Josh

Hi everybody. What'd I do, baby Boo?

Erin

You know, I feel like we're on the clock now. Our child just poked her head in and said, mom, I'm pooping. I'll holler when I'm done.

Josh

Mom, I have to go poop. I'll call for you when I'm ready. Ready? Go.

Erin

So here we are. Here we are. Kris, I'm very sorry for making this the intro to your podcast, but you know, we're parents.

Josh

We're parents. Someday you will be too. Yeah, which you'll hear about on the podcast. Good transition. This woman was a really, really great one. Yeah. We love Kris. Kris is awesome. She reached out to me probably in like January earlier of the year. And she was just kind of at a rock bottom, I don't know how she found us. I prob, oh, she says it on the podcast. Mm-hmm. From our Instagram, and she just dmd me and we started chatting back and forth. And we ended up just building a Instagram friendship. she's been through the ringer, just like a lot of us in chronic illness. But she's coming out on top. Yeah, she's been doing Rudy scans, feeling really good. And she recently just got married. She

Erin

did, I know we talked a lot about her, bridal, what's that called? Bachelorette party and stuff. Yeah. But she's now officially married. Yep. She

Josh

wed, yeah. She's awesome. She has just an incredible heart and she does she. Is just so conscious about what healing requires, which is something that. Doesn't always necessarily happen. So we have a lot of good conversations about that. Yeah. She is, in the dance scene she likes, works for Red Bull. She was a dancer for girls. Got moves, the LA

Erin

Clippers. Yeah, so follow I go to her TikTok when I just need to feel like I have a really cool

Josh

friend. Oh yes. She is our cool friend.

Erin

She's awesome. Very cool. she also is one of those people, like you were saying, she puts in the work. Yeah. And she's one that has like really committed, which always just makes my little practitioner heart so happy because probably more often than not, I don't know if that's fair to say, but probably more often than not, we'll have people that will do their first scan, maybe do their first round of remedies, maybe, and then they just like fall off the grid and. Don't get well because they don't stick it out and she's really committed and they usually

Josh

come back though and yeah, five months

Erin

later, six months later works. Yeah. So, but Carissa has just everything. Yeah, she's done like her third scan now, I think in round of remedies, maybe fourth. and I did wanna say that that is kind of a sweet spot for a lot of people. So if you're able to, if you're considering bio energetic testing, if you're considering Rudy in our process, if you can just kind of mentally commit to three scans, three rounds of remedies and just notice what is different and go from there because there will be a difference after the third one. Mm-hmm. mean, I know it's a commitment and she's also doing tons of lifestyle stuff that we will talk about in the podcast.

Josh

But yeah, this is a good one. Yeah. I'm excited for

Erin

everyone to listen. Me too. Cool. I'm gonna go wipe my kids' ass. Have fun,

Josh

love.

Erin

We are here with a friend of ours, Carissa, who we just realized we've never actually met, but I've had the pleasure of chatting with you over Ruti scans a few times and we're really excited to hear your health journey, your story, how you found bioenergetics, all the things. But yeah, first of all, how did we even get in touch? Does anyone know that? Go for it, Chris. Not.

Karissa

Yeah, I got it. I actually reached out to Josh on his personal page back in January of this year. And I was just at my lowest point I'd say, and I was just looking for any guidance, hope, advice. And I don't even know actually how I stumbled on Ruti specifically, but I did, and I resonated with the funny videos you guys made about like parasites and like full moons and like when doctors just gaslight you.

Josh

We need to bring those back. We do.

Karissa

Yeah those honestly were great. They were attention grabbers. That's what I was like, this is a fun company. And then I just found Josh's personal page and I resonated with the story and yeah, that's how I ended up here.

Erin

That's awesome. And you had experience prior with bio testing, correct?

Karissa

Yes, I had done one prior at the end of December, my girlfriend, who's like an integrative health practitioner had been working with me for the past year trying to help me, solve my health mystery. And she is the one who put me on, she did it back in like 2020 when it, I feel like still wasn't even as popular as it is now. And she was like, she had been like talking to me about it for a while and was like, I think you should do this testing when you get a chance. It gives so much information. And since it correlated with me being at my lowest point, I was like, I'm ready. I want to just find out what's wrong. So, yeah.

Erin

I know you've had issues with like thyroid and gut health stuff, so take us back, like, when did that start? What have you tried along the way before you even found bioenergetics?

Karissa

Wow. Let me take you all the way back to high school.

Erin

Let's go. It's usually when it starts, if we're honest. I know. Or.

Karissa

Yep. So Yeah I've always lived a fast paced, busy lifestyle. I guess I've been a dancer since I was eight years old. And, I think that's just had a lot of wear and tear on my body. so in high school it was like my junior year and I was just rundown and I got mono. And I honestly feel like that was just like the pivotal moment that shifted me into a bad place um, because I didn't take care of myself. And the next year, my senior year, I started spotting randomly. And so I went to the doctors. They tested my blood and told me I have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. I was 17 years old at the time and I knew nothing. My mom didn't know anything. We went together and we're like, okay. And I had elevated antibodies. I think they were like 118, they're supposed to be under seven. And, and my t s h was so it was low. And that was it. And they were like, we're gonna just monitor your blood, whatever. So that went on for a few years. During that time I'm like super busy, in college, multiple jobs. Da I started dancing for the Los Angeles Clippers and like doing a lot that wasn't great for my body, which I now see completely shift in my health again in a bad way. I would say, Due to the realm of work I was in, undereating chronically was something that I was doing. Not really purposefully, but just the nature of the

Josh

yeah.

Karissa

lifestyle. it was like, I wanna say 2014 or something, like my eyebrows were falling out, my hair was falling out, I just didn't feel good. Went back to the doctors. My ts h was like a 10 when it should be functionally between like one and two. So they're like, we're putting you on medication. I, again, didn't know anything at the time like, I had looked into diets and back then it was like less information, but I knew gluten free and these like few different things I could try, but I never committed to anything. So I went on medication and they just sent me on my way. Like they don't give you any other instructions. There's like, all you need to take is this, thyroid hormone replacement, and you're good. And that was, Okay. Like I just struggled with different symptoms, I'd say like throughout most of my twenties. And then I had a few years that were great. It was like 2017 to 2020. Prior to that I had Been like going to the doctor's a lot and getting my thyroid tested, different things, having acne. I tried birth control and then I got off it cause I felt crazy and like just a bunch of different things once I, like wasn't doing anything and I just had like my, I was taking my like th medication, but I had a good three years and I never went to the doctors during that time and I felt good cause that was my goal. I was like, I, the whole time I had my mind, I wanted to fix what was wrong with me naturally. So I was trying different fad things like celery juice and like this. And I, I

Josh

there?

Karissa

in 2016. Yeah. It all the things like, and I, Yeah. And I went vegetarian in 2016 and then I was great for like 2017 to 2020. Things are great. And then, It was the end of 2019. I got sick with, at the time it was probably covid, but it was like the flu cuz we didn't know anything. And then I got my thyroid tested and it was elevated, so they bumped up my medication. I didn't think anything of it. then lockdown happened, everything's fine. I'm staying at home. I felt like I had no stress. I didn't have to work. Things were great. And during that time, that's when I was doing like celery juice every morning and stuff. And then slowly these gut issues that I've ne I've never had gut issues. Like I've never been that girl that like struggled with traveling and like bowel movements or anything like that. I like started having some days of like reflux. And then there was like one day where I was like, Super bloated. And then I was just like, burping up all this air. And I was like, that was so weird. It made me nauseous and it just went on. And then one day it just exploded. Like where I feel like probably my toxin bucket was just like overflowing. it was like extreme bloat for a week, all this burping. And I've just, I would never even if I tried to burp prior to this moment, I never could, growing up like that just wasn't my thing. suddenly I'm like, burping like a hundred times a day and I'm like, this is not normal. Something is wrong. at the time I had no idea. Like I knew about functional medicine, but I hadn't dove into that yet. And I went to my regular doctor at Kaiser and they were like, not sure. what it could be. They put me on PPIs. And at the time I, I sus, yeah, I suspected that it was low stomach acid, so I brought that up, but there's no way to really test it there. So she just put me on that because I said I had reflux. Granted, reflux can definitely be from low stomach acid, whatever, but at the time I just didn't have the knowledge. So I just did that and she tested my own thyroid and they, it was fine. So I basically just went on for a year on PPIs and didn't change anything, was still vegetarian and dealing with this burping digestive issues constantly. And it finally got to a point where it, the PPIs, at least for some weird reason, it felt like they helped. I don't know if it was like a mental thing or if it just didn't get worse yet, but Eventually didn't, wasn't feeling any relief from anything. And that's when I was like, at my like lowest then of I need help. I need to fix this. I had just gotten engaged and I was like, I wanna feel good for my wedding. I don't feel good Right. now. And so yeah, that's where I finally got into functional medicine. I had a girlfriend who had a doctor, on the East coast. So I did all the testing, spent all the money. I know that, you know,

Josh

for sure.

Karissa

that was a frustrating experience because had to order everything like online and get the test sent here. I did like extensive blood work. Found out I, all my B vitamins were like in the dumps cuz I wasn't eating meat for years. And I was basically, unfortunately, so I went, this is kinda like a sidebar. I went vegetarian because I love animals and I. Just had this moral crisis back then of eating them. And so at the time that was like hard because I'm eating soy. Cause I was having like tofu, which is terrible for me. Um, I'm having gluten because I didn't want to restrict myself too much. So that was the moment where he was like, you need to eat meat and fish and you need to change your diet and get rid of the seed oils. That's when it really opened my eyes to, eating in a different way. So I I rearranged my whole diet incorporating fish meat, like raw dairy, everything. Trying to get rid of all the other processed foods Oh, we did a stool test and I had dysbiosis, which we thought the thing that was a little frustrating is that he put me on all these different. Supplements and I felt a little bit better changing my diet and doing the supplements, but then I start, I felt worse again and so I reached out to him. I'm like, there's something we still haven't found, what's going on? He's like, oh, well maybe we should test you placebo if you're having burping. And I was like why didn't we think to test that five months ago? And I could have been somewhere else. me for that. I definitely have sibo puts me on Biocidin herb Protocol and I feel like after that I made again some progress to get me to a baseline of okay. And in my mind this is where it's like I didn't even see my body as a whole yet. I don't think. I'm just thinking like I just have gut issues and it's not related to anything else cuz no, none of those tests give a full picture of what's going on in your body. It's just like snapshots of different systems. I did that protocol. I was, I did a parasite cleanse. I was just trying to do all the different things I'm having, like aloe vera and just everything to try to do, like gut healing and ceiling, all that. And I went away for work for like two months traveling, living out of hotels, which I thought I was better to be able to do that. Hindsight, I don't think that was helpful for my health at all. Cuz it disconnected me from everything that now I'm learning is what I needed to be doing to heal. So I kind of like completely tanked at the end of that trip. Probably just from living off of like microwaveable food and not like grounding and seeing the sun, like all of it. Just my body was not at a good place to do what that job demanded. so that, was what got me to my lowest and I was like, I'm not healed. I started going into so s mode. And freaking out because I'm like, okay, my gut issues are like back, but even worse what's going on? so that's when I took the bioenergetic testing and I'm thinking it's gonna tell me my digestive is like in the tanks, but it was actually my nervous system that was totally trashed. And I was like, wow, that's interesting. And that, was what really started me on what I would say like the second chapter of my healing journey of viewing my body as a whole And that's why I love this testing. It's like it's the only thing that you can really get. A picture of everything that's going on in your body versus just one, just the gut or just like your hormones. It's like you, you get to see everything. And, so that, that has been a whole different journey. I never focused on my nervous system before this, which is funny because that clearly is the reason I need to focus on it. Cuz I've never meditated, I never did breath work, I never did anything. And it's tied obviously to your gut entirely. That, Yeah that's my journey.

Erin

let's go. No. Amazing. That was great. And it's it's such an important message for people listening and for us to just that concept, like we're steeped in this framework, this medical model that we've been given, which is very siloed. we have literally, it's like a doctor that treats the, nervous system. Then there's a doctor that treats just the liver and like the, it's just bogus. Like we need to be looking from a holistic perspective because every little thing, the more I learn, the more I realize nothing happens in isolation within these bodies. every little is impacting another, whether it's just one mineral is off, then it's like this whole cascade of things are off. Yeah. I think that's hugely important. And one of the reasons why we fell in love with Bioenergetics too, is because it gives you, a comprehensive look at the body as a whole, and including like the nervous system, body, mind, emotion, connection.

Josh

Yeah. I felt like I kept getting whiplash from every doctor I went to. I know. Because they'd be like, maybe it's this. And you'd be like, maybe it is that. And then you'd go and you'd start to feel better a little bit and you'd be like, this is it. We finally figured it out. And then you would freaking tank. And in so many cases, at least in my experience, and hearing from you is you'll almost will be worse than when you started. So you'd have this like low and then you'd get better, but then you'd plummet even more. A lot of people that I talk to are stories are so similar in so many ways. Mm-hmm. And some of us, Many of us were crazy too. Like we were high adrenaline you were dancing, I was DJing. We were like in environments where we, in many cases, thrive but reeks havoc on our nervous system. And that is where it starts. And as soon as that, let's go you're

Erin

in deep trouble. I was just listening to someone the other day talk about, she was like, sometimes I feel like my entire personality is just a trauma response. And I was like, wow, that's really so true for so many of us. But yeah, I mean, I do think there's some kind of common thread whether you wanna call it personality traits or. Whatever, if it's, if it is some trauma lodged there, even just passed down ancestrally. There are Yeah. Things that people with chronic health issues tend to, have in common. Yeah.

Josh

first of all, I feel like we're siblings.

Erin

You guys have very similar health stories except for the thyroid really. But mono was like the thing for him

Josh

in high school. E BBB popped up when I was in high school and I almost had to take my junior year over again cuz I missed so many days. I would like fall asleep mid

Karissa

yes. So tired.

Josh

all of that to say, we seem to be in like similar demographics, even just like how our friend groups were and maybe are, and all of that. When I first started about bioenergetics, even though I was leaning on the alternative medicine side, or holistic wellness in general, just because all the other doctors that I had tried in Western weren't helping either. By energetic sounded like the most bogus thing that I had yet to try, and all of my friends were like, what? I get that you're trying herbals and stuff, but this is wacky. Was that a similar experience to you?

Karissa

I felt like very open-minded. Like I was, like, when she was explaining the test to me, I was like, Sounds great. Like I didn't question it. I think like it's funny cause I've seen what people say online about like, homeopathics and they say it's like woowoo, like, you know, whatever. Um, and that's fine. I'm like, but I like, feel like to me I was sold, I, I don't think I was sold yet when I was first doing the remedies cuz I, my first round of remedies because I didn't, it's not like I felt like instantly like better. Like I'd have, you know, it's like a rollercoaster. But when I saw that next scan and all the remedies that I took correlated with the areas that improved, I was like, I'm sold. Like crazy. So, um, it's hard. I think it's hard when you're, um, declining and getting into a bad place and same when you're coming up out of that bad place to really like, measure what that feels like. It's like. same with like weight loss or weight gain. It's like it happened so gradually so that's why having the testing in front of me, like seeing my scan results and seeing the percentages, cuz I feel like I can get down and be like, I haven't healed, I haven't made progress on my like bad days. But then I have great days and I'm like, oh, for sure I have. So seeing it on paper reassures me so I don't spiral into like, I'm not healing. It's like, no, you're putting in the work and the results are there. Just keep going type of thing.

Erin

Yep. Yeah, Yeah, totally. I remember having one consult with you where I think your nervous system and the scan prior was like 30 something percent and then the next one was like in the six years or seventies. And I was like, if you are not patting yourself on the back for that, you need to be, because it's double improvement. Yeah. And I know that that takes intention and like some real, you know, work it, that doesn't just happen. Part of that's clearing toxins and stuff too, of course. But, yeah. I just think that is really helpful to see it on paper. Like you said, sometimes. Because you're not gonna feel it necessarily every day, but the pattern that we're noticing is okay, I have more, whether that's like more overall energy or I have more flexibility. Like I can go travel for a weekend and it doesn't completely tank me or Yep. But those aren't things you're gonna notice necessarily overnight. Um,

Josh

We talk about it all the time, and I literally have said this to everyone, so I know I've said it to you, is you have all of those bad days and then you have a few good hours and the bad days. And then a few good days, and then you forget you had bad days. we all are bio individual, but a lot of our healing journeys exist with that chronological order of experience. just, in how you were messaging me, I could tell mm-hmm. oh, she sees hope. Oh, she's now feeling really good. And then I'd be like, oh, she's like going all over the place now. Like she wasn't even able to like text sometimes at, at certain points. So,

Karissa

yeah, totally. I know it's even for the people around me, they like just to tell, even just an energy thing. They're like, oh, you're feeling good today? Like, I can, you're back. Like your spirit of like who you are is back. I've been on huge stretches of feeling great. So that has been the most encouraging thing. So,

Erin

So awesome. That's so good. Yeah. I always love asking this question, although it's a tricky one cuz I never wanna gloss over the pain or the suffering that exists within chronic illness. That's not what we're about. But I'm always just curious to know like what gift or silver lining or like, is there something that you feel like you really gained through your experience with chronic illness?

Karissa

it's hard cuz sometimes I sit here and I'm like, why me? Like me and my, my girlfriend who's a health practitioner, like she has a similar story of going through like gut issues, health issues. And we look at other people that can just like, eat fast food and like party and like don't take care of their health and are fine. And I, and I mean, fine. probably don't, baseline is probably terrible, but,

Josh

True,

Karissa

um, but yeah. And so we get so bummed about it, but honestly ever since having these, like health issues, I've gotten so into health. I love everything about it. I love like eating healthy and I think that's what's been the hardest part for me is that I find like purpose, not even purpose, but like when I feel good. That's when I'm like mentally doing well. Like I want my health to be like, I want the scan. I know. I don't think it ever can come back like a hundred, but I want to be, because I take, I try to take care of my body. Like I just want to put in that work and then feel myself thriving, feel my hair great, my skin great, like my energy level's up. I'm happy my mood is up. that's like where I feel like my happiness comes from is like me taking care of myself and then feeling that back. So, with that being said, I thank the chronic illness for giving me so much more insight into what the side of health is. I mean, turning into functional medicine, um, versus Western has just like changed my life and what's great is it's given me the tools. For my, like the future generation of, even like my kids, I want to like pass down all my knowledge to them and make sure that they can hopefully lead a healthy life from like start, you know, from the time that they're born all the way and like instill that into them so that we can like break this pattern of health issues. Because it's like, as much as no one in my family has had the same like health issues, everyone's struggled with something and now I feel like this has like opened my lens to like, I almost like diagnose everyone and I'm like, oh, you have something, like, you have something mental health. Oh, you probably have something with your gut now. And there so many people just aren't into the health space and they're like, fine with, I feel like living with those symptoms and just being like, oh, I have depression. Like this is just like my life and they're just not into it. Like, you know, we are. My goal, honestly, is to, once I can really like, heal even more, I know healing is like a forever journey, but, um, get on the other side where I don't have to focus so much on myself and I can focus on other people. I'd love to help those around me. That's even why I've been trying to inspire others to take the test because I'm like, you can learn so much knowledge and it's easy for someone who's not into the health space to like see and just like order the remedies and do them and you might feel better. You might help your depression, you might help your gut tissues, your sinus, whatever it is. So, um, so that's why I know sometimes I'm like, why me? But then I'm thankful for the journey because it's like shaped in who I am entirely and what I care about and what my values are.

Josh

That's so awesome. Not, this isn't to project any gifts onto you, but you are the perfect person to pave the way for this type of healing. Outside of the typical functional medicine demographic, We don't have to be on one side or the other with any type of medicine or ideas or views on things. You are just genuine in how you live. And that's going to open up an entirely new portal of healing in demographics that would have never heard of something like this. So you may be like subduing some of your awesome gifts that you have, but I'm just here to acknowledge that you're fucking killing it. Yeah. And just who you are becoming and you are way closer than maybe you think. Yeah. To being on the other side of where you were in January when you were DMing me for the very first time. We are celebrating with you and we're thankful for you. And I like tell everyone that they're like, earth angels. I know, but you are. Like, we talk about you all the time. We're like, Carissa. Like, I know. We'll see like a story or something. And I'll be like, oh, shoot. She like, she's out until 2:00 AM doing something. Like what?

Karissa

Thank

Josh

Yeah. Like I'm over here celebrating. And that's kind of the goal in all of this too. Like, I poo-pooed this because it wasn't fitting inside of who I was. it felt like I had to become something else. And what I started to realizing this is this is just a tool to allow me to become my full itself. And we're just getting the privilege to kind of watch you do that. So I know, I don't know what you were like before, but I know where you were when you reached out to me first, and you're a completely different human. Justin, the little that I've known you, so yeah. You've got it.

Karissa

Thank you, Josh. appreciate it.

Erin

Yeah. I love this idea of chronic illness, cuz we've talked about this, I don't know on the podcast, maybe not, but just you and I have talked about, chronic illness as a way of universe, God source, whatever you wanna call it. Kind of healing those Yeah. Whether it's, again, ancestral from our parents, from their parents. It's a way of, I feel like the universe is forcing our hand it's time to stop this pattern. Whatever that is, whether it's health related, nervous system, re like all these, like, it's, it's kind of forcing our hand in one way or another. It's you can be miserable or you can address this and stop the cycle. And I feel like that's what happened with Josh too. Oh yeah. So many cyclical things are stopping with him, which is amazing. And I know with you too, So that is definitely a gift even though it's maybe we wish it could be served a

Josh & Erin Audio (Karissa)

different

Josh

way.

Karissa

yeah,

Josh

Couldn't like the reincarnation before me fucking do this. Yeah, I know.

Karissa

Yeah. And then I'm the healed one already. Like literally,

Josh

Right? Yeah. Like couldn't I have just reaped the benefits, but no. Yeah.

Erin

Yeah. I did wanna talk a little bit cuz I'm just curious. This is an industry. I, I, I have no rhythm. I cannot dance. I have never been even pretended to dance. I need lessons from you Krisa. But in that industry I can only imagine first of all, just the like high intensity pressure. I imagine like you're talking about with eating and restrictive dieting and things like that. Did you have to like make giant life changes? Did you quit jobs? Did you have to do any of that to heal or were you able to like incorporate these things into what you were already doing?

Karissa

That is a great question. So I, um, I struggled. It was when I started getting into like functional medicine. I was still working two jobs, three here and there. I, I like, worked for an entertainment company, gigs here and there. And then at the time I was working at Universal Studios, um, Bob Baton in the Harry Potter world. And then I was dancing for the Clippers and the lifestyle. I mean, it's just terrible. I'm like, never can sit down and have like a meal. I'm always on the go. I'm like sitting in traffic, like going to rehearsal late at night, getting, not getting to like, eat dinner, coming home at like 10 or 11 at night. I knew well while I was in that and I'm like doing this like blood work and different testing and I'm like trying to like eat whole Foods. I'm like, this is not working like this. It's not aligned. Like my healing isn't aligned with my jobs at the moment. So I tried my best during that time. Um, I luckily both those jobs ended, uh, last year, like right before summer for me. And then I started like working from home and, and that helped so much. as much as I, like I missed kind of that like dancing as much as I was and that lifestyle, I just don't think it's like conductive for healing in any way from like, everything I'd see online. It's like, you need to do this and that and you need to like, you know, prioritize this. And I'm like, I can't, I couldn't do that while I was still having those jobs, which, I think it's perfect that I kind of was already on my way out of like wrapping up that journey for me. Yeah. That, that is something that I struggled with and I think why, obviously it took me so long to even get to a place of like, I'm ready to heal. Cause I, I couldn't have done both. you know, maybe, and maybe someone out there is, but it, it

Erin

Mm-hmm.

Karissa

just, I couldn't do it.

Erin

Yeah, that's fair.

Josh

The, bioenergetics, like the testing as a tool is obviously a huge piece of what your health journey seems to be, but there's other modalities that I know you've incorporated Oh, yeah. Into your healing. I mean, we've just had conversations about that. What are some that you've found to be the most impactful aiding in you getting here?

Karissa

honestly, I feel like one of the things that I was not good at and I struggled really hard to do it was meditating. Just like clearing out my brain and like sitting in stillness obviously in like the day and age we're living in is so hard for people. I did like one meditation one day for I think it was like 45 minutes, and that was like long for me. And I just like sat there and I was like, so proud of myself after, and like really trying to like visualize in those moments I was visualizing my future self, like at my wedding and like, and being happy and like really and taking me, yeah. and then like visualizing things from the past, my like happiest moments to try to like feel that. Cause I know being stuck in like the anxious state, I was like, if I can just visualize and like, think that I'm in those happy moments, like I'll start to like feel it and the anxiety will melt away. And there was like one day where it really, I like just, I was like closing my eyes and like even just visualizing these like moments I got like emotional and I was like, I wasn't like crying but there was like tears That like meditation brought me out of like a bad place. After that, that morning I like couldn't do anything and then I was like starting to clean my house after, like, so I felt for the first time that is where I think I really like moved the needle with my nervous system. but that was one of them. Other things that I have done is contrast therapy, which I love. Um, ice baths and then sauna. my goal would be to like have my own sauna here at the house. We have an ice bath, but like to be able to do it like, you know, in the own comfort of my home. But, that's been great. Like cold showers. That was one of the things. Doing, uh, cold exposure. I am like not good with the cold. I hate the cold. I don't know if it's even just like my thyroid cold sensitivity. I'm always cold. So, um, that was kind of almost like a fear where I needed to face that. To, um, not like a fear, but I felt like it because I didn't like it. That's why it's so good for me, almost in a sense. Like, I need to do the thing that. is hard for me because that's where the benefit is. Yeah. that was another thing and some other things I like got at grounding Matt. I mean, I've tried to do actual grounding and like be out in the sun and like put my feet in the dirt, but, just any of the like, biohacking that I can do. I'm still exploring and, you know, looking into what else I can incorporate in like my daily life.

Josh

Yeah. It turns into like a little bit of addiction.

Erin

Sorry, babe. I know. I was just gonna say well, like, what else can I find? Both of you probably could benefit from also just being

Josh

That's so Erin to me. Okay. Pause though. We have to talk about your freaking bachelorette party.

Erin

Oh yeah. It was amazing

Josh

looking. Oh my gosh. I feel like we could like start creating, curating mindfulness. Oh my gosh. Bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Erin

Whoa, Carissa. Let's do

Karissa

is such a good idea because the amount of people that responded to me and were Like, that looked like so much fun. That's my kind of bachelorette. And I was like, yeah. it was great.

Josh

yeah. Nobody just knows how to access it or what to even do. We have an industry standard? Yours looked magical. Okay.

Erin

Listeners, but I'm already married. Can we renew our vowels and then I can redo

Josh

that. Yo, I'll redo my bachelor I'll again any day. If we could do that for

Erin

real. Where did you go? It was beautiful.

Karissa

So that's actually where my wedding's gonna be. Um, and yeah. was, we did a beach house and just like the first day we went on a boat and then like made dinner with like gluten free, like organic, be like, did like a taco night and like played games that night. And then the next day we all went to the spa. I got like Vegas nerve massage, which was really cool. That's like what sold me on it. then some other like heated body wrapping. I don't, I got like the works. yeah, we like went out to dinner that night, just like chill, hung out and then the next day did like a little brunch and it was like, it was so

Erin

I think I saw breath. Did I see breath work? You were doing breath work, yoga. There was like all sorts of

Karissa

work. Yes. my my girlfriend's mom let us. Yes. That's so true. We, the morning of like our spa day, we woke up and did workout, meditation, breath work. And it was, yeah, it was all

Erin

Dreamy Ruti Events coming in 2024. Yeah. Clarissa, you may be needing a little side

Josh

job here. You may be getting a phone call from us being like, Hey, let's go.

Karissa

most epic experience

Josh

Ugh. Yeah. you could be doing scans on your bachelorette party. Here we let's go. What are we doing? I'm here for it.

Karissa

love it. I love it.

Josh

Here it comes. Yeah, you inspired me. Okay. Sorry. I just had to talk about that because Yeah. I literally, you're the first person that I've ever seen do that. And you owned it. You didn't just like be like, let's party, but then in the morning do

Erin

yoga. She's adding fulvic acid to her doing mocktail. I'm like, yes, queen

Karissa

gosh, I that. Yeah, and that's, I, I'd seen one person do like a solo, uh, weekend, like bachelorette weekend. That was like wellness, but I, yeah, I'd never seen it with like a group of girls, on the flip side, I was originally supposed to go to Miami for my bachelorette and like party and everything, and I, it wasn't aligned with like where I'm at in life. So that's why um, we went this different route and I'm just so thankful. I think it all made sense and, yeah, I don't know. I wouldn't change a thing. I think it was perfect.

Erin

Yeah, that's awesome. I love that you've used the word aligned a few times during this conversation, and I love that word so much because I feel like that's where health really flows, when we are living truly aligned with what feels right for us, you know? and that can look completely different for different people, but yeah it's such a good. intention to set. Like I will only do the things that feel aligned and then, I mean,

Josh

that is the ultimate goal too. Yeah. Which is an evolution, right? we're constantly evolving and realigning into what resonates with us, but the whole goal is to be in balance and be able to be willing to find what is in alignment to you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's incredible.

Erin

we've kind of partially touched on this already, but do you have any other health goals for yourself or is there things that you're focusing on more these days? Or if not, is there things you know on the harder days that you go to to give you hope or to get you through?

Karissa

I'd say like, I'm just trying to like a place where mentally and physically I just feel good like every day. Um, I know that's probably is unrealistic, but, um, I know what, I know what I've like, felt like when I'm not, you know, having to like focus every day about like checking in on like symptoms. So I wanna get to a place where I kind of just. wake up. That's actually questions that I saw that you were maybe gonna ask was, what does like freedom look like to you? And that I just thought I'll answer cuz it's, it's tied into this, is just that is waking up and like, not having to check in and be like, how do I feel today? And like, being worried about like what I'm doing today, if I'm gonna feel good at that. Like just waking up and being like, all right, let's eat. Like let's do this, let's go work out. And not having to feel like nervous about how I'm gonna be or how I'm gonna feel at the end of the day. cause I remember like when I used to not have to like think about my health every day, you know? that'll be freedom to me when I can, like I can't wait to just be in that like, Future self that is just fully thriving helping other people is like what my goal would be like, just to get myself good, to be able to like put my energy. Cuz a lot of my energy goes back into myself and I want it to, I still will put it into myself at that future self, but like, put it into other people. Um,

Erin

You're so close. you basically are there. I feel like Chris.

Josh

Oh my goodness. You are so close. You keep saying

Erin

future self. I'm like, what? Tomorrow? Oh, yeah.

Josh

Like next week. Yeah.

Karissa

I know, I know, I know. And I, that's what I like. I feel like I, I've been putting in the work now and I know that this is something, when I see people talk about like, healing their gut or healing their nervousness, it's like, you know, it takes years, like a few years. And so I've been, I know I remind myself like I've been on this journey now for like coming up at the end of this year, it'll be like two years and I've been. You know, did days I get down about things and my fiance is like, you are like the healthiest person like that. I know you, you know, focus on what you're eating, you're doing all the practices. He's like, you're fine. And I'm like, okay, you're right. Like I've been, like, everything that I've done is not for nothing. Like I am going in the right direction. And even if I have bad days, like I'm just gonna keep pushing forward because I know that I've made this progress so far. Like it's only up from here is what I'm telling myself. My first goal was like, oh, I wanna be healed like by my wedding, you know? And now I'm like, I know that that's a continual journey, but now my next next goal is I eventually wanna have kids and I just don't want to go into that experience, with like health issues, if I can help it. Um, I don't wanna pass anything onto them, and I just, yeah. even things I read, like we know that that's the most taxing thing that, you know, your body can go through. I don't wanna be someone that just like, I just care about my health so much and then I care about the, the future of, you know, my kids' health. and I know so much can be like passed on, even if you have like, gut dysbiosis, it's like I don't wanna set them up for failure. So, um, so that's my goal in like a few years I wanna have kids and I just wanna be thriving and feel like I can go into that feeling good. That's like,

Josh

Yeah. We have so many tools under your belt. Absolutely. Yeah. To make that happen. fun. Shout out with Ruti. We're coming out with a prenatal

Erin

scan. Oh yeah, we are.

Karissa

Oh my

Josh

Yeah.

Karissa

love that.

Josh

So it's just gonna be catered

Erin

to Yes. Very supportive in nature. Yeah. More focused on, bringing up those mineral stores and less focused on toxins per se, things like that.

Josh

But, yep. Yeah, that's been in the works for a while. But you, you saying that was like, we even were trying to give tools to be moms too, because, That is also a unique journey. And there's bioindividuality in that. So yeah. Just one sorry. Shout out.

Karissa

That, that is amazing. I'll be doing that eventually. So,

Erin

Yep.

Josh

I'm curious now that you're at this point in your journey, I'm saying you're a lot closer than you may been. I know. In being in a place, you are thriving in so many ways. There's a couple things that I've learned inside of my own journey that tends to be similar with everyone else that's had chronic illness. It does become an identity, not in a way of you want it to be gone so bad. But I had to do this period of mourning almost of that being my past self and going into the season of my future self. That then became me now. I'm curious how you're processing through that because you are talking about your future self, which is good. Keep talking about it cuz we all should be looking ahead. But you're coming to this point now where so much of that trauma in chronic illness just exists. That's part of going through the healing journey. But what are ways that you're thinking through how you're gonna kind of like, acknowledge that self exists, but leave it at the doorstep in your next phase?

Karissa

honestly, even up to like recently, probably up until at least like my gut issues, I didn't even identify for like the longest time, which I don't know could be good or bad, um, with having like a chronic illness. And, was more like this in when I was like, at my lowest point in January, I got some like blood work done and my antibodies were like in the 500 s, which isn't like, I've seen people have it in like the thousands, which is terrible. But, um, that was my almost like wake up call of like, you know what, I sh I am like sick and I have, like an autoimmune disease and I need to. treat myself as such in a sense, and I need to identify with this now. That way I can overcome it and leave it at the door like you're saying. So, um, I think the better I am feeling, the more I'm like, the more I feel like I can go. Cause I was like restricting myself from just like, doing the things I wanna do and like, living my life normally. Because I was like, I don't know, I just felt like I, couldn't go out and like be with my friends and do all those things. Cause I'm like, that's not healing for me and I'm in a bad place, whatever. now that I'm like feeling better, I still have it in the back of my mind of like, Not doing anything that's like negative for my health, but still allowing myself to like live normally and find that me that I want to be. And like the future me is like the, the me that I've always felt like I've been, but then just like healed on top of that, you

Josh

a hundred percent.

Karissa

yeah. So I think that, uh, it's like a give and take in a sense. And I'm like okay with just moving forward and like not dwelling on what the past has been like the past, you know, months have been a little rough I like am able to just accept that and be like, and acknowledge it and be like, yeah, that was rough, but like that's not my future. and the future looks different and just like looking forward to that.

Josh

You're becoming a beautiful butterfly.

Erin

You are

Karissa

That just Wait, is that from the Bugs life where it's

Josh

Totally. I'm a cute little butterfly. Look at me.

Erin

I'm a cute little butterfly. You tell, have a five-year-old. Yeah.

Josh

I'm so stoked. You know that.

Karissa

Yes, yes. I'm like, that's my inner five year old.

Josh

Yes. I mean, We all should still be five year olds. That's true.

Erin

That's, that's the whole point. We probably wouldn't be sick if we could just fast

Josh

live like five year old. Yeah. kind of one follow up question to all of that. You are now at this place in your journey. What can you share or encourage people that are thinking about getting into this or are just at a place of rock bottom, like where you were in January. We all have different levels of encouragement that we can give those people. And your journey's gonna resonate with people that my journey's not going to resonate with. Can you just give them some advice, encouragement, love,

Karissa

Yeah. I would say like my main like slogan would be like, it gets better. there's, I, I think what I've learned, there's obviously peaks and valleys to life and, and seasons and health and. Something that's helped me is I'm like, if you're in a rock bottom place, there's nowhere else like to go but up. And so, um, I've found that each time I'm feeling bad that I'm like, well, it can't get worse than here, so I can really only feel better. And that gives me the encouragement and like, hope to look forward. So I think if anyone else is out there struggling and at their lowest point, first of all the, the testing for me was just like monumental of figuring out what that point is, to know what to address. But then if you put in the work and like do the remedies, but also do the outside work too, whatever that may be for your current situation, like it will get better. There's no way that it can't, you know? And yeah, that's what I would say is that like to have that hope, that your current reality isn't your future reality. we don't have to be stuck in a chronic, health issue state. this has been like the most encouraging thing, even having my, like thyroid levels being the best that they've ever been. Like my ts h is like a 1.3. It's never been in the ones my T3 is up. It's always been like, tanked. And so that to me is like the biggest, finally, for the first time I'm seeing like, the rewards of the work I've been putting in and it, and there's those hard days, hard weeks where it felt like maybe there was no improvement. But I think for anyone out there just committing and just knowing, going through those peaks valleys, you'll eventually, it'll get less and less, like you've said of the valleys, and you'll just continue up that peak on that mountain.

Josh

Hmm. Love it. Let's go. And it gets me so amped. I can't even believe you're saying that. Well, I can believe you're saying

Erin

that, but I know when you told me about your thyroid markers yesterday, I was like, yeah.

Josh

Oh,

Erin

that's such a huge win. That is a big win. Yeah.

Karissa

Yeah, that, that got me so hype.

Erin

Good. put in a lot of work. You have, so you

Josh

earned it. Yeah. It's part of the healing journey, like it took a while to get where you were at rock bottom, and it takes a second to get out, and you have to put the work in, but you have Yeah. And I'm, and you're reaping

Erin

the benefits now. You are. And I'm always so excited when we're able to find somebody who's willing to stick it out, because I know this method of healing is maybe not conventional, and it's not, it doesn't work the same way as a pharmaceutical does, right? Yeah. Like we're not just masking a symptom like We're peeling back layer, after layer, after layer. like you said, sometimes it can take years, but like there is lasting wellness. Yeah. At the end of this I know there's no destination to healing, but, there, there's markers, there is, and there's a point where you will be in just like this beautiful maintenance phase that you're looking forward to where all you're doing is just the things that you enjoy doing anyway, like grounding and getting sunlight, like eating healthy, nourishing foods. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome.

Karissa

that was one thing. So like my first scan, I was at like 79% total, and then by the next scan I was at like 83%. And then this last, my third scan, I'm at 85 total. And just having the, like it's the smallest amount, right? That's like moving the needle, but it, either way the needle is still moving and it's getting better and better every time. And that is just like, so encouraging. That's why I'm so sold on it, I'd say is because I've like seen the progress every time. And that's why, and maybe someone else will like do one scan and be like, okay. and like, that's it. But I'm like, no, I, I want to keep going. I want to see how far I can take this. Like I believe the next scan I'm going to be at a higher percentage. Like if I do all the things that's just, and with that, it's not even just like chasing like the percentage. It's like I know that I'm feeling way better than I was that first scan, so I'm like, Ooh, I could feel even better. Like, let's do this. Like it gets me so excited. So, um, So, yeah, that's, I just, I like, I love the testing so much. I can't wait to do more and peel back more layers. That was the, sorry, I'm just like rambling

Josh

no, I love it.

Karissa

thing. that was the thing that I learned and I know you talked about this Josh before about like, doing like any detoxing without actually like focusing on your drainage pathways. cuz I feel like that has happened to me too. that was one thing that's so cool about this testing is, like you said, it is the layers. That's why you can't just take like one test and you're like, good. It's like you gotta focus. My first one I was focusing on like my blood and my lymph and just like getting things moving to then be able to start to tackle those toxins. And like from the second scan to the third, when I posted on my story, people were like, how'd you get your toxin load? So, you know, it's so much less. And I was like, I learned so much through this testing of like the foundation of needing to focus on certain things first before really like getting into detoxing. And I think that that is part of the reason why I was able to like, bring my toxin load down. And I'm hoping I continue to just like, bring that down. Cause I'm like avoiding all the toxins and trying to like, you know, have like my clean water and like my glass storage containers, all of it. So, yeah, I'm just excited for the scans to come and just to continue to go up and be able to show that progress to, you know, my friends, my followers, and be like, get on the train with me.

Erin

yeah. Yeah.

Karissa

is awesome.

Erin

I love that revolution. Yeah. Oh, it's so good. Yeah. And just in case anyone's listening who's not had that exact experience, there are times where as we pull back a layer or two things can look worse before they look better. So it's not always that your percentage will march up like that, per se. But it's just keeping in mind that if you're really, if you're committing to the process, you are going to get Well, yeah. Like, it's just, it takes time and intention but we're really excited for you and proud of

Josh

you. So proud of you. I know. Seriously. So stoked. We talk about it all the

Erin

time. You're a bright light in the world. You're thriving. Yeah.

Josh

Yeah, you are.

Karissa

Thank you. Your guys' support is awesome. Thank you.

Erin

Tell people where they can find you in case your story is really resonating or they wanna, I don't know more about you.

Karissa

I mean, I guess my Instagram at Karter Pet, uh, k a r s t e r p e t I post a lot. I, I like to be really transparent on my socials and, uh, talk through my journey. I post like my food and different things and like check-ins of where I'm at. I've been like very vocal about like my gut healing journey when I like transitioned out of eating, uh, you know, vegetarian to meat. And it's resonated with a lot of people cuz. So many people, it's not easy for them to talk about those things. And I've gotten a lot of responses to people like, wow, I could never, like, you know, have the courage to like, open up about this, but I'm struggling with that same issue. And so I just like to have like a relatable space, um, for anyone that's welcome, that like wants to chat about things or I can give recommendations. I like to post like my food halls and things that I get. So, um, yeah, if you wanna join me on my ig I like to post on

Josh

Do it y'all. I love it. Be crazy

Erin

if you're not. Also, she's awesome on TikTok because you're, I've, are you on TikTok? I've seen you dance on TikTok. I've seen, I love it.

Josh

I love it. She's got moves,

Karissa

Yes. That my TikTok is just like my, like fun, like whatever, but same, uh, handle. But yeah, TikTok, I'll just do, yeah, it's like, just for fun.

Josh

We'll link you in the notes too, for sure. Yeah. Krisa, you are a beautiful person. You are inside and out. We're so thankful for you. We're cheering you on. I don't care. Like your fiance's got competition cuz we may be your number one fan right next to him.

Erin

Fast. Number two and three right here. Yep.

Karissa

Like, you know, when like your souls just, and I know I've said a line many times, but like you guys just like, I don't know, there's something that

Josh

No, we're connected.

Karissa

and I just like appreciate you guys so much for just being there for me and like encouraging me and having this little like community of like a safe space. It's like it's meant the world. So thank

Erin

Uh, well that's always been our hope Ruti's so that feels really good to hear. Yeah. Yeah.

Josh

Cool. Well Y'all, this is great. So good. That's all we got. That's all I got too. Chrissa, thank you so much for being out. Thanks for joining us. We can't wait for you to be fully a hundred percent there cause you're close. Yeah, you are. That's all. Awesome.

Karissa

you so much.

Josh

Bye.