VITALS & VALUES PODCAST
Welcome to Vitals & Values, a podcast that explores the intersection of modern medicine, human connection, and purpose-driven care. Each episode features thought leaders, clinicians, and changemakers who are reshaping healthcare from the inside out. Whether you’re a provider, patient, or simply curious about how values influence outcomes, this podcast offers timely insights and heartfelt conversations that matter.
10 Things Your Doctor Wishes You Knew
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.
“Big Pharma & Your Doctor” : Myths, Money, and Medicine
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.
Broken by Design: Why American Healthcare Fails Patients, Doctors, and Everyone In Between
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.
The Inflammation Lie: And the Truths Worth Keeping
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.
Why Are We So Anxious Right Now?
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.
The Truth Behind Calories — And Why So Many People Get It Wrong
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.
Menopause and Hormone Therapy: What Every Woman Needs to Know
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.
Is Social Media Making You Miserable? The Research, the Risks, and How to Take Back Control
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.
Overcoming Lipedema: Seven Surgeries and a New Life
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.