Most people think they understand what's happening at a doctor's office. Most people are at least a little wrong. Dr. Lara and David work through the ten things physicians wish their patients actually knew — not about diagnoses, but about how medicine works, what doctors are thinking, and where expectations and reality tend to diverge.

Some of the foods marketed hardest as healthy are doing a lot less than you think — and a few of them are quietly working against you. David and Dr. Lara build their honest top 10 list, with personal confessions included. One of them hurt David enough that he warned you about it at the start of the episode.

David's transformation took 14 years. Social media wants to show it in six months. In this episode of Vitals & Values, he and Dr. Lara push back on the overnight success myth — from weight loss to cardiovascular disease to the identity shift that makes the difference between lasting change and the same cycle on repeat.

When a TikTok clip about doctor kickbacks went semi-viral, the comment section had opinions. In this episode, Dr. Lara and Dr. Jana respond with something better than opinions — their actual experience. What pharma reps do, what they don't do, and where the line actually is.

A zinc blood test costs six dollars cash. The same test through insurance, after a denial, costs $230. Nobody — not the patient, not the physician — can explain why. In this episode of Vitals & Values, Dr. Lara and David stop being polite about the American healthcare system and start being specific.

Every other health influencer wants to fix your inflammation. But what if the version of inflammation they're selling you doesn't exist the way they say it does? Dr. Lara went to TikTok so you don't have to — and what she found is worth understanding before you spend another dollar on supplements.

Something has shifted. Anxiety and depression aren't just more talked about — they're genuinely more common, and the reasons are more layered than any single headline suggests. Dr. Lara and David examine what's actually driving the rise, and what's still within our control.

A calorie is a calorie — except when it isn't. The science behind how your body actually processes food is more nuanced than most diet advice accounts for, and the food industry has a vested interest in keeping it that way. Dr. Lara and David sort through the research so you don't have to.

For decades, the medical establishment got menopause wrong — and women paid for it. Dr. Lisa Larkin has spent her career helping correct the record. In this conversation, she breaks down how the science evolved, what social media is getting right and wrong, and why personalized care changes everything for women navigating midlife health.

The research on social media and mental health is more sobering than most people expect — and most of us are still scrolling anyway. In this episode of Vitals & Values, Dr. Lara and David get into what the science actually says, what it means for your kids, and what a realistic digital detox looks like.

Lipedema is widely misunderstood, frequently missed, and life-altering for the women living with it. In this episode of Vitals & Values, Cara shares the full arc — from years of misdiagnosis to seven surgeries and a body that finally works with her instead of against her. This one is worth listening to twice.

Online clinics have made it easier than ever to access hormones and weight loss drugs like GLP-1s — but easier doesn't always mean safer. Dr. David Roden walks through what patients need to know about compounded medications, the legal gray zones, and why no algorithm replaces a primary care provider who actually knows you.

From coffee's effect on your gut to the real story on detoxes and juice cleanses, Dr. Lara and David answer the health questions you've always wondered about but never knew who to ask. This episode covers multivitamin myths, the cardio vs. strength training debate, and why men and women lose weight so differently.

What if a routine checkup could save your life? In this episode recap, David Roden and Dr. Lara’s father share how feeling perfectly healthy led to a surprising diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and severe blocked arteries—and why preventative care matters more than we think.

How have heart attacks—and their treatment—changed over the last 35 years? In this episode recap, retired cardiologist Dr. Raymond Roden shares firsthand insights on STEMI care, stents, prevention, and how advances in emergency cardiology have transformed patient outcomes.

In this episode of Vitals and Values, David Roden sits down with Patrick Wurksma for a refreshingly honest conversation about health—without the hype. They talk through Patrick’s evolving wellness journey, including how he’s learning to track macros, eat well while traveling, and stay consistent despite a busy lifestyle. The episode also touches on the emotional motivation behind making changes, the pros and limitations of GLP-1 medications for weight loss, and the importance of getting clear, realistic guidance. It’s an approachable, no-fluff look at what real progress looks like for people trying to take control of their health without falling for gimmicks.

In this episode of Vitals and Values, David Roden and Lara Baatenburg break down the newest U.S. dietary guidelines and ask: can we actually trust them? From RFK Jr.’s criticisms to the political and marketing forces behind public health messaging, they explore how these guidelines have evolved—and what they get right or miss. Topics include protein prioritization, saturated fat debates, whole grain recommendations, and the vague stance on alcohol. The hosts emphasize that these guidelines are meant for population health, not personal prescriptions, and highlight the social barriers to implementation. This is a timely, insightful conversation for anyone who wants to understand the real story behind what’s on our plates.

In this episode of Vitals and Values, David Roden and Dr. Lara explore the complicated relationship between patients, healthcare, and the pharmaceutical industry. From the real costs of drug development to the role lifestyle choices play in chronic disease, this conversation challenges common narratives about Big Pharma and calls for a more balanced, honest perspective on modern medicine.

In this forward-looking episode, David Roden and Lara Baatenburg break down six major health and wellness trends poised to shape 2026. From the rise of protein-centric nutrition and peptide stacking to the increasing popularity of microdosing and personalized lab testing, they explore what’s gaining traction—and why. They also offer a cautionary perspective on the growing tendency to medicalize normal human experiences. With an emphasis on personal responsibility and deep-rooted wellness practices, this episode challenges listeners to think critically about the difference between building true health and chasing fast fixes.

In this episode of Vitals and Values, David Roden and Lara Baatenburg debunk a common trap in diet culture: the obsession with individual ingredients like food dyes. They explore how marketers and influencers oversimplify health by highlighting what’s not in a product—while ignoring what actually matters. From calorie context to processed food patterns, they challenge listeners to move beyond fear-based messaging and toward a more balanced understanding of nutrition. If you’ve ever thought “this snack must be healthy because it’s dye-free,” this episode offers a reality check—and a healthier mindset.