Whether you’re curious about the emotional side of healthcare, searching for ways to take more ownership of your wellbeing, or interested in holistic approaches to longevity and healing, this episode is packed with wisdom, actionable insights, and heartfelt stories.

Eric Pennington is joined by Dr. Mark Sherwood for an eye-opening conversation about the crossroads of healthcare, emotional intelligence, and the choices we make around our well-being.

In this episode, Eric and Dr. Sherwood dig deep into the emotional impact of health challenges, the staggering rise in lifestyle-related diseases, and how our everyday decisions—from what we eat to how we respond to stress—shape both our physical and emotional health. Dr. Sherwood shares fascinating perspectives on the Standard American Diet, the addictive nature of certain foods, and the importance of trust and empathy between doctor and patient.

You’ll also learn how Dr. Sherwood and his wife, Dr. Michelle Sherwood, have built an alternative medical practice centered on treating the whole person—spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Mark offers practical advice for managing healthcare costs, becoming more intentional about your health, and fostering hope and compassion in medical interactions.

Moments

00:00 America's Health Crisis Worsens

05:11 "Processed Foods as Addictive Drugs"

07:34 "Relearning Lifestyle Beyond GLP1"

09:50 Focusing on Positivity First

14:44 Specialist's Approach to Personalized Care

18:46 "Creating Alternative Healthcare Systems"

20:51 "Rethinking Health Savings Systems"

25:17 Webinar for Transparency and Engagement

28:40 Holistic Health and Spiritual Connection

32:05 Freedom to Choose Beliefs

33:50 "Power of the Professional Pause"

37:26 "Patient Recognition and Connection"

40:46 "Lost Personal Connection Today"

44:08 Personalized Medicine for Diabetes

48:14 Women's Health Dismissal Struggles

52:29 "Longevity and Health Optimization"

56:10 "Mark's Inspiring Message Shared"

Here are 3 thought-provoking takeaways:

Healthcare Is More Than Just Medication and Diagnosis - Dr. Sherwood advocates for a partnership with patients, focusing on trust, empathy, and really listening to their stories. Creating genuine relationships leads to better health outcomes—and patients know when you truly care.
Lifestyle Choices Account for the Majority of Our Health - The conversation highlights that up to 90% of recurring health conditions are tied to lifestyle, not just genetics or bad luck. Nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management are critical pillars—and we have more control than we think.
Treat the Whole Person, Not Just the Symptoms - Mark and Michelle Sherwood’s practice looks at physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual health—helping people feel seen, heard, and valued. It's a reminder that no one is defined by a diagnosis; we are all more than our medical charts.

Mark Sherwood, Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Michele L. Neil-Sherwood, Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), have a full-time wellness-based medical practice in Tulsa, OK called the Functional Medical Institute where they adopt a whole person approach, which is outcome based looking at each individual’s unique needs. Their goal is to lead people down a pathway of true healing. To that end, there are two purposes: 1. To eradicate all self-imposed, choice driven disease conditions, and 2. To eliminate the usage of unnecessary medications. Through their unique clinic, various diagnostic tests are used, healing and prevention of common disease patterns are the norm.

The couple has co-authored four Amazon #1 best-selling books, The Quest for Wellness, Fork Your Diet, Surviving the garden of Eatin’, The Narrow Road, Peptides Unlocked, and Hormones Unlocked. Their newest book, Authentic Longevity, will be released in September 2025. They have been seen on national TV, been quoted on CNN, featured on CBN, and are regular contributors to many national publications. Drs. Mark and Michele appear twice weekly on many TV networks with their show Furthermore. They are also movie producers of the documentary film Fork Your Diet, and other inspirational and faith-based movies: The Prayer List, WWJR, Heaven’s Date, and Holy Flix. Two more films have just concluded production – The Last POTUS and Wealthy Soul. Both will come out worldwide in 2025. Their most recent production, Forgotten Fortune, which stars Lou Ferrigno and Jimmie “JJ” Walker, is set to release in 2026.

In each episode, Jeff and Eric will talk about what emotional intelligence, or understanding your emotions, can do for you in your daily and work life. For more information, contact Eric or Jeff at info@spiritofeq.com or visit their website, Spirit of EQ.

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This podcast was created to be a tool to primarily help you to discover and grow your EQ. Science and our own lived experiences confirm that the better we are at managing our emotions, the better we're going to be at making decisions. Which leads to a better life. And that's something we all want. We're glad that you've taken the time today to listen. We hope that something you hear will lead to a breakthrough. We'd really appreciate a review on your podcast platform. Please leave some comments about what you heard today, as well as follow and subscribe to the podcast. That way, you won't miss a single episode as we continue this journey.