The Hormonal Mama

There are a lot of things that come up as a new mom.  One of the most complicated things, is the decision how to feed your child.  Are you going to nurse, pump, formula feed, a combination?    

As a mom who combination fed my twins due to an issue with low milk supply, I often struggled to find a comfortable and stylish nursing bra.  But what's more frustrating was finding a sports bra that I could easily transition to nursing from after a workout.  If only Jen & Keri was around!  

Today's guest is Dr. Karlie Causey, co-founder of Jen & Keri, a postpartum activewear brand specializing in stylish and functional sports bras that double as nursing bras!  So, after you have your baby and your back to hitting the gym, you don't have to get out of your sports bra, you can nurse your baby without changing!  And more than that, these incredible bras are cute and stylish!  

Dr. Karlie is the co-founder of a postpartum activewear brand, sports chiropractor, and certified strength and conditioning coach who is passionate about providing practical tools to moms and moms-to-be, helping them restore their bodies and continue exercising after their babies are born.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Karlie shares her journey to becoming a chiropractor. 

•We talk about what inspired her to co-found Jen & Keri. 

•She tells me about her experience founding an activewear company. 

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. 

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Find Karlie: 

Have you ever found yourself at a point in your life where everything has changed and you don't know what's next?  Maybe you just bought a house.  Maybe you just had a baby.  Maybe you moved to a new country.  Something pivotal has happened in your life, and you're wondering how to move forward with your life.  My guest today, Jaclyn Strominger, is a Business & Accountability Coach with a passion for helping women leap to their success!

Jaclyn has been been passionate about helping people for over three decades. After 20 years in magazine publishing, she started mentoring when she realized most people begin their careers without a clear path or plan. In 2013, she became an entrepreneur and through her journey started coaching and training women and men how to pursue their own passions and create the life they desire. Jaclyn has made it her mission to help others take charge of their life and make changes to become better version of themselves. As a mentor, she helps others increase their inner and outer confidence, take leaps, and take charge of their lives. She is there for her clients to help them through the highs and lows of change.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Jaclyn shares her background in magazine publishing.

•We talk about what inspired her to leave publishing and become a coach.

•She tells me about why she is so passionate about coaching and why she's a "leaper" and not a "leper".

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Jaclyn:

Navigating infertility is like a full time job all on its own.  Day in and day out you have to figure out what is causing it, what to do about it, how to manage the emotional component, all while living your regular day to day life.  Compound that with owning and growing a business and it can feel like a recipe for disaster!

Today's guest, Vienne Cheung Brown is the owner of luxury hosiery brand, VienneMilano.  Vienne knows first hand the struggles of navigating infertility and the never ending uncertainty of lack of answers, persistent questions, and all the frustrating ins and outs of infertility.

Vienne Cheung Brown is the founder of VienneMilano, a luxury hosiery brand dedicated to thigh high stockings that are made in Italy. Founded in 2011, Vienne transitioned her previous work in high-tech product management to designing, distributing, and managing a fashion e-commerce brand. 

Today, VienneMilano has helped redefine thigh highs as a fashion category. Her hosiery collection offers one of the world's most extensive variety for thigh high stockings consisting of classic styles, fashion-forward pieces, skin tone matching sheers, eco-friendly stockings, plus sizes, and much more. The brand has expanded from being sold exclusively from VienneMilano.com to distributing to many online distribution channels and brick-and-mortar outlets. VienneMilano has also been featured in Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, FOX, NBC and has been a popular accessory for celebrities and magazines in photo shoots across the world.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Vienne shares her infertility story and experience.

•We talk about what prompted her interest in creating a luxury hosiery company.

•She tells me about how she balanced the stress of infertility with the stress of owning a business.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Vienne and VienneMilano:

Hormones.  Skin.  Hormones and skin.  What a match these two are!  Think about it for a second.  When your hormones do what they do (especially the sex hormones and other hormones related to reproductive... stuff) skin often freaks out and takes on a life of its own.  Acne.  Dry skin.  Oily skin.  Angry skin. Confused skin.  It's all related to hormonal changes!  

My guest today is an expert in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, synthetic biology, and skincare and he's here to talk about his innovative probiotic acne system and skincare line, Phyla.

Yug Varma, PhD, is the Cofounder & CEO of Phyla, the world’s most advanced probiotic acne system.

He has 10+ years of microbiome research experience including an extensive background in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, and synthetic biology. Dr. Varma received his scientific training at several distinguished academic institutions, including Johns Hopkins University (PhD) and University of California, San Francisco. His scientific work has been published in many prestigious journals, including Nature.

Dr. Varma’s mission is to change the way we treat chronic bacterial diseases, and is working tirelessly to achieve this goal with a microbiome-based technology platform. He is passionate about promoting scientific literacy, and devotes a significant amount of time demystifying microbiome research and making the latest research accessible to the general public.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Yug shares his background in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, & synthetic biology.

•We talk about how he and his co-founder came up with the idea of Phyla and why it was so important to them to create this incredible line.

•He tells me about how Phyla works and the science behind probiotics and acne.

•Who he'd invite to his dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in his life.

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Find Dr. Varma & Phyla:

Being a woman dealing with infertility can be extraordinarily overwhelming, confusing, and downright painful.  So often women are told that "statistically" their chances of conceiving are low, or impossible, or unlikely.  This approach can be very disheartening and cause even more stress and anxiety in an already intense situation.

The beauty though, is that in so many cases, the reality is that statistics are just that!  STATISTICS.  You aren't just a number.  You aren't just a percentage.  You are a real person and nothing is all or nothing.  Enter Erica Hoke.  Erica's incredible story of success (X4!) after being told she had a 1% chance of conceiving, will blow you away.  Erica is an infertility coach, author, and infertility warrior.  Learn more below:

Erica is the infertile mom of 4, who at 35 was told that she had a 1% chance of getting pregnant.  She refused to believe it and persisted with diet and lifestyle changes.

Now she's on a mission to empower women that they CAN take control of their fertility and be successful.  She wants everyone to know "just because a doctor tells you they can't help you, doesn't mean you can't get pregnant." 

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Erica shares her story of infertility.

•We talk about her coaching program: "Accelerate You Fertility Bootcamp".

•She tells me about her Infertility Success Stories Series of Books.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Erica:

Season 3 of The Hormonal Mama Podcast has been a bit... unusual.  I've taken multiple hiatuses, had many scheduling changes, and also hosted an incredible group of guests.  In this final episode of season 3, I'm talking about what in the world has been going on with me this past year and why The Hormonal Mama Podcast has been ALL over the place this season, what I have in store for you with the podcast for next season, and what you can expect for me in my 3 businesses:  The Hormonal Mama, Cara B. Design Studio, & Cara B. Design & Wellness.

Cara B. Drescher (me!), is a licensed & board-certified massage therapist, nationally certified continuing education provider, licensed esthetician, certified integrative wellness life coach & holistic health coach, textile artist, & all-natural bath & body product maker.  I know... it's a lot.  Since 2002, Cara has worked within the wellness & beauty industries, working from licensed massage therapist & licensed esthetician to wellness center manager, and becoming a nationally certified continuing education provider.  Throughout her career, Cara has taken her work and understanding of the human body very seriously, with countless hours of continuing education to further her understanding.  A back injury sidelined her from massage work in 2010 for 3 months.  During this time off she picked up a new hobby and taught herself how to sew.  Cara began designing unique wallets and purses using repurposed antique & vintage upholstery fabrics, paired with lighter-weight, newer textiles.  Her hobby transitioned into a business, and Cara B. Design Studio was born.  6 years later, in 2016 a shoulder injury forced Cara out of work for 13 months.  During her recovery, she developed an interest in all-natural bath & body products including bath salts, muscle balm, roll-on perfume oils, and more.  She educated herself and created a subsidiary, of Cara B. Design Studio, Bath & Body By Cara B.  In 2019, 4 years after embarking on a roller coaster ride of an infertility journey, Cara gave birth to twins after 14 fertility treatments over the course of 3 years.  Through her postpartum journey, she developed a passion for helping others suffering through and after infertility, and thus started this podcast and a new academic journey becoming a certified integrative wellness coach and holistic health coach.  The Hormonal Mama was then born, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•I talk about why I had to take so many long breaks this season.

•I briefly share my journey through infertility and into pregnancy and parenthood.

•I share a bit of what’s to come in season 4 of the podcast!

•A breakdown of my 3 businesses: The Hormonal Mama, Cara B. Design Studio, & Cara B. Design & Wellness

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Find Me:

The journey of infertility is often a lengthy, complicated, and stressful journey, sometimes with more questions than answers.  Oftentimes, those questions lead to more procedures including costly IVF cycles.  In many cases, multiple egg retrievals are necessary and even then, success is not always guaranteed.  My guest today, Ilana Refaeli has first-hand experience with the trials and tribulations of infertility, multiple cycles of IVF including multiple transfers, egg retrievals, and lack of answers.  After years of struggling with infertility, she's got some exciting surprises to share with us!

Ilana Refaeli is a High energy, tri-lingual, dependable Medical, Legal interpreter, and business development professional.  Motivated, passionate and hands-on professional.  Born and raised in South America and moved to the US when she was ten years old.  She's lived both in Philadelphia and Florida over the past twenty years, and is fluent in three languages, Hebrew, Spanish, and English, and fluent understanding of Portuguese and French.

Underwent fertility treatments for five years in the Tri state area at different highly rated medical facilities as well as internationally in Israel and Mexico.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Ilana shares her story of infertility.

•We talk about IVF in the US, Israel, & Mexico.

•She tells me about her experience being labeled a "problem patient" after simply being diligent about her fertility care.

•Ilana shares her exciting, surprise news!

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Ilana:

Clutter clutter clutter!  Clutter is one of the most frustrating things because it's not always just physical clutter getting in the way.  Organization can be tough for many of us, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed.  Sometimes it's not just about organizing your home or your office, but it can also be organizing your thoughts, your life, etc.  There are times in life when we deal with emotional or mental clutter, or just the regular "clutter" of everyday life.  My guest today, Louise Hopkin is a professional home organizer and organization coach.  She doesn't just help you get your house in order, but your life as well!

Louise Hopkin is the owner of The Space Reclaimers.  As an organization coach and home organizer, she helps people who struggle with not letting things go. She works to help them understand why we hang on to stuff and then using her many techniques to help people release the "stuff" that no longer serves them.  Louise helps her clients think more about the end goal feeling that they want rather than the short-term inconvenience of having to do the work to de-clutter.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Louise tells me the difference between a home organizer and an organization coach.

•We talk about how she got into the world of organization, even as a non-organized person herself.

•She tells me why she's passionate about the work that she does and the different ways clients can work with her.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Louise:

Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) are being talked about more and more, however, women who have first hand experience and share their journey are still few and far between.  The few that are comfortable discussing these life changing stressors are often ones that want to help others through their own struggles.  My guest today, Megan McLaren is one of those amazing women.  She's taken her painful and personal experiences with both PPD and PPA to help women change their own lives and find their own empowerment.

Megan McLaren is a registered social worker and Life coach, specializing in helping women and mothers create a life of authentic joy. In 2019, I experienced the most difficult year of my life after suffering with PPD/PPA and have taken that pain and turned it into passion by helping women prioritize their mental health and well being.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Megan tells me about her personal experiences with PPD & PPA.

•We talk about how she recognized and overcame both PPD & PPA.

•She tells me about her work as a registered social worker and how and why she became a life coach.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Megan:

Hypnosis is often considered a "party trick" or a "magic trick", but in reality it can be a life-changing therapy.  Hypnobabies is a company that specializes in self-hypnosis techniques to help men, women, couples, singles, and more get through the struggles of childbirth, infertility, breastfeeding, infant and toddler sleep issues, and so much more!

Founder and Director of Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, Kerry Tuschhoff is a nationally renowned speaker and writer on a wide range of women's pregnancy and childbirth concerns. Her subjects include fertility, prenatal and childbirth choices, informed consent issues, health and low-risk status concerns, comfort in childbirth, the power of birth language and midwifery advocacy. As a childbirth educator since 1989, a doula and hypnotherapist, Kerry has developed many educational programs for birthing mothers, medical and childbirth professionals, and hypnotherapists. These efforts have become immensely popular and have started a chain-reaction of interest to change the way women give birth, how newborns are cared for, and the way natural childbirth is perceived by the general public as well as the medical community. Kerry created a very comprehensive childbirth program of her own; Hypnobabies Childbirth Education. This unique program has trained hundreds of thousands of women to use medical-grade hypnosis techniques and give birth unmedicated in a much easier and more comfortable way.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Kerry tells me about her own experiences with complicated childbirths

•We talk about how she first got into hypnosis

•Kerry talks about how hypnotherapy can make a huge difference before, during, and after pregnancy

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Kerry & Hypnobabies:

Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are often stigmatized parts of many women's motherhood journey.  What's more, postpartum anxiety is not currently recognized by the DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition).  My guest today is Allison Lieberman, a marriage and family therapist with personal and professional experience with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. 

Allison Lieberman is a licensed marriage and family therapist, postpartum anxiety expert, mom of 2, and 2x postpartum anxiety survivor. She is the co-founder of Rooted in Harmony Counseling, a California-based group therapy practice dedicated to helping moms with anxiety, relationships, and parenting. She is the host of The New Mama Mentor® Podcast and creator of The New Mama Mentor® Signature Program. She is passionate about helping new moms overcome anxiety by developing confidence, shedding the mom guilt, and building a community.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Allison dives right in to her personal experiences with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.

•We talk about why it's important to recognize the signs of both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression.

•Allison tells me about her work as a marriage and family therapist.

•Allison talks about her brand new podcast, The New Mama Mentor® Podcast.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Allison:

Learning how to manifest, set goals, and ultimately zero in on finding and creating the joy in your life can be a struggle. However, having the guidance and expertise of a seasoned coach specializing in these areas, can change your life! Today’s guest Judith Joy is here to talk about manifestation, vibrations, and happiness. Judith Joy is a manifestation mentor (Author * Coach * Speaker* & all-around Creator of Possibilities) and author of the inspirational books, "Surviving Your Teenager...And Being Happy Anyway" and "Dear Future Lover...Bring Your Book Boyfriend to Life." 

Judith's journey has led her to 20+ years of study and research of how the heart and mind work together, resulting in her creation of "It's Possible!" a simple four-step manifestation process. She helps people discover the art of claiming their power, being High Vibe, and creating possibilities that work for them.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: 

•Judith explains what manifestation actually is. 

•We talk about her two incredible books and how they came about. 

•We discuss what it means to be “high vibe” and understanding vibrations and frequencies. 

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. 

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Find Judith: 

What is ketosis?  What are ketones?  Is the keto diet the only way to manage it all?  Let's take a step back and talk about it all.  In this episode, my guest Nita Kasan is going to answer all these questions and more.  But we're not stopping there.  We're breaking it down and talking about a different approach rather than the keto diet.  One you won't want to miss hearing about!

Nita Kasan is a master’s prepared Registered Nurse whose professional career has ranged from Critical Care to Flight Nursing, to serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve Nurse Corps, to Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Operating Officer roles in multiple hospitals throughout the U.S. and finally business ownership.

Nita is currently the Principal and Owner of two organizations that support the coaching, mentoring, and healthcare Leadership needs of hospitals nationwide.

In addition to her Healthcare business focus, Nita has a passion for helping herself and others upgrade their body, their mind, and their lives through the proven science of Biohacking and Ketones. 

This passion led to another hat that Nita wears which is that of a Promoter & Brand Ambassador with a company called Prüvit and a product that is on the forefront of truly transforming just about every aspect of health.

In this role, Nita helps people accelerate their body’s ability to “burn fat for fuel” independent of diet & exercise, which continues to feed her desire to make a difference in the life and health of others.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Nita explains ketosis and what it means.

•We talk about ketones and how they affect our bodies.

•Nita tells me about her background as a registered nurse and what brought about her interest in ketones.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Nita:

Fertility experts come in many forms, and treatment or management of infertility and its many physical and emotional effects vary greatly.  In today's episode, I'm chatting with Dr. Fiona Tassoni about her approach as a fertility coach using Chinese Herbal Medicine, acupuncture, and more.  Focusing on infertility, pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, Fiona has got your back!

Dr. Fiona Tassoni is a Registered Doctor of Chinese Medicine Specializing in Fertility. As a Fertility Coach with a master’s degree in Chinese Herbal Medicine, 21 years of medical practice and over 32,000 hours of clinical experience.

Fiona is the founder of the Pregnancy Accelerator Program and the director and founder of Solaris Health which is a leading fertility health centre for acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and herbal medicine.

Fiona primarily focuses on women’s reproductive health conditions such as infertility (natural conception and IVF assisted), pregnancy, preparation for birth, labor and postnatal care. Fiona also works with an array of complex health disorders such as endometriosis, ovulatory disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to name a few.  

Fiona has an empathic and compassionate approach to find a person’s or couple’s tailored health solution while working intuitively and from a totally integrative perspective.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Fiona talks about her journey to discovering Traditional Chinese Medicine.

•She talks about working worldwide and not just in her home base of Australia.

•Fiona talks about the kind of work she does to help women conceive.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Want to know how fertility coaching can help you get pregnant, when IVF doctors fail? 

Mental health is a topic often stigmatized and ignored.  Moreso, it is an extremely expensive and severely underfunded yet essential part of overall health.  Millions of people around the world are stressed, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, and feeling a wide variety of emotions that they are struggling to cope with.  Mix that with a lack of affordability, and we're all being set up for failure.  Enter MindBar.  MindBar is a new mental health app that aims to provide affordable mental health support through an on-demand streaming platform full of masterclasses taught by coaches, therapists, and more.  Think of MindBar as a Netflix-like platform but instead of streaming your favorite movie or TV show, you're streaming a class to help you in an area you may be struggling with.  You can also think of MindBar as a bar, but instead of choosing your favorite drink and chilling at the bar, you choose a masterclass that aligns with your needs and chill in the comfort of your own home.  Today I'm interviewing Haily O'Neill, the founder of MindBar. 

Hailey O’Neill is the Founder and CEO of the self-paced masterclass of mental health, MindBar. After reaping the life-saving benefits of therapy and expert coaching, she set out to create a platform not only accessible to everyone but also that breaks through the stigma surrounding mental healthcare.

With a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of California Santa Barbara and an extensive background in business and sales, Hailey is leading the transformation of mental healthcare by making access to treatment and coaching affordable, readily available and fun for all members who need help.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Hailey talks about what motivated her to develop MindBar.

•We talk about the importance of mental health care and how it can change the world.

•Hailey tells me how she came up with the name MindBar and what it means to her.

•We talk about women not trusting themselves and why that needs to change.

•We discuss how the MindBar platform works and how to become a member.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

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Find Hailey & MindBar:

One of the most underrated things when it comes to healing from past traumas is recognizing, acknowledging, and then healing from generational/ancestral trauma.  Quite often we talk about traumas that have happened in our lives, but less commonly we talk about traumas from our ancestors, grandparents, parents, etc.  Ultimately, their traumas, become our traumas.  My guest today, Marie Benoit is talking all about this newer concept and how and why it affects us.

Marie Benoit is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma coach. She helps women break cycles of generational dysfunction so that they can meet their own needs and architect a life of their dreams. Working in the mental health world for 8 plus years, Marie noticed that there were many "band aids" being handed out that only provided temporary solutions. A survivor of childhood trauma, anxiety, depression and PTSD herself, Marie felt deep in her bones that there must be another way. As an avid life learner, she buried herself in research around trauma, reshaping the autonomic nervous system and ancestral healing. As a result, Marie's clients show up in life as authentically themselves with the confidence to create whatever life feels good to them. Marie's mission in life is to help women feel safe to show up as they are so that they can share the unique gifts they have with the world.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Marie tells us about Unbound Women's shift from GI issues and anxiety to Generational & Ancestral Trauma.

•She talks about the nervous system and how it's entwined with anxiety and ancestral wounds.

•Marie tells me about the life threatening birth of her daughter and its affect on her.

•We talk about women not trusting themselves and why that needs to change.

•What The Cycle Breaker Program is all about.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

Find Marie:

Eating disorders affect an estimated 9% of the world population.  Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder and my guest today, Estelle Coombe-Heath (AKA Stel), is a survivor of binge eating.  With her personal experience and professional training, Stel helps women overcome disordered eating and live happier, healthier lives.

Stel Coombe-Heath is the #1 authority in helping busy women stop binge eating. She is on a mission to help a million women have a better relationship with food and their body.

Stel is a transformational health and life coach, cognitive-behavioral therapist, podcast host and published author.

Stel struggled with a disordered relationship with food and her body for over 13 years, battling two eating disorders, body dysmorphia and emotional eating. She is now passionate about a future where women and young girls are no longer ashamed of their bodies.

From a background in business analytics, Stel now leads various programs on changing mindsets around life and eating.

As a holistic health recovery specialist and coach, Stel infuses yoga, mindfulness, and emotional resilience into her consultations with clients. Stel's sessions encourage clients to dive into self-transformation through self-actualization.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Stel talks about her personal experience with overcoming 2 eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

•She tells us what emotional eating is and how to manage it.

•We talk about healing our relationship with food.

•How to become a body image role model for your children.

•How to effectively support someone with disordered eating.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

Find Estelle:

If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you'll know that I've had various experts in endometriosis.  It is a surprisingly common yet wildly underdiagnosed medical condition.  My guest today, Amy Lenius, is one of the 2-10% of American women affected personally by endometriosis.  Today, we're talking about her experience with it, her passion for working with women diagnosed with or who believe they may have endometriosis, and why this condition (among other women's health and wellness issues) is so incredibly important to her.

Amy is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who loves to talk on all things women's health! Through her own journey of hormonal imbalances, chronic illness, love for anatomy and finally beginning to heal and thrive she found a love of sharing her story and helping other women do the same. Through podcasting, public speaking, her wellness business and now her Peaceful Period project she helps women break away from what is "common and normal" to empowered and thriving.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Amy talks about why endometriosis is a passion of hers and how it has affected her life.

•Why she is so excited and passionate about public speaking.

•Her background as a massage therapist (like me!) and how it affects her work as an advocate for women's health and wellness.

•Her thoughts on the importance of self care.

•The details about her new 9 week Peaceful Period program.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.

Find Amy:

Have you ever noticed a connection between digestive disturbances, mood, and fatigue?  Maybe you're struggling with constipation and you find that it affects your mood and you feel utterly exhausted as well?  That's what we're talking about on the show today.  My guest, Dr. Adeola Mead is a naturopathic doctor and is breaking down gut health and how it affects our bodies.

Adeola Mead is a Naturopathic Physician with over 15 years of clinical experience.

Her team provides integrative wellness programs to help improve digestion, energy and mood, naturally and simultaneously.

They help organizations implement wellness initiatives that improve mental and physical health while creating a culture of camaraderie in wellness.

Dr. Mead's approach combines integrative wellness modalities and therapeutic self care education to empower clients to reach the fullest potential in their health and lives.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Adeola breaks down the details of her Forty Day Fresh Start Program.

•We talk about what exactly a naturopathic doctor is and her inspiration to become one.

•Why she is so passionate about her work.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life

Find Dr. Mead:

Did you know that a simple DNA test called a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis can help uncover any possible nutrient or mineral deficiencies in your body?  Did you know that disovering these deficiences can kick-start your journey to health and help you determine what you may or may not be senstive or even allergic to in terms of food?

My guest today is Stephanie Shaw, a multi-certified holistic nutrition strategist.  Stephanie's goal is to help woman feel and look their absolute best.  With her own personal struggles with weight gain and food sensitivities and intolderances, that she didn't even know existed, Stephanie has made it her mission to help other women get to the root of their own weight loss struggles.

Stephanie Shaw is a nutrition strategist who helps high-performing mid-life women get the body they desire and the confidence they deserve. Stephanie helps these women peel back the layers of the intricate health puzzle, down to the DNA, and shows them precisely what to do. As a result, her clients lose and keep off the weight, and build a sustainable lifestyle of confidence, energy, and love for their bodies.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Stephanie shares with me the weekend trip to New Orleans that set off her 2 year journey of self discovery, and where it led her.

•How she finally determined what was causing her to gain weight and struggle to properly digest and absorb certain nutrients and minerals.

•What a hair mineral analysis is and what GI stool mapping is and how she uses these assessments in her practice.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life

Find Stephanie:

Advocating for yourself is not always easy, especially when your pain and concerns are constantly being ignored.  It's easy to get trapped in a cycle of believing that what you're feeling and/or worrying about is "all in your head" or "not a big deal".  All too often women are these exact things when they are actually experiencing potentially life-threatening events.

In today's episode, I'm interviewing Elisabeth Wygant, pharmacist, mom, and functional nutrition expert.  She's sharing her own life-altering experience with the birth of her first child and the complicated health emergency she experienced, which kept being ignored.  She's also sharing with me the importance of advocating for yourself, taking your life into your own hands, and living the best life you can live.

Dr. Elisabeth Wygant, founder of Elisabeth Wygant Wellness (her virtual functional medicine practice), speaker, host of the Thrive Mama! Podcast, and mother of two little ladies. Her specialty is empowering busy working mamas feeling overwhelmed, fatigued and short on time, to be more present, gain work-life balance and lead healthy lifestyles. She utilizes her signature method, FLOURISH, to guide clients through mindset, gut health, functional nutrition, tailored supplement support, nutrient panels, and so much more!

Prior to launching Elisabeth Wygant Wellness, she worked in the pharmaceutical space for 14 years, the last 5 spent managing a local independent pharmacy. After experiencing health issues as a new mama and finding the power in functional medicine, Elisabeth found her heart’s calling in providing tools to help others lead healthier lifestyles.  Fueled by a mission for functional wellness, she changed from her pharmacy path, to starting her own health consultancy to heal patients her way.

Her true passion in life is inspiring women to fill their cup and recognize that it is never too late to invest in themselves and their health! She has been featured in Best Holistic Life Magazine, Thrive Global, Parade Magazine, Authority Magazine, Medium; and on Oh My Health...There is Hope, The Balanced Woman Podcast, and The Ambitious Woman podcasts.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Elisabeth shares the story of the birth of her first child and the subsequent spinal headache that changed her views on self-advocacy.

•How she was affected by and what she did to help her own experience with PPD (postpartum depression) and PPA (postpartum anxiety).

•The importance of understanding the gut-brain connection and how it affects EVERYTHING.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life

Find Elisabeth:

Putting yourself first is a major struggle for so many, but as a mom, it can be particularly difficult.  Discovering your own, innate superpowers (we all have them!) can be a first big step in figuring out how to be the best mom possible, while also taking care of your own needs, recharging your batteries, and helping you live your very best life.

Today's guest, Gladys Simen, is  a life coach dedicated to helping working moms uncover their native genius and master career and motherhood with ease. For Gladys, becoming a mother was a turning point that helped her embrace her true self and connect with her authentic voice.

Today Gladys lives an authentic life, free to be herself and to use her own voice. She launched her coaching business “My Life Couch” where she holds the space for working mothers. Gladys welcomes these women onto her “couch” to discover how they can live boldly and authentically.
Her natural talent for seeing potential in every individual helps women transform their lives: from career to relationships by uncovering these dormant superpowers/inner genius. She is passionate about helping women live big, beautiful, shooting-for-the-stars kind of lives…right now. Not in 10 years. Not when the kids are grown. Not after that promotion finally comes around. Right. Now.

Gladys considers herself an advocate for the working mama! She loves sharing her own stories about her journey to balance home and work life, and loves supporting fellow working mothers on their journeys.
When she is not guiding women, she enjoys time with her husband and her fabulous duo in Toronto, Canada.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•We talk about why Gladys became a life coach in the first place

•Why "recharging" and putting yourself first is absolutely essential in being the best version of yourself, for you and for your kids!

•How to discover your superpowers and why that is so important.

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and of course who have been the most influential people in her life

Find Gladys:

Losing weight isn't always easy.  In fact, so often "willpower" is associated with the goal of weight loss.  But what if I told you that willpower isn't the end-all-be-all of weight loss, and that mindset is actually the most important factor?  That's what today's guest, Brooke Simonson is telling me all about.

Brooke Simonson is a Certified Nutrition Coach on a mission to help as many people as possible master the *skill* of weight loss/maintenance so they can lose 5-50 pounds permanently.

Unlike one-size-fits-all diets/apps/programs that only provide short-term results, Brooke guides clients through her holistic 3A Approach™ so they can develop effortless, evidence-based habits that work for THEIR unique lifestyle; feel completely in control around food; and start showing up as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized versions of themselves!

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Brooke talks about the work she does helping women sustainably lose weight

•Why she takes a very individualized approach when it comes to helping women lost weight

•Why mindset is SO incredibly important for sustainability in weight loss

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and of course who have been the most influential people in her life

To learn more about Brooke’s coaching programs and podcast—and download a FREE 18-page guide at either of the links below!—visit thehealthinvestment.com or connect with her on Instagram (@thehealthinvestment).

Find Brooke:

Infertility is frustrating, overwhelming, and sometimes leaves you with zero answers.  But, what if there was just one nutrient that could change all that?  That's what my guest today, Annette Presley, is talking about.  She's sharing with me the one nutrient that you may be missing in your diet which could be the exact reason you aren't conceiving!

Annette Presley is a registered dietitian of over 30 years, certified functional nutritionist, author, and creator of the CHOICE Method. After discovering that the diet advice she'd learned as a dietitian was contributing to chronic disease, Annette changed course to learn about functional nutrition and nutrigenomics (how nutrition impacts genetic expression). Now Annette helps women who have been let down by conventional medicine get to the root of their health issues so they can get their life back without drugs or surgery.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•Annette shares her journey of proving her knowledge to the FDA and other governing bodies

•What first sparked her interest in nutrition

•How a chance encounter with a woman at church led her helping women conceive by making 1 small nutritional change

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and of course who have been the most influential people in her life

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*Please note:  Some of the information listed below is different than what Annette mentions in the episode.  She has made some changes since the recording of this episode, and those changes are reflected below.

Find Annette:

New motherhood is HARD!  Taking care of your body as a new mom is even harder.  Today on the show, I have registered dietitian and nutrition coach, Christina Kroog who is here to talk all about her journey to becoming a dietitian, why she's passionate about helping new moms in their postpartum nutrition journey, and her own journey through infertility and becoming a mom of 4.

Christina Kroog is a registered dietitian specializing in helping women achieve permanent weight loss by fostering a healthy diet and lifestyle habits that support their overall well-being inside and out. She has always loved the resilience and amazing abilities of the human body which led her to study Biology at Boston College. Later, discovering the incredible ability of food to impact the state of our bodies, she went on to receive her Masters in Clinical Nutrition from NYU.  She has been a dietitian for over 10 years and for the past 7 years has been working 1:1 with clients with a personalized approach. Her greatest role however is being a mom of her four children ages 6, 4, 4, and 18 months. Life is often complete wonderful chaos and she wouldn't have it any other way. She did not become a mother easily and went on a long infertility journey which really inspired a love for helping women focus on nourishing their bodies. She currently works with moms struggling to lose weight postpartum to help them feel their best to live their best lives for years to come.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

•What sparked her interest in nutrition in the first place

•How her younger brother's struggles with ADHD were affected by nutrition and how that impacted her interest in biology

•Her own infertility journey and where it led her

•Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who are the most influential and inspirational people in her life

Find Christina:

Instagram:

Mother's Day is upon us and we've got a gift for you!  I've teamed up with Irene Makriplis, founder of Irene Organics, to bring you a mom-to-be mother's day gift set.  Irene's belly balm, belly oil, fuzzy socks, my (Cara B. Design Studio & Cara B. Beauty) lavender-scented eye pillow, lavender roll on oil, and revitalizing facial oil make up this incredible gift basket for any mom-to-be.  Being pregnant is hard.  Hard on your body, hard on your mind, and all around exhausting.  You deserve to feel good, and that's what our gift basket it all about!

Irene Makriplis is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and founder of Lullaby & Me. Irene developed a passion for helping parents with their children’s sleep over her 10 year career as a nanny. She realized that every child’s situation is different and each child responds differently to various sleep training methods. Parents sometimes get overwhelmed while sleep training and when one technique doesn’t seem to be working, they give up. It’s important to understand sleep training is not a “one method fits all” solution and Irene helps guide parents through the process.

Irene is also the founder of the Pregnancy & Postpartum Skincare line, Irene Organics. In 2020, Irene discovered she was expecting her first child and wanted to create a product for herself and other moms that she knew was 100% safe and effective to use. That's when she created a line of products that would help mothers like her to keep their skin feeling and looking good in a natural way without any harm.

Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:

• Irene shares her story about the origins of Irene Organics

• We talk about the products Irene included in our gift set

• Irene tells me why she chose the products she chose to include

• We talk about our respective experiences with stretch marks and how different it was for each of us

• I share details about the products I included in our gift set

Find Irene:

On the web:  

Relationships are frequently tested by unexpected and even expected life events.  The downside to that is when relationships (romantic, platonic, etc.) are tested, if you don't have the right tools or right headspace, those relationships can quickly diminish and become a thing of the past.  Luckily, my guest today is a relationship coach and we're talking all things relationships!

Relationship Coach Naomi Stonier helps ambitious women have better relationships with all the important people in their life.  She teaches you simple tools that create shifts in any relationship without the other person doing anything!

Here's a quick glimpse at this episode:

•[01:33] Why strong relationships are really the foundation for happiness.

•[05:04] Naomi's journey through infertility and how that affected her relationships.

•[06:51] Planning your next cycle as a way of coping with infertility.

•[12:00] Masculine vs. feminine energy and how those energies affect relationships.

•[18:13] Insight about how other people can't create your emotions.

•[20:08] What happens when you take control of your own experiences.

•[18:29] Living in nervous exhaustion by giving away your power in every situation.

•[28:00] Recognizing your triggers and the patterns that result from those triggers.

•[37:04] Taking responsibility by asking the right questions about your behaviors.

•[38:28] The 3 most inspirational/influential people in her life.

•[44:50] The guests she'd invite to her dream dinner party/soiree.

•[41:01] The best places to connect with Naomi and learn about her and Plumo Coaching

Find Naomi:

Relationships are frequently tested by unexpected and even expected life events.  The downside to that is when relationships (romantic, platonic, etc.) are tested, if you don't have the right tools or right headspace, those relationships can quickly diminish and become a thing of the past.  Luckily, my guest today is a relationship coach and we're talking all things relationships!

Relationship Coach Naomi Stonier helps ambitious women have better relationships with all the important people in their life.  She teaches you simple tools that create shifts in any relationship without the other person doing anything!

Here's a quick glimpse at this episode:

•[01:33] Why strong relationships are really the foundation for happiness.

•[05:04] Naomi's journey through infertility and how that affected her relationships.

•[06:51] Planning your next cycle as a way of coping with infertility.

•[12:00] Masculine vs. feminine energy and how those energies affect relationships.

•[18:13] Insight about how other people can't create your emotions. 

•[20:08] What happens when you take control of your own experiences.

•[18:29] Living in nervous exhaustion by giving away your power in every situation.

•[28:00] Recognizing your triggers and the patterns that result from those triggers.

•[37:04] Taking responsibility by asking the right questions about your behaviors.

•[38:28] The 3 most inspirational/influential people in her life.

•[44:50] The guests she'd invite to her dream dinner party/soiree.

•[41:01] The best places to connect with Naomi and learn about her and Plumo Coaching

Find Naomi:

IBS, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating... all of these things are connected!  Today on The Hormonal Mama Podcast, my guest Laura Patricia Martin is breaking down the connection between all of these and giving some tips on how to get started with your healing journey.  She's also sharing her own journey and what brought her to founding Healing to Happy.

Laura Martin, an IBS-Anxiety Specialist and founder of Healing to Happy. A luxury brand helping women optimize their nutrition to optimize their brain function and overcome anxiety and depression to create the lives they desire.

Here's a quick glimpse at this episode:

•[02:18] The moment she knew she needed to make a change in her life.

•[04:37] What she tried eliminating, and how her body was reacting, and not changing based on what she was trying.

•[05:37] The start of her self-discovery journey.

•[10:51] Microbiome, epigenetics, and neuroplasticity.

•[14:58] The importance of mental health recovery from IBS, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, and so on.

•[18:29] Why she chose to transition away from veganism.

•[20:27] Listening to and trusting your body and what she's telling you.

•[21:22] The gut-brain connection.

•[26:50] The first step in your healing journey should be...

•[31:38] Why she's so passionate about her work.

•[36:58] The 3 most inspirational/influential people in her life.

•[38:59] The guests she'd invite to her dream dinner party/soiree.

•[41:01] The best places to connect with Laura and learn about her and Healing to Happy.

Find Laura:

IBS, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating... all of these things are connected!  Today on The Hormonal Mama Podcast, my guest Laura Patricia Martin is breaking down the connection between all of these and giving some tips on how to get started with your healing journey.  She's also sharing her own journey and what brought her to founding Healing to Happy.

Laura Martin, an IBS-Anxiety Specialist and founder of Healing to Happy. A luxury brand helping women optimize their nutrition to optimize their brain function and overcome anxiety and depression to create the lives they desire. 

Here's a quick glimpse at this episode:

•[02:18] The moment she knew she needed to make a change in her life.

•[04:37] What she tried eliminating, and how her body was reacting, and not changing based on what she was trying.

•[05:37] The start of her self-discovery journey.

•[10:51] Microbiome, epigenetics, and neuroplasticity.

•[14:58] The importance of mental health recovery from IBS, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, and so on.

•[18:29] Why she chose to transition away from veganism.

•[20:27] Listening to and trusting your body and what she's telling you.

•[21:22] The gut-brain connection.

•[26:50] The first step in your healing journey should be...

•[31:38] Why she's so passionate about her work.

•[36:58] The 3 most inspirational/influential people in her life.

•[38:59] The guests she'd invite to her dream dinner party/soiree.

•[41:01] The best places to connect with Laura and learn about her and Healing to Happy.

Find Laura:

Today on the show, I'm interviewing Danita Young, Owner/Cofounder of Booty Bands & Barbells®, Bikini Model, Certified Personal Trainer, NQ Bikini Competitor & Women's Mindset & Health Specialist. 

In her own words: "Passionate aligned with my soul purpose to create Lasting Transformations. Get ready to Cut Fat & Keep your Curves with the right tools, fuel and accountability!   Get ready to create long term results with our 3 step program to cut fat & keep your curves. It’s time to look & feel your best with the 1st women designed complete home gym, #1 fitness app, and our best tasting protein.  We are the original Booty Bands & Barbells® and our purpose is to put “hope” back in fitness."

Connect with Danita and Booty Bands & Barbells®:

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes when you're in the thick of difficult times it can be tough to figure out how to make positive changes.  Today's guest, Cary Ouellette has been there herself.  Cary is a doTerra Wellness Advocate and a mom of 3 teenagers. The essential oil journey began when she was searching for natural solutions and support for postpartum depression.  She has been using essential oils and natural products for her and her family for 7 years and have had profound experiences. She loves to connect with people as she empowers them to take control of their health naturally so they can feel their best.  Her clients live more enjoyable and more fulfilling lives with abundant time and energy. Life is too short not to feel great! 

Connect with Cary: 

What's the secret to aging backward?  Ultimately, that's a question for today's guest, Kristen Verschoor Owens.  Kristin is a holistic nutritionist whose focus is to inspire you to own your health, balance your hormones so you can age backwards and prevent chronic dis-ease.

Kristen resides in the Toronto area and carries over 2 decades in the wellness industry with busy women who are ready to take their health to a new level to no longer settle for "just feeling fine."

To learn more about Kristen and connect with her you can find her here:

Website:

Vics Lane is the founder of MRKH Stars, an organization providing support and guidance for young women across the world, diagnosed with MRKH.  MRKH, also known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome is a congenital malformation of female reproductive organs.  In her own words:

"I'm Vics, I'm 19; I am a writer, and a university student and I live with a condition called MRKH Syndrome.  In light of my diagnosis, in April 2021 I founded and now run a foundation called MRKH Stars, supporting teens and newly diagnosed warriors with the same diagnosis as me."

Vics is inspirational, passionate, and extremely motivated to help other young women process the complicated and life-changing diagnosis of MRKH.

Here's a snapshot of our conversation:

[01:53] Vics breaks down exactly what MRKH is, and what it isn't. 

[04:33] Vics shares what it's like being diagnosed with a life-changing reproductive condition at a young age.

[11:20] The story of how MRKH was born!

[24:42] What the grief of being diagnosed with MRKH is really like, and why it's important to be able to feel that grief.

[38:03] Vics' best piece of advice for a young girl or woman who has recently been diagnosed with MRKH.

[45:48] Vics' 3 most influential people in her life.

[53:03] 3 guests at her dream dinner party.

[60:10] Where you can connect with Vics and MRKH Stars.

You can find MRKH Stars and Vics on the following platforms:

Is endometriosis or unexplained abdominal and pelvic pain disrupting your life?  Have no fear, that's what we're talking about on this episode of The Hormonal Mama Podcast.

My guest, Laura Ibragimova is a women's wellness coach specializing in endometriosis.  As an endometriosis warrior herself, Laura knows a thing or two or twelve about endometriosis, how to treat it, and how to deal with the trauma it brings into your life.

Here's a quick glimpse at this episode:

•[01:28] An overview of what endometriosis is, and the statistics around it.

•[04:28] How Laura discovered that he had endometriosis.

•[07:48] The complicated feelings of confusion after receiving her diagnosis.

•[10:19] How having endometriosis affects her work and how she embraces her experience to help other women with endometriosis.

•[13:51] The unexpected revelation that she has a master's degree in Public Health Policy and worked in DC doing legislative analysis and healthcare consulting!

•[17:32] Where her passion for her work comes from.

•[20:47] Laura's excellent advice for anyone recently diagnosed with endometriosis or who thinks they may have endometriosis.

•[24:53] The 3 most influential people in her life.

•[27:19] Who Laura would invite to her dream dinner party.

•[29:21] Her sweet and hilarious nickname!

•[31:32] All the places across the web where you can connect with and learn more about Laura!

Tessa Hollyn Taub is the owner and founder of "It's your body, It's your life".  As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist and Functional Movement Specialist, Tessa takes a unique approach to her work fusing a variety of yoga, barre, pilates, corrective exercise & functional training with an emphasis on breathing, functional movement, and alignment.  Listen now as we talk about her work, why she's so passionate about it, and how she can help you too!

You can connect with Tessa: