The Neuro Collective Podcast
Welcome to The Neuro Collective Podcast!
We are your hosts, Dr. Michael Bagnell, Functional Neurologist and May Bagnell, Mindset and Nutrition Coach. Together, we are here to guide you through the dynamic intersection of Functional Neurology, Mindset Coaching, and Functional Medicine. If you're passionate about neuroscience, alternative health, and holistic wellness, you're in the perfect place.
Our podcast is designed for those who are eager to explore innovative ways to heal brain conditions, optimize brain performance, and enhance overall well-being.
We cater to everyone from health-conscious individuals to high-performing athletes.
Each week, we bring you expert interviews, the latest research, and actionable tips to help you achieve peak mental and physical health. Together, we'll dive deep into the science and practicalities of brain health, empowering you to live your best life with a sharper mind and a healthier body.
So, let's embark on this journey together and unlock the limitless potential of your brain. This is The Neuro Collective Podcast—where holistic health meets neuroscience.
The Neuro Collective Podcast
Part 2- Rooted in Balance: Fuel & Flow - Nourishing the Body & Moving for Energy-Episode 125
In this episode of The NeuroCollective Podcast, Dr. Michael & May Bagnell, IHP continue the powerful Rooted in Balance Series, diving into the first two pillars of the D.E.-STRESS Protocol — Diet & Digestion and Exercise & Movement.
If you missed Part 1, make sure to go back — it sets the stage for everything we unpack today.
🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why diet and digestion are the foundation of healing
- How gut health influences your brain, hormones, immunity, and mood
- Why the gut is known as the “second brain” and how the brain-gut axis actually works
- The top 3 foods to eliminate immediately — gluten, dairy, and sugar — to reduce inflammation and gut stress
- What the “Rain Barrel Effect” is and how toxic overload affects weight, sleep, mood, and brain health
- How the Detox Protocol supports toxin breakdown, mobilization, and elimination
- Why movement is medicine for the brain — and how both exercise and gentle movement (movement snacks) reshape your health
- The difference between training vs. overtraining, especially for those with anxiety, fatigue, or hormonal imbalance
Highlighted Key Takeaways
- “Diet and digestion are the foundation of healing.”
- “The gut and brain are in constant conversation — they affect each other dramatically.”
- “Eliminating gluten, dairy, and sugar is the fastest way to reduce gut stress.”
- “Your body is like a rain barrel — when it overflows with toxins, symptoms begin.”
- “Movement is not optional for the brain — it activates blood flow, oxygen, and neuroplasticity.”
- “Overtraining can worsen anxiety. Sometimes the answer is slower: breathwork, tai chi, pilates.”
- “You don’t have to add more — sometimes healing begins by removing what harms you.”
Simple Action Steps From This Episode
- Eliminate gluten, dairy, and processed sugar for 21 days.
- Add colorful whole foods: vegetables, clean proteins, healthy fats — Mediterranean-style eating.
- Begin movement snacks — 3–5 minutes every hour: walk, stretch, ankle pumps, rebounding, dance.
- If you're metabolically stuck or overwhelmed, try a 7–21 day Detox Protocol to reset liver and gut.
- Ask yourself: Am I under-training, over-training, or training the wrong way for my stress load?
🎧 Why You Should Listen
This isn’t just information — it’s an invitation to unpack slowly, reset your body, and take actionable steps toward longevity, brain health, and resilience.
As always, we leave you with this truth:
You can heal. We can help.