Podcasts about HPA

Rest and recreation are essential tools for resilience and good mental health as they help support the biological rhythms your body is already running. We'll dig into these rhythms more in this episode by breaking down three layers of the body's natural cycles: Ultradian rhythms (the short cycles within each day), circadian rhythms (24 hour cycle), and infradian rhythms (longer cycles like menstruation and seasonal changes). The practical thread through all three is the same: manage energy, not time. Notice your rhythm and do your best to honor what your body is telling you.   Note: This is an encore episode, originally aired during Joy Lab's Roots of Resilience Series (Element: Resilience). It's replaying here to close the month of Re-Creation because it goes straight to the biological foundation of why rest and recreation aren't optional extras — they are literally built into your body. As Aimee puts it in her intro: these rhythms are not something to fight. They're something to come home to.   About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek. The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab App.   Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).   Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app: Spotify | Apple | YouTube   Full transcript here   Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Experiments: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Joy Lab episodes referenced: Joy Lab Podcast #13 (The Roots of Resilience) This episode is a broad overview of what we'll be talking about over the next 9 episodes. It's a really helpful summary!  Roots of Resilience Series starts with episode #53: Roots of Resilience Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) The 20 Minute Break (book) Linnaeus' Flower Clock How does the brain deal with cumulative stress? A review with focus on developmental stress, HPA axis function and hippocampal structure in humans Cumulative Stress and Health   Questions this episode was made for:   Q: Why do I crash mid-afternoon and feel like I can't focus no matter how hard I try? A: That's your ultradian rhythm doing exactly what it's designed to do. This episode explains the 60-to-90-minute focus window, why pushing through leads to a steeper crash, and what a 15-to-20-minute break actually does to restore your brain's capacity.   Q: Could my sleep or stress problems be connected to my hormones being out of rhythm? A: It's certainly possible. This episode walks through how cortisol fluctuates naturally across 24 hours, what happens when that pattern gets disrupted by chronic stress (including the classic 3 AM wake-up), and how protecting your sleep is the single most powerful thing you can do to help let your system rebalance itself.    Key moments: [00:00] Aimee's intro to the encore: this episode closes the month of Re-Creation by grounding rest in biology — rhythms aren't optional, they're built in [01:00] Welcome — the Element of Resilience, Roots of Resilience Series, third root: aligning with nature [01:30] Henry: bio-rhythms might be the most important and most easily ignored root of resilience [02:00] Natural world runs on cycles — plants and animals fall in line naturally; humans have the choice to ignore or fight them  [03:00] Inside the body: hormones, energy, focus, and mood are all directly shaped by these rhythms [03:30] Depression can be a problem with internal timing — getting out of sync with bio-rhythms; Chronobiology and body-clock research: a booming field; SAD as a familiar example of seasonal rhythm [04:30] Three rhythms to cover: ultradian (under 24 hours), circadian (24 hours), infradian (more than 24 hours) [05:00] Ultradian rhythms: most overlooked, most ignored in the typical workday; What we do instead: push through, reach for sugar or caffeine, experiment with nootropics — when the body is asking for a break [07:00] Henry: managing energy rather than time — noticing when you're fading and honoring it early before the crash [08:00] Dr. Anders Ericsson's violinist study: comparing professional soloists with good-but-not-great performers [10:00] The lesson: excellence came from tending to rhythms, not from fighting through them — more practice was possible because of better recovery [10:30] Transition to circadian rhythms — sleep is the big one here [11:30] Henry: sleep might be the best mood stabilizer available — the research is unambiguous; People with depression + sleep problems who improve their sleep double their chances of recovery [12:00] People without depression who develop sleep problems double their risk of becoming depressed [12:30] Cortisol fluctuates naturally over 24 hours — lowest during deep sleep, starts rising around 3–4 AM, peaks in morning, dips post-lunch, rises again mid-afternoon, declines through evening [13:30] The post-lunch cortisol dip: a natural signal for rest, a walk, or a nap [14:00] The HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal): when this gets out of sync, depression can follow [14:30] Aimee: the 3–4 AM cortisol surge — when under stress, that's exactly when people wake up and can't get back to sleep [15:30] Mood problems can arise or worsen from fighting these natural cycles — enormous friction and energy wasted [16:00] Ways to tap into circadian rhythm: notice the animals and nature around you — dogs, chickens, birds, flowers [17:30] Light exposure: get bright light in the first 1–2 hours after waking; dim lights significantly in the evening [18:00] In winter: dawn simulator or bright light device in the morning; 15-minute session around 5 PM to help set sleep timing [20:00] Adrenal fatigue: when stress goes on long enough, adrenal glands become overtaxed — a state of profound depletion, controversial but real [20:30] Possible connection to long COVID — a pattern Henry has seen clinically [21:30] Infradian rhythms: cycles longer than 24 hours — less obvious but powerful when you become aware of them [22:00] Two key infradian rhythms for mental health: menstruation and seasonal affective disorder [22:30] Menstruation: predictable changes in mood, energy, and sleep — part of a sophisticated, elegant cycle [24:30] Seasonal depression: root cause is the change in circadian rhythm — shorter days disrupt bio-rhythms [25:00] Henry's short course on SAD: convince your body it's not the middle of winter — bright light early and late, fresh light foods, keep moving [26:00] Closing wisdom from Lao-Tzu: "Nature does not hurry. Yet everything is accomplished."   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!    Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Find more mental health resources here.

Stress is often associated with obvious challenges such as heat or transportation, but Dr. Baumgard explains that many stressors trigger similar biological responses. Understanding these shared pathways provides important insight into how stress influences animal health, nutrient utilization, immune function, and ultimately dairy cow performance. (00:00 – 05:16)  The panel examines common stressors encountered in dairy systems, including heat stress, weaning, overcrowding, feed interruptions, dehorning, environmental noise, facility design challenges, and routine management disruptions. The speakers emphasize that stress is not always obvious. In addition, they note that multiple seemingly minor challenges can collectively impact health, welfare, and productivity. (05:17 – 08:29)  A major portion of the discussion focuses on what happens inside the animal during periods of stress. Dr. Baumgard explains how activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis triggers a cascade involving mast cell signaling, reduced mucus production, and increased intestinal permeability. These physiological changes can create conditions that favor pathogen growth. In addition, they can increase inflammation, and reduce productive efficiency. (08:30 – 11:12)  The conversation then turns to gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction, often referred to as "leaky gut." The panel discusses the gut's role as a critical defense system and explains why maintaining intestinal integrity is essential for nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and overall animal health. When stress compromises this barrier, animals become more susceptible to inflammation and disease challenges. (11:13 – 13:26)  While nutrition can play a supportive role, Dr. Baumgard argues that reducing stress through management practices often delivers the greatest return on investment. Preventing stress before it occurs is frequently more effective than attempting to correct physiological disruptions after they have already begun. (13:27 – 14:18)  The speakers also explore the concept of adaptation and stacked stressors, particularly during the transition period. Transition cows frequently encounter multiple challenges simultaneously. Moreover, the cumulative effects of several stressors may overwhelm an animal's ability to adapt. This helps explain why health disorders and performance declines often emerge during critical production stages. (14:19 – 17:28) Heat stress receives special attention as one of the most economically significant stressors affecting dairy cattle worldwide. Dr. Baumgard details how heat stress redistributes blood flow away from the gastrointestinal tract, leading to gut hypoxia and impaired intestinal function. The discussion also examines why cows naturally reduce feed intake during hot conditions. In addition, it explains why cooling and management interventions often outperform nutritional strategies alone. (17:29 – 27:04) The panel then reviews nutritional approaches that may help support animals during periods of stress. While antioxidant responses have been inconsistent across research studies, Dr. Baumgard highlights evidence suggesting that highly bioavailable zinc sources can consistently support intestinal integrity. These zinc sources can also improve resilience during stressful events. (27:05 – 32:22) Another key topic is immune activation and nutrient partitioning. The speakers explain that activated immune systems become major consumers of glucose and amino acids, diverting nutrients away from productive functions such as milk synthesis. This shift helps explain why production losses during stressful periods often exceed what would be expected from reduced feed intake alone. (32:23 – 37:13)  The episode concludes with a discussion on inflammation, endotoxin handling, mineral metabolism, hypocalcemia, and future research priorities. The panel examines how inflammation influences calcium and trace mineral dynamics during the transition period. Furthermore, they discuss the ongoing challenge of identifying practical solutions to stress-induced gut barrier dysfunction. (37:14 – 45:38) Understanding stress physiology requires looking beyond individual stress events and recognizing the interconnected biological systems that influence animal performance. Whether stress originates from environmental conditions, management practices, or physiological demands, many stressors converge on common pathways that affect gut health, immune function, nutrient utilization, and productivity. This episode provides valuable insight into the mechanisms behind those responses. Moreover, it highlights why effective stress management remains one of the most powerful tools for improving dairy cattle health and performance. Please subscribe and share with your industry friends. This helps increase awareness of topics like the impact of excess liver copper concentrations. Invite more people to join us at the Real Science Exchange virtual pub table. Please be sure to register for our upcoming Real Science Lecture Series. If you want one of our Real Science Exchange t-shirts, screenshot your rating, review, or subscription. Then, email a picture to anh.marketing@balchem.com. Include your size and mailing address.

We're constantly swamped by messages like rest or idleness leads to laziness or that if you rest, then you'll fall behind — it's been repeated by so many self-proclaimed gurus, business experts, and biohacking influencers that we've started to believe the false messaging. The truth is that you're wired to take purposeful action, to have a healthy store of motivation, and to rest so that you can do those things when needed.  So, how come so many of us feel stuck in the swing between pathological productivity and then guilt when resting? We'll dig into the concept of idleness aversion — the deeply human tendency to detest doing nothing — and explains its evolutionary roots. We are wired to assess whether action is needed and to feel motivated when it is. That's not a flaw. The flaw is when that drive gets hijacked by external messaging that equates busyness with moral virtue and rest with weakness. Henry brings the neuroscience of mind-wandering: when the mind is allowed to wander, there's a kind of syncing up and rest that can happen, almost like rebooting a computer or closing all the apps on your phone. Far from being a waste, it's the precondition for efficient activation when you actually need it.  We'll get into some practical strategies to help you embrace more rest. For example, get a hobby that cannot be turned into a side hustle. Find a third place where people aren't doing anything productive. Let yourself daydream with a timer.  And if you're looking for the episode that followed this one when it played originally, here it is: From FOMO to GOMO: Discovering Freedom and Joy in The Choices We Make [ep. 224]   Note: This is an encore episode, originally aired during Joy Lab's Element of Fun. It's replaying here during the month of Re-Creation because rest and play go hand in hand — and if part of you felt a flicker of guilt pressing play on a podcast instead of doing something "productive," this episode is exactly what you need to hear. Preferably in a hammock. Not because you deserve it, but because you need it.   About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek. The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab App.   Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).   Listen & follow the Joy Lab Podcast on your favorite listening app: Spotify | Apple | YouTube   Sources and Notes: Joy Lab Experiments: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Joy Lab episodes referenced: Are You Stuck in Joyless Urgency? [ep 222] Where's Your Third Place? [ep. 171] Sometimes I Just Sits... (the power of solitude) [ep. 74] Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Series on authenticity from our Joy Lab podcast: Unmasking Your True Self: Exploring Authenticity and Awe [ep. 216] The Truth Behind Your Thoughts And How to Calm Your Mind (encore) [ep. 141] Embrace Your True Self: Accepted, Connected, & In The Game [ep. 217] The Road Most Travelled: Awakening Through Suffering [ep. 218]  Follow Your Bliss: Awakening to Joy [ep. 219] The Still Small Voice: Awakening with soulfulness [ep. 220] Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind (this is the study of people shocking themselves out of boredom) Chandola, T., Ling, W., & Rouxel, P. (2025). Are anxious Mondays associated with HPA-axis dysregulation? A longitudinal study of older adults in England. Journal of Affective Disorders, 389. Access here.   Questions this episode was made for: Q: Why do I feel guilty when I'm not being productive, even when I know I need rest? A: This episode names and traces the moral weight most of us carry around rest. There is a culturally reinforced message that busyness is virtuous and idleness is weak. We'll dig into the evolutionary roots of idleness aversion and the neuroscience of why consciously letting your mind wander is genuinely restorative, not a waste.   Q: Is it possible to actually retrain a stressed-out nervous system that's gotten used to constant productivity? A: Yes, but it takes practice. It takes time to create new pathways and patterns. This episode explains how those neural pathways form and what gentle, practical steps (hobbies, third places, daydreaming, solitude) begin to build new ones.    Key moments: [00:00] Aimee's intro to the encore: idleness aversion, the moral weight on rest, and the invitation to listen in a hammock — not because you deserve it, but because you need it [02:00] Pathological productivity defined: on a spectrum from no productivity (feels bad for long, briefly good) to overwork (most of us have been there) to pathological productivity (causing harm, planting seeds of future illness) [03:30] Work addiction as a real condition — as hard to break as any other addiction once it sets in [05:00] Idleness aversion: the very common human tendency to detest being idle [06:00] The evolutionary reason: we're wired to assess whether action is needed and motivated when it is — not pathologically lazy creatures by nature [07:00] The paradox: we don't like idleness AND we want a reason to be busy — this sets us up for anxiety around rest and unconscious pathological productivity [09:30] Getting comfortable with rest is a skill — we work on it here at Joy Lab [10:00] The Anxious Mondays study. Finding: those who felt anxious on Mondays had elevated cortisol lasting at least two months. The twist: this continued even in retirees. [12:00] We're training ourselves to be stressed by productivity, and the neural pathway outlasts the job [13:00] The habit of being stressed by productivity — whatever the driver (money, pleasing others, excellence) — sets us up for long-term problems if we don't build in genuine downtime [15:00] The moral layer on rest: the deeply warped message that idleness leads to evil, laziness, or poverty. Guru-culture messaging: the gist is that rest is morally weak and busyness is morally strong — and it's false [16:00] The opposite of work is not evil — just as the opposite of play is not work but depression; we've gotten the opposites wrong [17:00] Our inner wisdom calls us to play, rest, AND work — a rhythm we're wired to follow rather than fight [19:00] The neuroscience of mind-wandering: Henry's image of the brain as a domed web of nodes and connections, always active [21:00] During mind-wandering: everything settles; hyperactive areas rest; underactive areas come online; whole system syncs up; Like rebooting a computer or closing all apps — fresh starting place, more efficient activation when you need it [24:00] Positive mind-wandering (playful, creative, inspiring) vs. rumination — similar states, very different outcomes [25:00] Practice ideas: guided visualizations, set a timer and let yourself daydream creatively [25:30] Get a hobby — something that cannot be turned into a side hustle, is not quantifiable, and just makes you smile [27:00] Identify a third place with a relationship to rest: meditation class, library, quiet coffee shop — somewhere people aren't checking things off lists [28:00] Oliver Burkeman, 4,000 Weeks: "In an age of instrumentalization, the hobbyist is a subversive" [29:00] Find something you think is a waste of time and try it — birding, train spotting, stamp collecting; whatever your version of that is [30:30] Oliver Burkeman closing: "Productivity is a trap... The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control. But you know what? That's excellent news."   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!    Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Find more mental health resources here.  

Firefighters put their health on the line every day. But the risks they face don’t end when the fire is out. From smoke and diesel exhaust to extreme heat, chronic stress, disrupted sleep, and demanding shift schedules, the fire service can place tremendous strain on the body. In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Meyers, MPAP, PA-C, physician assistant and founder of FIREPROOF Wellness, to explore why firefighters may need a different approach to healthcare and why some of the earliest signs of physiological stress can be missed by traditional screening. Jessica Meyers shares what she has learned from working one-on-one with firefighters and why identifying changes in metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional health early may be key to improving recovery, resilience, and long-term health. Whether you’re a firefighter, a first responder, or someone who wants to better understand the unique health challenges of the fire service, this episode offers an eye-opening look at moving from reactive healthcare to prevention-focused care built specifically for those who protect others. Today on The Lab Report: 5:00 Meet Jessica Meyers and learn how her husband inspired her journey 8:50 Firefighters’ health is uniquely challenged 11:20 Dealing with so many stressors 14:10 Hormonal health 18:30 HPA axis and recovery 20:30 NutrEval – oxidative stress and nutrition 26:30 FIREPROOF Wellness 27:30 The Fireball Additional Resources: FIREPROOF Wellness Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: podcast@gdx.net. And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing. To find a qualified healthcare provider to connect you with Genova testing, or to access select products directly yourself, visit Genova Connect. Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your gut lining is thinner than you think — and that single fact may explain your skin issues, hormonal chaos, and stubborn inflammation. Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, known as the Queen of Bone Broth, joins Dr. Axe to walk through the food-based protocols she has used with patients for 30 years to heal the gut, support collagen, and ease menopause symptoms naturally. **In this episode:** - Why bone broth and collagen directly repair the gut lining — and which amino acids (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline) are doing the work - The counterintuitive reason raw vegetables can make gut problems worse, and what to eat instead when your digestion is already compromised - How the HPA axis drives hot flashes and what cortisol management actually looks like in a menopause protocol - Why blood sugar is almost always the upstream problem behind heart risk — and how metabolic flexibility through bone broth fasting addresses the root cause - The case for a “mono diet” during acute gut distress, drawn from Dr. Kellyann's clinical experience and her time studying at a Swiss healing clinic - How spirituality, gratitude, and reducing chronic stress affect cellular healing — and why Dr. Kellyann considers this non-negotiable in practice Uncover what's really going on in your body with advanced biomarker testing for hormones, thyroid, and metabolism— plus a 1-hour consultation with a Senior Health Advisor! → ⁠http://mybloodwork.com⁠ Thank you to our sponsors! Sunlighten Sauna: ⁠https://get.sunlighten.com/axepodcast⁠ Manukora Manuka Honey: ⁠https://manukora.com/axe⁠ Watch The Dr. Josh Axe Show every Monday & Thursday on YouTube: ⁠   / @drjoshaxe  ⁠

A rash baffled 25 years of dermatologists. It disappeared in a week once Dr. Steven Zodkoy traced it to a childhood memory. Here's what that case, and the concept of a "biofilm," has to do with your migraines and your bladder. Dr. Chris Motley sits down with Dr. Steven Zodkoy, a chiropractor and applied kinesiologist who became the first in his field to pass the American College of Nutrition exam, a credential previously reserved for MDs and PhDs. Thirty-five years into practice, Dr. Zodkoy specializes in the patient conventional medicine gave up on: the migraine sufferer, the "recurring UTI" patient who never actually had a UTI, the chronic fatigue case with a normal bloodwork panel. His framework rests on one idea most doctors do not test for: the biofilm, a sticky protective layer that bacteria, viruses, mold, and parasites lay down to hide from the immune system and from treatment. Once one pathogen builds a biofilm, Zodkoy argues, it invites others in, which is why a "cured" infection so often resurfaces as something else entirely, chronic sinusitis becoming Lyme-like fatigue, a bladder infection becoming a lifetime of unexplained pelvic tightness, a resistant childhood strain becoming an adult autoimmune diagnosis.  Key Takeaways Biofilms are why a "cleared" infection keeps coming back as something else. A biofilm is the mucous-like shield a bacterium, virus, parasite, or mold colony builds to hide from the immune system and from antibiotics. Once it's there, he says, it invites other pathogens to shelter in it too, which can explain why chronic sinusitis, Lyme-linked fatigue, and mold exposure so often show up in the same patient.  Interstitial cystitis is frequently a tight-bladder problem being treated as a recurrent UTI. Dr. Zodkoy's read: stress and anxiety tighten the bladder, it never fully empties, and what's left behind gets infected, so the antibiotic treats a symptom while the muscle stays tight and the infections keep returning. His protocol adjusts the pelvic floor and pubic symphysis, then layers in biofilm-breaking supplements and emotional work.  A 25-year rash resolved after one round of Neuro-Emotional Technique tied to an age-seven memory. Every physical test on this patient, mold, yeast, parasites, heavy metals, came back clean. Emotional testing didn't.  His migraine protocol runs liver support first, nervous system second, emotional work third, in that order, on purpose. Dr. Zodkoy's 1992 theory ties migraines to a slow-functioning liver overloaded by chemical exposure, hormones, or diet. He walks us through his 8-week liver protocol, 16 weeks including autonomic nervous system support, and a 96% success rate once emotional work is added. You cannot do deep detox or trauma work on a nervous system that has nothing left. There's no point moving to detox, biofilm-clearing, or emotional release until a patient's self-rated energy crosses roughly 50 to 60 out of 100.  [00:00:00] Cold open: migraines, interstitial cystitis, chronic fatigue, and the biofilm nobody explains  [00:02:02] Origin story: "doctor, lawyer, doctor" and practicing three months before 25  [00:04:04] Why he became a nutritionist first: the autonomic nervous system as the missing piece  [00:06:08] Finding a hidden emotion: the six-minute visit versus a real history  [00:09:37] The HPA axis toolkit: DHEA, GABA, adaptogens, and a gut bacterium built for stress  [00:11:27] NET, emotion code, and generational trauma: "it doesn't have to be real, it has to be believed"  [00:14:36] The 25-year rash: a muscle test, a forgotten age seven, and a mother's confession  [00:19:04] Migraines: the 1992 liver theory, the 80/20 split, and a claimed 96% success rate  [00:23:43] Interstitial cystitis is not a UTI: the tight bladder nobody is treating [00:27:06]  Killing the biofilm: natokinase, antimicrobials, and cranial electrotherapy stimulation  [00:31:29] The sympathetic-parasympathetic seesaw, and why healing collapses without it  [00:34:59] The "oomph" scale: testing cortisol at home and in the office  [00:36:27] The protocol in order: glandulars, adaptogens, and parasympathetic support, dosed on purpose  [00:43:30] Chronic fatigue, sinus biofilms, and the "house party" that becomes Lyme, EBV, and mold  [00:47:19] Parasites in America, and the TG/HDL ratio he says predicts heart risk  [01:00:02] Closing: where to find Dr. Zodkoy, and a teed-up follow-up on the healthcare system Resources Mentioned Tools & Products Biofilm Clear: Zodkoy's stated favorite combination product for breaking down biofilms, made up of natokinase, serrapeptase, lumbrokinase, and bromelain. He describes dosing at 2000 IU for patients under 50 and up to 4000 IU for patients over 50 with abnormal bloodwork. CP2305 (referenced in audio as "PC2305"): a Lactobacillus gasseri probiotic strain studied for stress and HPA-axis effects. True Laser: a home low-level laser device Zodkoy places over the vagus nerve. Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) units: clip-on-the-ear devices Zodkoy uses for anxiety, sleep, depression, and (with pads placed over the bladder) interstitial cystitis relief. Adrenal glandular products (brand examples given: Adrenal Complex from Designs for Health, Adrenal from Orthomolecular, Cortex from Thorne Research), used at a fraction of label dose, one pill in the morning only, per Zodkoy's protocol. Adaptogens referenced: ashwagandha, holy basil, rhodiola, cordyceps. • Nervous-system support referenced: DHEA, L-theanine, GABA, phosphatidylserine, adrenoglandulars. Antimicrobials referenced for biofilm-associated infections: berberine, olive leaf, oregano. Nutrients referenced for liver-support migraine protocol: B vitamins, glutathione, NAC. Concepts referenced: HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal): the stress-response pathway Zodkoy targets before any other intervention. Applied kinesiology: manual muscle testing Zodkoy uses to distinguish emotional, physical, biochemical, parasitic, fungal, or toxic causes of a symptom. NET (Neuro-Emotional Technique), Emotion Code, Body Code: hands-on techniques used to locate and release stored emotional triggers. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system balance: the "seesaw" framework underlying his treatment sequencing. • Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio: Zodkoy's preferred cardiovascular risk marker over total cholestero Want more of The Ancient Health Podcast? Subscribe to the YouTube channel. ------  Follow Doctor Motley! Instagram TikTok Facebook Website Follow Dr. Steven Zodkoy https://www.instagram.com/drstevenzodkoy/ ------  *You can get cell support in gummy form: Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to timeline.com/DRMOTLEY. *Join Doctor Motley's newsletter for TCM insights and regular podcast updates https://www.doctormotley.com/ *Do you have a ton more in-depth questions for Doctor Motley? Check out his course on emotions and the body in his membership. You'll find other courses full of his expertise and clinical wisdom, plus bring all your questions to his weekly lives! To try risk-free for 15 days click here https://www.doctormotley.com/15

VOV1 -Trung tâm Khí tượng Trung ương Trung Quốc sáng 9/8 đã nâng cấp cảnh báo đối với bão Dolphin lên mức đỏ - mức cao nhất trong hệ thống cảnh báo thời tiết của nước này.Bão Dolphin đang áp sát bờ biển miền Đông Trung Quốc với sức gió cấp 14, giật cấp 15-16. Cơ quan khí tượng Trung Quốc đã nâng cảnh báo bão lên mức đỏ, trong khi hơn 98.000 người tại tỉnh Phúc Kiến được sơ tán để tránh bão. Trung Kiên, phóng viên Đài TNVN thường trú tại Trung Quốc đưa tin:Trung tâm Khí tượng Trung ương Trung Quốc sáng 9/8 đã nâng cấp cảnh báo đối với bão Dolphin lên mức đỏ - mức cao nhất trong hệ thống cảnh báo thời tiết của nước này.Lúc 10h ngày 9/8, tâm bão Dolphin nằm trên vùng biển phía Nam biển Hoa Đông, cách thành phố Ôn Châu, tỉnh Chiết Giang khoảng 215 km về phía Đông. Sức gió mạnh nhất gần tâm bão đạt cấp 14, tương đương 45 m/s, giật cấp 15-16; áp suất thấp nhất tại tâm bão là 950 hPa.Dự báo, bão Dolphin di chuyển theo hướng Tây hoặc Tây Tây Bắc với tốc độ 15-25 km/giờ, cường độ ít thay đổi. Bão có thể đổ bộ vào khu vực ven biển từ Chu Sơn, tỉnh Chiết Giang đến Phúc Đỉnh, tỉnh Phúc Kiến trong khoảng từ chiều tối 9/8 đến rạng sáng 10/8. Khu vực từ Tam Môn, Chiết Giang đến Phúc Đỉnh, Phúc Kiến được đánh giá có khả năng cao nhất nằm trong vùng đổ bộ của bão.Sau khi vào đất liền, bão được dự báo tiếp tục di chuyển theo hướng Tây Tây Bắc và suy yếu dần. Tuy nhiên, hoàn lưu bão rộng được dự báo gây gió mạnh, mưa lớn kéo dài tại nhiều địa phương miền Đông và miền Trung Trung Quốc.Từ chiều 9/8 đến chiều 10/8, phần lớn biển Hoa Đông, vùng biển lân cận quần đảo Điếu Ngư, vịnh Hàng Châu, cửa sông Dương Tử và ven biển các tỉnh Chiết Giang, Giang Tô, khu vực Thượng Hải có gió mạnh cấp 9-12, giật cấp 13-14. Vùng biển gần tâm bão đi qua có gió cấp 13-14, giật cấp 15-16.Cơ quan khí tượng Trung Quốc dự báo từ ngày 9-11/8, các tỉnh Chiết Giang, Thượng Hải, Phúc Kiến, Giang Tô, An Huy, Giang Tây, Hồ Bắc, Hà Nam, Sơn Đông và một số khu vực khác sẽ có mưa to đến mưa rất to. Lượng mưa tích lũy tại nhiều nơi có thể đạt 200-400 mm; riêng một số khu vực phía Đông Chiết Giang có thể vượt 600 mm. Mưa lớn cường suất cao trong thời gian ngắn, dông và gió giật mạnh làm gia tăng nguy cơ lũ quét, sạt lở đất, ngập úng và các loại thiên tai thứ phát.Cùng ngày, Trung tâm Dự báo Hải dương Quốc gia Trung Quốc cũng ban bố cảnh báo đỏ về sóng biển. Dự báo từ sáng 9/8 đến sáng 10/8, vùng biển gần bờ Chiết Giang có sóng cao 5-8 m. Biển Hoa Đông dự kiến có khu vực sóng cao 7-12 m; vùng biển gần bờ Thượng Hải có sóng cao 3,5-5,5 m.Trước diễn biến phức tạp của bão, các địa phương ven biển Trung Quốc đã khẩn trương triển khai biện pháp ứng phó. Tại Chiết Giang, từ 18h ngày 8/8, thành phố Đài Châu đã nâng mức ứng phó khẩn cấp phòng chống bão lên cấp I. Toàn bộ 3.815 tàu cá tại địa phương đã vào nơi tránh bão an toàn, trong khi 29 công trình thi công liên quan trên biển phải dừng hoạt động.Tại tỉnh Phúc Kiến, tính đến 18h ngày 8/8, gần 98.900 người đã được sơ tán, di dời. Phúc Kiến cũng yêu cầu dừng toàn bộ 115 dự án xây dựng liên quan trên biển, di chuyển 290 tàu thi công đến vùng nước an toàn và tạm dừng 55 tuyến vận tải hành khách bằng phà tại các vùng biển chịu ảnh hưởng trọng điểm. Một số chuyến tàu khách chạy qua các tuyến đường sắt ở khu vực Phúc Kiến, Chiết Giang và Thượng Hải cũng bị tạm dừng trong hai ngày 9-10/8 do ảnh hưởng của bão.Ngoài ra, ảnh hưởng của bão Dolphin mở rộng cũng khiến hoạt động hàng không, đường bộ và đường thủy tại khu vực đồng bằng sông Dương Tử bị gián đoạn, với hàng nghìn chuyến bay tại Thượng Hải và Chiết Giang bị hủy chuyến./.Trung Kiên/VOV Bắc KinhBão Dolphin áp sát, Trung Quốc ban bố cảnh báo đỏ về bão và sóng biển

Can a psychedelic experience leave measurable traces in the body long after the trip is over?In this episode, we explore emerging research on how psychedelics may influence:• DNA methylation and epigenetic signaling• The immune system, inflammation, and cytokines• The HPA axis, cortisol, and stress physiology• Neuroplasticity and lasting changes in brain connectivity• Cellular senescence, telomeres, oxidative stress, and longevity pathways• The bigger case for rethinking the mind-body dividePsychedelic science may be revealing something much larger than a drug effect: how experience itself becomes biology.The companion guide, full episode transcript and all studies and sources cited, is available on Substack.

Episode Description: Wired and exhausted at the same time. Weight around your midsection that will not move no matter what you do. Mind racing the moment your head hits the pillow. That is not too much cortisol. That is a cortisol curve that has lost its shape. And there is a very real difference between those two things. Before Dr. G gets into the four supplements that have actual human research behind them, he is going to expose the cortisol detox teas and adrenal fatigue narrative for what they are. You cannot detox a steroid hormone. And the concept of adrenal fatigue was examined across 58 studies and has no scientific basis. What you actually have is a dysregulated HPA axis, and that is something you can actually fix. In this episode, you will learn:  •  Why ashwagandha is the most proven cortisol lowering supplement on earth by a wide margin, the exact label trick companies use to sell you an underdosed product, and who should never take it regardless of stress levels  •  The difference between the person who spikes easily under pressure and the person who crashes after sustained stress, why these require completely different supplements, and what phosphatidylserine and rhodiola each do that the other cannot  •  Why 45% of fish oil on shelves is already rancid, how to read the label to find out if your EPA and DHA numbers are actually therapeutic, and how omega-3s physically blunt both resting cortisol and cortisol spikes under stress Plus the one warning sign that means your cortisol issue is not everyday stress and you need to see a doctor immediately.Product reviews assess both brand transparency and product quality. If a company doesn't respond to our outreach, it doesn't automatically mean their product is low quality but it does mean they're failing their customers on transparency and communication. We reach out multiple times. No response isn't an oversight, it's a choice. And consumers deserve better. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Cortisol Detox Teas Are a Scam — Here's Why in 30 Seconds 1:30 - What the Cortisol Curve Actually Is (And What Chronic Stress Does to It) 2:45 - The Belly Fat, Sleep and Energy Connection Nobody Explains Correctly 3:45 - Supplement #1: The Most Proven Cortisol-Lowering Herb on Earth 5:30 - The Label Tricks Companies Use to Quietly Drain Your Wallet 6:15 - Who Should Never Touch This Supplement (Especially Thyroid Conditions) 6:45 - Supplement #2: The One for People Who Spike Hard Under Pressure 8:15 - Why the Lower Dose Does Absolutely Nothing (The Research Is Precise) 8:45 - Supplement #3: The Adaptogen for People Who Can't Get Out of Bed in the Morning 10:30 - The Most Manipulated Supplement in This Category and How to Spot a Fake 11:15 - Supplement #4: The Foundation Sitting Beneath All Three 12:30 - The Fish Oil Label Scam That's Making People Pay for Rancid Oil 13:30 - The One Thing That Beats All Four Supplements Combined 14:30 - When Your Cortisol Problem Is Actually Something More Serious Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this School of Doza episode, Nurse Doza opens the Metabolic Series with the adrenal glands — and why you may feel tired all day, crash between 2 and 4 PM, and wake up unrested. He explains how chronic stress can keep the body stuck in fight-or-flight, why that pattern is hard to shift, and the daily levers he leans on: belly breathing, less screen time at night, and morning sunlight. Then he breaks down Zen by MSW Nutrition — adrenal glandular plus four adaptogens — for stress support. FEATURED PARTNER Zen by MSW Nutrition is built in three layers rather than a single botanical: **125 mg of adrenal glandular tissue** (bovine, sourced from Argentina), **four standardized adaptogens** — Asian ginseng, rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra — plus **cofactor nutrients** (vitamin C, B6 as P5P, and pantothenic acid). Licorice rounds out the 9-ingredient formula. It's the supplement Nurse Doza reaches for when the goal is supporting the adrenal glands and the body's stress response, instead of layering more caffeine on top of a depleted system.

After 22 years on antidepressants—escalating from a quarter dose to maximum doses of multiple medications—Dr. Noushin Hart hit a wall: her psychiatrist said he had nothing else to offer. Instead of accepting that as an ending, she embarked on a journey revealing the real root of her depression: 30 years of untreated childhood trauma and a nervous system locked in survival mode. This episode explores why the serotonin hypothesis misses the full picture, why repeating trauma stories in talk therapy can re-traumatize you, and how somatic approaches process trauma in the body without requiring you to relive it—leading to genuine healing without medication dependency. You'll learn the neuroscience behind why your HPA axis and nervous system dysregulation matter more than serotonin levels, hear about alternatives like transcranial magnetic stimulation and plant medicine, and discover how saffron offers natural mood support. Whether you're stuck on antidepressants, skeptical of talk therapy alone, or searching for integrative solutions, Dr. Hart's story and practical insights offer both hope and a clear path forward.Dr. Noushin Hart shares her 22-year journey from antidepressant dependency to somatic healing, revealing why conventional psychiatry missed the trauma-informed approach her body needed. This conversation examines the limitations of the serotonin model, the re-traumatization trap of repetitive talk therapy, and the nervous-system science behind why body-based modalities create lasting transformation.Key takeaways:• Antidepressants work for acute depression but long-term chronic use leads to tolerance, escalating doses, and side effects that mirror original symptoms—making it impossible to distinguish depression from medication effects.• Depression frequently roots in unprocessed childhood trauma and nervous system dysregulation (HPA axis), not serotonin deficiency alone; the body keeps score for decades.• Repetitive talk therapy—retelling trauma stories over and over—can re-traumatize the nervous system; somatic approaches that process trauma at the body level without re-narration create safer, faster healing.• The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) can remain dominantly activated for 30+ years due to childhood trauma; somatic work restores parasympathetic balance and safety.• Dependency on practitioners or modalities signals unhealthy treatment; true healing empowers you with self-directed tools so you become your own healer.• Natural alternatives like saffron show strong evidence for mood support, insomnia, and concentration—offering a gentler starting point or complement to other interventions.• Being told 'there's nothing else to offer you' reflects a practitioner's limitation, not your capacity to heal; seek modalities and practitioners that fit your nervous system's needs.Resources mentioned:• MAP (somatic trauma processing modality)• Plant medicine protocols for trauma and depression• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)• Saffron (clinical evidence for mood, insomnia, and concentration)• Dr. Gabor Maté (trauma framework and nervous system science)• HPA axis regulation and polyvagal theory• Somatic and energy-based healing approachesLinks mentioned:• Heart to Heart Cancer Consultants —https://h2hcc.com/• Healing by Hart — https://healingbyhart.com/

In this week's episode, Blood editor Dr. Laura Michaelis interviews Drs. Matthew Frank and Jieqing Zhu on their latest articles published in volume 147 issue 22 of Blood. Dr. Frank discusses "How I treat HLH-like toxicities after immune effector cell therapy", in which the two cases presented emphasize the need for early identification, the use of anticytokine therapy with either emapalumab or ruxolitinib when organ toxicities worsen despite conventional CRS-directed treatment, and the need for ancillary supportive care as central to success. Dr. Zhu shares insights from "Structural Basis of HPA-1 a Alloimmunization in FNAIT and Allosteric Regulation of Integrin Conformation" where they probed the structure-function relationships underpinning interactions of alloantibodies against the most common target, human platelet antigen 1a (HPA-1a). Their data can help explain why some alloantibodies cause severe hemorrhagic FNAIT while others result in milder, asymptomatic thrombocytopenia.

Everyone is talking about burnout. But Tanya believes the conversation is incomplete — and that the missing pieces are actually the most empowering ones. In this evidence-rich, countercultural, and deeply personal episode, Tanya goes beyond the surface conversation about burnout to address what the research actually shows, what is happening physiologically in a burned-out body, and why the most powerful levers for recovery may be more within reach than most people have been told. She starts with a surprising finding: by most objective measures, people are not working dramatically more hours than previous generations. So why is reported burnout rising so significantly? The answer — rooted in research on the always-on culture, the expectation gap, social comparison, resilience development, and workism — is more complex and more personal than most burnout conversations acknowledge. She brings her Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner lens to the physiology of burnout — explaining what is happening in the HPA axis, the dopaminergic system, and the prefrontal cortex in a way that is clinically grounded and completely accessible. And she addresses the faith dimension honestly — when faith protects against burnout, and when distorted religious messaging actually accelerates it. Then she says something countercultural: the current narrative that places burnout responsibility almost entirely on organizations and systems may actually be making individual recovery harder — because it removes agency from the people who need it most. This is not a harsh episode. It is a hopeful one. Because the most honest thing you can say to a burned-out woman is: you have more power in this than you have been told. In This Episode You'll Learn: The surprising data on working hours — and why burnout is rising even when hours have not dramatically increased Christina Maslach's three-dimension definition of burnout — exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy — and why it matters The physiological signature of burnout — HPA axis dysregulation, dopamine depletion, prefrontal cortex suppression Why you cannot think your way out of a physiological state — and what that means for recovery The always-on problem — how the collapse of recovery time drives burnout more than volume of work The expectation gap — Derek Thompson's concept of workism and the rise of work-as-identity The social comparison problem — how upward social comparison on a global scale creates a new kind of depletion The resilience research — what Nassim Taleb's antifragility and Ann Masten's resilience work actually say The faith dimension — what the research shows about religion as a protective factor against burnout When distorted faith messaging accelerates burnout instead of preventing it The countercultural take on whose responsibility burnout recovery actually is Martin Seligman's learned helplessness research — and why external locus of control makes burnout worse What actually helps — physiological recovery, identity work, expectation recalibration, structural limits, community A direct word to the woman who is in burnout right now Researchers and Sources Referenced Christina Maslach — Burnout: The Cost of Caring; Maslach Burnout Inventory Herbert Freudenberger — original burnout research (1974) Barry Schwartz — The Paradox of Choice Derek Thompson — Workism (The Atlantic, 2019) Leon Festinger — Social Comparison Theory Martin Seligman — Learned Helplessness research Ann Masten — Resilience research Nassim Nicholas Taleb — Antifragility Matthew Walker — Why We Sleep Robert Sapolsky — Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers Adam Grant — Languishing research (2021) Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report Indeed Burnout Survey (2021) Bureau of Labor Statistics — Average Working Hours data Scripture Referenced Matthew 11:28 — "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Psalm 23:2-3 — "He makes me lie down in green pastures... he restores my soul." Genesis 2:2-3 — God rested on the seventh day Galatians 6:9 — "Let us not grow weary in doing good." Isaiah 40:31 — "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Key Takeaway Burnout is real, physiologically measurable, and clinically significant. It is also shaped — significantly — by what we believe about our worth, what we expect work to provide, and how much recovery we protect. The most empowering truth about burnout is that the most powerful levers for recovery are more within your reach than the current conversation acknowledges. You have more agency in this than you have been told. I hope this episode blesses you! Xoxo, Tanya Episode Resources: Episode Catalog   My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider:  EllieMD_Tanya Engesether *I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links. 2 Ways To Connect With Me: 1️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/community   2️⃣CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/contact   "Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they're meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"    If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss any episodes! And, if you're feeling really generous, I'd be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.   Click here to view our privacy policy.   Reminder:  The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Criminal Behaviorology Episode # 73Title:  The “Twinkie Defense”: Nutritional Neuroscience with Jerrod BrownThe entire presentation can be found on the YouTube channel: @criminalbehaviorology - https://youtu.be/tZYh6yQIOgMThe views of our guests do not necessarily reflect those of Criminal Behaviorology, nor our sponsors. Donate to Criminal Behaviorology Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/cw/u81930699Highlights:This is the third episode in a three-part series featuring Dr. Jerrod Brown. Following up on our discussion of Forensic Neuroscience, Dr. Brown introduces us to the tasty topic of nutritional neuroscience. We cover the Dan White case from San Francisco, California in the 1970s. Mr. White murdered Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after a series of disputes. In the years since many have scoffed at White's lawyers who argued his poor diet led to physiological state where the defendant was suffering from a diminished ability to make decisions (i.e., “Twinkie Defense”). Could there have been something to that idea? Join us for this detailed discussion of how nutrition helps conduct our behavior. Contact Dr. Brown at jerrod01234brown@live.com for further information on this topic. He will provide a copy of the comprehensive nutritional neuroscience article to anyone who emails him.Highlights:- “Twinkie defense”: The Dan White case overview- Diet and criminal behavior connection- Lead paint- Prison diet and health impact- Circadian rhythms and their impact on health and behavior- The basics of neurotransmitters, neurohormones, and the HPA axis- The literature on lifestyle medicine and therapeutic lifestyle changes- Community partnerships and programs like community gardens and horticulture therapy- Criminal responsibility in light of nutritional neuroscience. Do we not choose what we eat?Jerrod Brown Criminal Behaviorology episode playlist on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVxxfcfP9WM&list=PLItw5c5If7XYLook up CrimBehav on Facebook: facebook.com/CrimBehavCriminal Behaviorology on Blogger. CB Podcast Sites:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/dashboard/episodeshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-behaviorology/id1441879795?mt=2&uo=4  https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy83MzY4OWFjL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz https://open.spotify.com/show/5VM7Sjv762u7nb91YWGczZ  https://www.breaker.audio/criminal-behaviorology  https://overcast.fm/itunes1441879795/criminal-behaviorology  https://pca.st/Q38w  https://radiopublic.com/criminal-behaviorology-GEv2AZ  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/criminal-behaviorologyOn YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSVoZOBwCG28xMnuPq_GtwOn Rumble:https://rumble.com/c/c-1826027On Locals Social Media:https://criminalbehaviorology.locals.com/?showPosts=1https://criminalbehaviorology.locals.comOn Twitter:https://twitter.com/CrimBehavOn Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=81930699Amazon:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a3604516-0645-4341-a792-75d10754556d/criminal-behaviorologyPlease write a review on any of our podcast sites listed above. Questions, comments, and requests for transcripts to:  criminalbehaviorology@gmail.comThank you for listening.

Intermittent fasting. Cold plunges. Daily HIIT. These trends have real benefits — but not for every body, and not in every season of life. In this episode, I break down why three of the most popular wellness trends can quietly work against your hormones if you're already dealing with chronic stress, HPA axis dysregulation, and the hormonal shifts of entering midlife. Plus — three embarrassingly simple tools that actually support your nervous system and your hormones right now.Resources:Read the full blog post on these 3 Wellness Trends and their impacts on your hormonesBook Your Free Hormone Clarity CallGet your FREE copy of Maybe It's Not You: The Truth on PMSSources referenced:Bhutani et al. (2010), Obesity — intermittent fasting and cortisol in womenWitbracht et al. (2015), UC Davis — breakfast skipping and HPA axis disruptionSystematic review and network meta-analysis, PMC (2025) — exercise, dose, and cortisol regulationDr. Stacy Sims — HIIT and women's physiology, drstacysims.comAbout KateKate Nguy is the founder of Shee Revival and a Certified Hormone Health Practitioner and Cycle-Syncing Strategist who helps busy women in their 30s and 40s balance their hormones and reclaim their energy. Specializing in the hormonal ups and downs of midlife—from PMS and perimenopause to burnout and cortisol overload—Kate guides women to feel at home in their bodies and live in sync with their natural cycles. Through cycle syncing, hormone hacks, and nervous system regulation, Kate empowers women to rebalance their hormones, reconnect to their bodies, and revive the vibrant, grounded version of themselves underneath the overwhelm.Tune in now and join the movement toward better hormone health!Follow me @hormoneswithkate on Instagram for more insights, tips, and support!

A 42-year-old man walked into my office.Blood pressure: 165 over 100.His doctor had already written the prescription. He was sitting across from me, looked me in the eye, and said:“I don't want to just manage this. I want to fix it.”Four weeks later, his blood pressure was completely normal. No medication change. No direct blood pressure treatment.Because here's the thing — we never once directly treated his blood pressure.We treated the system that was producing it.That's what this episode is about.The Reframe That Changes EverythingMost people — and most conventional medical appointments — treat blood pressure like it is the problem. The number is high, so we lower the number. Done.But blood pressure is not the problem. It's a report card. It's your body's way of showing you — in a very measurable, very undeniable way — that something upstream has gone wrong.Think of it like the check engine light in your car. You don't put tape over it and drive off. You open the hood.So today, we're opening the hood.Before we do — let's make sure we're speaking the same language. Blood pressure is two numbers:* Systolic (top number): pressure when your heart contracts and pushes blood out* Diastolic (bottom number): pressure when your heart is relaxing between beatsConventionally, 130/80 or above is classified as Stage 1 hypertension. A lot of people are sitting in that zone, being told to “keep an eye on it.”That advice isn't enough. Something created that pressure. And until we find out what, we're managing a symptom — not solving a problem.The 6 Root Drivers of High Blood PressureFrom a functional and metabolic medicine standpoint, there are six primary root drivers I look at when someone walks in with elevated blood pressure. Almost every time, it's not one of these in isolation — it's a combination.1. Insulin ResistanceThis is the big one. And it is criminally underdiagnosed.Here's the mechanism: when insulin is chronically elevated — from too much processed food, too much sugar, not enough movement — the kidneys start holding onto sodium. More sodium means more water in the bloodstream. More volume means more pressure. Basic physics.On top of that, high insulin activates your sympathetic nervous system — your fight-or-flight response — which causes blood vessels to constrict. Less room for the same amount of blood? Pressure goes up.Here's what makes this especially tricky: your blood sugar can look completely normal on a standard lab panel, and you can still have significant insulin resistance. That's why I don't just check fasting glucose. I look at fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1C, and when needed, a glucose tolerance test with insulin levels drawn at multiple time points.2. Chronic InflammationInflammation damages the endothelium — the delicate inner lining of your blood vessels. When it's damaged, vessels lose their flexibility. They can't dilate and constrict properly.And a key molecule called nitric oxide — your body's natural blood vessel relaxer — drops off significantly when the endothelium is inflamed.Less nitric oxide, stiffer vessels, higher pressure. Every time.I test this with high-sensitivity CRP, homocysteine, and sometimes oxidized LDL. These aren't on a standard panel, but they tell me everything about what's happening inside those vessels.3. HPA Axis Dysregulation (Chronic Stress)Your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis — your stress response system — when chronically activated, keeps you pumping out cortisol and adrenaline. Both cause vasoconstriction. Both tell your kidneys to hold onto sodium. Both keep your heart rate elevated.Your body was designed to activate this system in short bursts — run from a predator, deal with a crisis. It was never designed to do this 24 hours a day in response to emails, traffic, and financial pressure.But that's the world most of us are living in. And for a lot of people, their blood pressure reflects it.4. Mineral DeficienciesMagnesium is the most important mineral almost nobody talks about in the context of blood pressure.It's a natural calcium channel blocker — and calcium channel blockers are literally one of the most prescribed blood pressure medications on the market.Magnesium helps blood vessels relax. It regulates the sodium-potassium pump in your cells. When it's low — and estimates suggest 60 to 80% of Americans are suboptimal — vessels stay tight.Potassium works hand-in-hand with magnesium and sodium to regulate fluid balance and vascular tone. I look at sodium-to-potassium ratios, not just absolute numbers, because that ratio matters enormously for cardiovascular regulation.5. Sleep Deprivation & Circadian DisruptionYour blood pressure is supposed to dip 10 to 20 percent during sleep. This is called nocturnal dipping, and it's when your cardiovascular system gets its nightly repair window.When you're not sleeping enough — or sleep quality is poor — that dip doesn't happen. Your heart works overtime, around the clock. Over weeks and months and years, that creates a chronically elevated baseline.Obstructive sleep apnea is a massive, underdiagnosed contributor here. If you wake up tired, snore loudly, or wake with morning headaches, please get tested. The connection between sleep apnea and hypertension is direct and well-established.Poor sleep also elevates cortisol and inflammatory markers — feeding every other driver on this list simultaneously.6. Mitochondrial DysfunctionThis one is underappreciated even in functional medicine circles.Your mitochondria — the energy factories inside every cell — are responsible for generating the ATP that powers your heart muscle, your vascular smooth muscle, everything. When they're dysfunctional — from chronic stress, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, or oxidative damage — cellular energy production drops.Your cardiovascular system then has to compensate by working harder. Blood pressure creeps up as a downstream consequence of your cells simply not having enough energy to function efficiently.We'll come back to this when we get to the quantum biology piece — because this is where it gets really interesting.This is the part most people have never heard anywhere. Lean in.Quantum biology examines the role of light, water, electrons, and quantum mechanical processes inside living cells. When it comes to blood pressure specifically, three things stand out.Light and the MitochondriaYour mitochondria are not just calorie-burning machines. They are fundamentally light-responsive.Near-infrared light — the kind emitted by the sun in the morning and evening, and also by incandescent and red light sources — directly stimulates cytochrome c oxidase, a key enzyme in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.When properly stimulated by light, mitochondria produce more ATP, more structured water, and more nitric oxide. There's that word again — nitric oxide. The natural vasodilator. The thing that keeps blood vessels relaxed and flexible.When people stop getting morning sunlight and spend their entire day under blue-shifted artificial light, mitochondrial function degrades. Nitric oxide drops. Blood vessels stiffen. Pressure rises.This isn't fringe science. There is solid, published research connecting light exposure — particularly morning sunlight — to cardiovascular and blood pressure outcomes.Circadian BiologyYour body has a master clock in a region of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Nearly every cell in the body has its own peripheral clock synchronized to it.Blood pressure has a natural circadian rhythm. It should be lower at night, begin rising about an hour before waking, peak in the late morning, and modulate through the day. When circadian rhythm is disrupted — by artificial light at night, irregular eating, shift work, or poor sleep — that rhythm breaks down.A disrupted circadian clock is directly linked to hypertension. The mechanisms involve cortisol timing, aldosterone regulation, and inflammatory gene expression — all of which influence vascular tone.This is why I ask every patient about their light environment. When do you go outside? What does your bedroom look like at night? What time do you eat your last meal? These feel like lifestyle questions. They are cardiovascular questions.Structured Water and Vascular FunctionResearcher Gerald Pollack at the University of Washington has done groundbreaking work on what he calls the fourth phase of water — EZ water, or exclusion zone water. This is a gel-like, structured form of water that forms at hydrophilic surfaces, including the inner lining of blood vessels.EZ water is negatively charged and creates a kind of biological battery that powers cellular function and supports smooth, low-friction blood flow — essentially a lubrication layer inside your vascular system.What builds EZ water? Sunlight (particularly infrared), movement, grounding, and proper hydration with mineralized water.What degrades it? Dehydration, toxic load, poor light environment, chronic EMF exposure.When the vascular lining is not properly hydrated at this structured level, blood viscosity changes, endothelial function suffers, and blood pressure goes up.The bottom line: your blood pressure is not just a plumbing problem. It's a biological energy problem. And the inputs that drive cellular energy — light, water, minerals, sleep, movement, stress — are the same inputs that drive blood pressure.What This All Means: A Quick RecapHere's the picture pulled together:* Blood pressure is a symptom, not the root problem* The six root drivers are: insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, HPA axis dysregulation, mineral deficiencies (especially magnesium and potassium), sleep deprivation and circadian disruption, and mitochondrial dysfunction* Applied kinesiology provides a way to assess how structural and neurological interference contributes to sympathetic dominance and vascular dysregulation* From a quantum biology perspective, your light environment, your circadian rhythm, and the quality of structured water in your vascular system directly influence how your vessels function and how your cells produce energy* When you address these upstream drivers — as we did with Marcus — the blood pressure number takes care of itself5 Things You Can Do TodayThese are not theoretical. Start here.1. Get morning sunlight — today. Within 30 to 60 minutes of waking, get outside and get natural light in your eyes and on your skin for at least 10 to 20 minutes. No sunglasses. This sets your circadian clock, starts stimulating mitochondrial function, and triggers nitric oxide production in the skin. It costs nothing.2. Cut refined carbohydrates and added sugars for two weeks. Not forever — just try it. This single change drops fasting insulin in most people within days. Lower insulin means less sodium retention, less sympathetic nervous system activation, and lower blood pressure. No prescription required.3. Start magnesium supplementation. Magnesium glycinate or magnesium malate — 300 to 400 mg in the evening. This is one of the safest, most evidence-backed interventions for vascular health. It supports vessel relaxation, improves sleep quality, and aids mitochondrial energy production. Ask your practitioner about your specific dose.4. Treat sleep like a clinical intervention. Because it is. Target 7 to 9 hours. Create a dark, cool sleeping environment. Eliminate screens 60 to 90 minutes before bed. Blue light at night suppresses melatonin, disrupts circadian rhythm, and keeps your nervous system in sympathetic mode. If you have signs of sleep apnea — waking up tired, loud snoring, morning headaches — get tested. This is non-negotiable.5. Prioritize resistance training. 30 minutes, three to four times a week. Strength training improves insulin sensitivity, builds mitochondrial density, supports nitric oxide production, and reduces arterial stiffness. Muscle is metabolic medicine.Ready to Go Deeper?If you read this and thought “this sounds like me” — or you've been told your blood pressure is borderline and you're not sure what to do about it — the next step is a conversation.I offer a free 45-minute Metabolic Audit Call where we look at what's actually driving your numbers — your symptoms, your history, your labs — and map out the highest-leverage moves for your specific situation.Spots are limited each week.Until next time — Be well. And Aloha.

What if leaving a toxic belief system triggered a full-body health crisis and your doctor missed it entirely? In this episode, Dr. Deb breaks down something she’s been seeing in her clinic for over 20 years: women who escape high-control religious environments and, within months, develop autoimmune disease, hormonal collapse, and chronic fatigue. Their labs look “normal.” Their doctors hand them an antidepressant. And nobody asks why. Dr. Deb does. Drawing on the work of Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Dr. Uzzi Reiss, she walks through the clinical reality of what religious trauma does to your nervous system, your immune system, and your hormones, and exactly what it takes to heal at the root cause. This isn’t therapy talk. This is biology. In this episode: Why purity culture dysregulates your HPA axis and ovarian function The autoimmune cascade that follows prolonged psychological trauma What conventional medicine gets wrong — and what functional medicine does instead The clinical protocols Dr. Deb actually uses with these patients If your body has been in revolt since leaving a controlling environment, this episode was made for you. Connect with us:Website: https://www.letstalkwellness.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalk_wellnessnow/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetsTalkWellnessNowPodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lets-talk-wellness-now/ Subscribe to Let’s Talk Wellness Now so you never miss an episode, and if this one opened your eyes, share it with someone who needs to hear it.The post Episode 275: Religious Trauma Is Destroying Your Hormones. Here's Why. first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

VOV1 - Bão Noul đã đổ bộ vào tỉnh Quảng Đông (Trung Quốc) với cường độ mạnh, buộc địa phương này nâng mức ứng phó khẩn cấp lên cao nhất và sơ tán hơn 700.000 người dân.Theo thông tin từ chính quyền tỉnh Quảng Đông, vào khoảng 3h50' sáng 26/7, tâm bão Noul đã đổ bộ vào khu vực ven biển thị trấn Bình Hải, huyện Huệ Đông, thành phố Huệ Châu, với sức gió mạnh nhất đạt cấp 14 (45 m/giây), áp suất trung tâm thấp nhất 955 hPa.Trước diễn biến phức tạp của bão, tỉnh Quảng Đông đã nâng mức ứng phó khẩn cấp phòng chống bão từ cấp II lên cấp I (mức cao nhất) từ 23h ngày 25/7. Đồng thời, cơ chế ứng phó khẩn cấp cứu trợ thiên tai cấp IV cũng được kích hoạt từ 20h cùng ngày.Chính quyền Quảng Đông cũng yêu cầu các địa phương triển khai các biện pháp phòng chống với tiêu chuẩn cao nhất, tập trung bảo đảm an toàn tính mạng và tài sản của người dân.Tính đến 0h ngày 26/7, toàn tỉnh đã sơ tán tổng cộng 715.351 người. Nhiều địa phương như Triều Châu, Sán Đầu, Yết Dương, Huệ Châu, Thâm Quyến, Quảng Châu… đã áp dụng biện pháp “năm dừng”, bao gồm dừng học, dừng làm, dừng sản xuất, dừng kinh doanh, dừng giao thông một phần hoặc toàn phần.Trong 24 giờ qua, nhiều khu vực ghi nhận mưa lớn, có nơi mưa rất to. Dự báo trong ngày 27-28/7, các khu vực phía bắc, trung và đông tỉnh Quảng Đông, cũng như đồng bằng Châu Giang sẽ tiếp tục có mưa to đến rất to, cục bộ đặc biệt to.Cơ quan chức năng cảnh báo từ ngày 25 đến 28/7, nhiều sông lớn như Bắc Giang, Đông Giang và Hàn Giang sẽ xuất hiện các đợt lũ rõ rệt; một số sông vừa và nhỏ có nguy cơ xảy ra lũ.Lực lượng cứu hộ đã được huy động quy mô lớn, bao gồm trực thăng, đội cứu nạn chuyên nghiệp, thiết bị tiêu úng và phương tiện cứu sinh. Hệ thống thông tin liên lạc khẩn cấp cũng được tăng cường, trong đó có việc triển khai thiết bị bay không người lái phục vụ cứu hộ tại các khu vực chịu ảnh hưởng nặng.Giới chức tỉnh Quảng Đông yêu cầu các địa phương khẩn trương sơ tán người dân tại khu vực nguy hiểm, đảm bảo cung cấp đầy đủ nhu yếu phẩm thiết yếu như lương thực, nước uống, chỗ ở và dịch vụ y tế cho người dân vùng bị ảnh hưởng./.Trung Kiên/VOV Bắc KinhBão Noul đổ bộ vào tỉnh Quảng Đông, Trung Quốc. Ảnh Chinanews

I'm delighted to reconnect with my dear friend Ben Azadi today, in honor of his newly revised book, Keto Flex. Ben is a leading authority on metabolic health, an international Keystone speaker, and the New York Times best-selling author of Metabolic Freedom. In today's conversation, we discuss why women fail on keto. We examine how women's menstrual cycles and various life stages influence both the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, and the importance of coming out of ketosis and incorporating feast days. We explain what the Randall cycle is, why we need to be finely tuned to it, how to support healthy cortisol regulation, particularly the HPA axis, and tools to determine whether we are balanced within the autonomic nervous system, including heart rate variability, sleep, and whether our glucose and ketones are within range. We also explore the effects of anti-nutrients and elimination diets, and Ben shares his approach for women who feel keto hasn't worked for them, explaining why keto should be viewed as a process rather than a diet. This is, as always, a truly invaluable conversation with my dear friend Ben Azadi. Stay tuned, as we will also be offering giveaways to listeners of Ben's new book, Keto Flex. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Various factors that could influence how women respond to a ketogenic diet How women need to adjust keto and fasting according to their menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopausal years, rather than continuously following the same approach Why Ben encourages women to have intentional feast days instead of remaining in ketosis indefinitely  What a feast day looks like,  and how it differs from a cheat day Why fasting should be adapted to how well your body tolerates stress Factors that can help to determine whether fasting is working for you Why you should adjust your training intensity and focus more on recovery as you get older How a temporary carnivore elimination diet can help identify foods your body doesn't tolerate Why Ben views keto as a metabolic process rather than a diet, and why he prioritizes lifestyle before medication Bio: Ben Azadi Ben Azadi, FDN-P, is a leading authority on metabolic health, an international keynote speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of Metabolic Freedom. After facing his own health challenges, Ben transformed his life in 2008—losing 80 pounds and stepping into metabolic freedom. That turning point sparked a global mission: to help 1 billion people break free from physical and mental obesity through education, not medication. With 18+ years in the health and wellness space, Ben is now leading a bold 10-year initiative to naturally reverse type 2 diabetes in 1 million people. Through his work, Ben has reached millions worldwide and personally coached thousands to reclaim their health. His audience includes nearly 3M+ on digital platforms, more than 1M YouTube subscribers with over 100M views, and his top-ranked podcast, The Ben Azadi Show, which has surpassed 100 million downloads. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com  Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.  Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Connect with Ben Azadi On his website Pre-order a revised-version copy of Keto Flex and claim your bonuses

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, registered dietician and celiac disease specialist Erin Kenny joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss the differences between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, the social and emotional toll of diagnosis, and common myths and misinformation. Their conversation also covers: The underestimated social and emotional burden of the disease How less symptoms do not equate to less intestinal damage Hidden drivers behind symptoms, including dysbiosis, hormonal issues, thyroid dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation The physiological effects of stress How DUTCH testing can help identify HPA axis dysregulation Show Notes Learn more about Erin Kenny and follow her on Instagram @the_celiac_space! Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support. 

If you've ever dismissed a sauna as a spa luxury, this episode will change your mind. In this episode, Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten, breaks down how infrared light interacts with the body at the cellular level — and why it's genuinely different from just getting hot. Connie covers all four wavelengths, the SoloCarbon blood pressure trials, why deliberately exposing yourself to heat can actually reduce hot flash frequency, how infrared shifts you from sympathetic to parasympathetic in minutes, and the full case for sauna as passive cardio. She also gets into the practical stuff: minimum effective dose, habit stacking, morning vs. evening, hydration, and what to expect in week one versus week 100. Don't forget to go to https://get.sunlighten.com/DRSTEPHANIE and use code DRSTEPHANIE for a special offer.

If your sleep, your weight, and your mood have all shifted at once and nothing you try seems to help, I want you to hear this. Cortisol and menopause are more connected than most doctors take the time to explain, and once you understand that connection, so much of what you've been feeling starts to make sense. In this episode, I walk you through what's happening in your body, gently and clearly, and what you can actually do to support yourself through it.What You'll Learn:Why cortisol isn't your enemy, and what it's actually trying to do for youHow the HPA axis gets dysregulated during perimenopause and menopauseWhy declining estrogen makes stress feel so much bigger than it used toThe real reason weight loss resistance shows up, and why it isn't about willpowerHow cortisol connects to brain fog, anxiety, and that middle of the night wake upFive gentle, doable steps to start supporting your cortisol this weekResources & Next Steps:Understand what your labs actually mean: https://go.trulybalancedwc.com/hormone-manifestoReady to get to the root of what's going on? Book your Menopause Clarity Call: https://go.trulybalancedwc.com/menopause-clarity-call-6620#form-H1UPPNLC4R

She slept. She avoided every trigger. She did everything right. And she still woke up with her head pounding. This episode names the physiological reason that keeps happening. We are talking about the HPA axis, sympathetic overdrive, why your brain has not been fully clearing overnight, and why you are not actually recovering between attacks even when it feels like you are.  This is not a willpower problem. It is a nervous system that has lost its ability to come back down. If you have not listened to episode one yet, start there. This series builds on itself. I have an upcoming training where we go deeper into the Inflammation Overload Loop and what the path forward looks like. Link to register is below. https://dwvirtualguide.com/live-training Make it a migraine free day. Resources: FREE DOWNLOAD: Toxic Migraine Triggers Guide Get the complete guide showing you the hidden inflammatory triggers fueling your migraines, including toxins in your medication, environment, and everyday life. https://dwvirtualguide.com/free-guide Book a Free Migraine Breakthrough® Assessment: Let's assess your unique migraine situation and uncover what's been keeping you stuck. https://pages.debbiewaidlcoach.com/breakthroughcall-social-7269 Connect with Debbie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieWaidlCoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiewaidl.coach/ Women's Migraine Freedom™ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmigrainefreedom Website: https://pages.debbiewaidlcoach.com/ Email: freedom@debbiewaidl.com Disclaimer: The Migraine Freedom™ Your Way Podcast and information provided by Debbie Waidl and guests is presented solely to provide helpful information, education, and entertainment on the subjects discussed. The use of information or resources mentioned on or linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk and discretion. This podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician. Debbie Waidl and In The Balance Health Coaching, LLC are not responsible for any medical conditions or liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application, or preparation to any person reading or following the information presented on this podcast. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of any websites or other sources.  

Send us Fan MailYour fuse feels shorter than it used to and you can't quite explain why. Before we blame it all on social media, sleep debt, or “the times we're living in,” we take a hard look at a quieter force that may be shaping mood from the inside out: PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals now found in the blood of most Americans.We walk through what PFAS are, why the carbon fluorine bond makes them so persistent, and where exposure hides in plain sight, including nonstick cookware, stain resistant materials, food packaging, and contaminated groundwater tied to firefighting foam. Then we follow the neuroendocrine thread that gets far less attention. We explain how PFAS may disrupt thyroid hormones, alter the HPA axis stress response, and contribute to neuroinflammation that can interfere with neurotransmitters tied to impulse control and calm, including dopamine and GABA. The result, in plain terms: less emotional buffer, more snap, and more anxious edge.We also dig into what the research is showing so far, from links between early-life PFAS exposure and behavioral outcomes to emerging adult findings in highly contaminated areas. Most importantly, we focus on agency and practical risk reduction. You'll get a clear, step-by-step plan for cutting exposure, including what water filtration works best for PFAS, what certifications to look for, which cookware to replace first, smarter food storage habits, and simple ways to support elimination over time.If this changes how you think about irritability, brain fog, or stress, subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review or comment with your biggest takeaway or the swap you're making first.DISCLAIMERThe views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast and its hosts. Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests are their own alone and unless otherwise stated, do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official policies of any organization, institution, or employer they may be associated with or employed by.  Support the showContact AFSO21's Weekend Wrap-up Podcast - Email us at podcast@afso21.comAs always, keep supporting your local fire and emergency services, stay safe, and keep on listening!

Stress is not just “in your head.” It is in your nervous system, your hormones, your immune system, your sleep, your digestion, your blood pressure, your inflammation, and the way your body adapts to daily life.In this episode we dive into the stress-spine connection through the lens of cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. Cortisol is governed by the HPA axis and plays a major role in metabolism, immune activity, cardiovascular tone, inflammation, mood, sleep, and how the body responds to stress.A 2024 integrative review published in Cureus explored chiropractic care through a systems biology model, looking at how the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system communicate with each other. The review discussed early research around chiropractic care, adaptability, heart rate variability, sleep, blood pressure, immune markers, and cortisol regulation.This is not a conversation about chiropractic curing stress, anxiety, hormone problems, or immune issues. This is a conversation about how the body is designed to regulate, adapt, recover, and communicate — and why the spine and nervous system deserve a much bigger seat at the health table.We'll talk about why so many people feel stuck in fight-or-flight, why chronic stress can show up as pain, fatigue, poor sleep, digestive issues, tension, headaches, inflammation, immune challenges, and hormonal chaos, and how chiropractic care may help support better nervous system regulation.Because you are not just a neck. You are not just a back. You are a living, adapting, communicating system.Sign up for our newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/AwGmSeQ/ChiropracticIsSexySource: https://www.cureus.com/articles/229791-vertebral-subluxation-and-systems-biology-an-integrative-review-exploring-the-salutogenic-influence-of-chiropractic-care-on-the-neuroendocrine-immune-system#!/Thank you to Dr Monique Andrews for all her hard work on sourcing this information!CONNECT w Dr. Ruffin!https://drruffin.com/https://www.instagram.com/drpaularuffin/https://www.facebook.com/drpaularuffinCONNECT w Dr Peabody:https://www.cafeoflifefenton.com/meet-the-doctors/ https://www.instagram.com/drericapeabody/https://www.facebook.com/erica.peabodyDisclaimer: The contents of this video are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor to replace medical care. The information presented herein is accurate and conforms to the available scientific evidence to the best of the author's knowledge as of the time of posting. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding any medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information contained in video content by Dr. Paula Ruffin DC and Dr. Erica Peabody DC!---The Stress-Spine Connection: Cortisol, Chiropractic & Survival Mode — an in-depth expert interview with practical insights.In this video, I walk you through stress-spine, connection, cortisol, chiropractic, survival and share what's actually working in 2026.⏱ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro

「安慰剂」在新药研发过程中处处可见，amylose 和 amylopectin是安慰剂糖丸的主要成分，其实就是淀粉（标题注释）。安慰剂效应究竟是应该被消除的统计噪声，还是一种被低估的真实治疗机制？当一针生理盐水能让帕金森患者的大脑释放出与真药相当的多巴胺，当假手术的疗效与真手术完全持平。我们要回答的问题是：如果安慰剂这么强，新药研发的投入还有意义吗？如果安慰剂能治病，我们可以只给病人吃糖丸吗？这期节目我们一起聊聊安慰剂效应在大脑中究竟通过哪些神经通路起效；它为什么越来越强以至于成为新药研发的障碍；我们可以只用安慰剂来治病吗？时间轴[00:14] 怀特先生的故事：一针盐水就让肿瘤消失了[02:54] 二战护士用生理盐水冒充吗啡止痛，战士不疼了[06:22] 不光吃药，手术也有安慰剂效应[12:32] 安慰剂不光能安慰，还能「反安慰」[19:10] 安慰剂管用的三条神经通路：内源性阿片系统、多巴胺奖赏系统、HPA 轴[28:32] 安慰剂成了新药上市的绊脚石[39:31] 临床试验如何对付安慰剂效应[44:14] 只用安慰剂能治病吗？

Send us Fan MailEveryone has heard that stress impacts fertility. But stress does not just make you feel anxious — it activates a specific hormonal axis that can delay ovulation, shorten your luteal phase, and suppress fertility in measurable, identifiable ways. And most standard fertility workups almost never look for it.In this episode of Cycle Wisdom, Dr. Monica Minjeur goes beyond the vague advice to just relax and explains exactly what chronic stress does to the hormonal cascade — from the HPA axis through cortisol steal, DHEA depletion, and suppressed progesterone production. Through Lauren's story, a 32-year-old small business owner who felt she was managing stress well but could not conceive, you will see how identifying and treating adrenal dysfunction can change outcomes in just a few cycles.You will learn:How elevated cortisol directly delays or blocks ovulation — and why this can happen without any obvious cycle changesWhat “cortisol steal” means and how chronic stress diverts resources away from estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone productionWhat a complete adrenal evaluation looks like — and why a single cortisol level does not tell the full storyIf you have been told to just reduce your stress without any further evaluation or treatment — this episode will show you what a real clinical approach to this problem actually looks like. Learn more or schedule a free discovery call at radiantclinic.com.

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, the HOMeHOPe faculty (Dr. Scott Sherr, Dr. Ted Achacoso, Boomer Anderson, and Jodi Duval) tackles one of the most paradoxical trends in modern biohacking: sleep tracking. Moving past the mainstream obsession with daily device scores, the team breaks down the biochemical realities of how tracking your HRV might actually be sabotaging your sleep architecture. From the autonomic anxiety caused by digital wearables to the clinical application of precision chronobiology, this roundtable shifts the conversation from algorithmic scores to measurable, cellular safety signals. Join us as we delve into: The Orthosomnia Epidemic: Why waking up to a red recovery score immediately triggers your prefrontal cortex, activates your HPA axis, and flattens your diurnal cortisol curve. The HRV Paradox: Understanding the actual biological markers of Heart Rate Variability and why an algorithmic score doesn't dictate your physical reality. The Cell Danger Response: How the body is only able to sleep when it feels safe, and why the ultimate "detox" might just be a sleep divorce. Your "Do This on Monday" Protocol: Dr. Ted's clinical sleep anchoring technique, and why prioritizing sleep as the first activity of your day changes your entire circadian rhythm. Precision Cellular Nutrients: The clinical difference between taking generic sedatives and utilizing precision magnesium, glycine, and even strategic carbohydrates (like honey) to optimize GABA and melatonin. This episode is for you if: You are experiencing worsening sleep anxiety and chronic insomnia despite meticulously tracking your data every night. You want to learn how to test your cellular metabolomics for brain inflammation instead of relying on a generic smartwatch algorithm. You want to understand how your unique chronobiology dictates your sympathetic and parasympathetic balance. You can also find this episode on… YouTube: https://youtu.be/n71oG96M1Ek Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe): Website: https://homehope.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/ HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026 Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics Find more from Troscriptions: Website: https://troscriptions.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/ Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products

What goes on at the neurobiological level that makes someone more vulnerable to self-injure or self-harm? What biological risk factors are at play? What roles do the vagus nerve, cortisol levels, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have? We hope to discuss the psychology of self-injury pain in a future episode, but in this episode, Dr. Michael Kaess from the University of Bern in Switzerland explains the neurobiology of self-injury in simple terms, or what we hope can be considered simple layman's terms.  Learn more about Dr. Kaess and his research team at the Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste (UPD) in Bern here. To participate in Dr. Kaess' research study of an online intervention for self-injury (in German), visit the STAR (Self-injury Treatment Assessment Recovery) Project at https://star-projekt.de/. Below are links to some of the research referenced in this episode: Kaess, M., Hooley, J. M., Klimes-Dougan, B., Koenig, J., Plener, P. L., Reichl, C., Robinson, K., Schmahl, C., Sicorello, M., Schreiner, M. W., & Cullen, K. R. (2021). Advancing a temporal framework for understanding the biology of nonsuicidal self-injury: An expert review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 130, 228-239. Reichl, C., Heyer, A., Brunner, R., Parzer, P., Völker, J. M., Resch, R., & Kaess, M. (2016). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, childhood adversity and adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 74, 203-211. Plener, P. L., Bubalo, N., Fladung, A. K., Ludolph, A. G., & Lulé, D. (2012). Prone to excitement: Adolescent females with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) show altered cortical pattern to emotional and NSS-related material. Psychiatry Research, 203(2-3), 146-152. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram @DocWesters. To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and X/Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their "Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts" and by Welp Magazine in their "20 Best Injury Podcasts."

Why does your brain feel like it's working against you when you're depressed? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton answers deep viewer questions to unpack what is actively happening in the body and brain during depressive episodes and periods of suicidal ideation. We challenge the traditional "chemical imbalance" framework to look at the modern science of mental health: how different regions of the brain communicate, why your HPA axis can get stuck in a chronic stress response, and the clinical data pointing to systemic inflammation as a primary driver of depressive symptoms. Plus, Kati breaks down the absolute differences between clinical depression, situational sadness, grief, and passive vs. active suicidal thoughts. What We Cover: The DSM-5 Checklist: The 9 diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. The Serotonin Myth: Why modern psychiatric research is moving away from looking at single chemical levels. The Inflammation Connection: Active clinical trials utilizing anti-inflammatory pathways to treat mental health. Your Audio Action Plan: How to implement behavioral activation, circadian light exposure protocols, and cognitive tools to stop internal negative loops. Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Go to hellorebound.com/AskKatiAnything to check your insurance or get matched with a virtual trauma specialist today. Real, evidence-based trauma treatment is within reach. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 (US) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. In the UK, you can reach the Samaritans at 116 123. You do not have to fight this alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do so many women enter perimenopause feeling like the rug has been pulled out from under them? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with integrative medicine physician and menopause expert Dr. Melinda Ring to explore why perimenopause often feels so destabilizing and why so many women feel blindsided by symptoms they were never warned about. Together, they unpack the profound neuroendocrine changes happening during the perimenopause transition and why symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, stress sensitivity, and feeling "not like yourself" often become some of the earliest signs that something is shifting. Dr. Ring explains the critical connection between hormones, the stress response system, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and long-term health outcomes. They also discuss why traditional medical approaches have historically fallen short for women, the growing role of hormone replacement therapy, and why individualized care matters more than ever. The conversation dives deep into HPA axis dysfunction, trauma, chronic stress, self-compassion, resilience, and the importance of helping women feel safe in their bodies during a time of tremendous change. If you've ever wondered whether what you're experiencing is normal—or if you've found yourself saying, "I don't feel like myself anymore"—this episode offers both validation and practical guidance. Dr. Melinda Ring Dr. Melinda Ring is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine expert, educator, and internationally recognized leader in women's health and menopause care. She serves as Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health and is passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through evidence-based, whole-person care that addresses hormones, lifestyle, stress, sleep, and long-term health optimization. IN THIS EPISODE Why perimenopause often feels so overwhelming and unexpected The connection between sleep disruption, hormones, and brain health Why many women feel like they "don't feel like themselves" anymore The role of HPA axis dysfunction and chronic stress during midlife How trauma and long-term stress influence the menopause transition The evolving conversation around hormone replacement therapy Why individualized hormone care matters more than one-size-fits-all protocols How women can build resilience, safety, and self-compassion during perimenopause QUOTES“Sleep is the force multiplier.” “You can't heal in survival mode.” “The brain is reorganizing, not just the ovaries.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order http://troscriptions.com/ENERGIZED Sign Up Now for the "Advanced Integrative Menopause Care for Clinicians" Course Training with Dr. Melinda Dr. Melinda Website https://www.drmelindaring.com/signup Dr. Melinda Instagram Dr. Melinda Facebook Dr. Melinda Tiktok Dr. Melinda Youtube RELATED EPISODES  756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza 755: What If Your Body Isn't Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry 754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago 717: “I Don't Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

Most women have been told their cycle is something to manage, track for fertility, or push through. What almost no one is saying is that your cycle is a second biological clock running inside your body at all times. The circadian rhythm is roughly 24 hours and is governed by light. The infradian rhythm is roughly 28 days and is governed by the menstrual cycle. Men have one main rhythm. Women have two. This is not a flaw in our design. It is added intelligence. In this solo episode, Michelle walks you through what is actually happening underneath the surface of each phase. Your brain structure shifts across the cycle. Your immune system, metabolism, insulin sensitivity, microbiome, and nervous system are all moving with you. You will learn why the same stressor can feel completely different from one week to the next, why luteal phase cravings are real signals and not willpower failures, and how to begin matching your work, food, and rest to the phase you are actually in. Whether you are trying to conceive or simply want to stop fighting your own body, this episode offers a more accurate map of how you are designed to function.   Key Takeaways: Women have two main biological rhythms. The circadian rhythm is roughly 24 hours. The infradian rhythm is roughly 28 days and is governed by the menstrual cycle. Most lifestyle and research advice is built around the male 24-hour clock, which is part of why so many women feel exhausted. Your brain structure literally changes across the cycle. The hippocampus shifts in volume, connectivity between regions changes, and verbal fluency, spatial reasoning, and pain perception all move with the phases. Feeling like a different person at different times of the month is neurobiology, not emotional volatility. Your immune system is rhythmic. It is more active in the first half of the cycle and shifts after ovulation, when progesterone becomes mildly immunosuppressive to prepare the uterus for a possible embryo. This is why colds, autoimmune flares, and allergies can shift across the month. Basal metabolic rate rises slightly in the luteal phase, and insulin sensitivity changes. The same meal can land differently depending on where you are in your cycle. Luteal phase cravings are often a real signal of higher energy needs. The gut and vaginal microbiomes also shift cyclically with hormones. You are not a static system. Everything inside your body moves with you. Heart rate variability tends to be higher in the follicular phase and lower in the luteal phase. The same stressor can land very differently depending on when in the month it arrives. Your nervous system is operating from a different baseline. From a TCM perspective, the liver works harder in the luteal phase to prepare for menstruation, which can show up as more irritability, less energy, and stagnation when qi is not flowing freely. Working with the cycle is not just a fertility tool. It is a way of living that supports energy, focus, mood, and recovery across the entire month. Practical starting points: track more than your period (energy, sleep, mood, focus, hunger, stress response), match the work to the phase when possible, and eat in a way that responds to what your body is actually doing in each phase.   Host Bio: Michelle Oravitz, L.Ac., FABORM, is a board-certified fertility acupuncturist, Ayurvedic practitioner, and author of The Way of Fertility. She is the host of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, where she explores the intersection of Traditional Chinese Medicine, modern fertility science, nervous system health, and the deeper, often overlooked terrain of mind-body fertility. Through her clinical practice and online programs, Michelle works with women trying to conceive and with practitioners who want to bring a more holistic, integrated approach into their work.   Research and Resources Cited: Brain structure and function changes across the menstrual cycle (hippocampal volume) Cyclical changes in hippocampal volume across the menstrual cycle Menstrual cycle effects on cognition: verbal fluency and spatial reasoning Pain perception and threat sensitivity across the menstrual cycle Progesterone and immune modulation in the luteal phase Basal metabolic rate variation across the menstrual cycle Insulin sensitivity and the menstrual cycle Gut microbiome variation across the menstrual cycle Vaginal microbiome shifts across the menstrual cycle Heart rate variability across the menstrual cycle Cortisol and HPA axis response across the menstrual cycle   Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or fertility care.  Ready to discover what your body needs most on your fertility journey? Take the personalized quiz inside The Wholesome Fertility Journey and get tailored resources to meet you exactly where you are: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/the-wholesome-fertility-journey For more about my work and offerings, visit: www.michelleoravitz.com Curious about ancient wisdom for fertility? Grab my book The Way of Fertility: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility Join the Wholesome Fertility Facebook Group for free resources & community support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/ Connect with me on social: Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility Facebook: The Wholesome Lotus

Every leader feels it. The 3am spiral. The Sunday night dread. The tight chest before a hard conversation. The mind that never fully stops — replaying, rehearsing, anticipating, calculating — even when you have physically left the building. That anxiety is not a sign that something is wrong with you. In Episode 2 of The Weight of the Chair series, certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Christian Life Coach Tanya Engesether takes an honest, clinical, and deeply personal look at the specific anxiety that accompanies leadership — what makes it different from ordinary anxiety, what is actually happening in the nervous system when it shows up, and why it makes complete physiological and emotional sense. Drawing from neuroscience, functional health, and a faith-rooted perspective, Tanya walks through the role of the amygdala, the HPA axis, and the prefrontal cortex in the leadership anxiety experience — and names the specific ways chronic stress in a leadership role leaves its mark on the body. She also addresses the people-pleasing thread that amplifies leadership anxiety for many women, and offers Philippians 4:6-7 not as a platitude but as a genuine neurological and spiritual practice. And then she gets personal — sharing her own toolkit for the moments when the anxiety gets loud. If you have ever wondered why the anxiety of leadership feels different from anything you prepared for — this episode will give you language, clinical understanding, and practical tools for working with it rather than pushing through it. In This Episode You'll Learn: What makes leadership anxiety distinct from ordinary anxiety The four specific dimensions of leadership anxiety most leaders never have language for What the amygdala, the HPA axis, and the prefrontal cortex are doing during high-stakes leadership moments Why your body cannot distinguish between physical threat and psychological threat — and what that means for leaders Why the prefrontal cortex gets suppressed exactly when you need it most — and what to do about it The somatic signature of anxiety — why it lives in the body and cannot be thought away How people-pleasing patterns amplify leadership anxiety — and what that means Philippians 4:6-7 as a clinical and spiritual practice — not a platitude The physiological sigh — the fastest known way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system Tanya's personal toolkit for leadership anxiety — specific, practical, honest When anxiety is information rather than just noise — and how to tell the difference Scripture Referenced Philippians 4:6-7 — "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 1 Peter 5:7 — "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Key Takeaway The anxiety that comes with the seat is not evidence of inadequacy. It is the natural, predictable, neurologically inevitable response to carrying genuine responsibility for outcomes and people that matter. Understanding what your nervous system is doing — and having real tools to work with it — changes not just how you feel in the role, but who you are in the role. I hope this episode blesses you! Xoxo, Tanya Episode Resources: Episode Catalog   My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider:  EllieMD_Tanya Engesether *I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links. 3 Ways To Connect With Me: 1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Find out more about functional health or Christian Life coaching. It's the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/coaching   2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/community   3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/contact   "Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they're meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"    If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss any episodes! And, if you're feeling really generous, I'd be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.   Click here to view our privacy policy.   Reminder:  The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Managing combat stress requires more than standard medical care. Learn how to address HPA axis disruption and take control of your health data. The standard medical system often fails to address the unique physiological impact of combat stress. This video explains why your HPA axis may be disrupted and how chronic inflammation often goes overlooked in routine checkups. If you feel like your current treatment plan is missing the root cause of your symptoms, this approach offers a different path. We outline a stack approach that integrates independent clinicians and self-paid labs alongside your existing care. By securing a fuller inflammation panel, you gain a clearer picture of your body's actual state. This method prioritizes personal ownership of your medical decisions, ensuring you have the data needed to advocate for your own recovery rather than relying solely on a system not designed for these specific needs. Subscribe for weekly health strategy breakdowns, and comment below if you have ever had to order your own lab work to get answers. Find everything at https://hardtokill.org/

Send us Fan Mail Something feels off, but you can't quite name it: your sleep is lighter, your mood is sharper, your focus is harder to hold, and even small stressors land differently. That quiet shift is often how perimenopause begins, and it can be confusing when you're expecting hot flashes to be the “first sign.” We sit down with Dr. Blake Myers, a licensed naturopathic physician and creator of The Bridge System, to make sense of what's happening and to replace fear with a clearer map. We talk about why anxiety and brain fog can show up early, how the menopausal transition can feel like an identity change, and why telling women it's “just hormones” leaves out critical pieces. Dr. Myers explains the bigger menopause and mental health picture, including gut microbiome changes, HPA axis stress, mitochondrial energy dips, and the way inflammation can reshape how the brain feels and functions. Most importantly, we explore the hopeful idea that the brain may be restructuring and building new pathways rather than simply declining. From there, we get practical. We share a simple starting point that respects real life: identify the one or two changes you already know would help, then build from that. Dr. Myers highlights an anti-inflammatory, plant-forward diet and movement that prioritises resistance training to build muscle, support longevity, and help you feel more solid in your body during perimenopause and menopause. If this conversation gives you a new way to understand yourself or someone you love, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find honest, useful support.  Connect With the Guest Website: https://thebridgesystemmethod.com Social: search "The Bridge System" on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube Book: The Bridge System (available on Amazon) Immunology Diagnostics 30% off of IMBXX. Code: Healthymind Get the test, insurance covers. Avita Yoga Free Avita Yoga class and exclusive interview with Jeff: Know Your Constitution Towards Wellness Coaching Offer: 25% off | Code: POD2026. Available internationally in paperback and eBook formats. Vegout Voyage Offer: 15% off all personalized Armchair Iceland merch | Code: ICELANDGEAR15 Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?

Have you spent your entire life solving problems by thinking harder, working harder, and pushing through only to discover that fertility is the one challenge that refuses to respond?For many high-achieving women, the same drive, discipline, and ambition that fuel success in business and life can create a chronic stress response that impacts fertility behind the scenes.In this episode, you'll learn...-Why chronic stress can shift your body's priorities away from reproduction and toward survival.-The biological connection between cortisol, progesterone, the HPA axis, and fertility hormones.-A simple 5–10 minute daily fertility prescription designed to help regulate your nervous system and create a more fertility-supportive environment.Listen now to learn how one small daily practice can help calm your stress response, support your hormones, and create the biological conditions your body needs to move closer to pregnancy.

In this episode, I'm tackling one of the most misunderstood topics in women's health: adrenal fatigue. While the term "adrenal fatigue" isn't technically accurate, the symptoms women experience are very real. What's actually happening is something called HPA axis dysfunction, a breakdown in the communication between the brain and adrenal glands that impacts energy, hormones, metabolism, sleep, and overall health. I explain what the HPA axis is, why chronic stress changes how your body responds to cortisol, and how major life events can push your system into dysfunction even when you're doing all the "right" things. We also dive into the three major stressors that affect the body: traumas, toxins, and thoughts. If you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, stuck, or like your body just isn't responding the way it used to, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface. If you're ready to stop guessing and get personalized guidance, schedule a free Strategy Call with my team. We'll review your symptoms, discuss your health goals, and help you identify the best next steps for your body. Schedule your Strategy Call here: https://calendly.com/dr-beth-westie/program-discovery-call Download your FREE Hormone Cascade Map here: https://dr-beth-westie.mykajabi.com/hormone-cascade-map

Nobody told you it would feel like this. You prepared for the hard decisions, the difficult conversations, the long hours. You read the books, completed the training, built the skills. You knew leadership would be challenging. What nobody told you was how lonely it would be. In the first episode of The Weight of the Chair series, Tanya Engesether opens a conversation that most leadership podcasts never have — the specific, confusing, hard-to-name loneliness that lives inside leadership. Not the loneliness of having no one around. The loneliness of being surrounded — and still somehow separate. With her signature blend of personal vulnerability, functional health insight, and faith-rooted perspective, Tanya names what leadership loneliness actually is, why it catches high-achieving women so completely off guard, what it does to the body physiologically, and what she has personally learned to do when it hits. Including a visit to one of the most underused stories in leadership content — the prophet Elijah under the juniper tree — and what God's response to his complete depletion reveals about how we are meant to be met in our hardest moments. If you have ever sat in a full room and felt completely alone — this episode was made for you. In This Episode You'll Learn: What makes leadership loneliness different from ordinary loneliness The four specific characteristics of leadership isolation that most leaders never have language for Why the authority of leadership changes relationships in ways that create genuine distance Why leadership loneliness catches high-capacity women especially off guard The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 — and what God's response to his depletion reveals The clinical picture — what chronic loneliness does to the HPA axis, cortisol, inflammation, immune function, and sleep Why tending to leadership loneliness is not weakness — it is healthcare Tanya's personal strategies for navigating the loneliness of leadership — specific, practical, and honest Why peer relationships are the most clinically and experientially important investment a leader can make What specific prayer looks like versus general prayer — and why it matters Scripture Referenced 1 Kings 19:4–18 — Elijah under the juniper tree 1 Kings 19:7 — "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 1 Kings 19:18 — "I reserve seven thousand in Israel." Key Takeaway The loneliness of leadership is not evidence that you are doing it wrong. It is evidence that you are carrying something real — something that deserves to be tended rather than pushed through. The God who met a depleted, lonely prophet under a tree is the same God who is with you in the weight of the chair. This Is Episode 1 of The Weight of the Chair Series   I hope this episode blesses you! Xoxo, Tanya Episode Resources: Episode Catalog   My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider:  EllieMD_Tanya Engesether *I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links. 3 Ways To Connect With Me: 1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health or Christian life coaching. It's the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/coaching   2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/community   3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/contact   "Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they're meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"    If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss any episodes! And, if you're feeling really generous, I'd be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.   Click here to view our privacy policy.   Reminder:  The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Coffee First Thing, Fasted Workouts, and Why Your Morning Routine Is Wrecking Your Hormones in Midlife Morning fatigue isn't just about bad sleep — the first hour of your day shapes your hormone balance, metabolism, brain fog, and energy. Have you ever done everything "right" — fasted workout, coffee on an empty stomach, fasting until noon — and still felt more exhausted and anxious than ever? In this solo episode, I break down why those wellness habits are cortisol-wrecking chaos for a midlife woman. They were built for a twenty-five-year-old man's body, not yours. I'll walk you through six science-backed things to do before 9 AM that actually match your physiology, plus a twenty-minute version for busy mornings. Key Points The one simple swap that changes how women feel more than almost anything I recommend — and why order matters more than the habit. Why that "I can't function without coffee" feeling isn't an addiction — it's a hormonal clue most women miss. The reason your thyroid labs keep coming back "normal" while you still have every symptom of an underactive thyroid. How one client lost weight and got her energy back with six small morning swaps. We connect the dots between cortisol, the HPA axis, blood sugar, thyroid function, and metabolism — so you can finally understand why the "healthy" things you're doing might be working against you. Stop wasting time (and money) on products that don't work. My Trusted Brands Guide is the exact list I share with my private clients — the skincare, supplements, food, and wellness tools that have been tested and proven to deliver results. No fluff. No guesswork. Just the brands you can finally feel good about using. ✨ Plus, I scored exclusive discounts from some of these companies just for my community.

For most people, donor eggs is at the bottom of the list. It is not where you wanted to land. And if your clinic is recommending it, something in you is saying there has to be more to look at first. Here is what we see every week. The donor egg recommendation rarely arrives after a complete workup. It arrives after looking at the AMH, the FSH, the follicle count, maybe a basic semen analysis, and maybe being told your TSH is normal. Those numbers are real. The diagnosis is real. What gets called complete is the question. This episode is the 11 specific things we most often find skipped before the recommendation gets made. Pull it up. Take notes. Bring it to your next appointment. The 11 patterns: 1. Thyroid, the full panel, not just TSH 2. The gut, including H. pylori 3. Hidden food sensitivities 4. Medications you are already on that affect fertility 5. The vaginal microbiome 6. The seminal microbiome 7. The male partner's full bloodwork 8. Sperm DNA fragmentation 9. Vaginal and seminal cross-contamination between partners 10. The nervous system and HPA axis 11. Liver function and hormone clearance These are the tests that sit outside the standard fertility workup. A 2024 study in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics found that ovarian reserve markers like AMH do not significantly predict natural conception in women with regular cycles. The donor egg recommendation comes from one snapshot, not the full investigation. If this is the first episode you have landed on in this series, go back and listen to "Told Donor Eggs Are Your Only Option? Ask This First," then "How Long Should I Try With My Own Eggs Before Donor Eggs?" then "The Gut Findings Your Clinic Did Not Look For," and "Multiple Failed IVF And Told Donor Eggs?" This episode brings all of it together. WHAT YOUR CLINIC MISSED The companion guide walks through all 11 of these patterns in more detail, so you can take it to your next appointment and ask the questions. Email hello@fabfertile.ca, subject line MISSED, and we will send you the guide. FUNCTIONAL FERTILITY SECOND OPINION A free 45-minute call where I review your labs, your history, and your partner's results with you. You leave knowing what your biology has been telling you and what your next decision could be. Email hello@fabfertile.ca, subject line FERTILE, or book here. ABOUT THE HOST I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile and host of Get Pregnant Naturally, a podcast with over one million downloads. My functional fertility team works with couples navigating low AMH and failed IVF, reviewing functional lab results, gut microbiome, food sensitivity, vaginal microbiome, nutrigenomics, HTMA, DUTCH, toxin testing, and bloodwork alongside nervous system work, to help identify patterns that may not have been considered. We work alongside your medical team, not instead of them. Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile, host of Get Pregnant Naturally (1M+ downloads), and author of Fabulously Fertile. If this episode helped, leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It is how other women find this work. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Donor Egg Recommendation and What Gets Called Complete 01:00 Who's Reviewing Your Case at Fab Fertile 02:00 Thyroid: The Full Panel, Not Just TSH 03:00 The Gut and H. pylori 04:00 Hidden Food Sensitivities 05:00 Medications That Affect Fertility 06:30 The Vaginal Microbiome 08:00 The Seminal Microbiome 08:30 The Male Partner's Full Bloodwork 09:00 Sperm DNA Fragmentation 09:30 Cross-Contamination Between Partners 11:00 The Nervous System and HPA Axis 11:30 Liver Function and Hormone Clearance 13:00 The Functional Fertility Second Opinion

If you have been doing everything right and still getting migraines, this episode is for you. This week we are kicking off a three-part series for Migraine Awareness Month, and we are going somewhere most people never go. Not your triggers. Not your medications. Not another list of things to avoid. We are talking about your brain. Specifically, a small almond-shaped structure called the amygdala, and why it may be running your entire migraine cycle without anyone ever explaining that to you. In this episode you will learn  what the amygdala actually is and what it was designed to do  how it connects directly to the trigeminal nerve and your HPA axis why chronic inflammation and hormonal shifts put it into a state of low-grade constant activation what central sensitization actually means and why it explains so much of what you have been experiencing why the smoke detector analogy changes the way you think about everything you have tried so far. This is the episode that reframes the whole conversation. Because once you understand that your nervous system has recalibrated itself toward threat, the question stops being what did I do wrong and starts being what does my nervous system need to finally stand down. Ready to find out where your own Inflammation Overload Loop is breaking down? Take the free Migraine Sensitivity Scorecard. The link is below. Resources: Migraine Sensitivity Scorecard: https://pages.debbiewaidlcoach.com/quiz FREE DOWNLOAD: Toxic Migraine Triggers Guide Get the complete guide showing you the hidden inflammatory triggers fueling your migraines, including toxins in your medication, environment, and everyday life. https://dwvirtualguide.com/free-guide Book a Free Migraine Breakthrough® Assessment: Let's assess your unique migraine situation and uncover what's been keeping you stuck. https://pages.debbiewaidlcoach.com/breakthroughcall-social-7269 Connect with Debbie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieWaidlCoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiewaidl.coach/ Women's Migraine Freedom™ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmigrainefreedom Website: https://pages.debbiewaidlcoach.com/ Email: freedom@debbiewaidl.com Disclaimer: The Migraine Freedom™ Your Way Podcast and information provided by Debbie Waidl and guests is presented solely to provide helpful information, education, and entertainment on the subjects discussed. The use of information or resources mentioned on or linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk and discretion. This podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician. Debbie Waidl and In The Balance Health Coaching, LLC are not responsible for any medical conditions or liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application, or preparation to any person reading or following the information presented on this podcast. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of any websites or other sources.  

If you are waking up between 2:00 and 4:00 AM, lying there wide awake with your heart beating a little too fast and your mind solving every problem in your life, this episode is for you. Because this is not just about bad sleep. It is about what happens when the hormonal, adrenal, and nervous system shifts of midlife collide with the stress load most women are already carrying. And for a lot of women, this is the moment they stop feeling like themselves. In this episode, I do a deep dive into what is actually happening beneath the surface when women in perimenopause and menopause start feeling wired, tired, fragile, overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to recover the way they used to. We talk about the HPA axis, cortisol rhythm, DHEA, blood sugar, stress intolerance, adrenal strain, and why the advice women are getting online is often way too surface level to actually help. I also share what this has looked like in my own body, why midlife can feel like the season where your body stops tolerating the way you have been living, and why that is not a personal failure. It is physiology. This episode lays the foundation for understanding the deeper systems driving midlife sleep disruption and stress dysregulation, so you can stop blaming yourself and start getting clearer on what your body may actually need. In this episode, we cover: Why 2:00 to 4:00 AM wakeups are so common in perimenopause and menopause The difference between being tired and being hormonally and neurologically dysregulated What the HPA axis is and why it matters for stress and sleep How estrogen and progesterone affect stress resilience and recovery Why cortisol is not the enemy, but timing matters How cortisol dysregulation can affect sleep, anxiety, belly fat, and energy Why DHEA is one of the most overlooked hormones in midlife The connection between blood sugar drops and middle-of-the-night wakeups Why the old coping strategies stop working in midlife Why testing cortisol rhythm and DHEA can be so helpful Who this episode is for This episode is for women in perimenopause and menopause who are struggling with broken sleep, 3 AM wakeups, stress intolerance, fatigue, anxiety, feeling wired at night, crashing in the morning, or just feeling like they cannot handle life the way they used to. It is especially for women who want to understand the deeper physiology behind what is happening instead of being told to just relax, meditate, or take one supplement and hope for the best.     Sponsors Try Vitali Exosomes Skin Care vitaliskincare.com use coupon KM20 to get 20% off your order! Get 30% off BATCH Gummies. Go to hellobatch.com/HORMONE and use code HORMONE at checkout. Timeline is offering up to 39% off your first order of Mitopure. Gummies. Go to timeline.com/HORMONE use coupon HORMONE     Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve? At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.   Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.   Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com   Shop the Midlife Solutions Store Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed. Including: • Progesterone • Estrogen Face Cream • Vaginal Moisturizer and more!   Take the Hormone Quiz Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms. Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).   Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.   Midlife RESET HRT Program A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.   Your host: Karen Martel Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert   Karen's Facebook Karen's Instagram

In this episode Nancy McLean answers listener emails about geldings that chew lead ropes and reins, she explains how cortisol and the HPA axis relate to stress-driven behaviors, and describes how consistent training, handler calmness, routines, turnout, and nutrition can help horses down-regulate stress. The episode also summarizes research on cortisol sampling methods (plasma, saliva, hair) for short- and long-term stress assessment, and closes with a brief update on a new world screwworm outbreak, what has been done historically to eradicate it, and practical steps owners should take if they suspect infestation. Research: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/12/2219 https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/413141/20251106-69309-xadaoe.pdf  

After 30 years in health, Dr. Mindy is calling time on the rules.This solo episode is one of the most personal things she's shared on this podcast. It covers two big ideas: the science and story behind why she stopped fasting for most of the past year and the five health habits she's deliberately walking away from in 2026.First, flex fasting. When cortisol is high from grief, trauma, illness, perimenopause, or chronic stress rigidly pushing through long fasting windows doesn't support the body. It depletes it. Dr. Mindy shares what happened when she lost a close friend and found herself in an acute stress state, what the research says about prolonged fasting and the HPA axis, and how she developed a new approach she's calling flex fasting: a more intuitive, body-led way to use fasting as a tool without turning it into a rule.Then the five things she's giving up: counting (macros, biometrics, followers, all of it), the gym, other people's urgency, productivity over health, and information overconsumption. Each one is a direct response to what the wellness industry has quietly done to us — turned health into a full-time job with a performance review.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Fast Like a Girl: https://www.drmindypelz.com/booksAge Like a Girl: https://www.drmindypelz.com/booksSubstack Article "I Stopped Fasting for a Year": https://substack.com/@drmindypelz/Carb Manager App carbmanager.com, available on iOS, Android, and webThe Movement Diet: Redefining Fitness at Every Age with Katy BowmanStudy: Prolonged Fasting, HPA Axis & Cortisol - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12736288/Study: Estrogen & Cortisol Regulation - https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/102/12/4457/4587523Midlife Women Fasting Trial - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65678-zStudy: Self-Selected Fasting Windows - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03375-yBEAM Minerals, use code MINDY for 20% off: https://www.beamminerals.com/?oid=4&affid=648LMNT, get a free sample pack with your order: https://bit.ly/drinklmntpelzTo view full show notes, resources mentioned, transcripts, and more, visit

A dysregulated nervous system will stall body recomposition no matter how dialed the nutrition is or how consistent the training is. Inside today's episode, I dig into trauma as a physiological variable rather than a soft emotional topic, and why most coaching certifications skip this conversation entirely. I break down the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis interplay, the two nervous system presentations , and why the cortisol literature looked contradictory for years.Topics discussed: - Trauma as a Spectrum- Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation- HPA Axis and Cortisol Output- Sympathetic Dominance Presentation- The Dissociative Subtype- Cortisol Patterns Over Time- Childhood vs Adult Trauma- Inverted Diurnal Rhythm- Lifestyle and Clinical Interventions- The Coach's Role and Scope---------- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Live Program for Coaches: The Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialization ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.metabolismschool.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------- [Free] Metabolism School 101: The Video Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.metabolismschool.com/metabolism-101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----------Subscribe to My Youtube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@sammillerscience?si=s1jcR6Im4GDHbw_1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----------⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab a Copy of My New Book - Metabolism Made Simple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---------- Stay Connected: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @sammillerscience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: SamMillerScience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: The Nutrition Coaching Collaborative Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @sammillerscience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----------“This Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast and the show notes or the reliance on the information provided is to be done at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for educational purposes only. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program and users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, or used by Oracle Athletic Science LLC with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, which may be requested by contacting the Oracle Athletic Science LLC by email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠operations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sammillerscience.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that Oracle Athletic Science LLC makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast."

What if the root of your hormonal disruption, your chronic fatigue, your gut issues, and your anxiety isn't what your doctor has been looking for? What if it's people-pleasing? In this episode of Aligned Vitality, certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Christian Life Coach Tanya Engesether makes the clinical and spiritual case that people-pleasing is not just an emotional pattern — it is a chronic stress state with real, measurable consequences for the body. Drawing from functional health science, trauma-informed psychology, and a faith-rooted perspective, Tanya unpacks what people-pleasing actually is at a nervous system level, where it comes from, and what it is doing to your hormones, your gut, your thyroid, your immune system, and your brain. If you are a high-capacity woman in midlife who is exhausted, symptomatic, and starting to suspect that something deeper is at the root — this episode is for you. In This Episode You'll Learn: What people-pleasing actually is at a nervous system level — and why it's not a character flaw The fawn response — the fourth stress response most people have never heard of Where people-pleasing patterns typically originate — childhood, faith communities, identity, and worth The full metabolic cascade of chronic people-pleasing — from HPA axis dysregulation to hormones, gut, thyroid, inflammation, and neurotransmitters What the pregnenolone steal is — and why it matters for midlife hormone health Why midlife amplifies everything that chronic stress has been quietly building The difference between fear-driven appeasement and Spirit-led service What Galatians 1:10 has to say about people-pleasing and identity The physiological reality of living rooted in God's approval instead of human approval Where to begin — practically and spiritually — if this episode resonates Scripture Referenced Galatians 1:10 — "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?" Key Takeaway People-pleasing is not just emotionally costly — it is physiologically destructive. The fawn response keeps the body in a chronic stress state that disrupts hormones, degrades gut health, suppresses thyroid function, drives inflammation, and depletes the neurotransmitters responsible for mood and resilience. Healing begins when we address the root — not just the symptoms.   I hope this episode blesses you! Xoxo, Tanya   Book a FREE functional health discovery call HERE. Episode Resources: Episode Catalog   My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider:  EllieMD_Tanya Engesether *I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links. 3 Ways To Connect With Me: 1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It's the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/coaching   2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/community   3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/contact   "Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they're meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"    If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss any episodes! And, if you're feeling really generous, I'd be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.   Click here to view our privacy policy.   Reminder:  The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

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What if the anxiety, overthinking, people pleasing, emotional shutdown, hypervigilance, burnout, and relationship struggles you experience today… were never actually "you" to begin with? In this deeply personal and profoundly eye-opening solo episode, Darin Olien dives into the hidden nervous system programming formed between the ages of 0 and 8 that silently shapes our adult lives. Drawing from neuroscience, trauma research, attachment theory, epigenetics, somatic healing, and his own emotional breakthroughs, Darin explores how childhood experiences become subconscious operating systems that influence everything from relationships and stress responses to chronic disease and self-worth. This episode is a powerful roadmap toward healing. Darin breaks down the science behind trauma, the ACE study, nervous system dysregulation, emotional patterning, and neuroplasticity, while also sharing practical tools like somatic experiencing, expressive writing, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems to help listeners begin rewiring their emotional lives from the inside out. What You'll Learn How childhood experiences program the nervous system Why most adult emotional reactions are subconscious survival patterns The connection between trauma, stress hormones, and chronic disease How the nervous system stores emotional experiences in the body Why people pleasing, hypervigilance, burnout, and emotional shutdown develop The science behind neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain What the ACE Study revealed about childhood trauma and adult health How trauma impacts the amygdala, hippocampus, and stress-response systems Why emotional patterns are adaptations, not character flaws How epigenetics can pass trauma responses across generations The role of somatic experiencing in trauma healing Practical tools for emotional regulation and nervous system repair Chapters 00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:32 – Sponsor: Bite Toothpaste and eliminating toxic plastic exposure 00:02:47 – Darin introduces emotional reactions and nervous system triggers 00:03:15 – A personal story about reacting vs responding in conflict 00:03:50 – Emotional shutdowns, rage, withdrawal, people pleasing, and overcorrection 00:04:19 – Darin's physical pain journey and emotional discoveries in 2025 00:04:42 – Birth trauma, childhood conditioning, and nervous system programming 00:05:04 – Why the ages of 0–8 are the most neurologically influential years 00:05:18 – Theta and delta brainwave states during childhood 00:05:55 – How children absorb emotional patterns without filters 00:06:22 – Childhood experiences becoming subconscious operating systems 00:06:44 – Adults unknowingly living through a 5-year-old nervous system 00:07:12 – Why this episode became deeply personal for Darin 00:07:35 – The neuroscience behind stress responses and emotional conditioning 00:08:17 – Brain development, neuroplasticity, and subconscious programming 00:09:13 – How the HPA axis, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex are shaped early in life 00:09:45 – Core childhood questions that program the nervous system 00:10:29 – Why adult stress responses originate in childhood environments 00:11:05 – Research showing childhood adversity alters brain structure and chemistry 00:11:18 – The ACE Study explained 00:11:49 – Why patients losing weight became emotionally overwhelmed 00:12:18 – The ten categories of adverse childhood experiences 00:13:02 – "The health crisis of America begins in childhood" 00:13:36 – How adverse childhood experiences increase disease risk 00:14:03 – Suicide, alcoholism, autoimmune disease, depression, and trauma correlations 00:14:37 – Chronic disease as a nervous system issue 00:15:04 – Survival mode, inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and emotional scarcity 00:15:42 – Self-sabotage and emotional coping patterns explained 00:16:02 – Why your emotional patterns are not character flaws 00:16:22 – Childhood survival adaptations and nervous system intelligence 00:16:52 – Hypervigilance, people pleasing, rage, emotional shutdown, and fear 00:17:05 – Sponsor: Manna Vitality and frequency-based wellness 00:18:59 – Epigenetics and inherited trauma responses 00:19:22 – Cortisol regulation genes and hyperactive stress responses 00:19:51 – Holocaust survivors, inherited trauma, and generational nervous systems 00:20:19 – Why healing requires nervous system awareness—not just intellectual understanding 00:20:45 – "You were never supposed to get over it—you were supposed to heal from it" 00:21:01 – Real-life examples of subconscious nervous system programming 00:21:16 – Why receiving compliments can feel unsafe 00:21:30 – Darin's personal struggle with overachievement and scarcity programming 00:22:03 – Emotional neglect, chronic striving, and feeling "not enough" 00:22:16 – The nervous system roots of burnout and exhaustion 00:22:23 – Hair-trigger emotional reactions and hyperactive amygdala responses 00:22:38 – Chronic self-abandonment and losing personal boundaries 00:22:52 – Fear of intimacy, trust issues, and emotional safety 00:23:02 – "The body keeps the score" explained 00:23:22 – Trauma stored in posture, breath, digestion, immunity, and emotional regulation 00:23:43 – Harvard research on trauma-related brain changes 00:24:19 – The radical power of neuroplasticity and nervous system rewiring 00:24:48 – Why healing requires conscious participation 00:25:01 – Darin shares how healing changed decades of emotional pain 00:25:33 – Somatic Experiencing and Peter Levine's trauma work 00:25:57 – How animals discharge stress naturally 00:26:23 – Trauma as incomplete physiological responses frozen in the body 00:26:42 – Why humans suppress emotional discharge 00:27:16 – PTSD research and the effectiveness of somatic experiencing 00:27:41 – A step-by-step somatic grounding practice 00:28:14 – Why healing is more powerful with a regulated person beside you 00:28:38 – EMDR and reprocessing traumatic experiences 00:28:55 – Internal Family Systems and the "parts" inside the psyche 00:29:13 – Inner critics, overachievers, and nervous system adaptations 00:29:39 – Compassionately listening to emotional parts instead of suppressing them 00:29:51 – Expressive writing as a trauma healing practice 00:30:22 – The neuroscience behind emotional journaling 00:30:48 – A four-day expressive writing protocol for healing 00:31:05 – "You are not broken" 00:31:16 – Reprogramming the nervous system through love and safety 00:31:37 – Why deep healing happens in the presence of another regulated person 00:31:52 – Darin considers creating a future healing workshop 00:32:04 – Final reflections: "You are not what happened to you" 00:32:12 – Peace. Love. SuperLife. Thank You to Our Sponsors Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order. Join the SuperLife Patreon: This is where Darin now shares the deeper work: - weekly voice notes - ingredient trackers - wellness challenges - extended conversations - community accountability - sovereignty practices Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "The emotional patterns, fears, reactions, and coping mechanisms that run your adult life are often survival adaptations created by your nervous system during childhood. They are not your identity. They are not permanent. And through awareness, somatic healing, emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and conscious repetition, those deeply rooted patterns can be rewritten into something healthier, freer, and more aligned with who you truly are." Bibliography/Sources Neuroscience & Early Programming Agorastos, A., Pervanidou, P., Chrousos, G. P., & Baker, D. G. (2019). Developmental trajectories of early life stress and trauma: A narrative review on neurobiological aspects beyond stress system dysregulation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 118. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00118 Bolton, J. L., Short, A. K., Simeone, K. A., Daglian, J., & Baram, T. Z. (2019). Programming of stress-sensitive neurons and circuits by early-life experiences. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 13, Article 30. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00030 Shonkoff, J. P., & Boyce, W. T. (2024). Toxic stress and developmental programming of the HPA axis. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. https://www.annualreviews.org/journal/devpsych Teicher, M. H., & Ohashi, K. (2023). Childhood trauma and reduced hippocampal, anterior cingulate, and corpus callosum volumes. JAMA Psychiatry. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking / Penguin. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/ ACE Study & Adverse Childhood Experiences Felitti, V. J. (2002). The relation between adverse childhood experiences and adult health: Turning gold into lead. The Permanente Journal, 6(1), 44–47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6112216/ Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (2010). The relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult health, well-being, social function, and healthcare. In R. Lanius, E. Vermetten, & C. Pain (Eds.), The impact of early life trauma on health and disease (pp. 77–87). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511777042 Hillis, S., Mercy, J., Amobi, A., & Kress, H. (2023). Economic burden of health conditions associated with adverse childhood experiences among U.S. adults. JAMA Network Open, 6(12). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen Liu, Y., Croft, J. B., Chapman, D. P., et al. (2013). Associations between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in adults aged 18–59 years. PLOS ONE, 8(3), e58625. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058625 Epigenetics & Trauma Baratta, M. V., et al. (2021). Epigenetics of childhood trauma: Long term sequelae and potential for treatment. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 132, 1049–1063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.043 Jiang, S., Postovit, L., Cattaneo, A., Binder, E. B., & Aitchison, K. J. (2019). Epigenetic modifications in stress response genes associated with childhood trauma. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 808. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808 Provençal, N., & Binder, E. B. (2015). The effects of early life stress on the epigenome: From the womb to adulthood and even before. Experimental Neurology, 268, 10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.12.001 Healing Modalities — Research Brom, D., Stokar, Y., Lawi, C., et al. (2017). Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled outcome study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22189 Fratarolli, J. (2006). Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(6), 823–865. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823 Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind: A new approach to life's challenges. New Harbinger Publications. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781572248403/the-compassionate-mind/ Justice Resource Institute. (2022). Evaluation of the efficacy of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for trauma-related symptoms among complexly traumatized adults. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05155930. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05155930 Kuhfuß, M., Maldei, T., Hetmanek, A., & Baumann, N. (2021). Somatic experiencing — effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), Article 1929023. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1929023 Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books. https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/in-an-unspoken-voice/ Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923 Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science, 8(3), 162–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x Rodenburg, R., Benjamin, A., de Roos, C., Meijer, A. M., & Stams, G. J. (2009). Efficacy of EMDR in children: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(7), 599–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.008 Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No bad parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems model. Sounds True. https://www.soundstrue.com/products/no-bad-parts Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Eye-Movement-Desensitization-and-Reprocessing/Francine-Shapiro/9781462532766  

Your relationships are reshaping your biology in ways that diet and exercise alone cannot fix, and the science behind it will change how you think about longevity, metabolism, and what it actually means to be healthy. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Molly Maloof, a physician and one of the most innovative voices in personalized medicine, functional medicine, and human performance. Since 2012, she has advised or consulted for over 50 companies across digital health, consumer health, and biotechnology. She pioneered a course on healthspan at Stanford University and founded Adamo Bioscience, a company dedicated to unlocking the science of love as a pathway to healing and human connection. Dr. Maloof brings a rare combination of clinical depth, biohacking credibility, and entrepreneurial range to one of the most overlooked conversations in longevity. Together, Dave and Dr. Maloof dig into the neurobiology of love and attachment, the hormonal drivers of the sex drive and pair bonding, and how chronic isolation wrecks your metabolism at the cellular level. They explore the cell danger response and how toxic relationships, mold exposure, and trauma can lock your cells into a self-protection mode that blocks healing. They also cover psychedelics as hormetic tools, oxytocin as nature's medicine, the placebo response, peptide therapy for mitochondrial repair and anti-aging, and why regenerative medicine is about to rewrite the rules of human lifespan. If you are serious about biohacking your body from the inside out, this episode is essential. You'll Learn: Why human connection is a biological necessity, not a lifestyle preference, and what isolation does to your mitochondria and metabolism How the three neurobiological drives of sex, romantic love, and attachment are wired into your hormones and what happens when they go wrong What the cell danger response is, why it gets stuck, and which peptides, supplements, and therapies help break the cycle How oxytocin drives wound healing, immune function, and the placebo response Why psychedelics work as hormetic love drugs and how they reproduce the neurobiology of romantic love The top peptides for mitochondrial repair, brain optimization, and telomere biology Why Dave and Dr. Maloof believe we have already reached longevity escape velocity How AI is accelerating precision medicine, protein folding breakthroughs, and the future of anti-aging therapeutics Why fasting, breathwork, neurofeedback, and somatic therapies all converge on the same biological reset mechanism How to build the adaptive capacity and bioenergetic reserves to bounce back from anything Thank you to our sponsors! - Danger Coffee | Grab yours at DangerCoffee.com and use code DAVEPOD at checkout for 15% off. - Amp | If you're ready to make fitness fit into your life, go to amp.ai to check it out - Puori | Go to Puori.com/DAVE or use code DAVE at checkout to get 32% off your Puori Fish Oil subscription. You save more than $18 - Our Place | Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today. With a 100-day risk-free trial, plus free shipping and returns, you can experience this game-changing cookware with zero risk. Visit: fromourplace.com/DAVE Use code: DAVE for 10% off sitewide Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights inhealth, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: Dr. Molly Maloof, Adamo Bioscience, Stanford University, personalized medicine, functional medicine, healthspan, longevity, biohacking, human performance, anti-aging, regenerative medicine, longevity escape velocity, cell danger response, mitochondria, mitochondrial health, oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, serotonin, neurobiology of love, attachment theory, pair bonding, sex drive, hormone replacement therapy, testosterone, estrogen, menopause, andropause, libido, female sexual dysfunction, relationship biology, social health, isolation, community, co-regulation, trauma healing, psychedelics, MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine, ayahuasca, hormetic stress, social hormesis, neurofeedback, 40 Years of Zen, breathwork, nervous system regulation, HPA axis, cortisol, mast cell activation, histamine, long COVID, mold exposure, phospholipid therapy, glutathione, vitamin C, BPC-157, TB500, SS31, epothilone, SELANK, SEMAX, BDNF, telomere biology, telomerase, peptides, GLP-1, placebo response, wound healing, metabolism, continuous glucose monitoring, gut health, AI, precision medicine, supplements, brain optimization, neuroplasticity Resources: • Grab Molly's Book The Spark Factor: https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Factor-Supercharging-Optimizing-Feeling/dp/0063207206 • Learn More About Dr. Molly's Work: https://drmolly.co/ • Visit Your Healthspan Journey: https://yourhealthspanjourney.mystrikingly.com/ • Get My 2026 Clean Nicotine Roadmap | Enroll for free at https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Join My Substack (Live Access To Podcast Recordings): https://substack.daveasprey.com/ • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:28 – Intro 01:39 – COVID Isolation & Its Effects 03:11 – Science of Love & Hormones 04:24 – Psychedelics & Love Chemistry 09:22 – Cell Danger Response 11:07 – AI, Tech & Human Connection 13:20 – Social Connection as Medicine 20:50 – Placebo, Care & Psychedelics 24:49 – Altered States & Healing Modalities 30:09 – Peptides & Longevity Drugs 35:44 – Mast Cell & Personal Health Challenges 43:46 – Regenerative Medicine & The Future 46:17 – Longevity Escape Velocity 50:05 – Outro See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.