“Your life isn’t in silos. If you’re struggling at home, it impacts your health. If you’re stressed at work, it affects your relationships. It’s all interconnected.” — Rachel Leigh
Brief Summary/Overview:
In this episode of RaDar Love, we explore how health, leadership, and personal life are deeply interconnected. As partners in life and business, we share practical insights and personal experiences to help you “optimize your everything.” From Rachel’s functional nutrition expertise to Darren’s leadership coaching perspective, we tackle topics like stress, time management, and the mindset shifts needed for real transformation. Whether you’re looking to improve your health, relationships, or work-life balance, this episode offers strategies to help you thrive holistically.
Key Takeaways:
- Why stress and lifestyle have a bigger impact on health than you think.
- How unresolved issues at home or work can create a ripple effect across your life.
- The importance of maintaining new habits and standards once you’ve achieved progress.
- Why outsourcing and asking for help aren’t weaknesses but necessities.
- Tangible solutions for creating time, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 – Welcome to RaDar Love: What we’ll be discussing today.
- 1:10 – Dad Joke Time: Darren brings the laughs with his signature humor.
- 3:30 – Rachel’s Journey: How functional nutrition and coaching intersect in her work.
- 6:00 – Darren’s Story: From frustrating health setbacks to meeting Rachel.
- 12:15 – Stress and Inflammation: The silent disruptors in health and leadership.
- 18:00 – Division of Labor: How Fair Play and tough conversations can transform relationships.
- 25:20 – Success Story: A client’s journey from chronic stress to thriving.
- 35:10 – The Mindset Shift: Why your new habits are your new baseline.
- 42:45 – Tangible Tips: From meal prep to sleep hygiene, actionable steps to optimize your life.
- 55:00 – Parting Thoughts: Why addressing root causes is the ultimate game-changer.
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Transcript:
Darren:
Welcome to RaDar Love. My name is Darren Kanthal. I’m the founder and CEO of the Kanthal Group. And with me is Rachel Leigh, my partner in life and business. She’s the COO of the Kanthal Group. Hi, babe.
Rachel:
Hi!
Darren:
All right, today we are going to focus on Rachel’s area of expertise. She’s a trained—what I describe as a unicorn—in the functional nutrition space. She’s also an executive coach and a life coach. Today we’ll apply Rachel’s expertise in functional nutrition to what she and I both see in leaders, and how health plays into overall wellness: physical, emotional, mental—all of it.
We’ll start with my story of how I even found Rachel. We’ll give you the G-rated version of how we met (because normally, I tell it a little differently depending on the audience). Then we’ll do more of an interview format. For those watching, if you have any questions for Rachel, put them in the chat, and I’ll keep an eye on it.
Before we dive in, let’s do my favorite part, which is the dad joke. And, Rachel, I didn’t tell you what this one would be, so let’s see if you get it.
Rachel:
No, you wouldn’t give me a heads-up last night.
Darren:
No, I would not. All right, here’s the joke: I went to the zoo the other day, and there was only one dog in the entire zoo. It was a Shih Tzu.
Rachel:
You didn’t think I’d get that joke? That’s a good one! At least it wasn’t phallic like some of our other ones.
Darren:
Right? We’re toning it down. I feel like I’m a little out of my game here—it’s not my usual space. For context, y’all, our internet is out at home, so we had to find office space, and now I’m sitting in this echoey conference room.
Rachel:
Yeah, same here.
Darren:
Okay, back to it. So, as we discussed behind the scenes, we’ll start with my story of how Rachel and I met, and then segue into some questions for you, Rachel. Keep me honest here, because I’m going to share some things that may sound unbelievable to some. You’ll be my fact-checker.
Rachel:
Okay, I’ll fact-check since you have a tendency to storytell.
Darren:
Thank you. In 2013, I had an allergy test called ALCAT. When the results came back, it looked like I was allergic—or at least reacting—to so many foods, even kale! I remember thinking, What is wrong with my body? My doctor literally said, “I don’t know what you’re going to eat, dude.” That wasn’t helpful.
I learned from that test that I was intolerant to gluten and dairy, which explained some of my challenges. I went to several nutritionists. One promised me a meal plan on the phone, then refused in person. Another followed the “food plate” model exactly, but it didn’t work for me—I gained weight and didn’t feel better. I felt hopeless.
Eventually, during lunch with an old colleague, we talked about his health journey, supplements, and the person behind them: Rachel. I met Rachel as a client, which is a funny story for us now, but at the time, I remember telling her, “If you can’t help me, I have no faith in your industry.”
Rachel:
You said that verbatim.
Darren:
Right. My issues were low energy, carrying extra weight, heartburn, and GI issues. I was also taking Prilosec daily for heartburn. Rachel’s approach wasn’t about masking the heartburn but finding out why I had it.
Rachel:
Yes, I look for root causes. Whether it’s heartburn, hormonal imbalance, or chronic issues at work, it’s all about uncovering what’s beneath the surface.
Darren:
Here’s the thing about Rachel—this is why I call her a unicorn. When people come to her for executive, life, or nutrition coaching, they’ll present their ailments or challenges, and she immediately digs into the root cause. I’ve watched her work—it’s fascinating.
The way I describe it is like this: when I worked as a recruiter, I could look at a resume and quickly see the whole picture—the skills, the gaps, the story. Rachel does that with the body. If I say I have heartburn, she doesn’t just think about heartburn; she thinks about what’s happening internally—veins, muscles, processes I don’t even know exist.
Rachel:
Yes, if I hear about a physical issue, I can map it out in my mind from start to finish—what might be causing it, where it’s going, and how to address it. That’s from studying the human body extensively for years, not just through nutrition, but also in kinesiology, neurology, and more.
Darren:
So, before we dive deeper, I want us to provide tangible solutions for people to take away today. For those listening, Rachel can get geeky, but I’ll try to represent the common folk here.
Rachel:
We’ll keep it simple.
Darren:
Great. Let’s start with women in leadership—your area of expertise. What are the common ailments or complaints you hear from women in these roles?
Rachel:
Okay, let me first explain a little about who I am and why I do what I do. I’ve been studying the human body since 1993, starting with books on nutrition and anatomy in high school. I thought I’d go into pathology but pivoted. I earned a degree in exercise science, worked in corporate America for a while, and realized I wasn’t contributing to the world.
During that time, I noticed the rise in pharmaceuticals—especially for mental health—and how lifestyle choices, like eating pizza and beer, were directly tied to things like depression or emotional outbursts. I had two babies and wanted to make a better world for them. That’s when I went to the Nutrition Therapy Institute and began working with individuals to help them control aspects of their health.
Over 14 years, I primarily worked with women, learning about the intricate connections between lifestyle and health conditions. I also realized that if someone doesn’t have the mindset to make lifestyle changes, the best protocol won’t stick. That’s when I added coaching to my practice.
So, what I commonly see in women in leadership roles are issues like hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, and anxiety—symptoms of deeper lifestyle problems.
Darren:
You often say doctors aren’t trained in nutrition. I’ve heard that echoed by Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on Andrew Huberman’s podcast. They said many conditions today are positively influenced by lifestyle changes.
Rachel:
Exactly. Most conditions we see today—like hypertension, obesity, and PCOS—are lifestyle-driven. Medications mask symptoms, but they don’t address the root cause. You have to look at your lifestyle: what you eat, drink, how you sleep, your stress levels, and your exposure to toxins.
You could eat all the kale in the world, but if you’re stressed 24/7, it won’t matter. Stress creates inflammation, which impacts everything, from digestion to hormones. I often see women who do everything “right” with exercise and diet but are still overwhelmed by stress.
Darren:
When you say “that has to change,” you’re talking about stress and lifestyle, right?
Rachel:
Yes, and that’s why many women leave high-powered jobs. One of my clients recently said, “If I don’t change, I think I’m going to die.” It’s about finding a balance between responsibilities at work, home, and self-care. If you’re the CEO at work and at home, something’s got to give.
Darren:
So what’s a success story you can share—something tangible?
Rachel:
One client came to me wanting to get pregnant but couldn’t, even with IVF. She traveled 75% of the time, lived out of hotels, and her lifestyle wasn’t conducive to fertility. We ran functional labs and discovered gut dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, parasites, inflammation, and hormone issues.
We addressed her gut health first, which reduced inflammation and regulated her hormones. Six months later, she got pregnant naturally.
Fast forward to after having kids—she was dealing with thyroid issues, fatigue, cognitive fog, and difficulty losing weight. We ran deeper tests, found nutrient deficiencies, and implemented a long-term plan. Over two years, she got to an optimal state for her lifestyle, though she ultimately decided not to address certain stress factors.
The key takeaway: listen to your body and don’t settle for “it’s just part of aging.” There’s always a solution if you’re willing to put in the work.
Darren:
Why do you think people stop doing what works once they see results?
Rachel:
It’s human nature—we think we’ve crossed the finish line. But health and wellness aren’t destinations; they’re baselines. If something works, it becomes your new standard.
Darren:
It’s the same in leadership. When you learn new skills, that becomes your baseline. If you revert, you undo progress.
Rachel:
Exactly. Coaching helps reinforce that standard so it sticks.
Darren:
What about clients who fight against the science or protocol you give them?
Rachel:
It happens all the time. I’m not here to negotiate—you hired me for a reason. Follow the data and give it a chance. If something doesn’t work, we refine it. But arguing with the process wastes time and money.
Darren:
Let’s wrap up with tangible solutions.
Rachel:
For division of labor at home: read Fair Play by Eve Rodsky, hire help if you can, or have hard conversations with your partner.
For health: drink more water, eat more vegetables, and exercise. Get functional labs done—even if they aren’t covered by insurance—or at least get yearly labs from your doctor. Sleep is non-negotiable; aim for 7-9 hours.
Outsource where possible, whether it’s meal prep, house cleaning, or childcare. Freeing up time allows you to prioritize yourself.
Darren:
Walking is also underrated—so simple yet so effective.
Rachel:
Agreed. Optimize your everything. Don’t silo your health, work, or relationships—they’re interconnected.
Darren:
Well said.
Rachel:
Thank you.
Darren:
All right, we’re off to Colombia tonight. See you in a few weeks!
Rachel:
Bye!