In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Torrie Thompson to unpack one of the most frustrating experiences in health: doing everything “right” and still feeling terrible. We talk about the hidden toxins in our homes, products, and environments that can quietly accumulate over time—and why so many symptoms that we’ve been taught to accept as “normal” may actually be signs that something deeper is going on. From scented trash bags and household chemicals to mold, heavy metals, environmental toxins, and gut issues, Torrie explains why her approach starts with extensive data and testing rather than guessing. She shares how she uses comprehensive labs to identify what is actually happening inside someone’s body, then combines that information with personalized, data-backed protocols and a team-based approach to help people clear what’s holding them back.

But the most powerful part of our conversation is Torrie’s own story. She became sick at just 12 years old and spent 15 years going from doctor to doctor while being told that her labs were “perfect,” despite debilitating headaches, weakness, insomnia, depression, weight gain, brain fog, and severe bone pain. It wasn’t until she began digging through years of old lab work herself that she discovered clues pointing toward Lyme disease, co-infections, mold, and environmental toxins—things that had been missed for years. We also take a deeper look at the transformation that happened when she finally began getting answers: having the energy to work out again, play tennis, get through the day without needing a nap, and ultimately feel like she had her body and her life back. Along the way, I help Torrie tell this story in a way that reveals not only the data behind her work, but the deeply personal reason she became so passionate about helping others find answers.