Welcome to Our Next Book Club Pick
Our motto remains: “Low expectations and maximum flexibility in how you consume information.”
Our next book is:
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Dr. Casey Means
Dr. Means has one of the most fascinating career pivots I’ve ever seen: Stanford medical school graduate, nearly five years into a head and neck surgery residency, and then she steps off the traditional track entirely.
Why? She grew increasingly frustrated with what she calls the “sick care” system. Her patients weren’t getting better — instead, they kept returning with the same chronic issues, treated with surgical and pharmaceutical band-aids.
This led her into functional medicine, which focuses on root cause and prevention. Her book dives into how small, daily habits around sleep, exercise, and nutrition profoundly impact mitochondrial health and metabolic function.
Your Procrastinator-Friendly Resource Menu
We embrace all forms of information consumption here!
Books are great, but so are:
✨ Skimming
✨ Audiobooks
✨ Podcast interviews
✨ Library borrowing
✨ Used bookstore finds
✨ ChatGPT summaries
✨ Goodreads.com
✨ Conversations with friends who read the book
The only requirement? Show up with enough familiarity to contribute to our delightfully chaotic discussions.
Video & Information Options
Dr. Means’ interview on Dr. Michael Breus’ podcast – Sleep Doctor (yes, our Sleep, Drink, Breathe author – the two worlds collide!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn1NhfESmQE
Dr. Means’ Interview on Andrew Huberman’s podcast – Huberman Lab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qaBpM73NSk
Read all about Dr. Means and her work
https://www.caseymeans.com/
Questioning the Status Quo
As someone who’s practiced functional and naturopathic medicine for 20+ years, I know this territory well: exploring ideas that challenge mainstream narratives often invites pushback.
My philosophy — both in practice and in our book club — is simple: educate to empower.
I want you to gather information, think critically, and make informed decisions about your own health. Ultimately, the goal is for you to become the expert on your body and need professional help less frequently over time.
So, keep your mind open, listen to Dr. Means in her own words, and as always — make up your own mind.
Warmly,
Dr. Krista
Olive Says:
You want metabolic health? Try my approach:
Eat when hungry. Sleep when tired. Get wildly excited about simple things like mom coming home and dinner, and chase squirrels with the intensity you humans reserve for social media scrolling.
And for the love of all that’s holy, STOP making everything so complicated!
Sometimes the best wellness advice comes from creatures who instinctively know that belly rubs and afternoon naps are non-negotiable.