Our Team
We (Angie and Mickey) aren’t the only ones behind the thriving Autoimmune Wellness community. We’ve got an amazing team of writers, recipe creators and social media gurus working to connect you with the resources that will help you thrive. Meet them!
Grace Heerman
Blog + Social Media Director
Grace Heerman is a writer, content coach and yoga teacher from Seattle. Grace designs websites and creates content that capture how great her clients are so they can effectively and authentically share their expertise with the world. Here are Autoimmune Wellness, Grace writes book reviews, manages blog content, and organizes social media publishing. She splits her time between living Seattle with her friends, Minnesota with her family, and Asia, where she likes to spend the winter months. You can find out where she is now on Instagram and learn more about how she balances work and travel on her website, Said with Grace.
Three things you might not know about Grace:
1) One of her eyes is half brown and half blue.
2) She's lived in Asia for a total of 20 months -- 9 months in college, and 11 months in 2017-18.
3) She's met the Dalai Lama.
Sarah Kolman
Article Contributor | Read Sarah's articles >>
Sarah Kolman RN, MA, CHPN, INHC is an AIP Certified Coach, Registered Nurse, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and Contemplative Psychotherapist. Sarah’s unique one-on-one health coaching practice blends her nursing and psychotherapy experience with holistic and nutrition-based health concepts. A passionate student in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, she helps her clients heal by focusing on the brain-body connection and its profound impact on wellness. With Sarah’s support and guidance, clients learn to manage stubborn symptoms that have persisted through countless traditional treatments. Learn more about Sarah’s coaching services by visiting her website, www.this-one-life.com. Her book Full Plate: Nourishing Your Family’s Whole Health in a Busy World is available on Amazon. You can follow Sarah on Facebook.
Three things you might not know about Sarah:
1) At one point, she had three kids under the age of three. They remain close in age, but are a bit older now.
2) She ate lunch with Desmond Tutu in her 20s -- a highlight of her life.
3) She grew up on a ranch in Wyoming. She has also lived in Wisconsin, Colorado, and even India for a short stint.
Alaena Haber
Recipe Contributor | See Alaena's recipes >>
Alaena Haber, MS, OTR/L, has been using the autoimmune protocol to manage Hashimoto’s disease since 2014. At the same time, she started her blog Grazed & Enthused to help those with autoimmune disease change their diets. Alaena has reversed several diagnoses since following AIP, including infertility, histamine intolerance and skin conditions. She believes humor is the best medicine, followed by social connection, plenty of time outside and nutrient-dense food. Alaena is the author of the AIP cookbook The Healing Kitchen. She lives with her husband, one-year-old daughter and cockapoo in Florida and practices as a pediatric occupational therapist. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Three things you might not know about Alaena:
1) Alaena has a twin sister, but they look nothing alike.
2) When developing recipes for The Healing Kitchen, Alaena lived in four different cities in a six-month span (Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago and Austin).
3) Movement makes her feel alive! She played competitive soccer and tennis growing up but now enjoys hiking, running, yoga, paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling, group exercise classes, and dancing.
Christina Feindel
Recipe Contributor | See Christina's recipes >>
Christina Feindel came to the AIP in her early twenties when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, Celiac, Interstitial Cystitis, and connective tissue disease after more than a decade of declining health. As her debilitating symptoms began to disappear, Christina started sharing recipes at A Clean Plate and is now the author of several healthy e-books. She believes that good, healthy food should be accessible and appealing to anyone on any budget, with any amount of time, and with the bare minimum of ingredients. She also believes that any illness can be improved or even eliminated by starting with a clean plate! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Three things you might not know about Christina:
1) She had her first website when she was 13. She taught herself to code so she could showcase her poetry and art.
2) She still writes fiction and freelances as an editor and designer.
3) The hobbies she enjoys most are acting (which she's okay at) and singing (which she's not). (<< Her words, not ours!)
Kate Jay
Recipe Contributor | See Kate's recipes >>
Kate Jay, NTP, CGP has been using the AIP since 2014 when she noticed symmetrical swelling in her joints, consistent with rheumatoid arthritis. Her children were already on the GAPS diet for their own gut issues so now the family eat a largely low starch diet along with the AIP. Kate no longer has joint pain and swelling and is currently working on healing her hypothyroidism. She set up her blog, Healing Family Eats as motivation for making the restricted diet as exciting as possible for her children and is now the author of the eBook, Healing Eats: 25 Recipes to Heal the Gut while Soothing the Soul. Originally from London, Kate now lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband, two teens and Alfie the tabby cat. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.
Three things you might not know about Kate:
1) She used to save up her work holidays and backpack around the world. Despite seeing some amazing places, she’s now just as happy to spend a couple of weeks back in England visiting family.
2) She’s always been a “maker”. In England she had an online shop selling dresses and purses made with vintage fabrics, and jewellery from antique beads. But shortly after having her work featured in UK magazines, she sold her house, put all her equipment in storage and left the country.
3) She finished her chef diploma in 1997 and exactly 20 years later qualified as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She believes that learning is the best thing you can do to keep your brain young -- although she's in no hurry to find out what course she’ll be graduating in 2037!
