What's the CO2?

About What's the CO2?

Ever feel like the world is moving fast but no one’s really taking a deep breath? What’s the CO2? is a podcast that filters out the noise and dives into meaningful discussions across medicine, wellness, society, and the human experience, one breath at a time. Hosted by a Registered Respiratory Therapist, this show brings curiosity, clarity, and connection to the topics that fill our airwaves and our minds. Whether we’re talking with medical experts, personal storytellers, or just asking better questions about the world around us, you’ll walk away with something to think about (and maybe even exhale a little). Breathe in. Tune in. Let’s see what’s really in the air.

Publisher

Matthew Martinez

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Apr 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Episode 15: "Brave Enough to Disappoint Dad" - Aldair Perez

   Aldair Pérez never planned on being a coach. He wanted to be a pro soccer player, then a WWE wrestler, then an MMA fighter. When that window closed, he worked job after job, from a janitor at a UFC gym to an assembly line to construction with his dad, before finally telling his father he was leaving the one job that gave him security. He did it in a long text, because he was so concerned about disappointing him. In this episode, Matt sits down with Aldair, a personal trainer, boxing coach, and manager at Storm MMA & Training Center in Laguna Hills, California, for his very first podcast appearance. It’s a conversation about following your calling, even when it costs you stability. In this episode: The childhood dreams that shaped him, and the “what if” that still tugs at him from his amateur MMA days How he drifted into coaching, long before it was a career, by running his high school track team and a faith-based MMA program Free MMA training for at-risk youth, and the short Bible study that closed every session A bullied boy who walked in shy and timid, and what boxing did for his confidence An honest talk on concussions and what parents should know before putting a kid in combat sports What a first session at Storm looks like, from movement screens to a recovery center Why motivation fades and habits last Faith, gratitude, stepping out of your comfort zone, and finding your purpose Find Aldair on Instagram at @kinetic_kingdom. If this episode meant something to you, like, share, subscribe, and leave a review. It helps the show more than you know.

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Episode 14: "Full in Every Way" - Allison Knott

   Registered dietitian Allison Knott has spent her career helping everyday athletes eat well, and she says the protein craze is crowding out the rest of the plate. In this episode of What's the CO₂?, she talks about why protein is in everything from cereal to ice cream, why she calls herself a "supplement skeptic," and what to look for before you trust a label. Allison also gets personal. She talks about the three years it took to rebuild her strength after back-to-back pregnancies, why the "six-week" recovery expectation doesn't match reality, and what that experience taught her about the clients she works with. Along the way, she explains why food is more than nutrition and how a meal can be both physically and mentally satisfying. We also cover: Why a dietitian still serves frozen pizza some nights How GLP-1 medications are changing nutrition, and why lifestyle still matters Gut health and her biggest takeaway: eat more fiber Find Allison at anewwell.co or on Instagram @endurance.sports.nutritionist.

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Episode 13: "Worth Fighting For" - Gail Grimes

   Worth Fighting For | Gail Grimes, RN What does it actually take to hold a hospital accountable, and what happens to the people who choose to try? In this episode of What's the CO2?, we sit down with Gail Grimes, ICU nurse, nurse educator at Des Moines University, and a leading voice in the fight to unionize nurses at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines. Gail takes us through her path into healthcare, from three generations of summer camp roots, to a soul searching study abroad trip in India that sparked her interest in medicine, to the ICU floors of Des Moines during one of the hardest stretches in modern healthcare history. She opens up about the patients who never left her, the emotional weight of critical care, and the moments that made it all worth it. Then the conversation turns to what's happening right now: the push for safe staffing ratios, the fight for union recognition, and why nurse density, not good intentions, is what actually moves hospitals to change. Gail breaks down what a union really offers, why Iowa lags so far behind neighboring states, and why she believes this fight is bigger than pay, it's about dignity, accountability, and better care for everyone who walks through hospital doors. Honest, hopeful, and grounded in a decade at the bedside, this is a conversation worth your time.

4. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Episode 12: "Killing the Stereotype" - Sergio Gonzalez

   In this episode of What's the CO2?, Matt sits down with childhood friend Sergio Gonzalez, Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas. From playing on a historic undefeated Galena Park team to building programs from the ground up at Chavez and now Rayburn, Sergio opens up about the journeyman years, the instability that comes with coaching, and what it took to earn a community's trust. The conversation takes a serious turn as Sergio recounts suffering a heart attack on the sideline just weeks into his first season at Rayburn and the wake-up call that followed, including a 50+ pound weight transformation and a completely new relationship with health. Sergio also shares his work as a founder of the Hispanic Texas High School Football Coaches Association, why representation matters to the kids he coaches, and his mission to challenge outdated stereotypes about Hispanic-led programs in Texas football. The episode closes with a candid reflection on loyalty, moral compass, and what it really means to do right by people, no matter what side of anything they're on. A conversation about resilience, representation, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

5. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Episode 11: "Treading Water, Together" - Dr. Raquel Relph

   Dr. Raquel Relph just finished residency and is stepping into her first year as a family medicine physician, but getting there wasn't a straight line. In this episode, she opens up about missing her first shot at med school over a forgotten laptop charger, her years as a CNA in hospice care (including caring for a 104 year old Holocaust survivor), and the brutal stretch of residency where she worked 57 of 61 days as chief resident. She also shares the hardest night of her career, the loss of an infant despite doing everything medically possible, and what it taught her about grief, connection, and showing up for people at their worst. Dr. Relph will be practicing family medicine at the Iowa Clinic in North Waukee starting this fall. In this conversation: Why one summer in Puerto Rico cost her an entire year before med school What DO vs. MD actually means, and why she chose the DO route The chaos and emotional toll of Match Day Her CNA years in hospice care, and what it taught her about dignity and death The hardest stretch of her residency, and how she got through it Losing a patient despite doing everything right The difference between hospice and palliative care Why she believes primary care is the most undervalued relationship in healthcare Website: https://whatstheco2.com (https://whatstheco2.com) Follow us: https://beacons.ai/whatstheco2 (https://beacons.ai/whatstheco2) Subscribe to the VENT Newsletter: https://connect.whatstheco2.com/widget/form/dZ21PL9hk2zQEzo6irnp (https://connect.whatstheco2.com/widget/form/dZ21PL9hk2zQEzo6irnp) If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and leave a review, it's the best way to help the show reach more listeners.

6. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Episode 10: "Magic, Sales, and a Front Row Seat" - Dr. Nate Noble

   Autism diagnoses have climbed from roughly 1-in-88 to 1-in-31 kids, but is that a crisis, or just better fishing? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nate Noble, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and clinical geneticist who helped build Des Moines' developmental pediatrics practice essentially from scratch. Dr. Noble pulls back the curtain on what a real autism evaluation looks like (spoiler: it involves bubbles, thrown toys, and firing his staff on command), why he believes medicine needs two more required courses, magic and sales, and why "levels" of autism matter less than most parents think. We get into: Why genetics "loads the gun" but environment "pulls the trigger", and why chasing a single environmental cause usually does more harm than good The real reason autism diagnoses have tripled in a generation (hint: it's not what you think) The three things Iowa's most vulnerable families actually need, and why he says it bluntly, even knowing it'll upset people What it actually means to give a family "irresponsibly optimistic hope," and why he's never once had someone ask for a refund on it His own pioneer spirit path from a Northwest Iowa farm to building a specialty that didn't exist yet in this state Whether you're a parent navigating a wait list, a clinician who wants to communicate better, or just someone who appreciates a doctor who tells it straight, this conversation will change how you think about diagnosis, hope, and what "success" really means. 🔗 Find Dr. Noble: YouTube @drnatenoble Website: https://www.drnatenoble.com 🔗 More from us: whatstheco2.com

7. 

   27 Jul 2026

   Episode 9: "Wired For More" - Jessica Fraser

   For years, Jessica Fraser tried to be the perfect chameleon at work, bending herself into whatever her job needed her to be. It worked, until it didn't. In this episode, she opens up about the moment she stopped stuffing her real self into a "neat container," took the leap to start her own company, and learned to see failure as fuel instead of something to fear. Jessica is the founder of ElucidCX, a company she started just over a year ago that helps businesses make better decisions by having real, one-on-one conversations with their customers, turning qualitative insight into quantitative data companies can actually use. She's also a mom of five, a Woodlands, TX native, and a longtime friend of mine from my church days back in Texas. In this conversation: Why she used to describe herself as "miswired" and what she realizes now The humble confidence it takes to bet on yourself Building a business while raising five kids Why failure became something she needed, not something she feared Growing up in The Woodlands and the community that shaped her Connect with Jessica: ElucidCX: https://elucidcx.com (https://elucidcx.com) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fraser4/ Website: https://whatstheco2.com (https://whatstheco2.com) Follow us: https://beacons.ai/whatstheco2 If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and leave a review, it's the best way to help the show reach more listeners.

8. 

   13 Jul 2026

   Episode 8: "Life Happens Either Way" - Zane Chapman

   Zane Chapman had no guarantees it would work. Just a conviction that coaching throws was what he wanted to do with his life, and the willingness to take an unpaid volunteer job to prove it. That decision took him from Eastern Illinois University to a volunteer position at Wisconsin, working alongside an Olympic discus thrower, to Drake University, where there was no throws program at all. Zane started with a pole vaulter, a soccer player, and a football player who'd never touched a shot put, and built it into a program with All-Americans and national qualifiers. But this episode isn't just about what he built. It's about what he carried while building it. Zane and his wife walked through two miscarriages before their "miracle baby." He spent years trying to help his lifelong best friend, Aaron, fight his way out of addiction, and still lost him far too soon, at just 30 years old. This conversation is about a simple, hard truth: life is going to hand you hardship no matter what path you take. So why not spend it chasing something you actually love? We talk about betting on yourself before you have any proof it'll pay off, what it's like to coach an Olympian, the emotional weight of loss and grief, and what it really means to define success on your own terms.

9. 

   29 Jun 2026

   Episode 7: "Hand Ups, Not Hand Outs" - Emmanuel Caraballo

   What does it take to lead a 23 year old nonprofit through its next chapter, while honoring everything the founder built before you? In this episode, I sit down with Emmanuel (Manny) Caraballo, Executive Director of Freedom for Youth, a faith based nonprofit serving at risk youth in the Des Moines metro. Manny's path here wasn't a straight line, Army chaplain's assistant, youth pastor in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Northern Virginia, before landing in Iowa just nine months ago to step into the role left by founder Mark Nelson. We talk about: Why succession planning is the thing most nonprofits (and churches) struggle to prepare for The three barriers at-risk kids face most; identity, skills, and access Why Freedom for Youth operates on "hand ups, not handouts" How teaching kids to cook, budget, and build is changing their trajectory The Eugene Lang story and why belief might be the most underrated resource in youth development What's next for Freedom for Youth, including their new construction project on campus. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to invest in one kid at a time, and why that's the whole point, this conversation is for you. Connect with Freedom for Youth: 🌐 freedomforyouth.org 📞 (515) 282-4822

10. 

    15 Jun 2026

    Episode 6: "Meaning Over Money" - Travis Shelton

    Travis Shelton is a financial coach, founder of Shelton Consulting, and host of the Meaning Over Money podcast. But his path here wasn't straight — it ran through a job loss at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, $236,000 in debt, and an involuntary move back to Iowa three days into his engagement. What came out of that season was a completely different philosophy about money, work, and what it actually means to win. In this conversation, Travis breaks down the difference between being wealthy and being rich, why the most financially fragile people are often the ones who look the most successful, and why he eventually walked away from managing billion-dollar portfolios — taking a 90% pay cut — to serve people in a more meaningful way. If you've ever felt the pressure to keep up, this episode is for you. Find Travis at travisshelton.com and at the Meaning Over Money podcast wherever you may listen.

11. 

    1 Jun 2026

    Episode 5: "Who are You Without the Game?" - Ross Moffat

    What does it take to leave everything you know behind, and then figure out who you actually are when the thing that defined you is gone? In this episode of What's the CO2?, Matt sits down with Ross Moffat, therapist, soccer coach, and Glasgow native, for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about identity, mental health, and what it really means to grow up. Ross shares his journey from the streets of Clydebank, Scotland to the Scottish Premier League at 16, then a leap of faith to Des Moines, Iowa with a couple hundred bucks and a soccer dream. But the more compelling story is what happened after the soccer stopped, and how long it took him to realize he'd never truly left it behind. This Episodes dives into: The adaptation triangle: safety, belonging, and significance, and the behavioral drivers we develop as kids that quietly run our adult lives Why athletes are especially vulnerable to identity collapse when their sport ends The overscheduling and early specialization crisis in youth sports Why men wait until crisis hits to seek help, and what therapy actually looks like The "software update" model of self-awareness (not a reset, just an update) Jason Wilson's work on masculinity and what it means to be "the man the moment demands" Ross brings both the lived experience and the clinical lens. This one goes deep.

12. 

    18 May 2026

    Episode 4: "Success, Failure, & Taco Stands" - Jake Moore

    What do Chick-fil-A, a gas station taco stand, and a top 1% real estate career have in common? Jake Moore. Jake Moore is the founder of the Jake Moore Group and one of the most successful realtors in the country, but his path there was anything but a straight line. From burning out at a booming software company, to a brief (very brief) stint in fast food, to running a taco stand three hours from home while juggling a corporate job, Jake has tried it all, failed at some of it, and kept going anyway. In this episode, Jake shares how faith, family, and a stubborn refusal to quit eventually led him to build one of the most trusted real estate businesses in the Houston area and why he wouldn't change a thing.

13. 

    4 May 2026

    Episode 3: Pastor Scott Rains

    We sit down with Pastor Scott Rains from Lutheran Church of Hope in Ankeny, Iowa to explore the profound intersection of healthcare, spirituality, and the human experience of grief. The conversation delves into the "meaning making model," examining how we bridge the gap between our foundational beliefs and the often-traumatic realities of life, while emphasizing that a truly "full life" requires embracing the low side of emotions like sorrow and anger. Through poignant references to community, addiction, and even modern media like "The West Wing" and "The Pitt", we highlight how isolation can hinder healing and how authentic connection, rooted in compassion rather than condemnation, serves as the vital engine for emotional and spiritual transformation.

14. 

    19 Apr 2026

    Episode 1: Dr. Jason Kruse

    Dr. Jason Cruz, is the former Interim CEO and a current Internal Medicine physician at Broadlawns Medical Center. He shares his journey and insights into the evolving world of medicine. Explore how compartmentalization and intangible qualities like empathy and moral clarity are essential in the role of a physician. Delve into the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the potential impact of AI on healthcare.

15. 

    19 Apr 2026

    Episode 2: Dr. Yechan Kim

    Dr. Yechan (YC) Kim is an Internal Medicine doctor with a focus on Sports Medicine. Dr. Kim shares his journey from South Korea to the United States and discusses the challenges he faced adapting to a new culture and language as well as the impact of his families personal challenges. He reflects on his faith journey and how it helped him overcome adversity. Dr. Kim also talks about his passion for medicine, particularly sports medicine, and his commitment to serving underserved communities. He emphasizes the importance of accompaniment in healthcare and his desire to integrate spirituality into his medical practice.

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.