Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to The Holistic Kids Show & episode intro

01:02 — Who is Dr. Kelly McCann? Credentials & background

02:27 — How Dr. McCann discovered environmental medicine

05:10 — What are hidden toxins? Everyday exposures explained

05:43 — Plastic is everywhere: bottles, toys, sportswear

06:1 3 — Microplastics in household dust & why vacuuming matters

07:00 — Take your shoes off at the door

08:11 — The "total load" concept: your body as a sink

09:18 — Personal care products: shampoo, deodorant, lotion

10:06 — Teen skincare & fragrance culture in schools

11:10 — Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) & hormone disruption in teens

12:35 — 500 chemicals in fragrances — almost none tested on humans

13:20 — EWG.org: how to find safer personal care products

13:40 — Choosing organic food to reduce chemical exposure

15:51 — What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)?

19:03 — MCAS symptoms: why it's hard to diagnose

20:02 — Mold as a major trigger for MCAS

23:22 — When to call a professional mold inspector

24:28 — The #1 takeaway question: what can you do right now?

24:48 — Dr. McCann's top tips: shoes off, vacuum, ditch fragrances

26:30 — Where to find Dr. Kelly McCann online

28:27 — Episode recap: key points summary

Have you ever thought about what's really in the dust under your bed? Or how many untested chemicals are in your favorite cologne? In this episode of The Holistic Kids Show, Zane, Eman, and Blossom sit down with Dr. Kelly McCann, MD, MPH — a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, and integrative medicine — to uncover the hidden toxins surrounding us every day.

From microplastics in household dust to 500-chemical fragrances in personal care products, Dr. McCann breaks down how environmental exposures affect our nervous system, immune system, and hormones — especially during the critical teenage years. She introduces the concept of "total load" (imagine your body as a sink), explains Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in a way kids can understand, and reveals how mold hidden behind walls could be triggering chronic illness.

Plus, Dr. McCann shares simple, practical steps every family can take today: taking shoes off at the door, vacuuming twice a week, ditching toxic perfumes and colognes, choosing organic food, and using resources like EWG.org to find safer products.

This episode is packed with eye-opening information and actionable advice — because protecting your health shouldn't be overwhelming. It should be empowering.

Key topics covered:

• Hidden environmental toxins in plastics, dust, and personal care products
• The "total load" concept and how your body handles chemical exposure
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): what it is and why it's hard to diagnose
• Mold in your home: how to spot it and what to do
• How fragrances and colognes disrupt hormones in teens
• Practical steps: shoes off, vacuum more, choose organic, check EWG.org

**Guest:** Dr. Kelly McCann, MD, MPH, is the founder of The Spring Center in Costa Mesa, California, specializing in complex chronic illnesses including MCAS, mold and mycotoxin illness, and Lyme disease. Find her on Instagram @DrKellyMcCann and learn more about her emotional integration program at The Unforgetting Project.

---

Learn more about Dr. Madiha Saeed at https://holisticmommd.com, or follow her on social media @HolisticMomMD

Timestamps:

00:12 - Welcome & introduction

01:02 - Meet guest Katie Kimball

02:56 - Undiagnosed food allergies & sensitivities

03:37 - Sensory overload and eating

06:14 - Steps to reverse picky eating

06:55 - Keep serving a wide variety of foods

09:02 - "You don't have to eat that"

11:47 - Dessert policies: 10 family options

12:15 - One sweet treat a day

18:30 - Anxiety and appetite

19:35 - Solving picky eating away from the table

22:50 - Social impact of picky eating

25:39 - One key takeaway for families

27:02 - Where to learn more about Katie

28:24 - Recap of key points

What if picky eating isn't actually about the food? In this episode of the Holistic Kids Show, we sit down with Katie Kimball — founder of Kids Cook Real Food, TEDx speaker, and author of *The Picky Eater Playbook* — to unpack what's really going on when kids push their plates away.

Katie reveals how undiagnosed food sensitivities, sensory overload, weak jaw muscles, and anxiety can all signal "no" to food before a child ever says it themselves. We dig into why pressuring kids to eat backfires, the power of the phrase "you don't have to eat that," and how parents can create a stress-free environment where kids learn to make friends with food — just like they make friends with people.

We also cover practical strategies families can start using today: reducing the snack cycle to build real appetite, keeping stressful topics off the dinner table, getting kids active in the kitchen to build familiarity, finding the right dessert policy for your family, and how picky eating can impact a child's social life as they grow up.

Whether you're a parent feeling stuck at the dinner table or a kid who wants to understand more about your own food choices, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways and a fresh perspective on raising healthy eaters — from the inside out.

Key Takeaways:

• Picky eating is often a body signal, not a behavior problem
• Pressure at the table kills appetite — kids need autonomy, not force
• "You don't have to eat that" is the most powerful phrase a parent can use
• Snacking too close to meals destroys natural appetite
• Getting kids in the kitchen builds food familiarity and reduces fear
• Anxiety and food are deeply connected — keep stress off the table
• Pick the dessert policy that fits your family — there's no one-size-fits-all
• Picky eating can lead to social exclusion as kids get older

**Guest:** Katie Kimball is the national voice of Healthy Kids Cooking and the founder of Kids Cook Real Food. She is a TEDx speaker and the author of *The Picky Eater Playbook: Stress-Free Strategies to Jumpstart Healthy Eating Habits in Kids*, available wherever books are sold. Learn more at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickyholistic.

---

Learn more about Dr. Madiha Saeed at https://holisticmommd.com, or follow her on social media @HolisticMomMD

Timestamp

00:00 — Show intro & welcome to The Holistic Kids Show

00:25 — The broken medical system: doctors paid per patient, not per healing

02:57 — The system kills: personal family stories of medical harm

03:34 — How pharmaceutical & insurance industries drive the system

04:16 — Guest introduction: Dr. Erika Schwartz

05:46 — Acute care works, but there's no care after you leave the ER

06:25 — Leaving the system to become a true healer (1990s)

07:20 — Medical school is outdated — doesn't teach prevention

07:38 — Why family physicians understand the whole patient

08:37 — The doctor as your quarterback — stop being afraid

09:09 — Johns Hopkins research: arrogance is the #1 cause of medical mistakes

11:05 — We have more power than we think

11:15 — Why their mom stopped taking insurance to protect patients

13:42 — Over-the-counter medications: doctors don't even know about them

14:35 — Marketing drives what people learn about medications

15:07 — Motrin, Advil, Aleve — same drug, different names

16:39 — OTC meds are just as dangerous as prescriptions

16:50 — Only take OTC medication with adult guidance

17:17 — How to do hospitals right: stay away unless it's an emergency

17:50 — Never go to a hospital alone — always bring an advocate

18:07 — Self-care is the best way to stay away from hospitals

18:48 — How kids can demand better from their doctors

19:12 — Go with someone who asks the right questions

19:41 — Ask why: vaccines, medications, and tests

20:19 — Learn how your body communicates with you

20:56 — Don't be intimidated by doctors

21:26 — Listen, go home, and do your own research

22:23 — How kids can be empowered patients

22:38 — Keep talking and keep telling your friends

23:20 — What you need: peace, love, and health

23:44 — One thing to tell every kid: it's your body

24:51 — Where to find Dr. Erika Schwartz

25:39 — Recap of key points begins

26:36 — The doctor doesn't live in your body

26:54 — Always question any care you're offered

In this episode of The Holistic Kids Show, we sit down with Dr. Erika Schwartz — pioneer in preventive medicine, hormone expert, and author of Don't Let Your Doctor Kill You — to unpack what's really wrong with modern healthcare.

Dr. Erika shares her journey from running emergency rooms to walking away from the system entirely, and why she believes the medical industry is driven by profit, not healing. We dive into how insurance companies dictate patient care, why doctors are paid per visit instead of per cure, and how over-the-counter medications are just smaller doses of the same prescription drugs — with the same dangers.

We also discuss how kids and families can become empowered patients: asking the right questions, understanding their own bodies, finding doctors who truly care, and never being afraid to walk away from bad care.

Key takeaways:

• The medical system excels at acute care but fails at chronic and preventive health

• Insurance and pharmaceutical industries profit from keeping patients dependent

• Over-the-counter medications can be just as dangerous as prescriptions

• You are your own best health advocate — nobody lives inside your body except you

• Peace, love, and health: the three things everyone deserves

About our guest: Dr. Erika Schwartz is a world-renowned preventive medicine pioneer and the author of eight books, including Don't Let Your Doctor Kill You. Follow her on Instagram @DrErikaSchwartz and Facebook.

Follow The Holistic Kids Show on social media: @holisticmomd and @theholistickidsshow. Download our podcast on iTunes and leave a review so other families can benefit. Look out for our new bestselling book, The Teen Health Revolution.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The statements and views reflected in this podcast are not to be taken as medical advice.

---

Learn more about Dr. Madiha Saeed at https://holisticmommd.com, or follow her on social media @HolisticMomMD