Finding Genius Podcast

Dr. Daryl Gioffre, celebrity nutritionist, author, alkaline and ketogenic diet expert, gives a detailed presentation on the power of good nutrition and how everyone can make improvements for increased energy, better health, and longevity. Dr. Gioffre has a lot of interests. He is a sought-after speaker and educator, a certified raw food chef, live blood microscopist, and reiki master. And as a former self-described sugar addict, he has found a way to lead a healthy life and has a passion for sharing his knowledge with everyone. Dr. Gioffre is particularly interested in the root causes of inflammation and chronic illnesses. His method involves moderation, using cutting-edge nutrition practices to achieve and maintain the best health possible. Dr. Gioffre is the founder of the Gioffre Chiropractic Wellness Center, as well as the popular brand and website, Alkamind. His celebrated book, Get Off Your Acid – 7 Steps in 7 Days to Lose Weight, Fight Inflammation, and Reclaim Your Health & Energy has been attracting a lot of attention and intensifying the dialogue about good health and nutrition. Dr. Gioffre discusses his path to good health, including his past issues with weight and nutrition, especially sugar. He states that as he followed the evidence, to understand his addiction to sugar, that that evidence led him to acid—acid was inflammatory to his body. He describes how he integrated nutritional elements into his diet, such as green juices, and reclaimed his energy, life, and lost weight dramatically, not to mention eliminating his sugar addiction in the process. The nutrition expert discusses specific green juices, which are comprised mostly of vegetables and are highly alkalizing. He states that all green juices are certainly not created equal, so it is important to understand what makes a green juice healthy. In order for green juices to be alkaline they must be high in minerals, high in fiber, and low in sugar. He talks about the benefits of highly concentrated powders comprised of organic greens, which is an easy way to get a large amount of the right kinds of organic greens into your body without a lot of effort. Dr. Gioffre explains how taste buds can shift about every two weeks, so what you are putting into your body will affect how you respond to new foods and beverages. Thus once you make the switch to healthier options, your body's taste buds will come on board and begin craving the good stuff. Dr. Gioffre states, shockingly, that research has shown sugar is literally eight times more powerful than cocaine. Therefore it is a powerful addiction to overcome, but once you start to put the good foods into your body in a larger volume than the bad foods, your body will help you make the shift, as cravings will adjust to the new good nutrition. Dr. Gioffre underscores the importance of balance. He states that the first step toward better health is a changing of one's diet, but it is equally important to reduce stress as stress can create acid, and finally… it is important to find a way to make the new changes sustainable. He talks about Alkamind, and the many products they provide for people who want to take charge of their health, and improve their well being. He details how anyone can implement a new nutritional program, and utilize healthy minerals to neutralize acid. He states that the more healthy minerals we can put into our bodies, such as kale and avocados, etc., the better chance we have to neutralize the acid in our body. Dr. Gioffre talks about his daily and nightly regimens, and how he personally supplements for improvement of health. He discusses the importance of oxygen, and improvement of our breathing. He details the 3-6-5 power breath method, which is essentially breathing in through the nose for 3 seconds, holding it for 6 seconds, and then exhaling out the mouth for 5 seconds. He stresses the importance of doing this every morning to oxygenate, alkalize, and energize our blood. Dr. Gioffre states that hydration is equally important, and that "the solution to pollution is dilution." Drinking more water is something most everyone needs to do daily. Additionally he describes other important healthy additions to our lives such as particular types of exercise, and he reiterates the critical importance of eating the right foods and letting green goodness, healthy minerals, begin to repair the body. The successful nutrition advocate talks about his program for good health and some of the people who come to him for specialized input. He discusses the importance of making the transition to good health with an advocate on your side as it is sometimes difficult when the body starts to detoxify—help is a good thing. A support network or person can help people maintain their program and have a better chance for success. He discusses the pros and cons of the keto diet, and notes how keto is an acid forming diet, and is not sustainable. Thus Dr. Gioffre's program pulls from the keto diet, only its best elements— the healthy fat component. Avocados, raw nuts and seeds, healthy oils, etc., are all excellent healthy fat elements that anyone can introduce into their daily diet to help achieve optimum health. Good fats are essential, but too much animal protein turns to sugar, and can be acid forming. By combining vegetarian elements and keto, Dr. Gioffre's program can boost energy, create better health, and help prevent disease. And he triple underscores one critical point, that it is never too late to begin, and that everyone, literally everyone, can find ways to improve their health by making simple changes and working toward their goal.

Jennifer Kan, postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, provides an overview of the exciting new possibilities that could arise as researchers utilize bacteria to create silicon-carbon bonds. Kan's research and interest lies at the intersection of science and engineering. Kan is excited about her work as a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Frances Arnold, the first woman to be awarded the $1.1 million Millennium Technology Prize, for her groundbreaking work on directed evolution. Directed evolution is a process that allows for the creation of desired traits within enzymes. According to scientific findings, silicon and carbon are quite similar in regard to their chemistry, with both maintaining the capability to produce extended chains of molecules, such as DNA and proteins. Kan talks about the lab's work and mission: to engineer proteins to do incredible things that have not been seen in nature. Via directed evolution, researchers have used a bacterium to create a silicon-carbon bond in a natural manner, which previously had only been accomplished synthetically. She states that while silicon is the second most abundant element on our planet, for some reason living organisms have never integrated silicon into their native biochemistry. But in the lab, Kan says it is possible for proteins to activate this chemistry. Interestingly, this groundbreaking discovery may have cleared a path toward integrating computer chips with the human body, though Kan stresses that potential possibility is a long way off in the future, so for now we'll still have to experience this in Hollywood movies only. The researcher and biochemistry expert states that silicon is extremely prevalent in our lives and products and that it is truly the core element that makes modern life possible. Kan discusses the benefits of binding silicon to carbon, and how that bond is crucial for the manufacturing of materials that are necessary in our world. She explains the incredible significance of this new development in science—utilizing biology to make these bonds—and how it can open the door to programming life. Kan states that scientists must ask the right questions, in regard to biological systems, in order to analyze and discover their potential with respect to chemistry. The lab's work could create a seismic shift in how medicine and materials are manufactured and produced. Kan feels that there will be a number of valuable applications for this work, for many reasons, two of which are cost reduction, and the newer process is better for the environment compared to the old way of making silicon bonds. Kan explains how their work involves creating metabolic pathways, convincing bacteria to use the silicon-containing building blocks to create things that are potentially useful for biology. She discusses the many possible uses for this scientific achievement, notably—the use of bacteria to create silicon-containing drugs. She talks about the incredible environmental benefits and how this process can diminish the need for the use of toxic chemicals. The chemistry expert talks about some of the other innovative uses of their silicon bonding work. She outlines the possible molecules that could be experimented with in her lab, and how the introduction of new elements can literally change functionality. Kan details some of the complexities of the chemical processes and elements, and what her lab's team hopes to find as they dig deeper into the bonding experimentation. Additionally, Kan lays out their schedule and timeline for this new, exciting work, and talks about their latest publishing and interesting findings. Now that they can actually see what is happening within the proteins, Kan hopes that soon they will be able to complete the story so to speak, and more fully understand how silicon bonds can be made in proteins.

Murray Thom, Director of Software and Cloud Services at D-Wave Systems, discusses quantum computing's potential. D-Wave leads in quantum advancements with their 1000+ qubit D-Wave 2X system. They collaborate with clients for real-world solutions. The podcast explores quantum computing applications in traffic optimization, material simulation, and more. Learn about quantum computing technology, challenges, and future possibilities.

As an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, Dr. Steven Y. Park sees many patients with chronic issues, but it wasn't until he started ordering sleep tests that he discovered many of these patients were also suffering from sleep apnea. Since then, he's continued to collect data on the connection between sleep issues and chronic ENT conditions, high blood pressure, anxiety, diabetes, and digestive problems. According to Dr. Park, breathing problems can be brought on by and contribute to a variety of factors, many of which could help us better understand, manage and treat common illnesses. He joins the podcast to discuss variations of apnea, how exactly it's diagnosed, what happens physiologically during episodes of apnea, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), fragmented sleep that involves restless legs and teeth grinding, how simple snoring can lead to apnea, and tips for handling different levels and types of sleep disturbances. Tune in and check out his book Sleep, Interrupted: A Physician Reveals the #1 Reason Why So Many of us are Sick and Tired for more.

Michael Breus, PhD Clinical Psychologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, author of several books on sleep disorders, and regular guest on The Dr. Oz Show joins the podcast to discuss the latest in what nearly half of the country has some sort of struggle with sleep. He fell in love with clinical sleep medicine just a couple days into the rotation during his medical residency and has since been established as what many would call the ultimate sleep expert. There are three major areas at the forefront of current research on sleep medicine: the connection between sleep and cannabis, the connection between sleep and the gut microbiome, and the relationship between sleep and school-aged children. Dr. Breus touches on each one, as well as a range of other topics, including the role of genetic chronotypes in sleep, five steps to getting the best sleep, and why a high-carb snack before bed might actually benefit you. Interested in hearing more? Press play and visit thesleepdoctor.com for a range of articles on a variety of topics on sleep.

Mark Thomas, co-founder and CEO of ZenSports (zensports.com), provides a detailed overview of their groundbreaking new sports betting platform. Thomas is a savvy technology entrepreneur and the enthusiastic CEO of ZenSports, an exciting new peer-to-peer, decentralized sports betting marketplace that utilizes modern cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Thomas has extensive experience in the tech space, notably as an original co-founder and CEO of Reesio, a top venture-backed startup in real estate technology that was successfully launched then subsequently acquired by News Corp's Realtor.com. Additionally, Thomas founded Thomas Executive Resources, a recruiting agency that flourished, which he later sold in 2008. Thomas currently owns and operates a diverse real estate investment company as well: Mark Thomas Realty Holdings. Self described as a serial entrepreneur, Thomas is passionate about startups, tech, investing, and real estate. He brings many skills to the table as CEO of ZenSports, including executive leadership and business development, marketing, product management, recruiting, and finance. He has successfully worked with many venture capitalists and angel investors and is well versed in strategic planning. Thomas discusses his background and motivation for entering the blockchain and cryptocurrency arena. His interest in advancing tech, and sports, pushed him to launch ZenSports, which as he describes was a meetup recreational sports app in which users could meet and play sports for money. As Thomas became more interested in the expanding cryptocurrency market, and he began investing, he was intrigued and wanted to dive deeper into the emerging digital financial and blockchain space. He saw a way to weed out the middlemen through decentralization in the sports industry. Thomas decided to utilize blockchain to create a better world within the sports industry, one that was more open to everyone. They set out to develop a better sports betting product utilizing blockchain and cryptocurrency to weed out the middlemen and bookmakers and keep it focused on users and the action. The platform puts betters in control of their action, in control of the bets they want to place, directly and immediately. ZenSports offers peer-to-peer sports betting in an active marketplace in which anyone can create and accept sports bets with anyone else in the entire world, with bookmakers no longer needed or necessary. The technology guru details the workings of their platform—how the system functions and operates. As he explains, users of the platform can input the kind of bet they want to place and the platform will match them up with those in the network who are willing to take that bet. When a match is made, the platform will lock them into a contract so the bet is secured and official, so neither side can back out of the bet, etc. Additionally, makers of the bets are responsible for submitting the results of the bets. Their system involves a created token economy that can sit a small escrow fee aside, and in case the results submitted are incorrect, the taker of the bet can dispute those results. Disputes are settled in the marketplace as all other betters vote on what the actual outcome was. Thus the majority of the marketplace votes on the correct result, keeping the bets accurate and efficiently managing the system. Thomas talks about the other betting platforms in the market. He states that what sets ZenSports apart from the pack is that they are truly focused on traditional sports betting, their platform is 100% peer-to-peer, and their system is completely decentralized via the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain. While other competitors are doing some of these things, no one else is really mastering all three the way ZenSports has, which gives them a competitive edge and opens their platform up to more action in the biggest market of all. The sports betting aficionado gets specific about their platform's details and the minutiae of how users can configure it to really work for them in an exciting way. He states that in the truest sense, ZenSports is really a matchmaker, matching people who have similar interests in sports betting who want to bet and enjoy the process. Thomas talks about some of the new developments that are on the horizon for ZenSports. He says they are working on their cryptocurrency token, to streamline transactions and keep it simple to use. Additionally, they are adding more and more sports and leagues to their app, as well as new features nearly weekly. Thomas states that they are constantly doing user testing so the product they deliver is not only thoroughly enjoyable but also top of the line and tested for success and precision. Easy and fun is what it is all about, and Thomas is pleased to bring the ZenSports platform to sports lovers everywhere.

Dr. Rosalyn Abbott, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, provides an insightful overview of her research into cell and tissue engineering and the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic breakthroughs. As a Ph.D. in bioengineering, Dr. Abbott has a keen interest in cell and tissue engineering, biomaterials, adipose microenvironments, disease modeling, and tissue regeneration. In her Carnegie Mellon lab, human adipose microenvironments are developed and tested for responsiveness to stimuli hypothesized to alter disease mechanisms, for example, the transition of obese tissues to insulin resistant type II diabetic tissues; metabolic behavior; and therapeutic potential. Dr. Abbott and her skilled team of researchers focus on integrating biomaterials with tissue engineering techniques and perfusion bioreactors. Interestingly, silk is used as an organic biomaterial to aid long-term culture of adipose microenvironments in vitro. The team's long-term goal is to use these selected adipose tissue systems to inform preventative as well as therapeutic measures for patients who are affected by the metabolic syndrome. Dr. Abbott's lab is particularly interested in the utilization of tissue engineering to study metabolic dysregulation during the complicated transition of obesity into insulin resistant type II diabetes. In addition to running her lab and being an assistant professor in biomedical engineering with an additional appointment in materials science and engineering, Dr. Abbott has been an active member of many important research and academic environments. She received her BS and MS degrees in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. And her PhD in bioengineering was achieved at the University of Vermont. Additionally, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the biomedical engineering department at Tufts University, where she gained recognition for her work in the development of adipose tissue engineered models. Dr. Abbott discusses her lab's history, and work—engineering fat. She talks about the major challenge of designing drug therapeutics, which is the fact that our basic understanding of human disease mechanisms is based on animal models or simplified cell culture models. She informs us that fat, or adipose tissue, has long been thought of as a passive organ with the sole purposes of storing energy or insulating the body, but recent research has discovered that fat plays a more dynamic role in the body in regard to disease. Specifically, fat communicates with other tissues, and obesity is a chronic state of inflammation that causes stress on the rest of the body. The bioengineering PhD talks about chemicals that affect the body, such as those we ingest from packaging, etc. She discusses the impact of bisphenol S, commonly known as BPS, that we take into the body when using containers for drinks and food made from some plastics. She recounts some experimental evidence that was revealed by testing exposure to certain chemicals, and how it related to accumulation of additional adipose tissue. Dr. Abbott discusses the process of lipolysis, and specific proteins. Lipolysis is the breakdown of lipids and it involves the hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. The process occurs in adipose tissue and lipolysis is the means to mobilize stored energy during periods of fasting or exercise. She states that adipocytes (cells that are specialized for the storage of fat that are found in connective tissue) can last for up to ten years in the body, so the rate of turnover is dramatically slow indeed. She explains how adipocytes communicate with each other, and gives an overview of some of the other cells in the system. She discusses adipose-derived stem cells that are often located near the stromal vascular fraction, a heterogeneous collection of cells that are contained within adipose tissue. The PhD talks about the work her lab engages in to understand the transition of obesity into insulin resistant type II diabetes. They seek to understand how this expansion in adipose tissue relates to larger systemic changes within the body, and how it all affects other diseases. Their question is what is being communicated that is causing all these detrimental problems within the body, and Dr. Abbott hopes to find more answers that will lead to solutions and treatments by understanding fully the pathways to certain diseases. Additionally, she is hopeful that their research will also lead to better drugs for treatment. As their mission states, there is a crucial need for monitoring physiologically relevant, sustainable, human tissues in vitro in order to better understand the development and causes of metabolic diseases.

Dr. Timothy Chase, NY cosmetic dentist, delivers a detailed overview of modern dentistry, oral health, and good home practices we can all benefit from. Dr. Chase has over 25 years of experience in cosmetic and restorative dental treatments. He specializes in natural tooth preservation and oral health. He is celebrated for his unique ability to provide dental work that looks natural and organic, not overdone or clearly 'worked on.' Dr. Chase's dental office, SmilesNY, has been featured in numerous magazines and on popular TV programs. At SmilesNY, Dr. Chase works with his patients to restore both the aesthetic appearance and functionality of their bright smiles. He provides a myriad of treatments, services, and procedures such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, smile makeovers, dental bonding and contouring, and the popular, Cosmalite. He is skilled in all types of restorative treatments including inlays and onlays, implants, bridges, dental fillings, metal-free porcelain crowns, and even full mouth restorations. Dr. Chase earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and he completed his general practice residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Hospital. His innovative work has made him one of the top cosmetic dentists in New York. Dr. Chase discusses his practice and unique approach. He details the many ways that oral health is overall health, in that what happens in the mouth can impact the entire body. He stresses the importance of taking care of teeth and gums and making regular appointments for care. Specifically, he discusses the various diseases that can arise and the treatments and procedures that can be implemented to combat them. He states that bleeding gums, when we brush or floss, can be an indicator that something is going on, for it is not natural for bleeding to occur. Additionally, he says that sensitivity issues to cold, etc. are a possible indicator, and should be considered for further review. Odors and bad breath are also indicators that perhaps one should schedule an appointment right away, or simply increase the regularity of their appointment scheduling. The cosmetic dentist provides an overview of the technical aspects of reviewing teeth, specifically x-rays and a newer process called transillumination. A dental transillumination test can reveal problems in teeth that could be difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye or even with x-rays. Decay will appear in the image as cloudy shadows. Healthy tooth structure will appear lighter, because light shines through it more easily. A dental transillumination might also expose fine cracks within the teeth. He explains how some of the newer viewing options provide greater detail and more accurate information, whereas traditional x-rays may sometimes make it difficult to clearly tell whether something is a cavity or just a shadow. Dr. Chase discusses new scientific discoveries that show that bacteria in the mouth varies greatly between people, and how some bacteria is extremely more destructive than other bacteria. He details how some newer mouthwashes can directly impact the flora in the mouth and make it less destructive. He stresses the importance of using mouthwash that contains no alcohol because alcohol dries out the mouth, and can reduce saliva, which is a natural protector of the teeth. The dental expert answers questions about his particular approach to dentistry. He talks about increasing frequency of visits, and how the increase can help curb potential problems. Additionally, he discusses products such as electric toothbrushes and more advanced mouthwashes. He underscores the importance of brushing for at least two minutes, which may seem like a long time but it is necessary for thorough cleaning. The benefits of electric toothbrushes are many, but some of the top points he discusses are: thoroughness of cleaning and proper time allotment. Dr. Chase points out that electric toothbrushes tend to give their users a better cleaning overall, and some of the models have timers that allow the user to know when it is time to move on to another section of the teeth. Further, he talks about teeth whitening and the products that have been proven to be safe, as well as those products that are questionable in regard to safety. Dr. Chase served as a clinical instructor at New York University Dental School where he was responsible for the training of undergraduate dental students, as well as doctors from many countries around the world, on the current techniques in restorative dentistry. Dr. Chase is a faculty mentor at Spear Advanced Dental Education Center in Scottsdale, AZ. He is a proud member of The American Dental Society, The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, The Academy of General Dentistry, and The Spear Faculty Club.

PJ Di Giammarino, CEO of JWG, details the complex and sometimes convoluted topic of regulation, in an ever-increasing digital financial world. Di Giammarino has over 20 years of experience in new technology designed to solve complex financial services problems and issues. For over a decade Di Giammarino has been the CEO of JWG Group, a prestigious think-tank that is internationally recognized by regulators, financial institutions, and technology firms. Di Giammarino has a vast network of the industry's leading technology specialists, policy makers, and global market leaders, all of whom he brings together to find solutions to global challenges through intensive collaborative working groups and collectives. Di Giammarino is recognized widely for his work with the MiFID Implementation Group and a wide range of RegTech forums. Prior to founding JWG Di Giammarino worked with Barclays Capital, Booz Allen, and McKinsey. He is a vocal and active member of many advisory groups and organizations including the International Organization for Standardization through the ISO UK committee for financial services, IST/12, and Di Giammarino serves as the Secretary for the FinTech Technical Advisory Group as well. Di Giammarino talks about his firm and their immersion into RegTech, helping financial services define, understand, comply, and advance. He discusses the importance of bringing banking out of the analog era and into the new digital era and applying regulations and controls to help ensure the safety of transactions and accounts. RegTech, as he explains, pertains to the application of AI and new technologies to the financial sector and businesses in general. Di Giammarino states that banking has become very technical, and regulators have been forced to adjust and become technically savvy themselves, to meet the demands and keep pace with a rapidly changing digital financial sector. Since 2006, JWG has held 400 working groups to focus on a variety of regulatory topics. He discusses the many action points that have come out of the G20 and others, and how the new changes are creating a glut of work for regulators and financial sector strategists. Di Giammarino talks about JWG's mission of using technology to apply to the new and voluminous regulatory data, to bring efficiency and streamline the process of adapting to changes. JWG's team scours the massive bundle of regulatory information and brings it into a manageable initiative that businesses can follow and implement. The financial regulations expert delves into the many specific areas of regulation, and the tools companies can utilize to keep up. Transparency, as Di Giammarino states, is the answer to the crisis, as everything has to be on a report. With tighter regulation many more reports are generated on various subjects and areas, from trading activity, to how you know your customer, to money laundering checks, to how to manage capital and potential exposures. By defining more accurate language and standards, compliance is easier to implement and maintain. JWG's team of independent analysts assists senior executives within public and private sectors to determine how regulations can be implemented in the correct way. Essentially, their skilled analysts and technology leaders help financial services take control of global regulatory change by implementing a technology-enabled standardized approach. Di Giammarino talks about how regulators across the globe are now communicating and sharing ideas, for the greater good of security for everyone. He states that the role of new technology is not really firm-by-firm, but is actually theme-by-theme. Continuing, he lays out the idea that whereas some regulators have an appetite to automate their rulebook, others are more focused on using blockchain to manage the problem of money laundering, thus the areas of interest and focus are varied. Lastly, Di Giammarino discusses fear and greed, as the motivators of regulation. Regarding fear, the sheer volume of regulations has grown to the point that many businesses are afraid that they may be missing things that are critical. In terms of greed, the costs are often excessive, with a large amount of manual effort needed. Di Giammarino details the many ways that his team can facilitate the processes for security, data loss control, and management, etc. through the use of AI and technology. Di Giammarino has been a consistent author and international public speaker for more than two decades on the role of new technologies for the financial services infrastructure.

Dr. Natasha Lilly, DVM, CVA, animal diet expert and founder of the Royal Animal Health University (royalanimalhealthuniversity.com), delivers an interesting overview of pet nutrition and the importance of a well balanced diet for our furry friends. Dr. Lilly has a profound passion for animal well being and care. She attended California Polytechnic State University on the pre-veterinary track studying animal science, and completed her DVM work at UC Davis with a concentration in equine medicine. Dr. Lilly has extensive experience in equine sports medicine and animal acupuncture. Frustrated by traditional methods of treatment, Dr. Lilly sought new ways to provide care. She began working for an established acupuncturist and complementary medicine DVM in Chicago—Dr. Barbara Royal. Dr. Royal's approach to animal health combined conventional and holistic medicine practices. Holistic veterinary medicine is a branch of veterinary medicine that implements alternative medicine in the treatment of animals that strongly stresses the importance of empathy and very minimal invasiveness. Dr. Lilly worked at Central Coast Pet Hospital and Emergency, where she practiced acupuncture services. She has knowledge and training in Chinese herbal medicine through the Chi Institute. Dr. Lilly discusses their diet software for dogs and cats. Based on the groundbreaking work and diet analysis of Steve Brown, Dr. Barbara Royal and Dr. Natasha Lilly have incorporated his unique Animal Diet Formulator into their care plan. (Steve Brown is a revered nutritional researcher and formulator of the first commercially available fresh-raw pet food in the United States.) The animal diet expert talks about the kinds of foods people feed their pets, and surprisingly, home-prepared food is often the worst because it is extremely out of balance for the pet's nutritional needs. Though with recalls and commercial pet food problems, she came to the conclusion that home-prepared food could be balanced and healthy… if pet parents could learn how to balance it for maximum nutritional benefit. She discusses the importance of considering the biology and physical traits of the species in regard to their optimum nutritional intake. Dr. Lilly details how their formulator works, and how it can be set up to comply with American or European guidelines. She discusses how her team at the Royal Animal Health University works with clients to educate them on the software, so they get a comprehensive understanding of what it offers and how to utilize it. The animal care educator discusses their website and the benefits that it offers to pet owners. She talks about some of the problems with animal diets, and mistakes some pet owners make when attempting to feed their pets. She elaborates on animal diets, and how it is important to incorporate things that many of us don't eat, such as spleens, livers, kidneys, etc., because our pets are biologically designed to eat whole animals. And animals enjoy this type of organ meat and it is natural for them. Additionally, she discusses how smell is a factor in pet food, and the ways that smell can be enhanced to entice your pet to eat their food. She talks about the ways pet owners can add butter, or lightly sear the food, to enhance the meal and get pets excited to eat. Dr. Lilly discusses weight issues with pets and the importance of getting weight under control to avoid heath issues. Additionally she discusses some of the absolutely unacceptable foods for dogs and cats; she stresses that pets should never be fed chocolate, onions, or grapes. When formulating fresh foods, Dr. Lilly states that carbohydrates can be lowered, which makes a big difference in pet diets. She also states that all carbs are not created equal, and some sources for carbs are far better than others. Dr. Lilly describes their upcoming commercial software that provides a wide variety (over 1500 ingredients) for commercial companies who want to utilize the formulation software when preparing pet food brands for market. She discusses individual recipes as well, and consulting services for pet owners whose pets have specific conditions. Dr. Lilly is passionate about pet health and the Royal Animal Health University is steadfastly dedicated to a holistic, common sense approach to contemporary animal care.