Welcome to Happy Bones, Happy Life Podcast where we delve into natural approaches to optimize and strengthen your bones while at the same time increasing your happiness and reducing your stress. This is the place where you can learn from leading experts what you can do to make sure you have healthy bones throughout your life.

From exercise to nutrition, mental health to happiness, toxins to stress reduction, we bring you on an incredible journey to live your best life.

What’s Missing From Your Osteoporosis Plan?

You may be exercising, watching your nutrition, and taking steps to protect your bones, but are you paying attention to the things that can make your efforts more effective? On this World Osteoporosis Day episode, I’m joined by my husband, Dr. Craig Bissinger, to share the often-overlooked pieces of a comprehensive bone-health plan. We discuss bone turnover testing, why comparing DEXA results matters, and exercise components beyond lifting weights. We also explore nutrition, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, protein, and the connection between stress, happiness, and bones. The best part? You don’t have to change everything at once. Small, consistent steps can

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Should You Use HRT for Your Bones? | Dr. Felice Gersh

Fear and confusion have surrounded hormone therapy for decades, especially since the Women’s Health Initiative. But what really happened, what did the research show, and how did those findings shape the way women think about hormones today? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Felice Gersh, a double board-certified OB-GYN and integrative medicine physician, to discuss the history, the research, and the ongoing debate around hormone therapy and bone health. We talk about why estrogen matters for bones, Dr. Gersh’s take on what was misunderstood in the Women’s Health Initiative, and why she believes progesterone deserves more attention in the bone-health

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Exercise & Osteoporosis: What Really Works | Lora Giangregorio, PhD

You want to exercise for stronger bones, but with so much conflicting advice, how do you know what really works? Lift heavy, wear a weighted vest, jump, use vibration platforms, try special bone-building devices…how do you know which advice is supported by research? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Lora Giangregorio, a bone health and exercise science researcher, to separate the science from the hype. She is a professor and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science at the University of Waterloo. She also leads the Bone Health and Exercise Science Lab and serves on

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Osteoporosis in Men: Don’t Wait for a Fracture | Dr. Tom Forfa

When we talk about osteoporosis, we often think about women, but men can develop osteoporosis too. And because it’s frequently overlooked, many men don’t discover they have a bone-health problem until after a fracture. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tom Forfa, a medical doctor who was diagnosed with osteoporosis at just 37 after experiencing 13 fractures in 10 years. His experience led him to investigate the underlying factors affecting his bone health and ultimately turn things around. We talk about why osteoporosis can be missed in men, potential risk factors including low testosterone, certain medications, malabsorption, alcohol, and lifestyle

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Pilates + Strength Training for Osteoporosis | Dr. Lisa Grimmer

Did you know that Pilates could help you build strength, improve balance, and move with more confidence without compromising your bones? In this episode, I’m joined by physical therapist and Pilates expert Dr. Lisa Grimmer to explore how we can safely combine Pilates with strength training for osteoporosis. We talk about why traditional Pilates exercises may need modifications, why avoiding spinal flexion matters, and how strength training can provide the additional stimulus our bones need over time. Dr. Lisa also shares how to approach progression, balance, active warm-ups, and multidirectional movement. She demonstrates several Pilates-inspired exercises you can do at home,

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Your Osteoporosis Questions Answered: Calcium, Exercise, Supplements & More | Sally Fullman, PhD

What should you do after an osteoporosis diagnosis? There is so much information online about bone health, and it can be overwhelming to figure out what is safe and what is necessary. In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime colleague and patient advocate Sally Fullman to answer some of the most common osteoporosis questions we hear from our community. We talk about where to start after an osteoporosis diagnosis, looking for root causes, and building the right care team. We also dive into calcium from food versus supplements, the types of calcium I prefer, what to know about strontium, and

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Why Happiness Matters for Your Bones, Health, & Longevity | Marci Shimoff

Could being happier actually be good for your bones? Happiness may seem unrelated to bone health, but research suggests there’s a fascinating connection between our emotional well-being, stress, and physical health.  In this conversation, I sit down with my mentor and one of the world’s leading happiness experts, Marci Shimoff, to explore why happiness deserves a place in your bone-health journey and how you can become happier, even when life gets difficult. Marci is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide, and her work has profoundly influenced the way I teach happiness.

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Osteoporosis & Heart Disease: Labs to Ask For | Dr. Keith McCormick

What if osteoporosis and heart disease have more in common than we realize? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Keith McCormick, a leading osteoporosis expert and author of Great Bones, to explore the shared roots of bone loss and cardiovascular disease. We dive into why these two conditions can appear together and what your bloodwork may reveal about what is happening beneath the surface. Dr. McCormick takes us beyond the standard lab panel and explains why looking at patterns, trends, and hidden correlations matters when trying to understand the root causes of bone loss. We also talk about homocysteine and

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Improve Mobility Safely With Osteoporosis | Dr. Justine Bernard

Many people with osteoporosis focus on strength training but overlook another key piece of the puzzle: mobility. Today’s guest explains why staying flexible, balanced, and confident in your movement is essential for stronger, healthier aging. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Justine Bernard, a physical therapist, Master Trainer of the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis movement methods, and creator of the Gyrotonic Exercise Applications for Osteoporosis course. Justine shares how Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis can be adapted for people with osteoporosis, combining mindful movement, breath, resistance, and functional mobility. She reminds us that the goal is to learn how to move better, and

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Brain Defenders: How to Protect Your Brain as You Age With Dr. David Perlmutter

For so many people, the thought of memory loss or cognitive decline feels frightening. But today’s guest shares an empowering message: there is so much we can do through our daily choices to support brain health and reduce risk. I’m joined by Dr. David Perlmutter, board-certified neurologist, leading brain health expert, and bestselling author of Brain Defenders, to discuss what we can do today to protect our brains as we age.  We explore the important shift in how we understand brain health, looking at the bigger picture of immunometabolism, metabolic health, inflammation, and the environment that influences the brain long before

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© Margie Bissinger
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