Modern Thyroid and Wellness

What if the reason many thyroid patients struggle is not the condition itself, but how thyroid care is traditionally approached?
In this episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson continues the clinician interview series by introducing three more members of the Modern Thyroid Clinic team: Yari Tran, PA-C, Melody Volz, FNP-C, and Nikki Abelow, APRN. Yari earned her psychology degree at Texas A&M and her physician assistant training at Texas Tech, then began in neurosurgery and pain management before shifting into root-cause thyroid and hormone care. Melody trained at the University of Texas at Austin, became a family nurse practitioner in 2014, and brings both clinical expertise and her own history of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s to patient care. Nikki, a Florida-based APRN, graduated from Chamberlain University in 2019 after working as a cardiac nurse and later pursued additional functional medicine training through the School of Applied Functional Medicine.
This conversation gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how each clinician found their way into medicine, what changed their perspective on conventional thyroid care, and why they are so passionate about individualized treatment. Across all three interviews, a shared theme emerges: thyroid care is rarely simple, TSH alone is not enough, and patients deserve to feel seen, heard, and fully supported.
Note About This Episode
Hillary Mayers was originally scheduled to appear in this episode. Due to a technical error during recording and editing, we were unable to include her segment. We greatly value Hillary’s insights and expertise, and she will be featured in a dedicated solo episode in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
We truly appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this, and we’re excited to continue bringing you meaningful content in Thursday’s episode.
Episode Highlights
Why this clinician interview series was created and what listeners can expect from future parts
Yari’s early love of medicine, from bringing an anatomy textbook to kindergarten show-and-tell to becoming a PA
The hormone conference that changed Yari’s entire view of thyroid and chronic symptom care
Why conventional, insurance-based models make nuanced thyroid treatment difficult
Yari’s take on one major misconception: thyroid treatment is never one-size-fits-all
Melody’s personal story of being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s after struggling for answers as a teenager
How Melody learned firsthand that “normal” labs do not always mean patients feel well
Why Melody believes thyroid disease is not a life sentence when treated properly
Nikki’s path from nursing into functional medicine after her own health challenges led her to question conventional care
Nikki’s experience of being told a TSH in the 3s was “normal” despite obvious symptoms
Why Nikki is passionate about creating generational health by educating mothers and daughters earlier
The shared message from all three clinicians: patients do better when care is personalized, symptom-aware, and root-cause focused
Fun personal details, from Yari’s love of 80s and 90s country to Melody being a twin and Nikki’s love of cruising and Alaska

In This Episode, You Will Learn
Why many thyroid patients still struggle when care focuses only on TSH
How thyroid symptoms can be real even when standard labs appear “normal”
Why full thyroid panels, thoughtful medication choices, and individualized dosing matter
The difference between treating Hashimoto’s and simply replacing thyroid hormone
Why many women are dismissed with “you’re just tired,” “you’re just a mom,” or “it’s not your thyroid”
How proper thyroid care can restore quality of life, energy, confidence, and hope
Why clinicians who have lived through thyroid dysfunction themselves often bring deeper empathy to care
How Modern Thyroid Clinic’s approach combines education, empowerment, and precision

About the Clinicians
Yari Tran, PA-C began her medical career in neurosurgery and pain management before a hormone education conference reshaped her clinical perspective and sparked her passion for functional thyroid and hormone care. She lives in Austin with her two daughters and enjoys reading, running, and hiking.
Melody Volz, FNP-C earned both her BSN and MSN from the University of Texas at Austin and became a certified family nurse practitioner in 2014. Her own experience with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s helped shape her patient-centered approach to thyroid and hormone care.
Nikki Abelow, APRN is a Florida-based advanced practice registered nurse who came from a cardiac nursing background and later expanded into functional medicine after her own health challenges pushed her to look beyond conventional care. She lives in Florida with her husband and son.
📲 Follow McCall McPherson & Modern Thyroid and Wellness
💻 Website: modernthyroidclinic.com
🐦 X / Twitter: @thyroidexpert
🌐 Host Website: mccallmcpherson.com
📺 YouTube: McCall McPherson Channel
📘 Facebook: McCall McPherson PAC
📸 Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa

What if the reason you still feel tired after optimizing hormones is not your hormones at all?
In this episode, Michael sits down with Patrick Sullivan Jr. and Ashley Sullivan, the executive producers behind the new documentary Breaking Big Food: How the American Food System Went Rotten and How It's Being Revived. Their mission to expose the problems within the modern food system began with a deeply personal experience: Patrick’s thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Patrick shares the emotional journey of discovering a lump in his neck, navigating multiple biopsies, and ultimately undergoing thyroid surgery. The experience sparked a deeper question that traditional medicine could not answer: why did cancer develop in the first place? That question ultimately led the couple into the world of metabolic health, food quality, and environmental influences on chronic disease.
The conversation explores how processed foods, corporate food systems, and environmental toxins may contribute to widespread metabolic dysfunction, thyroid disease, and chronic illness. Patrick and Ashley also share insights from their documentary, including shocking discoveries about how tobacco companies once controlled a large portion of the American food supply.
Inspired by their journey, the couple also launched Firefly Organic Coffee and Market, a Scottsdale-based café focused on mold-free organic coffee and nutrient-dense foods. This episode connects the dots between food, stress, environment, and long-term health while highlighting how personal pain can become a powerful purpose.
👤 About the Guests
Patrick Sullivan Jr.
Patrick Sullivan Jr. is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and thyroid cancer survivor. After his diagnosis over a decade ago, he began exploring the deeper connections between food, environmental exposures, stress, and metabolic health. Patrick is the executive producer of the documentary Breaking Big Food, which investigates the history of the American food system and its impact on chronic disease.
Ashley Sullivan
Ashley Sullivan is a business owner, producer, and wellness advocate who works alongside Patrick in both their film and food initiatives. She co-produced Breaking Big Food and co-founded Firefly Organic Coffee and Market, a Scottsdale café dedicated to providing organic, mold-free coffee and access to nutrient-dense foods that support better health.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
Patrick’s thyroid cancer diagnosis and the stress of navigating uncertain test results
Why thyroid cancer often raises deeper questions about environmental and lifestyle factors
The emotional and physical impact of living with a cancer diagnosis
The influence of chronic stress on metabolic and thyroid health
How food quality can influence inflammation and long-term disease risk
The surprising history of tobacco companies acquiring major food brands in the 1980s
Why processed foods are engineered to be addictive
The connection between metabolic dysfunction and the modern food system
Small dietary changes that can dramatically improve health outcomes
The inspiration behind the documentary Breaking Big Food
Launching Firefly Organic Coffee and Market to provide clean food options
The issue of mold contamination in coffee and why sourcing matters

🎬 Resources and Links Mentioned
📺 Watch the Documentary
Breaking Big Food: How the American Food System Went Rotten and How It's Being Revived
Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
📲 Follow McCall McPherson & Modern Thyroid and Wellness
💻 Website: modernthyroidclinic.com
🐦 X / Twitter: @thyroidexpert
🌐 Host Website: mccallmcpherson.com
📺 YouTube: McCall McPherson Channel
📘 Facebook: McCall McPherson PAC
📸 Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa

What if the reason many thyroid patients still feel unwell is not their labs, but how their symptoms are being interpreted?
Today’s episode is the first installment of a multi-part clinician interview series on the Modern Thyroid Clinic podcast. Host McCall McPherson sits down with three of the clinic’s clinicians, Brandy Valentino, RN, WHNP, CNM, Jessica Strauss, DNP, FNP-C, and Krystal Adams, MSN, FNP-BC, LSO, to help listeners get to know the people behind the care.
Together, they share their personal journeys into medicine, what led them to thyroid and hormone work, and why individualized, symptom-driven care matters so much for thyroid patients. You will also hear candid conversations about medical gaslighting, obesity bias, the limitations of TSH-only testing, and why many people with “normal labs” still feel miserable. Along the way, the episode brings plenty of personality and behind-the-scenes stories, including Brandy’s early inspiration from a care flight helicopter tour, Jessica’s love of travel and Disney, and Krystal’s surprising connection to a military dolphin trainer story.
Episode Highlights
Why this clinician interview series was created and what to expect in future parts
Brandy’s story of being inspired in third grade by a care flight helicopter visit
Brandy’s background in labor and delivery, women’s health, and midwifery
How Brandy transitioned into thyroid care after questioning algorithm-based hormone protocols
What Brandy finds most meaningful: the “fast forward” moment when patients get their lives back
The misconception Brandy wants patients to understand: thyroid care is highly individualized
The reality of being dismissed with “it’s not your thyroid” and why that harms patients
Jessica’s personal experience of thyroid symptoms despite consistently “normal” TSH
How Jessica’s training included a more nuanced view beyond basic thyroid teaching
A powerful story: antibodies rising dramatically and an endocrinology response of “nothing different to do”
How obesity bias impacts care and how it can delay diagnosis and worsen outcomes
Why Modern Thyroid Clinic prioritizes listening, full panels, and patient empowerment
Jessica’s favorite part of the work: celebrating symptom improvement and life restoration
Jessica’s view: thyroid issues are not a life sentence when treated appropriately
Krystal’s early foundation in prevention-focused care and integrative medicine
How Krystal’s friend’s thyroid storm and Graves disease helped pull her deeper into thyroid work
Why hormones and thyroid must be addressed together, especially in midlife
Krystal’s experience diagnosing Hashimoto’s in patients who were never told they had it, even after decades
Common misunderstandings: antibodies matter, T3 can be life-changing, lifestyle can amplify results
A striking example: a patient’s TSH dropping from around 100 to under 1 with treatment and labs normalizing quickly
Behind-the-scenes fun: Hawaii, a huge family, and the military dolphin trainer story

In This Episode, You Will Learn
Why many thyroid patients still struggle when care focuses only on TSH
How thyroid symptoms can be real even when labs appear “normal” on limited testing
Why full thyroid panels and antibody tracking can change clinical decisions and outcomes
How gaslighting and obesity bias show up in real healthcare settings
Why thyroid and hormones often need to be treated together for best results
What “no one size fits all” really means in thyroid medication and dosing
Why treating symptoms alongside labs can restore quality of life
How thyroid support can become the foundation that makes lifestyle change possible
Why patients deserve to feel well in every season of life, including perimenopause and menopause
How Modern Thyroid Clinic approaches education, empowerment, and individualized care

Featured Clinicians
Brandy Valentino, RN, WHNP, CNM
Brandy shares her path from labor and delivery and midwifery into thyroid care, including how questioning cookie-cutter algorithms led her to a more personalized, patient-centered approach.
Jessica Strauss, DNP, FNP-C
Jessica explains how her own symptoms and years of being dismissed shaped her approach to care, and why she is passionate about full thyroid evaluation, belief in patient symptoms, and restoring hope.
Krystal Adams, MSN, FNP-BC, LSO
Krystal describes her prevention-focused background, her love of hormone care, and how combining hormone and thyroid optimization can help patients finally feel normal again.
📲 Follow McCall McPherson & Modern Thyroid and Wellness
💻 Website: modernthyroidclinic.com
🐦 X / Twitter: @thyroidexpert
🌐 Host Website: mccallmcpherson.com
📺 YouTube: McCall McPherson Channel
📘 Facebook: McCall McPherson PAC
📸 Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa

What if GLP-1 medications work best not at higher doses, but with slower, personalized microdosing?
In this solo Ask Me Anything episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson answers your most pressing questions about GLP-1 medications. Drawing from clinical experience and current research, she breaks down how these medications actually work, why microdosing matters, and how to minimize side effects while protecting metabolism, muscle, and long-term health.
McCall explores the connection between GLP-1s and inflammation, thyroid function, fertility, cancer risk, longevity, and metabolic recovery. She also explains when patients may need long-term therapy, how to successfully come off these medications, and why slow, personalized dosing produces the safest and most sustainable results.
If you’ve heard conflicting information about GLP-1s, this episode offers clarity, context, and a clinically grounded perspective on how to use them wisely.

Key Topics Covered
What GLP-1 medications are and how they work beyond appetite suppression
Why microdosing leads to better outcomes and fewer side effects
The real cause of most GLP-1 side effects: rapid weight loss and under-fueling
Semaglutide vs. tirzepatide and how to choose the right option
Why most patients do not need to stay on GLP-1s forever
How improving insulin sensitivity and leptin resistance supports long-term weight maintenance
When long-term GLP-1 use may be appropriate, especially for chronic inflammation
Strategies for tapering off successfully, including slow dose reduction and metabolic support
The relationship between GLP-1s and thyroid function, Hashimoto’s antibodies, and medication adjustments
Pregnancy, fertility, and breastfeeding recommendations
Why weight loss timelines vary based on thyroid health and metabolic status
The role of treatment breaks in maintaining medication effectiveness


GLP-1 Benefits You May Not Know About
Powerful anti-inflammatory effects through multiple biological pathways
Reduced risk of several cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, and pancreatic
Lower risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke
Reduced all-cause mortality by approximately 15–20%
Improvements in metabolic health, blood sugar control, and insulin sensitivity
Potential benefits for compulsive behaviors, cravings, and addiction patterns


Common Concerns Addressed
Hair loss and muscle loss
Usually caused by rapid weight loss or inadequate protein and nutrient intake, not the medication itself.
Thyroid cancer risk
Human studies have not shown an increased risk for common thyroid cancers. GLP-1s should be avoided only in patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN syndromes.
Thyroid medication changes
Weight loss and metabolic shifts often require dose adjustments over time.

Lifestyle Strategies That Support Success
Prioritize strength training to preserve muscle and metabolic rate
Focus on adequate protein and micronutrient intake
Avoid aggressive calorie restriction
Incorporate walking and low-stress movement
Address thyroid optimization and metabolic health before expecting rapid results

📲 Follow McCall McPherson & Modern Thyroid and Wellness
💻 Website: modernthyroidclinic.com
🐦 X / Twitter: @thyroidexpert
🌐 Host Website: mccallmcpherson.com
📺 YouTube: McCall McPherson Channel
📘 Facebook: McCall McPherson PAC
📸 Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa

What if the answers to chronic illness are often missed because medicine focuses on symptoms instead of root causes?
In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Modern Thyroid and Wellness, McCall McPherson welcomes Dr. Aaron Hartman, functional medicine physician, clinical researcher, and author of UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds. Dr. Hartman shares how his daughter’s complex medical challenges transformed his understanding of healthcare, pushing him beyond conventional medicine and into a root-cause, patient-centered approach.
The conversation explores medical blind spots, medical gaslighting, and the limitations of symptom-focused care. Dr. Hartman explains why chronic illness often requires patients to become active participants in their health journey and how functional medicine can help uncover overlooked root causes. He also discusses environmental toxins, tick-borne illness, mold exposure, hypermobility syndromes, and the importance of personalized care strategies.
This episode offers hope, validation, and practical insight for anyone who has felt dismissed, misunderstood, or stuck searching for answers.

Episode Highlights
Dr. Hartman’s journey from conventional medicine to functional medicine through his daughter’s health challenges
The concept of medical blind spots and how healthcare recommendations evolve over time
Why chronic illness often requires individualized and investigative care
Understanding medical gaslighting and why patients, especially women, are frequently dismissed
How the healthcare system prioritizes acute care over chronic disease prevention and management
Why patients must become the “CEO” of their own health
The importance of building a collaborative healthcare team
Environmental and chronic illness drivers including mold exposure, Lyme disease, and bio-toxin illness
The connection between hypermobility, autoimmune conditions, neurodivergence, and chronic health symptoms
The role of lifestyle fundamentals including nutrition, sleep, environment, and relationships in healing
How faith, resilience, and patient-provider trust influence recovery and health outcomes
Why listening to patients is often the most powerful diagnostic tool in medicine
How education empowers patients to make informed healthcare decisions
Why modern medicine requires balancing conventional and functional approaches

In This Episode, You Will Learn
Why chronic illness often exists in gaps between medical specialties
How conventional medicine can miss environmental, infectious, and systemic contributors to illness
The importance of detailed patient history and long-term provider relationships
How environmental toxins and water-damaged buildings can contribute to chronic inflammation
Why tick-borne illnesses may be significantly underdiagnosed
The connection between hypermobility syndromes and complex chronic illness patterns
How medical culture and time constraints can unintentionally limit patient care
Why early dismissal of symptoms can delay diagnoses by years
The importance of patient education and proactive health ownership
How foundational health practices often provide the strongest healing support


About Dr. Aaron Hartman:
Dr. Aaron Hartman is a functional medicine physician, clinical researcher, and founder of the Virginia Research Center. He has participated in over 70 clinical research studies and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
His work focuses on helping patients identify lifestyle and environmental leverage points that support the body’s natural ability to heal. His book, UnCurable, shares his family’s journey navigating chronic illness while providing practical strategies for patients seeking answers beyond conventional care.
📖 About UnCurable
UnCurable blends memoir and medicine, weaving personal family experience with decades of clinical insight. It challenges conventional models of chronic illness and empowers patients to pursue healing through personalized, root cause focused care.
Discover the book:
📘 Amazon: UnCurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds
🎧 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/UnCurable-Audiobook/B0G4NNPSF2?srsltid=AfmBOoqovf36lmHnQPTbTM9YhGlzJ40P8kCAnzrGjXknVrygXQ7az_y4

Follow Dr. Aaron Hartman and Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine
Website: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/
YouTube: @AaronHartmanMD
📲 Follow McCall McPherson & Modern Thyroid and Wellness
💻 Website: modernthyroidclinic.com
🐦 X / Twitter: @thyroidexpert
🌐 Host Website: mccallmcpherson.com
📺 YouTube: McCall McPherson Channel
📘 Facebook: McCall McPherson PAC
📸 Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa