The Erie Wellness Podcast
The Erie Wellness Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Erie Wellness Podcast! Hosted by Lauren Brunetti, we’re bringing you real conversations with local doctors, wellness pros, and health enthusiasts—all sharing tips and advice to help you live your healthiest life. Whether you're looking for expert insights, simple wellness hacks, or just want to feel more connected to the Erie community, this podcast has you covered. Hit that subscribe button and stay in the loop on all things wellness in Erie, CO!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of topics related to health and wellness, including nutrition, physical therapy, and holistic living, with episodes featuring local professionals like physical therapist Dr. Bo Babenko who discusses concepts such as exercise snacks, ground sitting, and the benefits of full-range movements, while also keeping listeners updated on current wellness trends.

The Erie Wellness Podcast is a top local wellness podcast hosted by entrepreneur and content creator Lauren Brunetti. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with local wellness professionals exploring whole-person well-being—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, and environmental.
This podcast is a space to slow down, get curious, and feel supported in your wellness journey. Through grounded, relatable conversations, Lauren highlights local resources and real-life perspectives that help listeners build confidence, clarity, and connection—right here in Erie, Colorado.
The weight loss is visible, but the emotional journey is often invisible.
In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Gretchen Kahre, MA, LPL, founder of Downtown Erie Counseling in Erie, Colorado. Gretchen is a Colorado native, longtime Erie resident, and seasoned mental health counselor with more than 35 years of experience supporting women through life's transitions. Her practice focuses on helping women 40 and older navigate challenges including perimenopause, menopause, caregiving for aging parents, and changing family relationships.
Together, we explore a side of GLP-1 medications that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: the mental and emotional impact. While much of the conversation around GLP-1 medications focuses on weight loss and physical health, Gretchen shares why many people experience unexpected emotional shifts as they navigate changes in their body, relationship with food, self-image, and overall identity.
We discuss the science behind GLP-1 medications, how they affect both the body and brain, and why many people describe experiencing less ”food noise” while taking them. Gretchen also explains why these medications can bring up complex emotions around shame, judgment, body image, and societal expectations.
This conversation explores the often-overlooked emotional side of weight loss and offers a compassionate perspective for anyone considering a GLP-1 medication, currently taking one, or supporting a loved one who is.
In this episode, we cover:
- What GLP-1 medications are and how they work
- How GLP-1s affect both the digestive system and the brain
- The concept of ”food noise” and why it matters
- Common emotional experiences before and during treatment
- Shame, stigma, and misconceptions surrounding weight loss medications
- The connection between weight, genetics, trauma, and life experiences
- Why self-image doesn't always change as quickly as the body
- How GLP-1 medications can impact relationships and family dynamics
- The importance of working with your healthcare team throughout the process
- When therapy can be helpful during a weight loss journey
Gretchen also shares one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation: ”People can lose the weight, but their self-image may be slow to catch up.”
If you've been curious about GLP-1 medications, wondering about the emotional side of weight loss, or looking for a more compassionate and informed perspective on this growing topic…
This episode is a reminder that wellness is about more than physical transformation. True health includes how we think, feel, connect, and care for ourselves throughout every season of life.
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