Why Women Are Turning to Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Penelope McDonnell (Part I)

Let’s Move Beyond Performative Wellness: Healing, Ritual & Spirituality with Jiji Kenney

Can we please stop with the performative wellness?  Why are we blindly participating in trends without understanding their purpose — or whether they actually fit our unique needs? What if we took a page from cultures that have long understood healing differently: through ritual, community, nervous system safety, and real connection. This week on Off With Your Coat, Cat sits down with Jiji Kenney, founder of Luruh (to fall gently), an Indonesian-rooted monthly gathering for women centered around communal healing, intentional ritual, and embodied wellness. After her own trauma, difficult postpartum experience,  and the pressure of “snapback” culture, Jiji began questioning what wellness in the Western world actually means when it’s practiced, not just performed. This conversation is grounding, honest, and deeply human — a reminder that healing may have less to do with perfection and more to do with ritual, connection, and community. Because wellness was never meant to be a performance. Connect with Jiji and learn more about Luruh and the upcoming gathering dates here [https://www.instagram.com/luruhbyjiji/]!

Are Peptides Too Good to Be True? Women’s Health, GLP-1s & Longevity with Dr. Penelope McDonnell (Part II)

Why does it feel like everyone is either on a peptide stack, promoting one, or thinking about starting? Are they actually safe? Effective? Overhyped? In Part 2 of Off with Your Coat, Cat Duff sits back down with Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Penelope McDonnell for a candid conversation on the wellness topics taking over everyone’s feeds: peptides, GLP-1s, inflammation, longevity, and the foundational habits women are skipping in the pursuit of optimization. Dr. McDonnell breaks down why she believes we’re still in the “AOL dial-up era” of peptide therapy, the safety concerns no one online seems to be talking about, and why sourcing and personalization matter more than ever. They also dive into: * Cancer prevention –why disease seems to be hitting women, younger & younger * GLP-1s, micro-dosing + metabolic healing * Gut health, inflammation + the viral “seed cereal” for everyday * Travel wellness hacks and lymphatic drainage * Functional testing + women’s hormone health * Therapy, burnout, sleep, and longevity If you’ve been peptide-curious — or completely overwhelmed by wellness trends — this episode brings nuance, context, and honesty back into the conversation. Connect with Dr. M: Instagram [http://instagram.com/drpenelopemcdonnell] Practice [https://www.drpenelopemcdonnell.com/]

Why Women Are Turning to Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Penelope McDonnell (Part I)

What is a naturopath—and where does this kind of care fit into women’s health today? In this two-part episode, Cat sits down with Dr. Penelope McDonnell for a candid conversation on fertility, menopause, inflammation, peptides, longevity, and the future of personalized medicine. Dr. McDonnell has been part of Cat’s health journey for nearly a decade—supporting everything from breast cancer prevention (with strong family history), fertility prep, miscarriage recovery and hormone support, and postpartum care, all alongside traditional medical doctors. This episode explores what can happen when women build a collaborative care team instead of feeling forced to choose one side or the other. Where one approach falls short, another can offer support—and together, they can help women feel informed, proactive, and truly seen. We also dive into root-cause medicine, hormone health, genetics, nervous system regulation, wellness misinformation online, and why nuanced conversations around miscarriage, menopause, libido, and aging matter so much. This is a conversation about balance, prevention, modern science, ancestral wisdom—and empowering women with more options, not more fear. You can connect with Dr. M:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drpenelopemcdonnell] Her Practice [https://www.drpenelopemcdonnell.com/]

Bringing Sexy Back to Women’s Health (Hint: It’s the Basics) with Danielle Raniolo

The idea that the basics of health are “unsexy” is officially over. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, fertility challenges, or simply seeking to optimize your health, this conversation delivers practical, science-backed insights on what actually moves the needle. Cat sits down with Danielle Raniolo, Founder & Women’s Health Coach, to explore why foundational habits—nutrition, movement, sleep, nervous system regulation, and toxin reduction—are the most powerful tools for long-term health, hormone balance, and longevity. And we have some fun along the way. As Danielle is Cat’s college best friend and former roommate, this conversation blends science, lived experience, and compassionate perspective with a dose of nostalgia, laughter, and real-life reflection. Key Takeaways * Danielle’s whole-body approach to women’s health: full-body leadership * Strength training for lean muscle, metabolic health, and longevity (how and when to start) * Functional medicine and uncovering root causes, including autoimmunity * Acute vs. chronic inflammation and its impact on the body * Balancing cardio, resistance training, and recovery for long-term health * The importance of personalized lab testing (thyroid, metabolic, nutrient markers) * Foundational supplements: creatine, magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3s * Nutrition strategies: fiber, diversity, and plant-forward protein * Nervous system regulation through acupuncture, movement, and mindfulness * Fertility optimization and when to consider medical support * And so much more Connect with Danielle Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/danielleraniolo/] Sign up for The Root Newsletter [https://danielleraniolo.lpages.co/the-root-fertility/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleARgRMxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadeFrFQammDvm5i4Rriz32oG_8RrYrvNd0_n6SdkHM876RnZGB5N1371i3DaQ_aem_JRFj3cDELJdCNy_0ynuEYg]: Fertility  Sign up for The Root Newsletter [https://danielleraniolo.lpages.co/the-root-perimenopause/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleARgRDJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafoejMy05udsLANyPIkPeUFW6RjwHjNupAt5ZlsqzGJu0B_5sxCv8CtxwVILw_aem_PDI2KNWUsgy52RFY1zGrTQ]:  Perimenopause

Are Your Wild Mood Changes Starting In Your Gut? PMS & PMDD Explained with Roma Vishwanath-Deutsch

Do you feel like the wheels are coming off the wagon before your period… every single month? Anxiety. Irritability. Short fuse. Emotional overwhelm. Sometimes even depression. And then we’re told to just push through it—like PMS is a throwaway term and suffering in silence (with Advil and a heating pack) is normal. But what if PMS and PMDD, a more severe, cyclical form of premenstrual symptoms that can significantly impact daily life, relationships, and functioning—isn’t “just hormones”? What if it’s something more complex… and something we’ve been missing? In this episode, we sit down with Roma Vishwanath-Deutsch, founder of Pinkmatter, to unpack the real story behind cyclical mood changes—and why the gut, brain, and hormones are far more interconnected than most of us have been told. Cat and Roma share their personal experiences with PMDD, and reflect on how storytelling can help dismantle stigma and reshape how we talk about women’s mental health. This conversation goes beyond quick fixes. We get into the systemic roots of PMS and PMDD, the science behind the gut-brain axis, and what it actually looks like to support your body in a way that feels sustainable, personalized, and stigma-free. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or overwhelmed by your symptoms—this one is for you! Resources & Links: * Pinkmatter [https://mypinkmatter.com/] Resources & Foundational Cycle & Microbiome Support * Pinkmatter [http://instagram.com/pinkmatter] and Roma [http://instagram.com/itsromatomato] on Instagram * Pinkmatter [https://www.tiktok.com/@mypinkmatter] on TikTok Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode resonated, share it with a friend! Subscribe, rate, and follow @genwellofficial for more conversations like this.