The Made 2 Move Podcast · Hannah Breal - Physical Therapist

Stat Wellness Comes to Charleston: Athena Newell on Thriving with Functional Medicine

April 28, 2025·1 hr 18 min·5 clips

Athena was told to 'look for horses, not zebras' when a patient's thyroid labs didn't add up.

This episode of the Made 2 Move Podcast features host Hannah, a physical therapist, interviewing functional nurse practitioner Athena Newell about her new practice, Stat Wellness, in Charleston. Athena brings over nine years of diverse medical experience, including emergency and family care, to her functional medicine approach. She explains that functional medicine is a root-cause approach that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual health, contrasting it with the segmented nature of conventional care. Athena describes her journey from exercise science and nursing to discovering functional medicine through CrossFit athlete and MD Julie Foucher. She shares a pivotal moment from her time in primary care, where a supervising physician advised her to "look for horses, not zebras" when investigating a patient's thyroid and anxiety symptoms. Her practice operates outside the insurance model to allow longer appointment times for listening and patient education. Athena emphasizes that a key service is offering free 15-minute consultations to potential patients. She notes her patient population is predominantly women interested in perimenopause, menopause, and hormone balance. Athena advocates for evidence-based strength training, citing the natural loss of muscle mass after age 35 and its importance for longevity. She references media discussions on strength training featuring figures like Mel Robbins, Dr. Vonda Wright, and Dr. Mary Claire Haver, even appearing with celebrities like Oprah and Halle Berry. Athena's personal non-negotiables for health include consistent strength training and eating three meals daily without skipping. She recounts her athletic background in cheerleading and gymnastics, which provided body awareness and eased her transition into CrossFit. Athena stresses the importance of adapting exercise routines through life's different seasons, such as pregnancy and parenting her three children. The conversation has a warm, conversational tone as two healthcare professionals exchange experiences and philosophies. Listeners interested in integrative health, women's wellness, or alternatives to conventional primary care will find this episode valuable, while those seeking highly technical medical details might find it too broad.

As heard by us

A grounded look at functional medicine, health anxiety, and the value of reassurance.

It treats Athena's opening in Park Circle as something more ordinary and more useful than a launch pitch: a conversation about what people need when they are tired, anxious, or not getting clear answers.

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Why you'd press play

Want a clearer, calmer take on functional medicine in Charleston?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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