99:: What The Devil Wears Prada can teach us about cortisol

Miranda Priestly didn't just stress Andy out emotionally. She was actively dysregulating her HPA axis. And if you've ever worked a job — or lived a life — that felt anything like that, this episode is for you.In honor of Devil Wears Prada 2 hitting theaters, Dr. Kelsy Vick is breaking down one of the most misunderstood hormones in women's health: cortisol. Not to demonize it — but to completely reframe it. Because cortisol is not the villain. A dysregulated cortisol rhythm is. And those are two very different things.In this episode you'll learn:What cortisol actually does for you every single day — and why you'd be in serious trouble without itHow the HPA axis works and why the rhythm matters more than the levelWhat a "Miranda Priestly environment" does to your body over timeHow to recognize if your own cortisol rhythm might be off5 evidence-based tools to restore your cortisol rhythm — even in a high-demand lifeAll backed by peer-reviewed research. Zero fear mongering. Just the science you actually deserve to have.🎧 Part of the Spring Cleaning Series — check out our episodes on the lymphatic system, glymphatic system, and liver health linked below.The Glymphatic System Episode (pod episode 96)loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :)sign up for the free Smart Girl Newspaper!insta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodyoutube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpttiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodSources:Knezevic et al. (2023) — Cells / PMC — Cortisol physiology, HPA axis & chronic stress dysregulation 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10706127/Lengton et al. (2024) — Clinical Obesity / PMC — Cortisol, HPA axis & body weight 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11907100/Li, Huang & Zhu (2025) — Sports / PMC — Optimal exercise modality for cortisol reduction across 44 RCTs 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12736704/Liu (2024) — Sleep / PMC — Cortisol-sleep bidirectional relationship in young women 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11381560/Meta-analysis — PMC — Mindfulness-based interventions & salivary cortisol 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5069287/