The Balanced Body Podcast

Episode 107: Hormones Aren't the Whole Story: Reigniting Desire, Libido & Connection in Midlife with Dr. Julie Merriman

For years, women have been told that declining desire in midlife is simply a hormone problem—or worse, just an inevitable part of aging. But what if that's only part of the story? In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman—counselor, professor, researcher, author, podcaster, and speaker—to explore why so many women feel disconnected from intimacy, pleasure, and themselves during midlife, and how healing the nervous system can help reignite desire, confidence, and connection from the inside out. If you've ever thought: • "I just don't feel like myself anymore." • "I love my partner, but I have no interest in intimacy." • "Maybe this is just what happens as I get older." • "My hormones must be the problem." Then this conversation is for you. We discuss why low desire isn't always a hormone issue, the hidden impact chronic stress has on libido and intimacy, the biggest myths women believe about desire after 50, and how years of caregiving, people-pleasing, high achievement, and emotional exhaustion can disconnect women from their bodies and their capacity for pleasure. You'll also learn practical ways to reconnect with yourself, understand the role your nervous system plays in intimacy, and hear about Dr. Julie's Desire Reboot Framework™, which has helped hundreds of women move from feeling emotionally shut down and exhausted to feeling alive, present, and connected again. In This Episode: ✔ Why hormones aren't the whole story when it comes to low libido ✔ The connection between nervous system health, stress, and desire ✔ Common myths about sex and intimacy after 50 ✔ How chronic stress can leave women feeling emotionally numb and disconnected ✔ Why so many high-achieving women struggle with pleasure and connection ✔ Practical ways to begin rebuilding intimacy with yourself and your partner ✔ The Desire Reboot Framework™ and what it looks like in real life Connect with Dr. Julie Merriman Website: Julie Merriman PhD [https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: @dr.juliemerriman Free Resource – Reignite Your Fire & Desire [https://colossal-speaker-6707.kit.com/62dfb355a6] Connect with Monika If you're struggling with stubborn weight, low energy, mood changes, or symptoms that you've been told are "normal," DM SYMPTOMS on Instagram @monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva]to learn how functional testing can uncover the hidden hormone, gut, inflammation, and mineral imbalances keeping you stuck. Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 106: PCOS Is Being Renamed PMOS — Here’s What Women Need to Know (Solo Episode)

PCOS may officially be getting a new name — PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) — and honestly? It’s about time. In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, Hormone Nutritionist Monika Eva breaks down what this major shift means for women struggling with stubborn weight gain, fatigue, insulin resistance, irregular cycles, fertility challenges, inflammation, cravings, burnout, and hormone imbalance. For years, women have been told PCOS was “just an ovarian issue.” Meanwhile, functional practitioners have long understood that this goes far deeper than the ovaries alone. This episode dives into: * Why the PMOS name change matters * The emotional reality of being dismissed or gaslit by “normal labs” * Why weight loss resistance is often a metabolic and inflammatory issue * The connection between cortisol, insulin resistance, gut health, inflammation, detoxification, and hormone balance * Why so many women feel exhausted, swollen, puffy, anxious, and stuck despite doing “everything right” * Why symptoms matter — even if you don’t officially meet PCOS criteria * The truth about GLP-1 medications and why weight loss alone does not equal healing * Functional testing options like the DUTCH Test, GI-MAP, HTMA, fasting insulin, HbA1c, CRP, and more If you’ve ever felt frustrated by your body, dismissed by doctors, or confused about why your metabolism, hormones, energy, and weight feel so hard to manage… this episode is for you. Because this was never just about ovaries. It’s about your whole body. If this episode resonated with you, send Monika a DM on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] with the word “PMOS” and let her know your biggest takeaway. If you’re ready to investigate the root causes behind your symptoms and finally understand what your body has been trying to tell you, Monika would be honoured to support you inside The Balanced Body Method. Start with the Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment here. [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Follow Monika on Instagram: @monikaeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Learn more about working with Monika: Monika Eva Official Website [https://www.monikaeva.com] Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 105: Why You Still Feel Off — Toxic Load, Burnout & The Missing Foundations of Women’s Health with Michele Scarlet

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right—eating clean, working out, taking supplements—but still feel exhausted, inflamed, or just off… this episode is going to hit. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Michele Scarlet, a Board-Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and founder of COREFIT, who shares her personal story of hitting a wall at the height of her career—and how it led her to uncover the deeper issue so many women are missing: cumulative toxic load. While her journey included breast implant illness, this episode goes far beyond that. We dive into how everyday exposures, chronic stress, and a lack of foundational health habits can quietly build up in the body—leaving women feeling burnt out, disconnected, and stuck in symptoms they can’t explain. We also unpack why so many women are told their labs are “normal” while they continue to feel anything but—and why getting back to the basics is often the missing piece in healing. Inside this episode, we cover: *  What it really looks like when your body starts breaking down (even if your life looks “successful” on paper)  *  The concept of cumulative toxic load and how it impacts energy, inflammation, and overall health  *  Why breast implant illness is just one example of a much bigger issue  *  The biggest mistakes women make when trying to “fix” their health  *  Why foundations like digestion, nervous system regulation, and daily habits matter more than most women realize  *  How to start reconnecting with your body and actually feel like yourself again  If you’ve been feeling exhausted, puffy, reactive, or like your body just isn’t responding the way it used to—this episode will give you a completely different lens on what might really be going on. Connect with Michele: Instagram: @michelescarlet_ [https://www.instagram.com/michelescarlet_] Website: Learn more about Michele [https://www.michelescarlet.com/about] Podcast: Michele Scarlet’s True Health Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michele-scarlets-true-health-podcast/id1820300853] Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 104: Why Allergy Season Hits So Hard — The Histamine, Gut, Liver & Stress Connection

If allergy season hits you harder every year—sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, puffy face, and low energy—this episode breaks down why. In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, Monika explains the real reason your body is reacting so strongly during allergy season and why it’s not just about pollen. You’ll learn how histamine works in the body, what the “histamine bucket” is, and how your gut health, liver function, and stress levels can all impact your body’s ability to tolerate seasonal allergens. This episode connects the dots between immune response, digestion, inflammation, and burnout—helping you understand why your symptoms may be getting worse and what your body is trying to tell you.  If your allergies feel worse than they should, this episode will help you understand why and what your body is actually trying to tell you.  Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 103: Why Your Liver Is Slowing Your Metabolism, Blocking Weight Loss & Affecting Your Hormones (Even If You’re Eating Clean)

If you feel like your body isn’t responding the way it used to—your weight isn’t budging, your energy crashes in the afternoon, and you feel heavier or puffier no matter how “clean” you eat—this episode will connect the dots. We’re breaking down one of the most overlooked pieces of the metabolism + hormone puzzle for women 35+: your liver. Because when your body is dealing with more than it can efficiently process, everything slows down—your energy, your hormone balance, and your ability to release weight. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  Why juice cleanses aren’t actually supporting your liver (and what to do instead)  *  The simple way to understand detoxification using the “bathtub” analogy  *  What happens when your body is breaking things down but not clearing them out  *  How estrogen metabolism impacts belly fat, bloating, mood, and cycles  *  Why your labs can look “normal” but you still feel off  *  The foundational shifts that actually support your metabolism and energy  If you’ve been tightening up your diet, trying harder, and still not seeing results… this is the missing piece most women never hear about. 🎯 Ready to figure out what’s actually slowing your body down? Start with the Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment  [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou]here  Or message me “BLOCKER” on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva]and I’ll send it to you directly Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]