Podcast Summary: The Dr. Josh Axe Show

Episode: Meet My Wife, Dr. Chelsea Axe
Host: Dr. Josh Axe
Guest: Dr. Chelsea Axe
Date: October 2, 2025

Overview

This heartfelt, wide-ranging episode features Dr. Axe’s wife, Dr. Chelsea Axe—herself a doctor of chiropractic, nutrition student, strength coach, and mother of two. Through honest and sometimes emotional conversations, they answer listener questions about natural health, marriage, parenting, spiritual growth, fertility, home birth, and family traditions. Listeners are welcomed into their candid discussions about faith, wellness routines, raising children, and the evolving rhythm of their marriage and family life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What’s it Like Being Married to Each Other?

Timestamps: 04:38–08:54

• Chelsea’s Perspective:
  • Describes marriage as an “adventure” and “super fun,” noting the busyness, Josh’s presence as a father, and his big heart.

  “I feel like, again, I'm married to Dr. Josh Axe, but I'm married to Josh. … That's who I have fun with. That's my best friend.” (05:04)

  • Emphasizes their love for food, travel, and the importance of “iron sharpens iron”—their relationship as a space for mutual growth.
• Josh’s Perspective:
  • Shares about prayers for a wife and being “refined” by Chelsea’s deep faith.
  • Praises her intentional parenting and infuses faith in daily family interactions.

  “Anytime the kids do anything wrong, Chelsea’s like, look me in the eye … and getting them to act in that way is so, so powerful.” (06:41)

2. Chelsea’s Skincare and Wellness Routine

Timestamps: 08:56–12:22

• General Principle: Skin health starts with a clean diet, low stress, and balanced hormones.
• Favorite Skincare Brand: True Botanicals (cleanser, radiant serum, moisturizer).
• Other Practices: Jade roller, gua sha, red light therapy, frownies (for muscle retraining), never Botox or injectables.
• Diet Focus: High protein (smoothies with bone broth/stem cell and plant protein, goji berry, superfruits), steamed veggies, healthy carbs (sweet potatoes, sourdough, cottage cheese), and dark chocolate as a treat.

3. Fertility & Motherhood

Timestamps: 12:34–17:24

• Mindset First: Stress and a lack of feeling “safe and secure” are top reasons fertility can be impaired.
  • The concept of “nesting” and emotionally creating a secure environment is key.
  • Warming foods and the release of control/surrender are important (Chinese medicine influence).

  “The biggest things … are getting out of fear and worry. … Trying to control … is what you do when you're afraid.” (14:51, Chelsea)

• Supplements & Habits: Focus on blood building, natural cycles, and trusting the body.

4. Home Birth Journey

Timestamps: 17:25–24:55

• Two water births at home with a “phenomenal” midwife.
• Benefits include comfort, autonomy, and spirituality of the experience.

  “It was like, probably one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had.” (17:34, Josh)

• Physical prep: raspberry leaf tea, dates, hip mobility, chiropractic, and blood-building foods postpartum.
• Postpartum: Encapsulated placenta, restorative foods (soups, red meat, fats), and the “5 days in bed, on bed, around bed” recovery guideline.

5. Educational Choices & Homeschooling

Timestamps: 24:55–29:20

• Evaluated annually by child’s needs; highly value homeschooling, Christian schooling, and considering the child’s personality and needs.
• Strong emphasis on parental presence, virtues of peers/teachers, and supplementing public education with faith-based community.

  “You're the average of the people that you're around most … That would include teachers, that would include the peers.” (28:04, Chelsea)

6. Views on Childhood Vaccination

Timestamp: 29:36–32:37

• They chose not to vaccinate their children, referencing observations among natural health and functional medicine communities.

  “By their fruits you'll recognize them … when I think about the healthiest people … they chose not to do vaccines.” (29:45, Josh)

7. Sourdough & Homesteading

Timestamps: 32:37–38:53

• Chelsea started sourdough baking for gut health and ingredient quality.
• Family enjoys hands-on food preparation, with plans for a full homestead: animals, gardens, homemade dairy.
• Family rituals include bedtime “farm stories” for their daughters.

8. Supplement & Nutrition Staples

Timestamps: 38:53–42:08

• Chelsea’s Top Supplements: Bone broth or stem cell protein, collagen, probiotics, magnesium, greens powder, turmeric, fish oil, and occasional glandulars.
• Both follow a highly protein-centric, superfood-rich diet—see “Chelsea’s Skincare and Wellness Routine” for details.

9. Spiritual Growth Through Parenting

Timestamps: 42:08–49:25

• Becoming parents dramatically deepened their understanding of God’s love.

  “I just remember with Arwen, man, it just wrecks you, the amount of love … I will always choose you … Just thinking like, God is like that.” (43:13, Chelsea)

• Challenges and lessons in discipline, trust, and recognizing God’s parental heart.
• Emphasize the need to “choose God back” and nurture spiritual trust, especially as children grow and become more independent.

10. Marriage Dynamics, Disagreements & Faith

Timestamps: 49:25–56:42

• Their biggest disagreement—about Sabbath—surfaced their different paths to the same goal, not fundamental conflict.
• Chelsea: “We both have the same destination, but the way we both get there is very different.” (52:55)
• Complimentary personalities (structured/planner vs. intuitive/free-flowing).
• “Iron sharpens iron” is reframed as sometimes painful refinement, necessary for growth both individually and together.

11. Fitness Advice for Women

Timestamps: 56:42–61:24

• Chelsea’s #1 Advice: “Don’t be afraid to lift heavy weights.” (58:34)
• Bulking up is much less likely than most women believe; diet is the bigger factor.
• Muscle mass, especially lower body, is key for metabolism and hormonal health.
• Chelsea’s routine: Three+ days of weight training (lower body, push, pull, full-body circuit), plus HIIT/Peloton, and highlights Tabata for training for birth.

12. Favorite Family Traditions, Snacking, and Life Lessons

Timestamps: 61:24–69:02

• Opryland Christmas lights and Thanksgiving–Christmas “kickoff” as top family traditions.
• Go-to Snacks: Cottage cheese & berries for the kids, homemade cookies and hummus for adults.
• Favorite Bible verse (Chelsea): Psalm 27:4—focus on singular pursuit of God amidst life’s trials. (64:10)
• Treasuring the fleeting moments with young children and keeping priorities—faith, family, health—in right order.

Notable Quotes

• “It's an adventure. It's a huge adventure. But the best one.” (05:05, Chelsea)
• “Getting out of the state of, like, the fear and control… that is what you do when you’re afraid. To be able to surrender and release… is what you can do when you step out of a state of fear.” (14:51, Chelsea)
• “It was like, probably one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had.” (17:34, Josh)
• "Don't be afraid to lift heavy weights. ... If a woman feels like she's bulky, it's because her diet's not on point ... There's a difference between muscle bulk and bloat." (58:34, Chelsea)
• “Think of the process of it again. It’s like refinement. Refinement hurts when you’re in the fire, when you’re being refined ... but in the end, if you toughen through it, you’re sharper, more refined.” (55:36, Chelsea)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:38 – Marriage dynamics: what it's like being married to Josh/Chelsea
• 08:56 – Skincare & wellness routines
• 12:34 – Fertility, mindset, and letting go
• 17:25 – Why home birth, water birth, and postpartum recovery
• 24:55 – Homeschooling and educational approach
• 29:36 – Childhood vaccination stance
• 32:37 – Sourdough, homesteading, and family vision
• 38:53 – Supplement routines
• 42:08 – Parenting, spiritual analogies
• 49:25 – Disagreements & "iron sharpens iron" in marriage
• 56:42 – Fitness for women
• 61:24 – Family traditions, favorite snacks, and spiritual reflections

Listener Takeaways

• Prioritize emotional safety and stress minimization for fertility and overall health.
• Intentional homebirth can be empowering and deeply spiritual with the right team and preparation.
• “Iron sharpens iron”—be open to being challenged in marriage and spiritual life, even when uncomfortable.
• Focus on high-protein, nutrient-dense diets, and don’t be afraid of serious strength training, especially for women.
• Discern and reevaluate education choices annually based on each child’s temperament and context.
• Look for the ‘fruits’ of any lifestyle or wellness decision in real-world outcomes.
• Cherish family traditions and present-moment connection, because “they’ll never be this young again.”
• Keep faith and family atop your priorities, letting all other choices (health, fitness, routines) flow out from there.

This episode offers a warm, practical, and inspiring glimpse into the Axes’ marriage, faith, and holistic approach to family health. Their vulnerability and actionable insights are sure to resonate with anyone seeking to integrate wellness, parenting, and spiritual fulfillment.