The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Most people assume that when something hurts, that's where the problem is. Knee pain means something is wrong with your knee. Back pain means something is wrong with your back. But what if the actual cause is somewhere completely different?

In this episode, I'm joined by Sue Hitzmann, exercise physiologist, manual therapist, and creator of the MELT Method, to explore the often-overlooked role of fascia in chronic pain, injury recovery, and healthy aging.

In this episode, we talk about:

■ Why chronic pain can persist without an obvious injury

■ What fascia is and why it matters

■ Why traditional pain treatments don't always work

■ How pain in one area can originate somewhere else

■ The surprising connection between stress and physical pain

■ Whether popular recovery therapies actually work

■ Simple daily habits that may improve recovery and mobility

 

If you've been dealing with recurring pain, unexplained stiffness, or injuries that never seem to fully heal, this conversation will give you a different perspective on what might be happening inside your body.

 

Connect with Sue Hitzmann:

- Website: https://suehitzmann.com

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suehitzmann/

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suehitzmann/

- Anatomical Gangster Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@AnatomicalGangsterPodcast

 

Explore the MELT Method:

- Website: https://meltmethod.com

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meltmethod/

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MELTmethod

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meltmethod

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/melt-method/home/

 

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(05:31) Fascia Research

(08:06) Chronic Pain Without an Injury

(11:26) Pain Medications

(14:10) What Is Fascia?

(16:46) The Nervous System and Chronic Pain

(18:05) The Problem With Pain Management

(20:56) Pain Can Originate Elsewhere

(22:28) Best and Worst Recovery Therapies

(25:31) How Stress Affects Healing

(29:21) Warning Signs Before an Injury

(31:51) Fitness, Body Image, and Mindset

(33:00) Why Your Body Isn't Failing You

(37:50) How Shoulder Injuries Cause Knee Pain

(40:56) Treating Symptoms vs. Root Causes

(45:55) How Fascia Influences Movement

(52:01) Fascia and Cellular Health

(54:23) How the MELT Method Works

(57:16) Relieving Pain Through Hands and Feet

(59:27) Daily Habits for Pain Prevention

(1:00:14) Sleep, Movement, and Recovery

(1:02:41) Outro

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Timeline

Get your FREE Mitopure Gummies Sample Here:

timeline.com/gemelli

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Get KYZATREX: FDA-approved oral testosterone capsule:

http://www.getkyzatrex.com/dylangemelli

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Get the Apollo Neuro for $99 OFF!! Use Code GEMELLI!

https://apolloneuro.com/gemelli

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TRULY Increase Your NAD LEVELS with WONDERFEEL NMN:

https://getwonderfeel.com/?utm_source=DylanGemelli&utm_medium=podcast

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where to find Dylan?

◼ Follow Dylan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/

◼ Visit Dylan’s website - https://dylangemelli.com/

◼ The Dylan Gemelli Podcast Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thedylangemellipodcast

◼ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3In4QlJj4IvHqq0eduKj7m

◼Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-dylan-gemelli-podcast/id1780873400

I’ve always believed that taking care of your health means more than just eating right, exercising, or taking supplements.

Through my own experiences, I’ve learned how much our mindset, faith, and daily decisions influence the way we feel. And the more I’ve strengthened my relationship with God, the more I’ve come to understand that true health involves the mind, body, and spirit working together.

But I’ve also seen how easy it is to get caught up in trying to fix every problem with another medication, supplement, or treatment, without ever asking what’s causing the problem in the first place.

That’s why I was excited to have this conversation with Dr. Austin Lake.

 

Dr. Austin Lake is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Wholly Health. He specializes in helping women address hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, gut health issues, and other persistent health concerns through a more personalized approach.

During our conversation, we challenged some common approaches to healthcare, discussed the growing reliance on prescription medications and supplements, and explored why so many women struggle with hormonal changes, weight gain, and menopause.

We also talked about something that’s deeply important to both of us: the role of faith in our health and the importance of taking responsibility for the choices we make.

 

And it left me thinking about a question I believe we should all be asking:

Are we actually addressing what’s making us unhealthy, or have we become so focused on treating symptoms that we’ve forgotten to look for the cause?

 

In This Episode, We Talk About:

■ The debate around overprescribing thyroid medications, statins, and antidepressants

■ Why taking more supplements doesn’t necessarily mean better health

■ How faith, stress, and mindset influence our approach to well-being

■ The connection between nutrition, gut health, and chronic inflammation

■ Why some women struggle with weight gain despite dieting and exercising

■ Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause

■ Birth control, hormone balance, and women’s reproductive health

■ Why personalized healthcare matters more than following health trends

■ The importance of faith, personal responsibility, and independent thinking

 

Find Dr. Austin here:

https://www.linkely.io/dr.austin.lake

https://watch.thehealthinstitute.com/o-385

https://www.instagram.com/dr.austin.lake/

 

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Faith, Family, and Masculinity

(04:56) Dealing With Criticism

(09:25) Biblical Principles of Health

(12:15) Stress and Chronic Disease

(17:55) Functional vs. Conventional Medicine

(22:15) Problems With Modern Healthcare 

(30:35) Overprescribed Medications

(31:35) Statins and Cholesterol

(33:10) Antidepressants and Mental Health

(34:55) The Supplement Industry

(38:55) Food as Medicine

(43:20) Keto, Carnivore, and Vegan Diets

(44:45) Food Sensitivities and Gut Health

(51:35) Why Women Struggle to Lose Weight

(53:35) Perimenopause and Menopause

(55:10) Estrogen and Progesterone Imbalance

(58:15) Birth Control and Hormonal Health

(1:00:10) Bone Health and Testosterone

(1:02:05) Reproductive Health and Personal Values

(1:06:45) Critical Thinking and Social Conformity

(1:10:00) Faith and Biblical Truth

(1:13:05) Final Reflections

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Timeline

Get your FREE Mitopure Gummies Sample Here:

timeline.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get KYZATREX: FDA-approved oral testosterone capsule:

http://www.getkyzatrex.com/dylangemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get the Apollo Neuro for $99 OFF!! Use Code GEMELLI!

https://apolloneuro.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRULY Increase Your NAD LEVELS with WONDERFEEL NMN:

https://getwonderfeel.com/?utm_source=DylanGemelli&utm_medium=podcast

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where to find Dylan?

◼ Follow Dylan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/

◼ Visit Dylan’s website - https://dylangemelli.com/

◼ The Dylan Gemelli Podcast Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thedylangemellipodcast

◼ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3In4QlJj4IvHqq0eduKj7m

◼Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-dylan-gemelli-podcast/id1780873400

I've spent a good part of my life believing that money was the answer to everything. I wanted the expensive cars, designer clothes, hundreds of pairs of sneakers, and the kind of lifestyle that would make people look at me differently.

That obsession with money even got me into serious trouble. And when I eventually started making real money through hard work, I found myself falling into the same habits. Buying things I didn't need, spending ridiculous amounts of money, and constantly chasing more.

But no matter how much I had, something was always missing.

Looking back, what bothers me most isn't the money I wasted. It's the time and attention I failed to give the people who genuinely loved me. My wife, my kids, my grandkids, my mom. They didn't need any of those expensive things. They just wanted me.

Through my relationship with God, I've come to understand what it actually means to be rich. It's not about how much money you make, but the love you give, the people you help, and the purpose behind what you do.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with making money, working hard, or enjoying nice things. The problem begins when money becomes the entire purpose of your life.

Today, at 44 years old, I can genuinely say I'm the richest I've ever been, and it has very little to do with my bank account.

My hope is that this episode makes you question what you're really chasing and whether it's bringing you the fulfillment you're looking for.

Enjoy the episode, God bless, and I'll see you in the next one!

 

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:51) Timeline

(02:13) What Does It Really Mean to Be Rich?

(03:10) How Money Got Me Into Trouble

(04:19) Why I Had 400 Pairs of Sneakers

(06:12) Making More Money, Feeling More Empty

(07:03) My Gucci Shopping Obsession

(08:00) The Worst Car I Ever Bought

(09:05) What Changed When I Stopped Chasing Money

(10:35) How My Obsession Affected My Family

(11:11) What Actually Makes You Rich

(12:43) Does Money Really Make You Happy?

(13:56) Putting Money Before God

(15:05) Making Money With a Greater Purpose

(15:59) Why I'm Richer Than Ever Today

(17:19) Stop Worshipping Money

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Timeline

Get your FREE Mitopure Gummies Sample Here:

timeline.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get KYZATREX: FDA-approved oral testosterone capsule:

http://www.getkyzatrex.com/dylangemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get the Apollo Neuro for $99 OFF!! Use Code GEMELLI!

https://apolloneuro.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRULY Increase Your NAD LEVELS with WONDERFEEL NMN:

https://getwonderfeel.com/?utm_source=DylanGemelli&utm_medium=podcast

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where to find Dylan?

◼ Follow Dylan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/

◼ Visit Dylan’s website - https://dylangemelli.com/

◼ The Dylan Gemelli Podcast Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thedylangemellipodcast

◼ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3In4QlJj4IvHqq0eduKj7m

◼Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-dylan-gemelli-podcast/id1780873400

What if the stress you're trying to eliminate is actually what your body needs to become stronger?

Despite focusing on nutrition, hormones, and exercise, I still struggled with stress, mental clarity, and feeling constantly stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

That's why I was excited to sit down with Salim Najjar.

Salim is a former CEO and human performance educator who specializes in heart rate variability (HRV), nervous system health, and stress resilience.

 

During our conversation, we explored why chronic stress may contribute to inflammation and unhealthy aging, what HRV can reveal about your body's ability to recover, and why constantly trying to eliminate stress might not be the answer.

We also discussed how everyday habits like checking your phone first thing in the morning, drinking caffeine, poor sleep, and overtraining can affect your nervous system. Salim shared his perspective on unresolved emotional trauma, mental health medications, wearable health trackers, and how elite athletes like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan developed the ability to perform under pressure.

 

I hope this conversation helps you rethink your relationship with stress, better understand your nervous system, and find ways to improve both your physical and mental well-being.

Enjoy the episode, God bless, and I'll see you in the next one!

 

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:05) Timeline

(08:38) Your Body Is the Best Biohacking Technology

(09:50) Silence Matters

(11:28) Chronic Stress, Inflammation & Aging

(14:15) Stress Can Be Your Best Friend

(17:25) Sleep and Nervous System Recovery

(19:25) How Phones Affect Stress and Sleep

(22:06) Morning Caffeine and Cortisol

(23:41) What Is HRV?

(25:30) Understanding Your HRV Score

(30:00) Diet, Genetics, and HRV

(33:35) Exercise, Recovery, and Resilience

(36:17) Mental Health Medication

(39:25) How to Improve Nervous System Health

(40:52) Problems With Modern Healthcare

(47:34) My Personal Healing Journey

(49:45) How Trauma Affects the Nervous System

(53:37) Emotional Suppression and Childhood Conditioning

(57:04) The Mindset of Elite Athletes

(1:01:05) How to Train Your Mind

(1:03:02) Wearable Devices and HRV Tracking

(1:06:00) Vagus Nerve Stimulation

(1:09:36) The Okinawa Longevity Paradox

(1:10:58) Prayer, Gratitude, and Stillness

(1:11:49) How to Work With Salim

(1:13:25) Final Thoughts

Free HRV Quiz and Guide: https://thathrvguy.com/hrv-quiz?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=dylan-gemelli-podcast-2026

 

Website: https://thathrvguy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thathrvguy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thatHRVguy

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thathrvguy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salimnajjar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salimm.najjar

X: https://x.com/thatHRVguy

 

Disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and the guest's perspectives, including health claims that have not been clinically established. It is intended for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Timeline

Get your FREE Mitopure Gummies Sample Here:

timeline.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get KYZATREX: FDA-approved oral testosterone capsule:

http://www.getkyzatrex.com/dylangemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get the Apollo Neuro for $99 OFF!! Use Code GEMELLI!

https://apolloneuro.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRULY Increase Your NAD LEVELS with WONDERFEEL NMN:

https://getwonderfeel.com/?utm_source=DylanGemelli&utm_medium=podcast

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where to find Dylan?

◼ Follow Dylan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/

◼ Visit Dylan’s website - https://dylangemelli.com/

◼ The Dylan Gemelli Podcast Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thedylangemellipodcast

◼ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3In4QlJj4IvHqq0eduKj7m

◼Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-dylan-gemelli-podcast/id1780873400

The water you drink every day might not be hydrating you the way you think it is.

In this episode, I sit down with Ken Guoin, founder of Ophora Water, to challenge what we think we know about hydration, water quality, and longevity.

After switching from reverse-osmosis water to Ophora, I noticed significant changes in how I felt, including improvements in my hydration, appetite, and overall well-being.

Ken talks the technology behind oxygen-enriched water, why he believes conventional drinking water falls short, and the surprising ways water quality could influence our health.

 

In this episode, we talk about:

■ Why drinking more water doesn't always mean better hydration

■ The difference between reverse-osmosis and oxygen-enriched water

■ How hydration may influence energy, metabolism, and appetite

■ My personal experience with dehydration and irregular heart rhythms

■ The hidden chemicals in our drinking and shower water

■ Why Ken believes chlorine and plastics pose serious health risks

■ How oxygen-enriched water could support cellular health and longevity

■ Why Ken hasn't taken a conventional shower in years

 

Ophora Water:

■ Water Systems: https://ophorawatersystems.com

■ Official Website: https://www.ophorawater.com/

■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ophorawater/

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:54) Timeline 

(06:15) Cellular Hydration and Oxygen

(06:43) Metabolism, Appetite, and Weight Loss

(08:20) Are You Drinking Enough Water?

(10:28) How Is Oxygen-Enriched Water Different?

(11:26) Absorb Oxygen Through Your Skin?

(14:18) The Truth About Saltwater Pools

(15:06) Chlorine, Sunscreen, and Skin Cancer Claims

(16:33) Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals in Water

(19:36) Water Purification

(21:33) Hydrogen Water Bottles vs. Tablets

(23:34) Oxygen, Hydration, and Longevity

(27:00) Ozone and Water Treatment

(29:23) Hot Tubs, Recovery, and Oxygenated Water

(37:17) Energy, Mitochondria, and Detoxification Claims

(40:27) Measuring Intracellular Hydration

(41:28) Can You Drink Water and Still Be Dehydrated?

(42:47) Water Quality and Pets

(43:12) Alkaline Water and pH Explained

(48:05) Plastic Bottles and Chemical Exposure

(54:41) What's Wrong With the Water Industry?

(56:28) Sound Frequencies and Rose Quartz

(58:11) Water and Supplement Absorption

(1:00:18) Final Thoughts 

 

Disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and the guest's perspectives, including health claims that have not been clinically established. It is intended for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Timeline

Get your FREE Mitopure Gummies Sample Here:

timeline.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get KYZATREX: FDA-approved oral testosterone capsule:

http://www.getkyzatrex.com/dylangemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get the Apollo Neuro for $99 OFF!! Use Code GEMELLI!

https://apolloneuro.com/gemelli

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRULY Increase Your NAD LEVELS with WONDERFEEL NMN:

https://getwonderfeel.com/?utm_source=DylanGemelli&utm_medium=podcast

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where to find Dylan?

◼ Follow Dylan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/

◼ Visit Dylan’s website - https://dylangemelli.com/

◼ The Dylan Gemelli Podcast Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thedylangemellipodcast

◼ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3In4QlJj4IvHqq0eduKj7m

◼Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/hr/podcast/the-dylan-gemelli-podcast/id1780873400