Episode 375: What It’s Really Like to Join FNA: 4 Practitioners Share the Truth
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
Curious about what it’s really like to join The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy™ (FNA)? You’re about to hear from four inspiring FNA graduates, including a chiropractor, nurse practitioner, clinical nutritionist, and a masters in nutrition. Each of them took the leap and radically transformed their practices, confidence, and careers through Erin’s signature 14-month program!
You’ll hear how FNA helped them bridge the gap between theory and implementation, feel confident interpreting labs, deliver better client outcomes, and grow sustainable, values-aligned businesses.
This episode will give you a clear look at what’s possible inside of the The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy™ mentorship and becoming a Functional Health Practitioner - Certified (FHP-C) ™certification experience.
Curious about joining FNA? Apply now for our upcoming cohort. Spots are filling fast!
In this episode:
How FNA helps licensed pros from all backgrounds (not just RDs!) master functional testing and clinical decision-making
What it’s like to get mentorship on real client cases, including 1:1s and case studies with seasoned mentors
Why business coaching is embedded in the FNA curriculum (and how it’s helping grads leave jobs they hate)
The mindset shifts required to launch or grow a sustainable private practice
What finally convinced each of these grads to stop waiting and go all in on their dreams
Resources mentioned:
Applications are now open for the fall 2025 cohort of Funk’tional Nutrition Academy.
Apply to work with us 1:1 here!
Organifi supplement powder (save 20% on your order with code FUNK)
LMNT Electrolyte Replenishing powder (Use code FUNK and get a free sample pack with any purchase!)
OneSkin (Use code FUNK for 15% off your first purchase)
Qualia Senolytic (get up to 50% off and an extra 15% off your first purchase with link + code FUNKS)
Bon Charge (Use code FUNK to save 15%)
-
Lori Fish Bard:
I feel like you have a real gift for talking about things in a very accessible way. Even though I have a master's and a good foundation of this stuff, you have a way of breaking it down and then weaving it all together to provide this clear understanding of the complex interplay between body systems. Whether we're dealing with celiac or gluten sensitivity or Hashimoto's or any other kind of autoimmune issue, it's often not a clear cut path. So we partner with our clients to help them figure out what they need to do to heal and you give us all of this information that we're able to kind of access it and help them figure that out.
Erin Holt:
Welcome to the Functional Nutrition Podcast, spelled with a K because we do things a little differently around here. I'm your host Erin Holt and I've got 15 years of clinical experience as a functional nutritionist and mindset coach creating a new model that I call Intuitive Functional Medicine where we combine root cause medicine with the innate intelligence of your body. This is where science meets self trust. Your body already knows how to heal and this show is going to show you how. If you're looking for new ways of thinking about your health, be sure to follow and share with a friend because you never know whose life you might change. Hello my friends. It's an exciting day and that is because FNA is officially open for enrollment. I love this time of year.
Erin Holt:
I love September. I'm so ready after a super fun summer to ground down, get back into routine, get back into rhythm. And that's why I love opening up F and A exactly at this time. So get ready for the fall cohort 2025. The Functional Nutrition Academy is a 14 month mentorship and certification program for practitioners. Practitioners who want to think critically, apply functional labs with confidence and build a results driven practice that is not going to burn you out. We want a practice that feels as good as it looks. We want it to feel good in our lives, in our bodies.
Erin Holt:
We want to feel good about the work that we're doing. So if you are ready to become a certified functional health Practitioner, now is your time. And we have even more exciting news because we now offer extended financing and third party financing. So we are making this as accessible as we possibly can to as many of you as we possibly can. The first step is to fill out an application. We'll link it up in the show notes as soon as you're accepted. We do that pretty quickly, then you can schedule a discovery call. If you have questions, you can meet with our lead clinical mentor, Rachel, and she can answer all of your questions.
Erin Holt:
We do limit cohort sizes because this is not a program where you're gonna get lost in the shuffle. It's high touch mentorship. It's strategic support. And I say that because we opened early enrollment up to our practitioner community. We have already filled a lot of seats. This is not a marketing tactic. It is the truth. That's why we're releasing today's show today rather than waiting until the end of the month.
Erin Holt:
So if you've been thinking about it, but you're not totally sure what to expect, today's show is for you because you're going to hear from four graduates of F and A. You can hear about their experience being in the school, see what it's all about, what you can learn, but also what you can do with your career and your practice while you're in FNA and beyond fna, the cool thing about all four of these women you're going to hear from, they're still in our practitioner community. They're still involved, they're still learning from us, they're still receiving mentorship. And I think that that's just awesome because some of them graduated like three years ago. They're also all different practitioners. So we have a licensed clinical nutritionist, we have a nurse practitioner, we have a master's in nutrition, and we have a chiropractor. And I really think that that just showcases the different types of practitioners you can expect to see in fna. And it's one of my, my favorite parts about this whole program.
Erin Holt:
So first up, we will hear from Lori Fish Bard. She graduated Cohort 4 back in 2023. Lori is a licensed clinical nutritionist and a board certified integrative health counselor. She works primarily with celiac and gluten sensitivity for men, women and children. She actually did a PODC all about that celiac disease. And here's what she had to say about FNA while she was on the show. Lori, I'm so honored to say, is a student of the Functional Nutrition Academy. And so for anybody listening who is considering joining the fna, I just, it's always so helpful to hear it because I can talk about the program, but it's kind of lands different when it's actually somebody who has gone through the program is going through the program.
Erin Holt:
So Lori has agreed to chat with us a little bit. And Lori, I would just love to hear from you because I know you know your background. You can explain your background a little bit more. Robustly. What was it that made you join fna? What were you specifically looking to do for your own business?
Lori Fish Bard:
Yeah, it's a good question. I think functional nutrition, it's a lot, right? It's just a lot of information and there's so much critical thinking and putting together the pieces. So I wanted to continue my education in a way that was comprehensive and meaningful, and I've done just that. I feel like you have a real gift for talking about things in a very accessible way. And even though I have a master's and a good foundation of this stuff, you have a way of breaking it down and then weaving it all together to provide this clear understanding of the complex interplay between body systems. I think one of the greatest benefits for me thus far is that I've been able to learn how to more effectively apply this knowledge to help my clients. You know, whether we're dealing with celiac or gluten sensitivity or Hashimoto's or any other kind of autoimmune issue, it's often not a clear cut path. So we partner with our clients to help them figure out what they need to do to heal.
Lori Fish Bard:
And you give us all of this information that we're able to kind of access it and help them figure that out.
Erin Holt:
That's so wonderful to hear because that's really obviously the goal of FNA is to be able to kind of have this ripple effect because one person can only reach so many, but then we spread it out, we can reach thousands, maybe even millions. Who's to say the critical thinking is so huge to really be. Because we can have all of this information, but if we don't know how to effectively pull it together, it kind of limits our ability to help folks. So the critical thinking piece is really, really huge. What would you say to somebody who's listening and maybe on the fence considering joining, but is really not sure because, you know, signing up for a 14 month program, that's a big commitment. And so what would you say to somebody who's thinking about it but hasn't fully made the commitment yet?
Lori Fish Bard:
I just say jump in. You know, I have learned so much. I think I'm in month five or six and I already feel like this is so. I am so thankful that I did this. I had some experience with functional testing, but not to the extent that I do now. And I've learned so much just from all the different aspects like you do case studies. Those are my favorite. I love the one on ones.
Lori Fish Bard:
I learned so much each and every time I Just really learn that way. And also the business modules. Like, I'm a business owner. I identify myself more as a clinical nutritionist than a business owner. But I own my own business, so I have to learn how to run a business. And for far too long, I've been very uncomfortable with kind of the marketing aspect of owning my own business. But as you say, like, you have to get over it. If you want to grow your business, you have to just kind of dive in and do the social media and do the content writing and all of that.
Lori Fish Bard:
And so you've really helped me kind of pull me out of my comfort zone. And even though I'm not super comfortable doing it, I feel like I have the guidance now to know that I'm on a path to be able to help more people and reach more people. And that feels really good.
Erin Holt:
And look at you now. You're talking to, like, I don't know, a hundred thousand people.
Lori Fish Bard:
It's awesome.
Erin Holt:
I waited to the end to tell you that.
Lori Fish Bard:
Right, right.
Erin Holt:
So thank you so much. And everybody, I'll link up Lori's info so you can reach out to her and connect with her because I know that she can really help those in need. So thank you again, Lori.
Lori Fish Bard:
Thank you so much, Erin.
Erin Holt:
Next up, we have Elise Greenfield. And I'm excited for you to hear from her because she is actually a clinical mentor at FNA. She graduated in cohort 5 in 2023, so she is a FNA student F and a grad, and now she's a clinical mentor. So you can schedule one on one mentorship sessions with her to go over your own client case studies. She is a nurse practitioner and she's a prescribing practitioner. So she brings a really comprehensive look to your clients. And she's just a fantastic resource that we have in F and A. While she was in F and A as a student, one of her big goals was to leave her hospital job and start her own private practice, which she did.
Erin Holt:
And her brick and mortar in person practice is in Dover, New Hampshire. So, yes, she's a fellow New Hampshire girl like myself. All right, here's what Elise had to say about her time in FNA as a student. We really have had an uptick in interest for the Functional Nutrition Academy from nps, from rns, from pas, from chiropractors. And what a lot of people don't understand is that our curriculum is catered to medical professionals beyond just rds. Over a third of our current students and grads are actually not even RDs. Or nutrition professionals. They're other medical professionals.
Erin Holt:
So, Elise, I really wanted to hear your perspective. For anybody who's interested in fna, who's not an rd, who's not a nutrition professional, as a nurse practitioner, why were you interested in joining FNA and what benefits have you received from the program?
Elise Greenfield:
I'm happy to talk about that. I was interested in FNA after, you know, listening to you on the podcast for many years and just being a fan of your work. I have a lot of training in education, a lot of functional medicine and training and education. And I felt kind of twofold that I was missing some implementation work. I needed some support with that. And then I opened my own business and I really appreciated your perspective on business. So both of those things combined made me join Functional Nutrition Academy and I absolutely don't regret it. So the knowledge and training, again, really, it did focus on implementation, which is again what I felt like I was needing.
Elise Greenfield:
And it was kind of the missing piece. My patients are getting better results. I feel more confident delivering care plans. I'm really identifying and treating what's happening. And then you have such an amazing way of explaining these complex topics and complicated processes to really make it more simplistic in a way that I also can have language to give to my patients as well. So as a tool to educate my patients. And then of course, like from the clinical, in addition to the clinical, piece of business and personal growth have been really priceless, like, you know, improving my confidence as a business person, understanding business. Because of course, I didn't go to school to be a business person.
Elise Greenfield:
I went to school to be a clinician. So, yeah, really amazing investment and I would make it again and again.
Erin Holt:
Now we get to hear from Lauren. Lauren Moore. She graduated in Cohort 5 in 2023 with Elise. Lauren is a functional nutrition practitioner. She's got a bachelor and master's degree in exercise physiology and admission Advanced nutrition. She's held various roles for prominent health club corporations and also has worked in conventional medicine settings in clinics, and she went on to found her own company, Low Down Nutrition. She is just a force to be reckoned with. I love watching her work.
Erin Holt:
Here's what she had to say about fna. Lauren, first of all, welcome. Thank you for being here.
Lauren Moore:
Yes, I am so pumped. Thank you so much.
Erin Holt:
And I'm curious to hear your thoughts. What would you say if there was a practitioner who's kind of on the fence thinking about enrolling in fna? What would you say to them?
Lauren Moore:
Short story, do it. Take the chance on yourself. That's really the biggest thing that I know. When I was contemplating it going back and forth, I got to have a onboarding call with Rachel, who was able to answer a lot of my questions as well, too. But I think more than anything, it was taking the leap of trusting in yourself and knowing that you have a team and a community of people around you is so invaluable. Right. And I think a lot of times with us in more of a functional nutrition or practitioner field, it can feel pretty isolating, like you're working in just, like, your small niche. And so if you're on the fence about it, jump in.
Lauren Moore:
Because it's not just the clinical pearls. Like, I came in, obviously, with a lot of formal education, but the amount of, like, clinical knowledge that I've gained is invaluable. But I think what really attracted me was the combination of the business coaching with the clinical practice. And that's something I didn't get any education on when I was going through my formal education is the business stuff. So it's really an experience like no other. And so I'd say if you're on the fence about it, do it, because it was definitely the best investment I've made in my personal development, but also my career development as well.
Erin Holt:
And I think it's interesting because not everybody. You're somebody who really loves to work as part of a team and thrives in that environment. Rachel's the same exact way. She never had any desire to go out on her own and start her own company, her own business. And so it's so cool to hear your perspective, too, because not everybody who goes through FNA needs to start their own business. Some people do have that very clear goal. And some people are just looking to enhance their clinical skill set so that they can maybe be hired by a functional medicine clinic, you know, somewhere down the line. So thank you for sharing that experience.
Erin Holt:
Finally, we'll hear from Dr. Emily Brady. She graduated in Cohort 6 in 2024. Emily is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder of My Embody Wellness. And I just love Emily's story because it really showcases what you can do when you're willing to overcome your fear. She says it best. She says she let fear hold her back for a whole year, and that's exactly what she was doing. She was letting the fear hold her back and keep her stuck where she didn't want to be.
Erin Holt:
While she was in fna, her main goal was to leave the chiropractic practice. She was working in where she wasn't doing the type of care she wanted to be and she was really, really burnt out out. And she did exactly that while she was in fna. Emily now offers one on one functional medicine programs, a group hormone program called Embodied Balance. And she runs her own in person clinic that offers both chiropractic care and physical medicine. So you can listen to Emily's story now.
Dr. Emily Brady:
Hey guys, I'm Dr. M. I'm a doctor of chiropractic and I'm here to share a little bit about my experience with with the Functional Nutrition Academy. So prior to fna, I was about four or five years into practice. I was extremely drained by both my employers and by my patients. I basically even early on was feeling stuck in a rut where I felt like my patients needed more. Not only were they not progressing the way that I would want them to with the manual therapy and like general nutrition and supplement recommendations, but you're also hearing a lot of their horror stories about their experience in conventional medicine and issues that go on for years never being resolved. It was all frustrating to me.
Dr. Emily Brady:
And then I found Aaron's podcast and immediately I was like, oh my gosh, this is the missing puzzle piece. This is what I need to incorporate. And so once I decided I was going to pursue some type of education in functional medicine, I did a lot of research in all the programs because my license requires me to have a certain amount of continuing education credits for each year. And I didn't want to make a huge monetary and time investment at that point without it being the right one. So with all of my research, I eventually decided that FNA was absolutely the only choice that was worth my time at that point because it melded together the physical, the nutritional and the stress spiritual, emotional part that again, in practice I had seen patients that were doing the at home stretches, they were getting adjusted, they were taking the supplements and they still weren't getting better. And that's where that final piece, the stress, the emotional part, just wasn't really highlighted in any of the other programs for what I believe is necessary for true healing. So since I have completed fna, one of the biggest things that I was surprised and grateful for was all of the help with the business aspects coming from someone that went to school for over eight years. A lot of my colleagues, we all agree that you go to school, you learn a lot about working with patients, but then ultimately, if you open a practice, you're opening a business.
Dr. Emily Brady:
And I did not get any training in business really or Definitely not enough. So that was something that held me back from even leaving my terrible employers was the fear of opening my own own business. And I'm happy to say that since completing fna, actually, while doing fna, I left my job and was able to open my own practice. I am my own business owner. I can practice the way that I want to practice. But on top of that, Erin's not kidding when she says opening a business is like one of the deepest forms of therapy, because in learning all of these modalities and things for my patients, I have also been able to apply a lot of that to my own life. And I've just seen huge changes in my life that have nothing to do with business, really, which is, like, amazing. But I would say for anyone on the fence about joining fna, I'm gonna get emotional.
Dr. Emily Brady:
Reach out to me. Reach out to anyone on the FNA team. I had a gut feeling that it was the right choice for me, and I let fear hold me back from that for about a year. So I would just say, listen to your gut, and if you're already here watching this video, you are probably in the right place.
Erin Holt:
I hope that these stories inspired you and really painted a picture of not just what FNA is, but who you can be. When you go through this program, I want nothing more than to help you achieve your dreams and bring those dreams to life. And I have seen firsthand that we really, really, really do help people do this. So if this is something that you want to do this year, head to the show Notes, fill out the application, and we will get this process started. Thanks for joining me for this episode of the Functional Nutrition Podcast. Please keep in mind this podcast is created for educational purposes only and should never be used as a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you got something from today's show, don't forget, subscribe, leave a review, share with a friend, and keep coming back for more. Take care of you.