Shows
Elevated Practice PodcastClassical Medicine and Cycles: A Ring Without EndIn this interview, Gretchen sits down with Z’ev Rosenberg as he reflects on the importance of the classics in the practice of Chinese medicine, from the first synchronicity which sparked his interest in the I-Ching, and coming full circle to find himself 50 years later still steeped in the wisdom of the Nei Jing. In this conversation Z’ev effortless weaves together ancient metaphysics with modern ideas, discusses food music and philosophy’s connection to medicine without skipping a beat, and provides the listener with strategies to incorporate and stay true to the classics within the modern medical practice. In...
2026-02-1259 min
Elevated Practice PodcastDr. Amy Mager: Providing Value in Practice and Professional CommunityDr. Amy Mager joins The Elevated Practice Podcast to share a rare perspective shaped by decades of clinical work supporting patients at two profound transitions: birth and end-of-life. Through her experiences in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Dr. Mager reflects on what it truly means to practice with compassion, clarity, and professional responsibility.With more than 40 years in practice and over 20 years in state and national leadership, Dr. Mager breaks down the real-world frameworks every acupuncturist must navigate: advocacy, networking, referrals, and understanding your scope of practice. She explains why knowing your practice act matters, how strong professional...
2026-01-2157 min
Elevated Practice PodcastHerbal Medicine Daodi for Domestic ProductionDr. Thomas Avery Garran brings his unique background researching, growing, farming, and processing herbal medicine in China to this discussion of considerations for cultivation and processing of Chinese herbs in North America . Dr Garran is one of a handful of individuals involved with spearheading research in the domestic production of Chinese Herbal medicine, and he discusses challenges of scaling herbal production, the importance of growing conditions, and the need for research into the chemistry of domestically grown herbs, along with the significance of Daodi practices and the potential for domestic herbal medicine to thrive with the right resources and...
2025-12-2253 min
Dragon Fire.SidesThe Bitter Pill: Debt, Burnout & The Future of Acupuncture — A Dragon Fire.Sides Conversation with Dr. Mary CookeThis episode is different.It isn’t polished. It isn’t easy.It’s honest.After my recent Dragon Fire.Sides conversation with Dr. Gretchen Badami about school closures, federal pressure, and why so many acupuncturists are struggling, the comments section lit up.One of the strongest and most thoughtful responses came from today’s guest, Dr. Mary (Molly) Cooke — and this episode is a direct response to that discussion.Molly’s lived experience speaks directly to the silent crisis many practitioners face:Crushing student loan debtFew viable jobs
2025-12-101h 03
Dragon Fire.SidesWhy 80% of Acupuncturists Fail — And How to Fix It: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Gretchen BadamiIn this eye-opening episode, David Bernard sits down with Dr. Gretchen Badami, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, herbalist, professor, former associate dean, and host of the Elevated Practice Podcast.Together, they explore the real reasons why acupuncture schools are closing, why 80% of practitioners fail in the first five years, and what absolutely must change for the profession to survive.Gretchen brings nearly two decades of experience from every angle of the field — clinician, educator, administrator, philosopher — and offers a brutally honest but deeply compassionate look at the structural, financial, and cultural challenges facing new practitioners.In...
2025-11-1544 min
Elevated Practice PodcastDr Lorraine Wilcox: 👻 Ghosts and Gu 🪲 Spooky Halloween Edition! 🎃Did our ancestors treat spooky ghost possession? And how creepy are Gu? Just in time for Halloween, in this episode, Dr. Lorraine Wilcox takes Gretchen down a path interweaving metaphysical beliefs with creepy crawly bodily infestations as they travel two millennia back in time to understand the historical and cultural significance of Ghosts and Gu in East Asian medicine. Did all doctors believe in ghosts? And how does someone know if they’re infested with Gu? Lorraine and Gretchen explore the origins of these concepts, their evolution over time, and how they intersect with traditional healing practices. The...
2025-10-3059 min
Elevated Practice PodcastSeeing Clearly: Herbal Medicine for Eye DisordersIn this illuminating episode of The Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr. Gretchen Badami speaks with veteran acupuncturist, herbalist, and educator Cara Frank, founder of Six Fishes Healing Arts, China Herb Company, and China Herb Seminars.With over four decades of clinical experience and teaching, Cara has shaped the landscape of herbal medicine in the United States. Their conversation centers on her newest passion project — a comprehensive Ophthalmology Course that demystifies how Chinese herbal medicine can address eye and vision disorders such as myopia, cataracts, visual fatigue, dry eye, and degenerative eye disease.
2025-10-1354 min
Elevated Practice PodcastJean Giblette: Conceptualizing Domestic Production of Chinese Medicinal HerbsPart II of a 2-part series with Jean Giblette continues from where in Part I (7/22/25) we last discussed the recent US history of growing Chinese Medicinal Botanicals, and Part II moves in-depth into the challenges and opportunities of domestic herb cultivation, the importance of preserving genetic diversity, and the role of farmers, universities, manufacturers, and practitioners in this burgeoning industry. Over the past 30 years, Jean has been at the forefront of efforts to receive grants and funding, garner university support for research, and advocating for ecological farming practices and genetic diversity. Actionable items include practical steps and o...
2025-09-171h 04
Elevated Practice PodcastDr. Ed Neal: Nei Jing Nature-Based Medicine and Text ArchaeologyIn this episode Gretchen interviews Dr. Ed Neal, an MD who, shortly after Med school, began his lifelong journey studying, translating, and decoding Chinese Medicine texts and bridging modern medicine with the ancient wisdom of the Nei Jing. He shares how his understanding and practice of East Asian Medicine has been informed through an ever changing and deepening understanding of the Inner Cannon through the process of Text Archaeology. Dr. Neal explains how the understanding of modern diseases, and even the modern human existential condition itself, can be reframed and experienced through the stories from which we c...
2025-08-1556 min
Elevated Practice PodcastJean Giblette Part I: The History of US Domestic Herbs ProductionPart 1 of a 2-part series discusses the recent US history of growing herbal medicinals from the Chinese Medicine Pharmacopia. Jean Giblette, trained in TCM and having devoted her life to growing and advocating for domestic production, shares the timeline and players involve with bringing Chinese medicinals to the US, national challenges and successes throughout the decades, and logistics involved with successful ecological agriculture.Jean begins by giving the listener an understanding of parallels in interest between the organic earth movement of the 1970’s and interest in acupuncture and natural medicine, how in the 1990’s many of the seed...
2025-07-2250 min
Elevated Practice PodcastMichael Arsenault: How "Emily" Became America's Herbal Dermatology SweetheartAcupuncturist and herbalist Michael Arsenault shares his journey of how he found Chinese medicine and developed his successful line of natural herbal skincare products, Emily's Skin Soothers. A martial arts injury led Michael to study acupuncture and herbs, where his most important patient became his daughter, Emily. A homemade pediatric eczema formula was his first product, and what follows is Michael’s journey into business and entrepreneurship. Michael shares how he got his products promotion in the press and prime real estate on grocery store shelves, how to avoid marketing costs and the costs of product research, and...
2025-06-1953 min
Elevated Practice PodcastDr Robert Chu: Meditations on Martial Arts, Medicine, and Practical Application of Tung AcupunctureIn this episode, Gretchen sits down with Dr Robert Chu; martial artist, herbalist, and acupuncturist who is renowned for his expertise in the Master Tung acupuncture system. Robert shares his philosophy on mind-body balance and medicine as informed through his life-long practice of martial arts, and how this ultimately led him to his healing practice in Chinese Medicine. Dr Chu discusses unique aspects of the Master Tung system of acupuncture, explaining the logic and practical application of mirroring points and active patient engagement while needling to confirm instantaneous results. With the skill of an experienced teacher, Dr C...
2025-05-201h 02
Elevated Practice PodcastDr. Shiroko Sokitch: Integrative Medicine to Treat TraumaIn this episode of the Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr Gretchen Badami uncovers the unique journey of Dr Shiroko Sokitch, a surgeon who found her calling not in the operating room, but as a Chinese Medicine practitioner. Inspired to be a healer at a young age through a family trauma, Dr Sokitch devotes her life to uncovering miracles, and ultimately takes matters into her own hands to create miracles of her own. Dr Sokitch explains the triangle of wellness, and the ways in which Chinese Medicine is uniquely capable to treat patients emotional, physical, and spiritual health. S...
2025-04-1444 min
Elevated Practice PodcastMoshe Heller: Guarding Birth & Growing Health : Pediatric HerbalismIn this episode of The Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr. Gretchen Badami sits down with clinician, educator, and entrepreneur Moshe Heller, a pioneer in the field of Chinese medicine with over 30 years of experience. Moshe shares his remarkable journey from studying in Israel and the U.S. to conducting groundbreaking acupuncture research during labor and delivery at a New York hospital.Together, they explore the evolution of his family-focused practice, his emphasis on pediatrics and fertility, and the inspiration behind his unique herbal product line—featuring intuitive names like GUARD, SHIELD, and SPROUT. Moshe al...
2025-03-2352 min
Elevated Practice PodcastDr. Hua Bing Wen on Integrative Oncology StrategiesOncology can feel overwhelming for many practitioners, but not for Dr. Hua Bing Wen. With over four decades of experience practicing medicine in both China and the U.S., Dr. Wen has cultivated deep expertise in integrative oncology. In this episode, he demystifies cancer treatment, explaining why practitioners should never fear treating patients with a cancer diagnosis.We explore the foundational principles of integrative oncology, including how to identify patterns that lead to cancer, the power of individualized treatment, and why having the talk about lifestyle is essential for every cancer patient. Dr. Wen shares invaluable clinical...
2025-02-1148 min
Elevated Practice PodcastDr. Lorraine Wilcox - The Journey of a Chinese Medicine PioneerIn this engaging conversation, Dr. Gretchen Badami interviews Dr. Lorraine Wilcox, a seasoned practitioner and translator in the field of Chinese Medicine. They explore Dr. Wilcox's journey into TCM, her passion for moxibustion, and her efforts to make ancient texts accessible to modern practitioners. The discussion delves into the nuances of herbal consumption methods, the importance of translation, and the relevance of historical practices in contemporary medicine. Dr. Wilcox shares her personal experiences with herbal remedies and her ongoing research interests, emphasizing the richness and depth of Chinese medicine.
You can watch more about Lorraine Wilcox on her YouTube...
2025-01-2144 minElevated Practice PodcastElisabeth Rochat de la ValléeDr. Gretchen Badami sits down with renowned scholar and translator Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée. With over 50 years of expertise in Chinese philosophy and classical Chinese medical texts, Elisabeth shares her journey of studying and teaching Chinese medicine, from her early collaborations in Paris with Father Claude Larre and Dr. Jean Schatz to the founding of the European School of Acupuncture.
The conversation delves into the profound interplay between Chinese philosophy, medicine, and the human spirit. Elisabeth discusses the foundational concepts of Qi and Shen, the importance of cultivating one’s own spirit as...
2024-12-2655 min