What if the panic attacks, the insomnia, the depression you've been handed a prescription for are actually your body asking you to look deeper? In this episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, I sit down with Kirkland Newman, journalist, founder of MindHealth360, and Executive Director of IMMH.
To unpack her own postpartum depression journey and why functional psychiatry looks at root causes instead of just silencing symptoms. We go deep into trauma, hormones, nervous system regulation, and the daily practices that build real resilience.
Chapter and Time Stamps:
00:56 Meet Kiki Newman
02:23 First Postpartum Panic
03:58 Medication Fallout
05:28 Testing Changed Everything
07:10 Mind Health 360 Mission
09:21 Trauma Meets Biochemistry
12:42 Why Postpartum Gets Missed
18:41 Self Care and Rest Lessons
21:40 Experts and Common Threads
27:12 Start With the Basics
32:13 Bioenergetics and Inner Healer
35:19 Conference Invite and Wrap Up
Key Takeaways
🧠 Postpartum Depression Isn't "Just Hormones" — It's Missed 🔍 Nobody Tested Her Hormones, Nutrients, or Gut 🌱 She Built a Global Platform From Her Own Breakdown 🩺 Even Mental Health Experts Forget to Rest 💔 Trauma Isn't Just Emotional — It Lives in the Body 🔗 Gabor Maté's Work Reshaped How She Sees Healing 🧩 The 360 Framework: Sleep, Nutrition, Movement, Rest & Trauma ✨ One Truth Underlies It All: The Body Can Heal Itself
Guest Details & LinksKirkland Newman is an Anglo-American journalist and entrepreneur working at the intersection of mental health and functional medicine. She's Founder & Editor of MindHealth360, host of The MindHealth360 Show, and Executive Director of IMMH, the leading U.S. conference in the field — founded after her own experience with postpartum depression. She holds degrees from Oxford, LSE, and SOAS, and co-founded The Horizon Foundation for young refugees.
About Your Hosts
Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.
Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.
About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast
Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy
AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.
Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy
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