52. Functional Lab Testing: The Missing Piece Behind Your Hormone Symptoms (The Hormone Disconnect Series Episode 3)

56. Beyond Kegels: Why Your Pelvic Floor Is the Missing Link Between Nervous System, Hormones, and Healing with Dr. Tara Morrison

We often chase symptoms, the pain, the flare-up, and try to silence them with medication, surgery, or a standard round of physical therapy. But what if the real work is looking at the fire underneath the alarm? In this episode of Healthy Buzz, Brandee sits down with Dr. Tara Morrison, doctor of physical therapy and creator of Somatic Pelvic Care, to explore why traditional pelvic floor therapy doesn't always create lasting results. Together, they unpack the powerful connection between the pelvic floor, nervous system regulation, blood sugar balance, lymphatic health, emotional wellbeing, and the body's ability to heal. Dr. Tara explains why symptoms like urinary leakage, constipation, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, and low libido are often signs of deeper imbalances—not problems to simply "fix" with exercises alone. She shares how survival patterns, chronic stress, trauma, and even blood sugar instability can influence pelvic floor function, and why slowing down to reconnect with your body may be the missing piece so many women have been searching for. This conversation is for any woman who's been told her symptoms are "normal," has tried multiple treatments without lasting relief, or wants a more holistic understanding of pelvic health that addresses the whole person—not just the muscles. In This Episode: * Why traditional pelvic floor therapy often falls short * The connection between the nervous system and chronic pelvic tension * How urinary leakage, constipation, and pelvic pain can share the same root causes * Why blood sugar balance matters for hormones, healing, and pelvic health * The surprising link between stress, libido, and the pelvic floor * How somatic awareness helps the body heal beyond exercises alone * Why foundational habits like movement, sleep, hydration, and sunlight still matter most * Small, sustainable changes that create meaningful progress without overwhelm Connect with Tara: Website: https://sacredbloompelviccare.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtaramorrison/ Connect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/   Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

55. Healing Hashimoto's, Weight Loss Resistance & the Nervous System with Jasmine Harnden IHP

Your body isn't working against you—it's working to protect you. If you've been eating well, exercising consistently, taking the supplements, and still struggling with stubborn weight, fatigue, thyroid symptoms, or gut issues, this conversation will completely shift the way you think about healing.   In this episode, Brandee sits down with integrative health practitioner, Pranic energy healer, and spiritual life coach Jasmine Harnden to explore why nervous system regulation is often the missing piece in women's health. After reversing her own Hashimoto's naturally, Jasmine now helps burned-out, high-achieving women uncover the deeper physiological and emotional factors driving symptoms like hormone imbalances, weight loss resistance, chronic fatigue, and digestive issues.   Together, they dive into why "normal" lab work doesn't always mean optimal health, how chronic stress changes the way your body stores fat, and why healing isn't about doing more—it's about helping your body finally feel safe enough to heal. They also discuss functional lab testing, unresolved trauma, detoxification, and why a truly root-cause approach requires looking beyond food and supplements alone.   In This Episode: * Jasmine's personal journey of reversing Hashimoto's through root-cause healing * Why nervous system dysregulation can block weight loss and hormone balance * The connection between chronic stress, thyroid health, gut function, and fatigue * Why "normal" blood work doesn't always mean everything is functioning optimally * Why healing isn't just about food and supplements * The role unresolved trauma can play in physical symptoms * Why healing is rarely linear—and what to expect along the way * Practical ways to begin supporting your nervous system without adding more stress   Connect with Jasmine: Website: www.theluminoussoul.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luminous.soul.healing/ Transform Your Wellness Journey with My Free Weight Loss & Wellness Journal: https://jasmine-s-site-7d75.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/wellness-journal-weight-loss   Connect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/   Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

54. What Alcohol Is Really Doing to Your Health: The Alcohol-Hormone Connection with Dr. Brooke Scheller (The Hormone Disconnect Series Episode 5)

That nightly glass of wine may be doing far more than helping you unwind. Did you know that alcohol impacts your hormones, gut health, blood sugar, sleep, mood, and cravings in ways many women never realize? In Part 5 of the Hormone Disconnect Series, Brandee sits down with Dr. Brooke Scheller, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Certified Nutrition Specialist, author of How to Eat to Change How You Drink, and creator of the Functional Sobriety approach.   Dr. Brooke explains how alcohol influences hormone balance, increases cortisol, disrupts the gut microbiome, alters blood sugar regulation, and fuels cravings that can feel impossible to control. She also breaks down the biology behind the infamous 5 PM urge to drink and shares practical nutrition strategies that can help reduce cravings naturally.   Whether you're sober-curious, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply trying to optimize your health, this episode offers a science-backed, judgment-free perspective on what happens when you take a closer look at alcohol's role in your life.   In This Episode: * How alcohol impacts hormone balance beyond just estrogen * Why alcohol increases cortisol and contributes to chronic stress * The connection between alcohol, gut health, and hormone metabolism * How blood sugar swings drive cravings, mood changes, and anxiety * The science behind the 5 PM "wine o'clock" craving * Why alcohol often masks nervous system dysregulation * The overlap between alcohol use, dopamine, and ADHD * How nutrition can support alcohol reduction and recovery * Navigating social situations when you're drinking less * Why sober curiosity is growing and what it can teach you   Connect with Dr Brooke: Website: www.functionalsobriety.com [www.functionalsobriety.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbrookescheller/ [https://www.instagram.com/drbrookescheller/] Book Website: www.functionalsobriety.com/book [www.functionalsobriety.com/book] Amazon: How to Eat to Change How You Drink: https://a.co/d/6hjCXTE [https://a.co/d/6hjCXTE]   Connect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup [https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup] Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/] Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com [https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com]

53. HRT Myths, Metabolism, and Midlife Health with Danielle Kepics (The Hormone Disconnect Series Episode 4)

The biggest risk for many women isn't hormone therapy, it's the misinformation that's kept them suffering for decades. In this episode of Healthy Buzz, Brandee sits down with Danielle Kepics, physician assistant and founder of Empowered Medicine, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in women's health: hormone replacement therapy (HRT). As part four of the Hormone Disconnect series, this conversation breaks down the lasting impact of the Women's Health Initiative study, the confusion between birth control and hormone replacement therapy, and why so many women are still being denied evidence-based care. Danielle explains the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, discusses the pros and cons of various HRT delivery methods, and shares what women need to know before considering options like pellets, patches, oral hormones, creams, or testosterone therapy. If you've been told you're "too young" for HRT, dismissed by your provider, or feel overwhelmed by conflicting information online, this episode will help you ask better questions, advocate for yourself, and better understand your options. In This Episode: • Why the Women's Health Initiative study created decades of fear around HRT • Oral vs. transdermal estrogen: understanding the pros and cons • What women should know about progesterone, testosterone, and hormone pellets • How hormones influence insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, and metabolism • The truth about body composition, muscle mass, and midlife weight gain • Why HRT is not a replacement for nutrition, movement, and lifestyle habits • Questions to ask when searching for an HRT provider • How to advocate for yourself when you've been dismissed by your healthcare team Connect with Danielle: Website: https://www.empoweredmedicine.co/ Website: https://empoweredmindbody.practicebetter.io/#/signin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowered.medicine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.kepics/ Substack: https://empoweredmindbody.substack.com/ Graphic of breast cancer risk we talk about https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01-NEW-INFOGRAPHICS-NOV2025-C.pdf Perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/69bc7d13da5211ffd6e5879c myths about HRT: https://www.empoweredmedicine.co/myths Connect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

52. Functional Lab Testing: The Missing Piece Behind Your Hormone Symptoms (The Hormone Disconnect Series Episode 3)

Being told your labs are “normal” doesn’t mean your body is functioning optimally. For many women struggling with hormone symptoms, fatigue, PMS, weight changes, gut issues, and unexplained health concerns, the answers often live in the gaps conventional testing misses. In this episode of the Hormone Disconnect Series, Brandee breaks down the differences between conventional and functional lab testing, why standard labs are designed to identify disease rather than dysfunction, and how functional testing can uncover the root causes behind persistent symptoms. She explains how the right data can help connect the dots between your symptoms, hormones, gut health, stress response, and overall wellness. You'll learn about the functional labs Brandee uses most often with clients, including comprehensive stool testing, hormone testing through saliva and urine, and real-time hormone tracking. She also shares how proper timing, interpretation, and individualized analysis can completely change the way you understand your health. What You'll Learn: * Why normal lab results don't always mean optimal health * The difference between conventional reference ranges and functional optimal ranges * How gut health directly impacts hormone balance * Why timing matters when testing hormones * The benefits of GI-MAP, DUTCH testing, saliva hormone testing, and Mira cycle tracking * How functional lab testing helps uncover root causes instead of masking symptoms * Why personalized interpretation is just as important as the test itself Hormone Lab Guide: https://beecollectivewellness.com/hormone-lab-guide [https://beecollectivewellness.com/hormone-lab-guide] Work With Me: https://beecollectivewellness.com/nutrition-coaching [https://beecollectivewellness.com/nutrition-coaching] Connect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup [https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup] Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/] Work with me: https://beecollectivewellness.com/nutrition-coaching [https://beecollectivewellness.com/nutrition-coaching]