Healthy Buzz: Hormone Health, Gut Health, Perimenopause & Women’s Wellness

For most of our lives, we've been handed a prescription and told it would fix everything — painful periods, irregular cycles, acne, you name it. But what if we were never actually given the full picture?This isn't an anti-birth-control episode. It's a pro-information one.In this episode, Brandee sits down with women's health expert Nicole Jardim for one of those conversations that makes you wish you'd had it ten years ago. They dig into what hormonal birth control is actually doing inside your body, why calling it a "cycle regulator" is more marketing than medicine, and how suppressing ovulation can quietly affect everything from your mood and gut health to your nutrient levels and long-term wellbeing.Nicole gets personal too — sharing her own experience with debilitating periods and years on the pill before she started asking the questions no one had thought to ask her.Whether you're on hormonal birth control right now, thinking about coming off it, or just realizing there's a lot about your own hormones you were never taught — this episode meets you where you are, with science and real-world experience to back it up.In This Episode:Why hormonal birth control does not actually regulate your menstrual cycleWhat happens to ovulation and hormone production while on the pillThe connection between birth control and nutrient depletionThe impact of birth control on gut health, inflammation, and the microbiomeUnderstanding the nuanced conversation around cancer risk and hormonal contraceptivesHow fertility awareness methods support body literacy and reproductive healthPractical considerations for coming off hormonal birth control and supporting your body through the transitionSTOP GUESSING & START ADVOCATING FOR YOUR HEALTH WITH THE RIGHT LABS:www.beecollectivewellness.com/hormone-lab-guideConnect with Nicole:The Fix Your Period Quiz (Free) - https://fixyourperiod.com/quiz/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemjardim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolemjardim/Fix Your Period: Six Weeks to Banish Bloating, Conquer Cramps, Manage Moodiness, and Ignite Lasting Hormone Balance – A Women's Health Protocol Beyond Birth Control: https://www.amazon.com/Fix-Your-Period-Bloating-Moodiness/dp/Connect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

I spent 17 years on hormonal birth control without fully understanding what it was doing to my body. I almost talked myself out of HRT even when my data was literally showing me I needed it. And alcohol? I had no idea what it was quietly doing to my hormones. If you've ever felt dismissed, confused, or like you're getting half the picture from your doctor — this series is for you.In this episode:Why I stayed on hormonal birth control for 17 years and what I wish someone had told me soonerHow getting COVID triggered a hormonal shift that changed everything at 44The unexpected perimenopause symptoms nobody talks about (brain fog, itchy skin, ringing ears)How I almost gaslighted myself out of starting HRT — even with data showing I needed itMy progesterone sensitivity journey and how I had to advocate for a different protocolWhat alcohol is actually doing to your blood sugar, cortisol, sleep, and hormonesA preview of all five episodes in the Hormone Disconnect Summer SeriesEpisodes in this series:Ep 2: Hormonal birth control with Nicole JardimEp 3: Functional lab testing — why standard labs miss what's actually going onEp 4: HRT with Danielle KepicsEp 5: Alcohol and your hormones with Dr. Brooke SchellerConnect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Something groundbreaking just happened in women's health. The Lancet officially renamed PCOS to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome)—and if you've ever been dismissed because you don't have cysts on your ovaries, or you've been sitting with a diagnosis that never quite explained how you feel, this episode will make a lot of things click.I'm breaking down why the old name was harmful, what PMOS actually means, and why a name change alone won't automatically get women better care. Because up to 70% of affected individuals remain undiagnosed—and that needs to change. I'm also sharing my personal journey of being dismissed by three providers over three years before finally getting diagnosed at 38, and what I wish I had known then.This is a huge win for women's health, but there's still so much work to do. Let's talk about what this means for you and how to advocate for yourself moving forward.In This Episode:What PMOS stands for and why this name change matters (hint: it's not just about cysts)The Rotterdam criteria and how PMOS is actually diagnosedWhy up to 70% of people remain undiagnosed—and the serious health risks that come with thatMy personal story of medical dismissal and why "lean PCOS" needs to stop being a thingHow to advocate for yourself and what questions to ask your provider right nowResources Mentioned:The Lancet paper on PCOS to PMOS name changeRotterdam criteria for PMOS diagnosisConnect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

If you've spent your life being told you're “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or “too much,” this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. In this episode of Healthy Buzz, Brandee sits down with Amanda Baker of Collaborative Sage to explore the intersection of high sensitivity, ADHD, perfectionism, and burnout. Amanda shares her personal journey from corporate overachiever to complete nervous system collapse — including panic attacks, chronic illness, emergency room visits, and the deep unlearning required to recover. Together, they unpack what it actually means to be a highly sensitive person, how rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) fuels people-pleasing and perfectionism, and why so many women feel trapped in a cycle of proving themselves. Amanda also opens up about the realities of healing a dysregulated nervous system, learning to honor rest without guilt, and building a life that supports who you actually are instead of who you think you’re supposed to be. This conversation is for the woman who’s exhausted from constantly pushing harder, carrying everyone else’s emotions, and feeling like she’s one step away from falling apart — even while appearing completely “fine” on the outside.In This Episode: What burnout actually looks like for highly sensitive and neurodivergent women How ADHD and high sensitivity can amplify nervous system dysregulation The hidden role of rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) in perfectionism and overachieving Why rest is a biological need — not laziness How Amanda rebuilt her life and work around her nervous system instead of fighting against it Connect with Amanda:Website: https://www.collaborativesage.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collaborativesageLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakeraBook a free 30-min consultation: https://calendly.com/amanda-collaborativesage/free-consultationDo you want to optimize blood sugar and achieve optimal hormone health?Join Brandee’s Blood Sugar Savvy course. Use code BUZZ to save $30 at https://beecollectivewellness.com/blood-sugar-savvy Connect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Perimenopause isn’t just about hot flashes and missed periods — it’s a full neuroendocrine remodel that can completely change how your brain, body, and nervous system respond to stress.In this episode of Healthy Buzz, Brandee sits down with certified menopause coach Holly Finn, founder of A Better Pause, to unpack why so many women feel blindsided during peri and post-menopause. Holly shares her own experience navigating debilitating hot flashes, anxiety, burnout, ADHD, and being repeatedly misdiagnosed before finally realizing hormones were at the root of what she was experiencing. This conversation dives into nervous system regulation, stress, boundaries, cortisol, sleep, food apathy, over-functioning, and the grief many women experience as their bodies and identities change during this transition. Holly also explains why trying to “power through” no longer works — and why this phase may actually be an invitation to rebuild your life in a more sustainable way.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotionally raw, exhausted, or frustrated that your body no longer responds the way it used to, this episode is for you. In This Episode:Why perimenopause feels like a mental and emotional “remodel” The connection between hormones, cortisol, and nervous system overwhelm How stress and people-pleasing intensify peri and post-menopause symptoms Why boundaries become essential during this phase of life The small daily habits that can create massive improvements in resilience and wellbeingConnect with Holly: Website: https://abetterpause.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abetterpauseEmail: [email protected] Do you want to optimize blood sugar and achieve optimal hormone health?Join Brandee’s Blood Sugar Savvy course. Use code BUZZ to save $30 at https://beecollectivewellness.com/blood-sugar-savvy Connect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

Motherhood is not supposed to feel like chronic exhaustion, rage, and disconnection—but for so many women, it does.In this episode, Brandee sits down with functional nutritionist Kim Perez of Root & Branch Nutrition to unpack why so many moms feel depleted, overstimulated, and unlike themselves long after postpartum. Kim shares her personal journey from “doing everything right” to hitting a breaking point—and how that led her to uncover the massive gaps in support for mothers. Together, they explore the deeper root causes behind symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, poor sleep, and weight resistance, even when labs come back “normal.”This conversation dives into the often-overlooked role of mineral depletion, blood sugar instability, and nervous system dysregulation—and why typical wellness advice often fails moms in real life. You’ll also learn simple, realistic strategies to support your energy, stabilize your mood, and start feeling like yourself again—without adding more overwhelm.Key Takeaways: Why “normal labs” don’t mean optimal health—and what’s often being missed How mineral depletion and blood sugar dysregulation drive fatigue, mood swings, and poor sleep The connection between under-eating, overstimulation, and nervous system burnout Simple, realistic habits that actually support moms in the chaos of daily life How to shift out of all-or-nothing wellness and into sustainable, personalized careConnect with Kim:Website: https://rootandbranchnutrition.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootandbranchnutrition/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rootandbranchnutrition?xmt=AQF0NSRtxvBLZYxXkch1F5aF526tOpfruARxPu5HSzyxsnEFreebie: https://rootandbranchnutrition.myflodesk.com/5dayrevivalDo you want to optimize blood sugar and achieve optimal hormone health?Join Brandee’s Blood Sugar Savvy course. Use code BUZZ to save $30 at https://beecollectivewellness.com/blood-sugar-savvy Connect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

If you’ve ever been told your chronic pain, fatigue, or digestive issues are “just part of being hypermobile” and that you’ll have to live with it—this episode is going to challenge everything you’ve been told.I’m joined by Jen Parkinson of EDS Nutritionist, and we’re diving into the real drivers behind Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) symptoms. This conversation goes far beyond joint pain and flexibility, unpacking why the gut, nervous system, and mineral balance are often the missing pieces. We talk about the frustration of being dismissed in the healthcare system, the problem with treating symptoms in isolation, and why so many women stay stuck in cycles of supplement guessing and restrictive diets.Jen breaks down how a root-cause, whole-body approach can shift energy, digestion, brain fog, and overall stability—and why foundational habits are non-negotiable if you actually want your body to respond. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing works, this episode will give you a more strategic and sustainable way forward. In This Episode, We Discuss:The truth about EDS as a multi-system condition—not just a joint disorderWhy gut health, minerals, and the nervous system drive most symptomsThe connection between EDS, MCAS, and POTS (the “trifecta”)Why food sensitivity tests and supplement stacking often backfireHow foundational habits like blood sugar balance and circadian rhythm impact healingWhat functional testing actually reveals—and why context mattersConnect with Jen: Freebie: EDS lab guide https://edsnutritionist.myflodesk.com/y96s3i9wa1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsnutritionist/Website: edsnutritionist.com Do you want to optimize blood sugar and achieve optimal hormone health?Join Brandee’s Blood Sugar Savvy course. Use code BUZZ to save $30 at https://beecollectivewellness.com/blood-sugar-savvy Connect with me:Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signupFollow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com

If you’ve been loading up your cart with “hormone-balancing” or “gut-healing” supplements, thinking they’re the missing piece—you need to hear this.In this solo episode, Brandee exposes the uncomfortable truth about the supplement industry and why what you’re taking may not actually be what’s on the label. From counterfeit products on Amazon to mislabeled ingredients and lack of regulation, this episode breaks down why blindly trusting supplements can cost you your health—and your money.She also challenges the belief that supplements are the solution, explaining why they’re meant to support a solid foundation—not replace it. Without proper sleep, nutrition, and stress management, no supplement will fix your symptoms. And without data, supplementation becomes nothing more than expensive guesswork.This episode will completely shift how you think about supplements, where you buy them, and how you decide what’s actually worth taking.In This Episode:Why supplements are not regulated like medications—and what that means for you The reality of counterfeit supplements on Amazon and unverified sellers What research shows about mislabeled and contaminated products Why supplements should support your foundation—not replace it The problem with “magic supplement” marketing from social media Why random supplementation without testing is expensive guesswork How to spot red flags when buying supplements (price, packaging, seals) What third-party certifications (NSF, USP, Informed Sport) actually mean Why buying from verified sources or professional dispensaries matters How to become a smarter, more informed supplement consumer Fullscript: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/bhommerdingConnect with me: Sign up for my newsletter: https://bcw.beecollectivewellness.com/newsletter-signup Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/beecollectivewellness/