In this episode, I’m talking about a feeling many of us face: the pressure to finish every course or program we’ve signed up for. I was sorting through my own list of courses and realized it’s totally okay to get what you need from part of a program and then move on. You don’t have to complete everything just because you once signed up.

If you’re like me and sometimes feel overwhelmed by your “to-learn” list, this episode is for you. We chat about how professional learning can be more like a buffet: pick what serves you right now and save the rest for later.

Here's to taking what works into 2026 and leaving the rest behind 🎉

Links
 * 2026 Supplement Deep Dive [https://www.camillefreeman.com/supplementsoon/]
 * Professional Development Planning & Tracking Workshop [https://www.camillefreeman.com/2025/12/professionaldevelopment/] (free if you share the workshop; $25 otherwise) 

95 | No Need to Feel Guilty About Unfinished Courses

In this episode, you'll hear Maria Noël Groves discuss her new book, Herbal Gut Health [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/maria-noel-groves/herbal-gut-health/9781668654767/], which explores digestive function and challenges as well as herbs/lifestyle strategies to restore function. 

We talk about why teas are especially useful for GI support, when to refer clients for medical care, and where to find Maria’s classes and resources at wintergreenbotanicals.com. I highly recommend the book, as it's a concise, practitioner-friendly overview of botanicals and approaches to common and complex gut issues.

Links
 * Wintergreen Botanicals [https://wintergreenbotanicals.com/] for Maria's upcoming classes and workshops. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter while you're there!
 * Purchase Herbal Gut Health [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/maria-noel-groves/herbal-gut-health/9781668654767/]
 * Follow Maria on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/marianoelgroves/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WintergreenBotanicals/], or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/marianoelgroves]

94 | Herbal Gut Health with Maria Noel Groves

Let's talk about dietary fiber in plain terms: the difference between soluble (fermentable) and insoluble fibers, how soluble fiber feeds gut microbes to produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids, and why insoluble fiber adds bulk to ease transit. We'll also briefly discuss how FOS/GOS and inulin fit into the picture. 

Practical takeaways include aiming for about 25–30+ g/day from whole plant foods, using psyllium as a balanced supplement option, increasing fiber slowly to avoid discomfort, and seeking specialized care for those with GI conditions, since more fiber isn't appropriate for everyone.

Resources
 * The Gut/Brain/Immune System and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners class [https://academy.camillefreeman.com/courses/immune-gut-nervous-system-connections] mentioned in this episode
 * The 2026 Supplement Deep Dive Wait List [https://www.camillefreeman.com/supplementsoon/]

 

93 | Fiber Fundamentals: Soluble vs Insoluble and the Gut Microbiome

This episode builds on the newsletter I sent out last week [https://www.camillefreeman.com/2025/10/revenue-ups-and-downs/] and a lot of conversations I’ve been having with other small business owners. If your revenue is down this year, you're not alone. I talk about practical, accessible steps you can take when business slows.

What I cover
 * The normal ups and downs of running a small business. Growth every year is not the realistic baseline.
 * Don’t assume a down year means you’re doomed. You need a different strategy, not resignation.
 * Start with the basics: get a clear marketing plan, show up consistently, and take excellent care of the clients you already have.
 * If you’ve fallen off your marketing routine, restart the simple things you know how to do.
 * If your current plan is not working, get curious rather than hard on yourself. You probably need new skills or support.
 * Use resources you already own first: courses, books, freebies you purchased but never used. Try one and follow it through.
 * Ask your community what has helped them. There are many free or low-cost tools and approaches that move the needle.
 * Foundations first: just like health care, make sure the basics are in place before getting fancy. For marketing that means steady ways to meet people, stay in touch, invite them to work with you, and deliver a great client experience.
 * Be willing to try things. Some will work, some will not. Learn and iterate.
 * If needed, take practical measures like getting other income temporarily. That is okay.

Resources mentioned
 * My practitioner newsletter: https://www.camillefreeman.com/newsletter 
 * My book on newsletters: Write Better Newsletters [https://www.writebetterletters.com]

Want help? If you have a specific situation you want me to talk through, send a short summary and I may address it in a future episode.

Thanks for listening. Take care and talk soon.

92 | Revenue is down. What now?

Herbalist and nutritionist Camille Freeman explains why the term "hormone replacement therapy (HRT)" can mislead patients by implying menopause is a problem to be fixed, and why many practitioners are switching to "menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)."

She urges clinicians to be mindful of their language, clarifies what MHT better reflects about hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause, and invites listeners to adopt more accurate, non-pathologizing terminology.

91 | Updating our Language: HRT --> MHT

In this episode, I chat with Liane about her journey into fertility herbalism and her upcoming book, The Herbal Fertility Handbook, which launches on September 23, 2025 (and is available for pre-order now!).

What’s inside:

 * Liane shares how her own fertility challenges led her down a path of self-directed study, including a year-long internship with a naturopathic doctor.
 * We talk about the holistic approach she takes in her work—combining herbs, nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, and attention to both menstrual and sperm health.
 * Liane describes the writing process for her new book, including how she used a content map to stay focused and organized. She also explains why pre-orders are so important for first-time authors.
 * If you’re interested in herbal fertility support, either personally or professionally, you’ll want to check out this accessible, research-informed guide.

Links:

 * Liane’s website: https://lianemoccia.com/ 
 * Follow Liane on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lianemoccia/] or LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmoccia/]
 * Pre-order The Herbal Fertility Handbook from your favorite bookseller (here's the Bookshop.org link [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-herbal-fertility-handbook-natural-strategies-to-increase-your-chances-of-getting-pregnant-liane-moccia/22200659?ean=9781635868739&next=t])
 * The Practitioner Fertility Training offered by Camille and Liane [https://www.camillefreeman.com/fertilitytraining/] last year (you can still sign up for the DIY version!)
 * Our upcoming Pregnancy Practitioner Training [https://www.camillefreeman.com/pregnancytraining/], which starts this fall. 

If you’re curious about supporting fertility naturally or want to help others on this path, you’ll find lots of practical wisdom in this episode.

90 | The Herbal Fertility Handbook: An Interview with Liane Moccia

Your "About Me" page is one of the most visited pages on your website. When was the last time you looked at it? 

In this episode, Camille discusses the different functions and "About Me" page can serve and reflects on the different ways we come to know each other. Your "About Me" page can be a place to list facts: degrees, certifications, etc. It can also be a place to share your perspective, to show people who you are on a deeper level. 

If you're ready to give your "About Me" page an update or simply want to engage in reflective thinking, join Camille's upcoming workshop on updating your "About Me" page. Tune in for insights that spark creativity and connection in the digital space.

Resources
 * Register for the "About Me" page workshop [https://www.camillefreeman.com/2025/07/youraboutmepage/]
 * Firefly Creative Writing [https://fireflycreativewriting.com/]

 

89 | Updating your "About Me" Page

In this episode, Camille discusses the pros and cons of hiring a virtual assistant. This episode provides thoughts on how having an assistant may support solo practitioners reallocate time to seeing clients, content creation, or better work-life balance. 

Camille discusses common misconceptions about virtual assistants, shares her personal journey in integrating virtual help into her practice, and offers practical tips on assessing readiness for hiring a virtual assistant. Discover how even small task delegations can significantly boost productivity and well-being. 

Learn more about the upcoming mini-course on getting started with a virtual assistant [https://www.camillefreeman.com/vacourse/], or take this short quiz [https://www.camillefreeman.com/2025/06/are-you-ready-to-hire-a-virtual-assistant/] to find out if you're ready to hire an assistant. 

88 | When is it Time to Consider Working with a Virtual Assistant?

Get a behind the scenes peek as Camille reflects on the 'Take Your Tonic' program run through Bloom & Grow this spring. In this episode, she provides a transparent debrief of her pilot project that aimed to support participants amidst challenging times. Discover the motivations behind launching this free program, its key objectives, and the feedback received after the program ended.

Camille shares the challenges faced by participants and the things she'll do differently when running the program again in the fall. She reflects on the importance of simplicity and the difficulties inherent in maintaining long-term self-care practices. This episode underscores the value of consistency in holistic practices and offers a glimpse into potential future enhancements for the program, including the possibility of introducing a modest fee to encourage active participation.

87 | Reflections on the Take your Tonic program

In this episode, Camille engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Kevin Spelman, a highly experienced Ayurvedic practitioner, researcher, and phytotherapist with decades of experience in clinical trials and education.

Dr. Spelman shares his insights on the significance of personalized medicine, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of patients beyond "cookie-cutter" herbal solutions. Together, they explore the challenges of clinical education and the importance of critical thinking in integrative practices. Their discussion also delves into philosophical perspectives and the role of herbal energetics in forming a comprehensive approach to patient care.

This episode invites listeners to rethink traditional educational models and encourages embracing a more holistic and individualized approach in clinical herbalism. Join them as they navigate the evolving landscape of herbal medicine education, offering food for thought for clinicians and educators.

Dr. Spelman taught a class on medicinal mushrooms [https://academy.camillefreeman.com/courses/medicinal-mushrooms] as part of the 2025 Immune Deep Dive. [https://www.camillefreeman.com/immune]

Books Recommended by Dr. Spelman Philosophy
 * Tao Te Ching [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9781611807240] by Lao Tzu
 * Meditations [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780812968255]by Marcus Aurelius
 * The Tree of Knowledge [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780877736424] Maturana and Varela
 * Learned Optimism [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9781400078394] Martin Seligman
 * Food of the Gods [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780553371307] Terrance McKenna
 * Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780307389688] By Stephen Hall
 * The Systems View of Life [https://www.amazon.com/Systems-View-Life-Unifying-Vision/dp/1316616436] By Capra & Luisi

Medical History
 * Doctors [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780679760092]By Sherwin Nuland
 * The Mysteries Within [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780684854878] By Sherwin Nuland
 * Epidemics and History [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780300080872] By Sheldon Watts
 * The Origins of Human Diet & Medicine [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780816516872] By Timothy Johns
 * The Magical Staff [https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Staff-Vitalist-Tradition-Medicine/dp/1556431279] By Matthew Wood
 * Why Some Like It Hot [https://www.amazon.com/Why-Some-Like-Hot-Diversity/dp/1597260916] By Gary Nabhan
 * Edible Medicines [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780816527489] By Nina Etkin
 * Biochemical Individuality [https://bookshop.org/a/89432/9780879838935] By Roger Williams

Learn more about Dr. Kevin Spelman at www.phytochemks.com [http://www.phytochemks.com] 

 

86 | Moving away from "cookie cutter" clinical practice with Dr. Kevin Spellman

Short clinical tidbits for practitioners with clinical herbalist and nutritionist Camille Freeman.

Camille Freeman

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