs, lifestyle, stress response, metabolism, hormones, and nutrition together, they uncovered connections that had previously been missed. Today, Leslie is 37 pounds down, no longer relying on daily naps, has significantly more energy, and feels like she has her life back. Her story is a powerful reminder that knowing what is generally “healthy” is not the same as knowing what is healthy for YOU.

In This Episode:

• Why years of researching and self-diagnosing her health eventually left Leslie exhausted
• How hormones, insulin resistance, thyroid function, stress, and genetics were contributing to her symptoms
• Why foods and habits considered “healthy” weren’t necessarily supporting Leslie’s individual biology
• How personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes helped her lose 37 pounds without starving herself
• Why maintaining her progress through an incredibly stressful month became one of her biggest measures of success
• How her energy, digestion, daily routines, and overall quality of life have transformed

RESOURCES:

Connect with Leslie Adamson:

https://trinityanchoredformation.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/08/31/episode138/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

At 64, Pam has lost 45 pounds without a GLP-1, but that is only one part of her transformation. For years, Pam knew something wasn’t right. She was gaining weight, exhausted, frustrated, and tired of trying things that simply weren’t working. She and her husband had reached a point where they were sick of feeling stuck and didn’t know what else to do. But Pam’s story began to change when the focus shifted away from yet another generic plan and toward understanding what was actually happening inside her body.

In Part 1 of this special two-part series, Susan sits down with Pam and her sister, Leslie, to share the raw, real story behind their health transformations. They explore how genetics, labs, stress, metabolism, digestion, and lifestyle helped uncover pieces of their health that had previously been missed, including genetic lipid risks such as Lp(a) and phytosterolemia. In this episode the focus is on Pam. This conversation is about much more than a number on the scale. At 64, Pam has lost 45 pounds, feels dramatically better, and has changed the trajectory of her health by learning how to work with her individual biology. Her story is a powerful reminder that feeling better is possible at any age, and that sometimes the answer isn’t trying harder, but finally understanding what your body needs.

In This Episode

• Why Pam felt exhausted, frustrated, and stuck after repeatedly trying to improve her health
• How personalized testing revealed genetic and metabolic factors that helped explain what was happening
• What Pam learned about Lp(a), phytosterolemia (ABCG8 genes), stress, digestion, and their impact on her individual health risks
• Why weight loss became a by-product of helping her body function better rather than the only goal
• The lifestyle and nutrition changes that helped Pam lose 45 pounds at age 64
• Why feeling seen, heard, and understood can completely change someone's health journey

Come back next week for Part 2, where Pam’s sister Leslie shares her own very different journey, from overwhelming fatigue, weight gain, hormone struggles, and years of trying to figure out her health on her own to finally understanding what her body needed. Two sisters, shared genetics, but two distinctly individual and impactful health stories that will inspire you.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Pam Fowler:

https://galenoiabrainwellness.com/

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/08/24/episode137/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

MTHFR may be one of the most talked-about and misunderstood genes in the wellness world. Depending on where you get your information, you may have been told that an MTHFR variant is responsible for everything from fatigue and brain fog to poor detoxification, hormone issues, fertility challenges, and chronic disease. You may have even been told you need a specific supplement, detox protocol, or diet simply because of one genetic result. But your biology is far more complex than one SNP.

In this solo episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins is breaking down the facts and fiction surrounding MTHFR. She explains what the MTHFR gene actually does, the difference between a genetic variant and a mutation, and why having an MTHFR variant does not mean your methylation is "broken." Susan also explores folate versus folic acid, methylfolate supplementation, detox claims, MTHFR-specific diets, and why looking at genetics without considering labs, symptoms, lifestyle, environment, and the rest of your genetic pathways can lead to unnecessary fear and one-size-fits-all recommendations. This episode is about replacing fear with context so you can use your genetics as information, not as a prediction of your future.

In This Episode:

• What MTHFR actually is and its role in folate metabolism and methylation
• Why having an MTHFR variant is not the same as having a disease or diagnosis
• The difference between folate, folic acid, and methylfolate
• Why an MTHFR variant doesn't automatically mean you need methylfolate or another supplement
• How genes such as DHFR and other pathways add important context to MTHFR
• Why genetics should be considered alongside labs, symptoms, nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, environment, and health history

RESOURCES:

DNA Decoded: The Truth About Genetic Testing & What You Need to Know

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dna-decoded-the-truth-about-genetic-testing-what-you/id1736527617?i=1000700566833

Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/08/17/episode136/

Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links

P.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast