In this episode, I talk with Jiaming Ju, a practitioner of Chinese medicine and a health economist whose work sits at the intersection of traditional medicine, modern health challenges, and the pressures of high-performance living.

Jiaming works with a wide range of patients — from Olympic athletes and artists to CEOs and young women navigating hormonal health. What she sees in her practice is something we don’t talk about enough: the hidden cost of performance.

From the outside, many of these people look like the healthiest in the room. They’re disciplined, driven, and successful. But internally, many of them are struggling with hormonal disruption, autoimmune issues, digestive problems, chronic stress, and burnout.

In our conversation, we explore some of the patterns Jiaming sees again and again in her patients, and how Chinese medicine approaches health differently than the symptom-based model most of us are used to.

Instead of looking at isolated diagnoses, Chinese medicine asks a bigger question: what patterns are happening in the body as a whole?

Together we talk about:

• Why elite athletes — especially female athletes — often struggle with hormonal disruption

• The psychological pressure that comes with high performance and identity

• The rise of autoimmune diseases and thyroid disorders

• Why digestion and gut health are often at the center of chronic illness

• The emotional patterns that can show up in physical symptoms

• ADHD and how Chinese medicine interprets attention, energy, and focus

• The connection between eating disorders and hormonal health

• Fertility challenges and the growing reliance on IVF

• How stress and modern life may be pushing many bodies out of balance

• The relationship between emotional suppression and physical illness

• Skin health, beauty, and what they may reveal about internal health

We also talk about something that doesn’t get enough space in medical conversations: how people make decisions when facing serious diagnoses.

Jiaming shares why she encourages patients to slow down when possible, ask deeper questions, and consider the broader picture of their health before rushing into fear-based decisions.

This conversation is ultimately about something bigger than any single diagnosis. It’s about how we live, how we handle pressure, and how we listen — or don’t listen — to the signals our bodies are constantly sending us.

For me, it was a reminder that health is rarely about one thing. It’s about the system we’re living in — physically, emotionally, and culturally.

CONNECT WITH JIAMING

Website

https://khealth.com

Instagram

@byjiamingju

Blood Tonic formula

Available through her website

CONNECT WITH ME

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@GabbyReece

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, rate, and share the episode with someone who might benefit from it.

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Produced by Dear Media

The Gabby Reece Show is produced by Dear Media.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I'm joined by best-selling author, kenote speaker, and presence expert, Light Watkins to discuss living more in the moment, releasing attachment to conventional goal setting, and defining success as presence and gratitude rather than comfort or material markers. Drawing from his book The Year You Transform and a yearlong program of seven-day challenges, he explains the “tortoise approach” to personal growth: small, consistent actions that fit real life, build self-trust, and reduce nervous-system strain. We explore choosing manageable discomfort, designing environments to avoid self-sabotage, and how radical accountability can provide ultimate motivation for self improvement to help you accomplish your goals.

Chapters:

00:00 Accountability Check Hack

00:17 Nomad Life Update

01:45 Gratitude for Presence

04:46 Success vs Comfort Trap

06:29 Choose Small Discomforts

09:14 Tortoise Approach Basics

11:06 Habit Stacking Pushups

13:09 Why Seven Days Works

15:26 Discipline Blind Spots

20:01 Outside Advice and Validation

23:01 Sponsor Break Timeline

25:21 No Complaining Challenge

27:48 Complaints to Compliments

29:23 Curiosity Over Conflict

29:49 Meditation For Busy Minds

31:11 Mind As An Ally

33:58 Pro Attitude Mindset

36:56 Spiritual Warrior Lessons

37:46 Sponsor Manuka Honey

39:59 Redefining Success

43:11 Parenting By Example

44:14 Whats My Homework

49:03 Trusting Quiet Presence

53:45 Seagull Momentum Metaphor

55:13 Closing Reflections

--

Connect with Light Watkins:

Website: https://www.lightwatkins.com/

YouTube: ⁨@LightWatkins⁩

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

Latest book: https://theyearyoutransform.com/

Connect with Gabby Reece:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial

Website: https://gabriellereece.com

--

Produced by Dear Media.

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About Dear Media:

Dear Media is the largest podcast network focused on amplifying women’s voices and audiences. Founded in 2018, DM hosts 80+ podcasts fronted by top-tier talent and has a following of more than 60M across social channels. DM is building the podcast incubator of the future through a 360-degree business model, providing unparalleled support from concept to editorial, production, distribution, and commerce extensions. Due to its highly engaged and vast consumer audience, the network attracts global brands and digital savvy partners.

Episode Sponsors:

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Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your metabolism, cravings, immune system — even your hormones — are being shaped by your gut?

In this episode of The Gabby Reece Show, Gabby sits down with microbiome scientist and Pendulum co-founder Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe to break down the real science behind gut health — beyond the buzzwords.

From premature birth and early antibiotic exposure to GLP-1, estrogen, cravings, and perimenopause, this conversation connects the dots between your microbiome and nearly every major system in your body.

If you’ve ever thought:

“Why am I gaining weight when nothing changed?”

“Why am I suddenly sensitive to foods?”

“Is this just aging… or something else?”

“Are GLP-1 drugs the only option?”

This episode will shift how you think about your body.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Why the microbiome is connected to all 11 organ systems

How early antibiotic use may affect long-term metabolic health

The truth about GLP-1 — and how your body produces it naturally

Why Akkermansia is considered a “keystone strain”

Gut health and perimenopause: what’s really happening

Estrogen, menopause, and emerging microbiome research

Why cravings may not be about willpower

How stress, aging, and travel deplete your gut

Fecal microbiome transplants — what they are and why they matter

How to rebuild a resilient gut (without extremes or shame)

Key Takeaway

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s resilience.

A strong, diverse microbiome helps your body handle stress, hormonal shifts, aging, and even dietary slip-ups. And unlike your genetics — your gut can change.

Start with food.

Use tools wisely.

Pay attention to your body.

Connect with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe

Website: https://pendulumlife.com

Instagram: @pendulumlife

Dr. Cutcliffe on Instagram: @drcolleencutcliffe

Connect with Gabby

Website: https://gabbyreece.com

Instagram: @gabbyreece https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece

YouTube: The Gabby Reece Show https://www.youtube.com/@GabbyReece

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Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.