Women Talking Frankly
by Candace Burch and Kyle McAvoy
Kyle McAvoy (N.P.) and Candace Burch (M.A.) lead lively conversations that address the essential issues women face throughout life’s transitions. They bring decades of experience specializing in hormones and women’s healthcare to shed light on PMS, menopause, sex, aging and more. Their episodes cover topics you might be afraid or embarrassed to ask about, including dynamic “let’s-get-real” discussions with experts about the heart, head, and health topics that matter most to women!
Episodes
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Ep 79: A One-on-One with Kyle & Candace: Breast Cancer Awareness, Tea & The HRT Debate
October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” so we met up and talked about that and other must-hear topics! It is Covid and flu season: Don’t forget to get your latest vaccines. Each time you contract Covid, your risk of long Covid increases. Covid causes inflammation all over your body. We are at...
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Ep 78: Awareness To Action: What Every Woman Needs To Know During Breast Cancer Awareness Month - And All Year Long, with Kenna Stephenson, MD & Angela M Grout
During Breast Cancer Awareness month, Candace and Kyle have the privilege of interviewing Kenna Stephenson, MD, a family physician, author (Awakening Athena, The Gospel of Women’s Health) and independent researcher, with a particular focus on women’s reproductive health and hormones. Also joining...
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Ep 77: A One-on-One with Kyle & Candace
We have lost two great women in the past month. Dolly Parton: Who didn’t love her? As we all know, Dolly came from a huge family in Tennessee and grew up poor as can be. She went on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry at just 13 years old, introduced by Johnny Cash. From there, she built an…
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Ep 76: What’s Happening Under The Surface: Neurotransmitters & Our Mental Health - with Tamara Owen, RN, MS, PMHNP
Tamara Owen, RN, MS, PMHNP, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, educator, and creator of The 8 Areas Method: The Framework for Creating a Life Well-Lived. With more than 30 years of experience, she helps people understand how brain chemistry, daily habits, relationships…
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Ep 75: Living Healthier & Longer: Lessons in Gratitude from a Groundbreaking Chef & Longevity Expert, Ron Russell
Today Kyle and Candace are talking with Ron Russell, Longevity Expert, Chef, co-founder of the twice-named 10 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, SunCafe Organic, and author of Longevity Visa. During his five years working with Dr. Dean Ornish’s heart-disease reversal clinic at UCLA Medical Center,...
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Ep 74: A One-On-One with Candace & Kyle: Never a Dull Moment in the World of Women’s Health!
Kyle and Candace share their take on all the news that grabbed their attention this week, from running out of hormone patches, the hazards of sitting, to “Endometriosis the Musical” and The 82 year-old ‘Jump Rope Queen’ of Beverly Hills! - What to Do if Your Estrogen Patch Is Out of Stock The…
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Ep 73: Interview With Dr. Vandana Arcot, A Global Champion For Women’s Health and Rights
Dr. Vandana Arcot Arcot has spent over 17 years working across global healthcare and philanthropy, often behind the scenes with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. But after two close female friends in the Middle East were recently killed for speaking their opinions online, she made...
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Ep 72: Candace & Kyle’s Monthly Riff on the Relatable Ideas, News, Views & Hot Topics That Caught Our Attention This Month
It's time for another monthly riff! Join Candace and Kyle as they share the ideas, discoveries, headlines, and conversations that sparked their curiosity this month. From healthy aging and women's health advocacy to favorite entertainment picks and practical wellness tips, this episode is packed...
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Ep 71: A Weighty Topic - All Things Diet Related with Morgana Lakatos-Hayward
If there is one topic that almost ALL women have dealt with at least once - and probably a gazillion times throughout their lives - it’s their weight. Today, we’re thrilled to interview Morgana Lakatos-Hayward, a former two-time world champion Latin dancer who struggled for years with her own...
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Ep 70: Real Talk on Hormones, Protein & Sugar Swaps
In keeping with our commitment to stay informed about the news that matters to us - and in turn, the things that matter to YOU - we’re back with another one-on-one conversation, just the two of us. In this episode, we break down several timely and important health topics affecting women today,...
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Ep 69: Longevity Matters - It’s Not Just About How Long We Live - But How Well We Live
The conversation around healthy aging is evolving in exciting ways! In this interview, WTF talks with longevity physician, Dr. Jennifer Timmons, MD, founder & medical director of Timmons Wellness, a concierge medical practice focused on helping people stay vibrant, energetic, and independent as...
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Ep 68: Kyle and Candace Talk Hypertension’s Silent Threat, Blood Sugar Hacks & Honoring Mothers of All Kinds
Too often, we live by the mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” - especially when it comes to our health. But waiting for symptoms can come with serious consequences. Join Kyle & Candace this week for another one-on-one conversation as they unpack the silent threat of hypertension, share...
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Ep 67: Good Grief – an interview with Toni Filipone, International Grief Expert, Author, Speaker, and the Founder of Master Grief
In this episode, Kyle & Candace sit down with Toni Filipone, international grief expert, author, speaker, and the founder of Master Grief. Toni is a leader in personal development, working alongside Tony Robbins for over three decades. Today she teaches people in over 82 countries how to…
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Ep 66: Buyer Beware! Finding Hormone Help - What to Ask & What to Expect to Find the Care That’s Right for YOU
This week, Kyle and Candace leap into the breach and explain their decision to pull a previously recorded episode with the CEO and Medical director of a high end medi-spa consortium. Early into the interview, we found ourselves at odds with our guests, whose approach to hormone therapy sounded…
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Ep 65: February Bonus Episode: A Look at Topics Pertaining to All Women with Kyle and Candace
Join us for a special bonus episode as Kyle and Candace dig into a plethora of topics that women are wondering about! ~ Quick recap of our Valentine’s Day podcast on women and libido + important takeaways ~ How social connection keeps emerging as a pivotal factor in longevity and healthspan ~…
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Ep 64: Low Libido in Women: How Hormones, the Brain, and Modern Life Shape Desire
Low libido is one of the most common concerns women experience — and one of the least openly discussed. In this episode of Women Talking Frankly, Holistic Consultant Pharmacist Susan Merenstein reframes libido as a health signal, not a personal failure. Susan explains how desire is shaped by...
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Ep 63: One on One with Kyle & Candace, Our Annual Catch-up & Look Forward Episode
Sit down with Kyle & Candace for their yearly catch-up episode: “out with the old, in with the new”. This episode is chock full of important health information, plus Kyle & Candace share tips with you to make 2026 a better and brighter year. Topics include: - The FDA removed the Black Box warning...
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Ep 62: Hormone Therapy After the FDA Black Box Removal: What “Safe, Appropriate Use” Really Means — And Why Women Deserve Better with Susan Merenstein, RPh
You’ll Be So Glad You Listened to This Episode! When the FDA pulled the long-standing black box warning that said hormone therapy was dangerous, the headlines exploded! Just like that the FDA has done an about face and we are now told that hormones are safe when used appropriately. This is good...
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Ep 61: Our Favorite Experts Talk Hormone Testing & Restoration + Why Taking Bioidentical Hormones is Good for Women at All Ages & Stages! w/Kenna Stevenson, MD & David Zava, PhD
The importance of what you’re feeling is not all in your head, most symptoms women in perimenopause & menopause experience are down to unaddressed hormone imbalances. You do not need to be referred to a psychiatrist! This month we are joined by Kenna Stevenson, MD & David Zava, PhD discussing...
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Ep 60: Sitting Down with Sali Christeson, Founder of Argentwork, A Clothing Company Designed to Empower Women
Join your hosts, Kyle McAvoy, N.P. and Candace Burch, Health Educator, as we sit down with the founder of the women’s fashion company Argentwork. Back in 2015, Sali was working in the world of hi-tech when she came across an article that stated that women, more than men, were judged on their...
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Ep 59: A Deep Dive into the World of Autoimmune Diseases with VJ Hamilton
Our guest today is Victoria Jane Hamilton, fondly known to all as “VJ”. VJ lives near Yorkshire in the U.K. and is a functional nutritionist and autoimmune expert. Her passion for this work stems from her personal journey. As a five year old, she had alopecia areata (a type of hair loss) and in…
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Ep 58: A Conversation with the Hosts About Things that Outrage, Encourage & Inspire Them in the World of Women's Health
Join Kyle and Candace in one of their candid conversations with each other as they discuss relevant topics for women that either outrage, encourage or intrigue them. With the news coming at all of us so fast all the time, your hosts at Women Talking Frankly are here to help keep YOU informed…
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Ep 57: Having a Hysterectomy Does Not Cure Endometriosis!! Everything You've Wanted to Know About This Condition From An Expert: Dr. Shanti Mohling
Join us for an insightful conversation about the problem of endometriosis and pelvic pain (that affects 10% of women) with one of the leading laparoscopic surgeons in the U.S., Dr. Shanti Mohling. Although this is a very common disorder, most people - including physicians and caregivers - don’t...
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Ep 56: Putting the Risks vs. the Benefits of Wine Drinking into Perspective with Maria Ponzi, Wine Educator
When Maria Ponzi was just a toddler, she helped her trailblazing parents plant grapes in what was one of the earliest vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. As a grownup and President of Ponzi Vineyards, Maria grew the family winery into a world class destination and global brand. As the…
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Ep 55: The Foundations of Health & The Top 5 Supplements for Women - The Ones None of Us Should Miss! w/ Susan Merenstein, RPh
Kyle & Candace are joined today by Susan Merenstein, RPh, who has 44 years of pharmacy practice under her belt and over 21 years of clinical experience in hormone therapy. She has owned her own pharmacy, Murray Avenue Apothecary, for 18 years and its sister company, Lab Naturals, Inc, for 7…
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Ep 54: The New Weight Loss Drugs - A Conversation with Natalie Gustafsen, RPhD
Weight loss drugs have been around forever but there is a new kid in town, GLP1 drugs: names like Ozempic, Wagovy, and Zepbound, to name a few. Wondering how these came about? Are they safe? Are they effective? Are they for me? Who are the best candidates? What about the cost? Kyle and Candace…
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Ep 53: Why are Younger Women Getting Breast Cancer? w/ Dr. Alison McAllister
In this episode, we’re talking frankly about the growing number of younger women (<50 years old) being diagnosed with breast cancer. According to new estimates released Thursday by the American Cancer Society, between 2012 and 2021, breast cancer has been rising faster (1.4% per year) among...
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Ep 52: Catching up w/ Kyle & Candace: A Look Back at 2024 & Their Exciting Plans for 2025!
*Don't miss this episode: it is chock full of news about our podcast and how you can become part of our conversation!* At the beginning of each year, Kyle and Candace catch up on the last year and look ahead to the new one. For our newer listeners, Kyle gives a brief bio of both hosts and also...
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Ep 51: PART 2 - Don't Underestimate Progesterone, the Hormone that Balances Estrogen, Ensures a Healthy Pregnancy & Relieves the Hot Flashes & Night Sweats of Perimenopause w/ Carol Petersen, RPh CNP
Carol Petersen is an accomplished compounding pharmacist and certified nutritional practitioner with decades of experience helping patients improve their quality of life through bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. She is a widely recognized expert on the remarkable benefits of…
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Ep 50: PART 1 - It’s NOT all About Estrogen in Menopause! Progesterone is the Gamechanger You Don’t Want to be Without! with Carol Petersen, RPh CNP
Carol Petersen is an accomplished compounding pharmacist and certified nutritional practitioner with decades of experience helping patients improve their quality of life through bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. She is a widely recognized expert on the remarkable benefits of…
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Ep 49: Naturopath Jenny Tufenkian Reveals the 5 Root Causes of the Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Sleep & Stress Disorders that Keep Us from Living Life to the Fullest!
Today, Candace and Kyle are sharing their interview with Dr. Jenny Tufenkian, N.D., a naturopath with a proven track record of helping patients heal from long term illnesses thought to be incurable! Drawing on a deep toolbox built from decades of studying and practicing naturopathic medicine, Dr....
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Ep 48: Cybersecurity - How to Protect Yourself from Harm in our Electronic World, with Susan Douglas
In this episode, the hosts of Women Talking Frankly interview Susan Douglas. Sue has worked in Technology since graduating from Oregon State in 1984, almost 40 years now, for Companies such as Dell, InfoSys, and NEC. Because fighting bad actors is particularly a passion for her, the last 10…
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Ep 47: You’re never Too Old to Tap in to Your Inner Artist – The Health Benefits of Getting Creative with Claudia Herber and Sharon Cook
In our latest episode, Candace and Kyle have the pleasure of talking to Sharon Cook, and Claudia Herber, artist friends and co-owners of an art gallery in wine country Oregon. https://currentsgallery.com/ Each of these women practices an art all their own, Claudia as crafter extraordinaire of...
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Ep 46: The Benefits of Hypnotherapy: Banishing the Toxic Thinking That Steals Our Self-Confidence with Amy Green Smith, Hypnotherapist
Join Candace and Kyle for a fascinating discussion about the modality of hypnotherapy and how it can create lasting changes in someone’s life. Guest: Amy Green Smith is a hypnotherapist, public speaker, personal improvement coach, and experienced podcaster with over nine years and 500+ episodes...
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Ep 45: A Wordless Way to Self-Healing, with Sound Therapist, Teena Lyle
We begin with Teena’s story, where she describes starting music lessons at 7-years-old on “traditionally female” instruments like violin and piano, but later found that it was guitar and percussion that spoke to her …. “It was like a steam train after that, no one could stop me.” Teena takes us...
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Ep 44: A Discussion of Ayurvedic Medicine with Shivani Gupta, PhD
This week’s guest is Shivani Gupta, PhD, an Ayurvedic Practitioner who completed her PhD on Turmeric and its various uses. Shivani’s vision is to support allopathic medicine with the ancient practices of ayurvedic medicine. She started the women-only run company of Fusionary Formulas...
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Ep 43: The Epidemic of Knee Pain: New Strategies for Treatment with Dr Riggs. (Hint: you may not need surgery after all!!)
On today’s episode, we do a bit of a pivot and learn the causes and treatments of the epidemic of knee pain. Both Kyle and Candace have traveled this journey and have a personal interest in learning more about this topic and sharing this knowledge with our listeners. Our guest today is Dr.…
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Ep 42: The Happy Menopause with Jackie Lynch
Candace and Kyle are delighted to interview British nutritionist and author, Jackie Lynch, founder of the online Well-Well-Well nutrition clinic and host of the hugely popular diet & lifestyle podcast The Happy Menopause - which was shortlisted for the 2022 International Women’s Podcast Awards.…
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Ep 41: Feeling What we Do!! The WTF Wrap Up for 2023, Aspirations and ‘Nudges’ for the New Year
In this episode, Candace and Kyle take the time to pause, reflect and kickoff the New Year with a wrap up of the best of WTF 2023, our favorite episodes and yours, what we learned, accomplished, enjoyed, or indulged in, and how we tried to make our world - the world of women’s health - a better...
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Ep 40: How Menopause Affects Women of Color with Dr. Monica Williams (founder and medical director of Deep Rooted Health)
In this episode, Kyle and Candace tackle one of the most challenging conundrums in healthcare for women in menopause: in particular, how the symptoms can be more severe in women of color (WOC) than they are for white women and last longer - a fact that goes largely unrecognized by doctors!…
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Ep 39: An update on bioidentical hormones (present & future) and a look into the world of compounding pharmacies, with Natalie Gustafson, PharmD
Kyle and Candace chat with Natalie Gustafson, PharmD, pharmacist/owner of Lloyd Central Compounding Pharmacy: https://lcrx.com whose expertise and insights on bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) we have relied upon for nearly 2 decades! In today’s episode, we review the basics of how and why...
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Ep 38: Women and Cardiac Disease: Getting to the Roots with Andrea Nakayama, Functional Nutritionist
In today’s episode, Kyle and Candace tackle the all-important subject of heart disease, the number one killer of women. While many campaigns exist to bring awareness to breast cancer screening and testing, the truth is that heart disease poses a much greater threat to us. In the U.S., 1 out of 31...
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Ep 37: The Art and Science of Natural Hormone Balance in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr Kenna Stephenson, M.D.
Candace & Kyle have another fascinating conversation with Dr. Kenna Stephenson, M.D., a pioneering Family Medicine physician who has dedicated her life’s work to helping women in menopause balance their hormones using the Bioidentical Restoration Model of Care to improve symptoms & quality of…
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Ep 36: From the Horse’s Mouth: Dr. David Zava, PhD. Sets the Record Straight on how Hormone testing and Rebalancing with Bioidentical/Natural Hormones can help Women Feel Great Again!
Candace & Kyle catch up with their favorite guru/mentor/expert on hormones & hormone testing, Dr. David Zava, Ph.D., Founder/CEO of ZRT Laboratory, one of the foremost hormone testing labs in the US & globally. A biochemist by trade & teacher at heart, Dr. Zava didn’t start out trying to build a...
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Ep 35: No Bones About It: The Health of Your Bones REALLY Matters, with Dr. Lani Simpson
During today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Lani Simpson, Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine and the first alternative provider to become a board certified bone densitometirst (C.C.D.). For over 30 years, Lani has educated health care providers about the importance of bone heatlh and has hosted a…
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Ep 34: How Hormones Hijack Your Sleep in Perimenopause and Menopause
Dr. Valerie Cacho is the president and founder of Sleep Life Med, a tele-sleep practice in Hawaii and California. Her interests and expertise include: diagnosing and treating medical sleep disorders during perimenopause and menopause, women's sleep concerns, mind-body approaches to insomnia,...
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Ep 33: Pro-Aging with Gabby Reece: volleyball legend, fitness guru, thought leader and popular podcaster
To many women young and old, Gabrielle Reece is the epitome of athleticism and beauty. Not only is she a volleyball legend, someone the younger generation looks up to as a groundbreaker in women’s professional sports, but she’s an inspirational leader, NYTimes best-selling author and host of The...
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Ep 32: What is the secret ingredient to living a life of health, happiness and longevity
In this episode of WTF, Kyle and Candace discuss recently released results from the longest in-depth longitudinal study on human development and happiness ever done. The Harvard Adult Development Study has been running for nearly 85 years and concludes that cultivating and nurturing sound...
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Ep 31: Menopause: Back in the News...Are Women Being Misled?
Kyle and Candace respond to the recent (Jan. 2023) NY Times Magazine cover article by Susan Dominus, "We have been misled about menopause." Twenty years after the Women's Health Initiative study (WHI) turned the treatment of menopause on its head, the U.S is still grappling with how to deal with...
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Episode Thirty: Exploring the Ever Growing World of Non-Alcoholic Beverages in the New Year
It has been quite a few years: almost three living through a pandemic….This holiday season almost feels ‘normal ‘ again , whatever THAT means… Thinking back to the holiday season pre Covid: it has always been a time full of stress, expectations, family drama, FOMO, loneliness, busyness…
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About this show
Kyle McAvoy (N.P.) and Candace Burch (M.A.) lead lively conversations that address the essential issues women face throughout life’s transitions. They bring decades of experience specializing in hormones and women’s healthcare to shed light on PMS, menopause, sex, aging and more. Their episodes cover topics you might be afraid or embarrassed to ask about, including dynamic “let’s-get-real” discussions with experts about the heart, head, and health topics that matter most to women!
Hosted by
Candace Burch and Kyle McAvoy