Join Sarah Amidon, RD and Amanda Archibald, RD, 2 DNA Dietitians, for a conversation about MTHFR, methylation, nutrigenomics, and the questions you’re afraid to ask—or can’t seem to get a straight answer to and are subject to crowdsourcing your health.

Two DNA Dietitians. Real questions. To view the episode on YouTube with the visuals we are referring to, go to http://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheSequencePodcast

What if protecting an athlete’s future began before the first major injury? In this episode, we go beyond traditional performance metrics to explore concussion, cumulative training load, recovery, injury risk, and the emerging role of genomics in building a more individualized approach to athlete health. We also challenge the assumption that being fit always means being healthy—examining how excessive training, inadequate recovery, oxidative stress, and shifts in cardiovascular markers can create hidden risks—even in highly conditioned athletes. By looking beyond performance alone, we explore how genomics, biomarkers, and training data can help identify risk, personalize recovery, prevent injury, and build a safer, more sustainable path to long-term athletic performance and longevity.

Hormones don’t work in isolation. They work in systems. In this episode of Beyond the Sequence, Sarah and Amanda explore why hormones are far more complex than simply being "too high" or "too low." They unpack the concept of hormone signaling, explaining how production, conversion, transport, receptor function, and detoxification all influence whether hormones can effectively deliver their message. Through discussions on thyroid health, estrogen, testosterone, stress, environmental toxins, sports performance, and genomics, they reveal how understanding the body's signaling pathways can uncover the root causes behind fatigue, poor recovery, mood changes, and metabolic dysfunction—and why personalized, genomics-informed care offers a more complete path to better health.

In this episode of Beyond the Sequence, hosts Sarah Amidon and Amanda Archibald delve into the complexities of chronic fatigue, mitochondrial health, and the various factors that contribute to energy production. They discuss personal experiences, the impact of Epstein-Barr and COVID on fatigue, the role of oxidative stress, and the importance of nutrition and movement. The conversation also touches on genetics, mindfulness, and emotional wellness as critical components in addressing fatigue and enhancing overall health.

We’re hitting pause on our usual series to dive into a topic that’s been buzzing everywhere—APOE and its connection to Alzheimer’s risk.

In this unfiltered, free-flowing episode, Sarah and Amanda break down what APOE actually means (without the fear-based hype), why the “risk gene” conversation is often taken out of context, and what really matters when it comes to protecting your brain.

From decoding the infamous “2-3-4” gene variants to explaining APOE as your brain’s cholesterol delivery system, this episode connects the dots between genetics, environment, and everyday lifestyle choices. You’ll hear why genes are not a diagnosis, how nutrient status, digestion, sleep, stress, and detoxification all influence cognitive health—and why focusing on cholesterol alone misses the bigger picture.

Why are so many bodies breaking—even when people are “doing everything right”? Drawing from real clinical patterns and genomics, they unpack how chronic stress, depleted energy systems, and modern life overload the body’s ability to repair itself—often long before labs or diagnoses flag a problem.

This conversation sets the stage for a new series examining why recovery is failing, how stress and inflammation silently drive breakdown, and what the body has been trying to tell us all along.

In this conversation, Amanda Archibald and Sarah Amidon discuss various aspects of nutrition, focusing on what we should be eating, the role of functional medicine, and the implications of using supplements versus whole foods. They explore the cultural relevance of dietary choices, the accessibility of nutritious foods, and the importance of understanding the biochemical effects of certain ingredients, such as whey protein and glutamate. The discussion emphasizes the need for practical, budget-friendly solutions in nutrition, especially for families and individuals with limited resources. In this conversation, Sarah Amidon and Amanda Archibald discuss practical strategies for maintaining good nutrition while traveling, meal prepping, and making informed grocery choices. They discuss the importance of planning, simplicity in meal preparation, and the role of supplements. The discussion also covers how to navigate grocery stores effectively, the significance of food labels, and community resources available for nutrition education. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes and practical tips, making it relatable and actionable for listeners.

In this episode of Beyond the Sequence, Sarah and Amanda challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in health: that cholesterol is the problem. Instead, they explore cholesterol as a vital signaling molecule involved in hormone production, immune function, brain health, and cellular repair. Through the lens of genomics, they discuss how patterns like inflammation, stress, digestion, liver function, recovery, and genetics can influence cholesterol levels, helping listeners move beyond treating lab numbers to understanding what their body is actually trying to communicate.