Episode 023: From Pharmacy Counter to Functional Medicine Pioneer with Kelly Rompel
I am so excited to share this conversation with you! Kelly Rompel is exactly the kind of trailblazer I love having on the show - a pharmacist turned functional medicine consultant who's helping people get to the root cause of their ADHD and anxiety symptoms instead of just managing them with pills.
Kelly founded Wild Roots Genetics and has built an amazing practice combining genetic testing with functional lab work to help her clients understand what's really going on in their bodies.
Listen, I've been following her on TikTok and Instagram for a while now, and her approach to supporting neurodivergent entrepreneurs resonates so deeply with me.
Breaking Free From the Pharmacy Counter
Kelly's entrepreneurial fire sparked from a place so many of us can relate to - she couldn't stand sitting still behind a desk with all the rules. The pharmacy counter wasn't fulfilling her anymore, and she needed out. Here's what I love about her story: she didn't just leave traditional medicine behind, she found a way to use her pharmaceutical background to help people in a completely different way.
As a licensed pharmacist who now helps people avoid medications when possible, Kelly calls herself "a walking contradiction." But I see it differently - she's someone who understands both sides and can guide people toward the approach that actually works for them.
The Science Behind ADHD and Anxiety
Kelly does genetic testing and advanced functional labs to get to underlying root causes of symptoms. We're talking about nervous system dysregulation, gut health issues, hormone imbalances, heavy metal toxicities, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Everything is connected, and Kelly looks at the body as a whole instead of treating symptoms in isolation.
One thing that really excited me in our conversation was her explanation of MTHFR and methylation. MTHFR is trending right now, but Kelly wants people to focus on methylation in general because MTHFR is just one gene in the entire methylation cycle. Methylation plays a huge role in inflammation, detoxification, hormone balance, and neurotransmitter production. So when it's not working properly, you're going to have issues with dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA - all the things that keep us focused, calm, and happy.
Living in a Toxic World
Here's something that blew my mind: there was a study showing that brand new babies are born with almost 300 chemicals already in their umbilical cord. We're all born toxin-overloaded, and then we add environmental toxins, plastics, and everything else throughout our lives.
Kelly runs labs on her clients and says she can't tell you how plastic-overloaded people are. It's causing oxidative damage that makes our ADHD and anxiety symptoms worse. But here's the thing - many of us have genetics that give us a lowered capability to detoxify, meaning we hold onto heavy metals and environmental toxins more than others.
The good news? There are simple ways to support your body's detoxification:
Switch to cleaner products gradually (when you finish your current detergent, try Molly Suds)
Store food in glass instead of plastic
Take liposomal glutathione daily
Use Epsom salt baths with bentonite clay
Add wild blueberries and chlorella to your smoothies
Get an air purifier and dust regularly
Kelly invested in a sauna this past year, which is amazing for detoxification through sweating. But you don't have to overhaul your life all at once - she emphasizes making slow, sustainable changes.
Protein Is Your Friend
I loved hearing Kelly talk about the importance of protein, especially first thing in the morning. She makes protein smoothies with protein powder, Greek yogurt, almond butter, half an avocado, fruits, and chia seeds. It's balanced with healthy fats, carbs, and protein to support dopamine production throughout the day.
She even saw this work with one of her kids who was struggling with focus at school. Once she switched her daughter to a high-protein breakfast, it made a world of difference. We ADHDers really need protein first thing in the morning to help with neurotransmitter production.
The Entrepreneurial Balancing Act
Kelly shared something I think every neurodivergent entrepreneur needs to hear about balancing the creative and strategic sides of business. She pairs boring tasks with fun stuff and rewards herself for getting things done - literally like a kid. When she has to do something she doesn't want to do, she reminds herself to just get through this one task, then she can go for a walk or get a pedicure.
And listen, the delegation piece is magical. Kelly hired someone who's been a godsend for her business - a dietitian who helps with both client work and social media tasks. Having someone on her team forced her to get organized in the best way. She does certain things on certain days now: one day for seeing clients, one day for creating content, another for podcasting.
Self-Care Without the Guilt
Kelly had to work through entrepreneur guilt around not getting up at 4:30 AM to work out. She tried the whole "get to the office before anyone else wakes up" thing, and by 1 PM she was a zombie. Now she gets up at 7 when her kids get up, drops them at school, and goes straight to the gym for 25-30 minutes. That's what works for her natural rhythms.
Her daily self-care routine includes working out 4-5 times a week, journaling every day, working with angel cards, nature walks, and spending time with friends who fill her battery back up. She's gotten better at telling her family when she needs a minute because she's feeling overstimulated.
If you want to dive deeper into Kelly's work or connect with her, you can find her on TikTok and Instagram @kelly.rebelwhitecoat, listen to The Rebel White Coat podcast, or visit her website at Wild Roots Genetics. Trust me, if you're dealing with ADHD, anxiety, or just want to understand what's really going on in your body, Kelly's approach is refreshing and actually gets results.
I hope this conversation inspired you as much as it did me. Sometimes we need to hear from someone who's walked both sides - traditional and functional medicine - to understand there really are different paths to feeling better. And hey, if you found this valuable, make sure you're signed up for my newsletter where I share more insights like this every week.
Connect with Kelly Rompel:
