This extended edition of Highway to Health brings heart, honesty, and health education front and center. Co-hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler (joining in-studio for the first time from FASTPORT’s New Orleans studios) welcome a powerhouse duo to the mic: Janet Church, CEO of the Sjögren’s Foundation and a Sjögren’s patient herself, and Dr. Don Thomas, leading expert in Sjögren’s and lupus.

In honor of World Sjögren’s Day (July 23), the team unpacks this misunderstood autoimmune disease affecting millions—many undiagnosed, most of them women. What is Sjögren’s? Why is it so often missed? What happens if it goes untreated? From personal stories to medical insight, this episode highlights the urgency of awareness, the power of support, and what listeners can do to help.

Whether you’ve never heard of Sjögren’s or know someone quietly suffering, this is a conversation that makes it real.

In this bonus edition of Highway to Health on Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac chats with lifestyle expert, podcast host, and mom of three Lizzy Mathis, founder of The Cool Mom Co. With summer in full swing, Lizzy shares practical wellness tips to help families stay balanced during the most hectic season of the year.

From juggling summer camps and road trips to handling snack cravings and sun protection, Lizzy offers easy, affordable ways to keep your family feeling their best—without adding more stress. Learn how she’s partnering with CVS Pharmacy® to highlight travel-friendly wellness essentials, and get the scoop on staying healthy on the go with probiotics, hydration boosters, and mess-free sunscreen.

Whether you’re a long-haul trucker trying to help your family stay grounded at home or a parent on the move, this conversation is full of helpful takeaways. Don’t miss it—and check out more at thecoolmom.co.

On this Highway to Health segment of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac welcomes Dr. Ben Kligler, Executive Director for the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Together, they explore one of the most influential—but often overlooked—factors in overall wellness: the Power of the Mind.

As one of the eight components in the VA’s Circle of Health, the mind-body connection plays a critical role in shaping physical health. Dr. Kligler shares research-backed insight into how mood, stress, and thought patterns can directly affect the body—and how veterans and drivers alike can use tools like meditation, guided imagery, breathing exercises, and more to improve their well-being.

Learn how to take control of your health from the inside out with practical mind-body strategies, and explore more resources at va.gov/wholehealth.

On this week’s Highway to Health segment of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with Dr. Naomi L. Friedberg, a licensed psychologist based in Lafayette, Louisiana, who specializes in treating anxiety disorders and stress-related conditions. Together, they explore the unique mental health challenges faced by long-haul truckers—from isolation on the road and missing life at home to the pressure of being both dependable and emotionally distant.

Dr. Friedberg breaks down the difference between stress, anxiety, and burnout—and why understanding them matters. She shares practical ways to identify when you're not just “tired” but burned out, when sadness might be something more, and how even the toughest drivers can benefit from real self-care (no bubble bath required).

They also tackle the stigma around mental health, discuss the value of seeking help, and explain how telehealth can make professional support more accessible for drivers on the move. It's a real, relatable conversation about being human in a hard job—and how taking care of your mind can keep your wheels turning.