Your mitochondria are the tiny powerhouses inside every cell — generating the energy that powers your heart, muscles, brain, and immune system. When they’re thriving, you feel it. When they struggle, everything from fatigue and brain fog to chronic illness can follow.

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we explore the foundational role of mitochondrial function in human health: how stress, toxins, infections, nutrient deficiencies, and trauma impact cellular energy — and how integrative strategies like IV nutrient therapy, herbal medicine, and metabolic support can help restore vitality at the deepest physiological level.

We break down what your mitochondria need to run well… and what might be silently draining your system.

About Kara Dobelis, ARNP

Kara Dobelis is a highly experienced integrative family nurse practitioner and healthcare leader whose professional journey spans critical care nursing, healthcare administration, and founding an innovative patient-centered clinic. After beginning her career in critical care and surgical nursing, Kara transitioned into administration and served as a director at major healthcare organizations. It was in that role she became ethically conflicted with traditional care models—leading her to co-found Integrative Family Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa with a mission to prioritize patient care over profit.

Kara holds a master’s degree in Clinical Informatics and a second master’s in Nurse Practitioner practice. She serves patients across the lifespan—newborns to middle-age adults—focusing on those who have long been underserved or have labwork that “looks fine” but symptoms persist. Her specialties include chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, EBV, other lingering viral illnesses, and immune system dysfunction. Kara combines IV nutrient therapies including NAD+, oral supplements, herbal tinctures, and homeopathic medicine with trauma-informed care to help patients reclaim their health and nervous system regulation.

Her approach begins with a 30-minute trauma-informed intake, where history, physical exam, and diagnostic workup are completed in a respectful space. From there, she collaborates with the patient on integrative treatment plans that may include mental health therapy, IV infusions, chiropractic care, nutritional changes, and regular follow-up to monitor progress. Having personally navigated significant trauma and illness herself, Kara is driven by her own healing journey—applying the wisdom of experience to help others heal through holistic, science-based, and empathetic care.

Learn More: https://www.integrativemediowa.com/

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

Strategic intelligence is the ability to think ahead, make decisions with clarity, and lead with precision—especially in uncertainty. In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we explore how strategy becomes a learned intelligence: how leaders assess complexity, anticipate challenges, prioritize effectively, and align their actions with the outcomes they want to create. Cara-Lyn and David dig into practical tools for solving problems, eliminating chaos, and building the kind of foresight that strengthens both leadership and life outside of work.

About Cara-Lyn Giovanniello

Cara-Lyn Giovanniello is a coaching power-house out of San Francisco, CA, focusing on performance and emotional intelligence as foundations for leadership. Her mission is to empower individuals and teams to reach their full potential using training mastery, corporate experience, deep empathy, a touch of humor, and an unshakable belief in activating positive forward momentum.

As an ICF certified PCC and CPCC, Cara-Lyn has been providing value for the past 18+ years creating unique programming for managers in fintech, start-ups, non-profits, and academia. She’s worked with inspiring leaders from AWS, Square, Nike, Anthropic, WhatNot, Prime, Prismm, Cut+Dry, Google, CashApp, LinkedIn, Twitter, CUPA-HR, to name a few - and created custom content for teams at Block, UC Berkeley, Halperin Law, Stanford University, Getro, and Evolve Treatment Centers.

Career highlights include creation of the award winning Integral Lead Program at Square, which explores the “being and doing” of exceptional leadership, activating over 5,000 managers to date, as well as, hosting an intensive offsite for Jack Dorsey (Twitter) and his executive team deep diving into the collaborative power of providing real, hardcore feedback. Additionally, she sits on the Boards for Sidebar, a leadership program where small peer groups grow and evolve together, and Coaching for Everyone, providing development opportunities for minority and indigenous coaches.

Learn more about Cara-Lyn:
https://clgcoaching.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

Relational intelligence is the ability to understand, navigate, and strengthen the connections we build with others—at home, at work, and within our communities. In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we explore how relational intelligence shapes communication, trust, conflict resolution, and the quality of our relationships. We break down the skills that make relational intelligence a learnable asset: attunement, emotional safety, perspective-taking, boundaries, and the ability to stay present under pressure. Cara-Lyn and David discuss how these principles support healthier teams, more effective leadership, and more meaningful personal relationships.

About Cara-Lyn Giovanniello

Cara-Lyn Giovanniello is a coaching power-house out of San Francisco, CA, focusing on performance and emotional intelligence as foundations for leadership. Her mission is to empower individuals and teams to reach their full potential using training mastery, corporate experience, deep empathy, a touch of humor, and an unshakable belief in activating positive forward momentum.

As an ICF certified PCC and CPCC, Cara-Lyn has been providing value for the past 18+ years creating unique programming for managers in fintech, start-ups, non-profits, and academia. She’s worked with inspiring leaders from AWS, Square, Nike, Anthropic, WhatNot, Prime, Prismm, Cut+Dry, Google, CashApp, LinkedIn, Twitter, CUPA-HR, to name a few - and created custom content for teams at Block, UC Berkeley, Halperin Law, Stanford University, Getro, and Evolve Treatment Centers.

Career highlights include creation of the award winning Integral Lead Program at Square, which explores the “being and doing” of exceptional leadership, activating over 5,000 managers to date, as well as, hosting an intensive offsite for Jack Dorsey (Twitter) and his executive team deep diving into the collaborative power of providing real, hardcore feedback. Additionally, she sits on the Boards for Sidebar, a leadership program where small peer groups grow and evolve together, and Coaching for Everyone, providing development opportunities for minority and indigenous coaches.

Learn more about Cara-Lyn:
https://clgcoaching.com

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.