Burnout isn’t just about being tired—it’s shaped by early experiences, family dynamics, school pressures, and the work cultures we move through. In this episode, Kenny unpacks the physiological toll burnout takes on the body, while Topher traces how colonialism and capitalism have embedded a productivity mindset that leaves us cut off from joy and balance. Together, they explore why many of us stay stuck in cycles of overwork, what it takes to recognize when environments are unsafe, and how small shifts can begin the process of healing.

In this second episode of the Soulstem Podcast, co-hosts Topher Scott and Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt unpack the blind spots of today’s healthcare system, from 7-minute visits to the quick-fix mentality that overlooks deeper causes of suffering. Drawing on both their personal stories and professional experiences, they reveal how functional medicine and counseling can work together to reimagine healing in a way that is relational, systemic, and sustainable.

Stay connected

Counseling and mental-health support (TX Residents): https://sacredkincounseling.com

Root-cause functional medicine care (TX, CA, FL Residents): https://drkennymittelstadt.com

In this opening episode of The Soulstem Podcast, co-hosts Topher Scott and Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt share personal stories that led them to question conventional models of health and healing. From misdiagnoses to fragmented care, they explore how deeper, integrative approaches—like functional medicine, Internal Family Systems, and Polyvagal Theory—offer a more compassionate path. This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt pathologized, dismissed, or told their symptoms were “just in their head.” You’ll walk away with a powerful reminder: you’re not broken—you’re brilliantly adaptive.

Stay connected

Counseling and mental-health support (TX Residents): https://sacredkincounseling.com

Root-cause functional medicine care (TX, CA, FL Residents): https://drkennymittelstadt.com