Welcome to Insight into Health, my radio show on listener-supported KSVY 91.3, where I explore ways to make healthy living realistic, enjoyable, and sustainable. I am your host, Allison McKeany, and these are the show notes for the live radio show that aired on May 4, 2026.
Thank you to Dr. Mary Flett for joining me this week. You can find out more about her at drmaryflett.com, check out her 4th Friday Chats at Vintage House Sonoma, or email her at drmaryflett@gmail.com.
Mary and I officially met last summer when I showed up with a crew of extrafood.org volunteers to "glean” her beautiful Gravenstein apple tree and distribute the delicious fruit to those in need throughout our valley.
I was aware of Mary’s work in the community. After hearing several people who attended my classes at Vintage House Sonoma sing her praises, I knew I needed to connect. So I did! Oh, the joy of connecting with someone who shares a passion — this is an accidental segue into what we talked about in this episode.
Enjoy,
~Allison
Listen to the episode:
Beyond the What: An Update on Iron Deficiency
I didn’t get to my update on iron deficiency last week, so here it is:
In November of last year, I spoke about iron — what it is, why it is important, and how prolonged iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
An update on the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Clinical Review podcast provided some updated tools for evaluating and addressing iron deficiency.
In short, ferritin is a blood test that more accurately evaluates iron stores in the body, and since “normal” limits on a lab report are so broad, healthcare practitioners and patients alike may be falsely assured that a lab result is “normal.”
Despite a “normal” ferritin, those with symptoms may benefit from achieving and maintaining ferritin levels above 50. This explains why my fatigue has persisted despite thinking everything was “fine.”
A “normal” lab result may not be ideal for me — or you. Let that act as a reminder to us all that symptoms matter. You can learn more about iron and iron deficiency here.
Let’s Talk: Dr. Mary Flett
Dr. Mary has been a clinical psychologist since 2001, focusing on aging adults. Mary explained how visions of aging are changing for the Boomer generation, and how she works with individuals and groups to explore how to age better and age well, which she describes as “aging with finesse.”
Listen to the full episode for an in-depth conversation about the health risks of loneliness and what you can do for yourself or your loved ones to stay connected.
Thanks for being here,
Allison
Please remember that this information is meant to inform and inspire and is not personal health or medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team about what is right for you.