The Strength in Hormones Podcast

Episode 139: Microdosing Peptides for Chronic Illness with Jay Campbell

Microdosing Peptides for Chronic Illness with Jay Campbell
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What peptides are and how they function in the body
What microdosing peptides means and how it differs from standard dosing
How microdosing GLP peptides may help in chronic illness
How peptides can influence metabolism, inflammation, and brain signaling
The foundations that must be in place before starting peptides
The difference between GLP-1, GLP-2, and GLP-3 peptides
How peptide stacking works and when it may be appropriate
Why hormone, thyroid, and metabolic health matter before starting peptides
What to know about peptide sourcing, quality, and safety
Important show links 👇👇👇
Visit JayCampbell.com and learn more hormone optimization, peptides, fat loss and fitness
Apply to work 1:1 with us in our coaching program 
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 138: [The LOdown] Is Your Immune System Overactive… or Exhausted? Understanding Immune Modulation

[The LOdown] Is Your Immune System Overactive… or Exhausted? Understanding Immune Modulation
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What immune modulation is and why the goal is to regulate, not suppress, the immune system
How autoimmune conditions develop when the immune system becomes stuck in a hyperactive state
How immune dysregulation can drive inflammation, histamine symptoms, and thyroid autoimmunity
The difference between hyperreactive and hyporeactive immune system patterns
Lab markers that help identify immune activation and immune suppression
Common triggers that disrupt immune regulation
How targeted therapies help restore healthy immune signaling
How immune modulation can improve symptoms and long-term health outcomes
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Listen to the micro-immunotherapy podcast episode 
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
 
 

Episode 137: Prolactin: Understanding High Levels & Prolactinomas with Romana

Prolactin: Understanding High Levels & Prolactinomas with Romana
Prolactin is most commonly known as the hormone responsible for breast milk production during pregnancy and postpartum. However, elevated prolactin levels outside of pregnancy or breastfeeding—known as hyperprolactinemia—are far more common than many people realize and can significantly impact cycles, fertility, and thyroid function.
Together Romana and I explore the complex relationship between prolactin, dopamine signaling, thyroid function, and the reproductive hormones that regulate ovulation and menstrual cycles. We also discuss how chronic stress, inflammation, and underlying endocrine dysfunction can disrupt prolactin regulation.
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What prolactin is, and when elevated levels are expected
Why prolactin may be elevated when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding
How elevated prolactin impacts ovulation, progesterone production, and cycle regularity
The relationship between prolactin, dopamine, and reproductive signaling
The relationship between thyroid function, stress and prolactin
When to suspect a prolactinoma, and which lab ranges matter
How prolactin influences immune function and inflammation
Treatment approaches for hyperprolactinemia and prolactinomas
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Listen to podcast episode on the role of leptin in thyroid and reproductive function
Apply to work 1:1 with us in our coaching program 
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
 

Episode 136: [The LOdown] My Mold Remediation Story: Everything I Did, Used and How I Recovered

[The LOdown] My Mold Remediation Story: Everything I Did, Used and How I Recovered
In this solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my personal mold remediation experience (for the second time). I'm sharing signs that indicated mold, how I organized remediation to protect my family, how I'm recovering and all the tools and resources I used along the way.
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
Early signs mold may be affecting your health
How my mold experiences shaped my personal and clinical perspective
The exact remediation steps I required to ensure proper mycotoxin containment
Air filtration, dehumidification, and ventilation strategies I implemented
What I discarded, cleaned, or replaced to prevent re-exposure
How and when I retested my home environment
What supported my recovery during and after remediation
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Order your at home mold test and get a discount with GotMold? Use code: laurenpapanos10
Get $100 off your AirDoctor air filter with this link
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 135: Understanding MTHFR & Methylation for Fertility & Chronic Illness with Dr. Sam Shay

Understanding MTHFR & Methylation for Fertility & Chronic Illness with Dr. Sam Shay
MTHFR is one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—genes in the functional medicine world. But what does it actually mean to have an MTHFR mutation? How does methylation influence fertility, thyroid health, homocysteine levels, detox pathways, and chronic illness? And when is genetic testing truly helpful versus fear-driven?
In this episode, I’m joined by functional medicine expert Dr. Sam Shay to break down the science of methylation in a practical, clinically grounded way. We discuss how MTHFR variants impact folate metabolism, vitamin B12 utilization, homocysteine regulation, and oxidative stress—and why these pathways matter deeply for women navigating infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, Hashimoto’s, PCOS, autoimmunity, and complex inflammatory conditions.
We also unpack common myths about MTHFR, including when high-dose methylated supplements may backfire.
If you’ve ever been told you have an MTHFR mutation and felt confused about what to do next—or if you’re struggling with unexplained fertility challenges, thyroid antibodies, chronic fatigue, or inflammatory symptoms despite “normal labs”—this episode will help you understand the bigger biochemical picture and how to approach methylation support in a personalized, root-cause way.
This conversation is especially important for active women who are trying to conceive, managing autoimmune thyroid disease, or navigating chronic illness through a functional medicine lens.
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What MTHFR actually does, and why it is often misunderstood
How methylation works, and why inflammation drives the process
Why slow methylation may have been protective evolutionarily, but problematic today
How methylation affects estrogen detoxification and hormone balance
What homocysteine reveals about methylation efficiency and cardiovascular risk
The three pathways the body uses to clear homocysteine
Which genetic variants matter most for fertility, autoimmunity, and chronic illness
How vitamin D receptor genes influence immune regulation and inflammation
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Learn more about Dr. Sam Shay at www.DrSamShay.com
Apply to work with us 1:1 for fertility support
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
 

Episode 134: AMA: Low Luteal BBT, Mold Exposure, Thyroid Antibodies & Thyroid Inflammation—What It All Really Means

AMA: Low Luteal BBT, Mold Exposure, Thyroid Antibodies & Thyroid Inflammation—What It All Really Means
In this AMA episode, I answer some of your frequently asked questions you submitted over on Instagram. We discuss the causes of low luteal phase basal body temperatures (BBT), progesterone dysfunction, mold-related inflammation, thyroid antibodies, and thyroid swelling.
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What low luteal phase BBT can signal about ovulation and progesterone
How progesterone drives body temperature and luteal phase health
What delayed or weak temperature rises suggest about follicle development
When low luteal temps indicate ovulation issues or luteal phase defects
How low progesterone contributes to PMS heavy periods and histamine symptoms
How low T3 and thyroid function impact the luteal phase
How immune stress inflammation and mold exposure affect cycles and fertility
What elevated thyroid antibodies or thyroid swelling may indicate
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Take our FREE Low T3 Quiz to find out if low t3 is driving your symptoms
Receive a discount with GotMold? Home testing Kit use code Use code: laurenpapanos10
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 133: Fertility Over 35: The Prenatal Supplement Roadmap for Women + Men with WeNatal Co-Founder

Fertility Over 35: The Prenatal Supplement Roadmap for Women + Men with WeNatal Co-Founder
Trying to conceive after 35 requires more than just “taking a prenatal.” In this episode, we break down how to choose the right prenatal supplement for both women and men, and why fertility optimization starts months before conception.
We discuss why the number of capsules per serving actually matters, how iron and calcium should be dosed and timed, and how modern food systems contribute to widespread nutrient depletion. You’ll learn why sperm health plays a critical role in fertility and pregnancy outcomes, how lifestyle toxins and oxidative stress damage egg and sperm quality, and why mitochondrial health becomes increasingly important with age.
We also cover the key nutrients that support mitochondrial function, hormone balance, and reproductive health—and explain why the three months before conception are a critical window for both egg and sperm development.
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
Why the number of capsules per serving of your prenatal matters
Why iron and calcium are separated and how iron needs change in pregnancy
How modern food systems contribute to nutrient depletion
What role sperm health plays in fertility and pregnancy outcomes
How lifestyle toxins and oxidative stress impact egg and sperm quality
Why mitochondrial health matters for fertility as women age
Key nutrients that support mitochondrial and reproductive health
Why the three months before conception are critical for egg and sperm development
Important show links 👇👇👇
Visit WeNatal for supplements and receive a free magnesium bottle 
Apply to work with us 1:1 for fertility support
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
 

Episode 132: [The LODown] Overtraining Syndrome: When Your Body Stops Adapting and Starts Protecting Itself

Overtraining Syndrome: When Your Body Stops Adapting and Starts Protecting Itself
Overtraining Syndrome isn’t just about doing too much—it’s what happens when your body stops adapting to exercise and shifts into a protective, survival state. In this episode, we break down what overtraining syndrome actually is, why it affects both recreational exercisers and competitive athletes, and how it’s often driven by inadequate recovery and fueling rather than training volume alone. We explore early warning signs that the body is no longer responding positively to exercise, the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and how chronic training stress disrupts thyroid function, cortisol, androgens, progesterone, metabolism, and ovulation. You’ll also learn how to strategically reduce training load, restore energy availability, and reintroduce exercise in a way that supports hormone balance, metabolic health, and long-term performance.
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
What overtraining syndrome is and why it affects both recreational exercisers and competitive athletes
Why overtraining is often a recovery and fueling issue, not just a training issue
Common training patterns that push the body into overtraining
Early signs the body is no longer adapting positively to exercise
How overtraining affects thyroid function, androgens, cortisol, and progesterone
Why oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction drive overtraining syndrome
How overtraining disrupts ovulation, cycles, and metabolic regulation
How to reduce training load, restore fueling, and reintroduce exercise to support hormone balance
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Learn more about our Strength in Hormones Workout Program – join with a 7 day free trial
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
 

Episode 131: [The LODown] How to Support Androgens: Navigating Both Low and High Testosterone and DHEA-S in Women

How to Support Androgens: Navigating Both Low and High Testosterone and DHEA-S in Women
In this episode, we explore how to support androgens in women by understanding both low and high testosterone and DHEA-S, and what these patterns reveal about thyroid function, insulin signaling, adrenal health, inflammation, and stress. Androgens are essential for female energy, mood, muscle tone, libido, and fertility, and when they are either too low or too high, they signal deeper metabolic and immune imbalances rather than isolated hormone problems.
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
Why women need androgens like testosterone, DHEA, and DHT for energy, mood, and fertility
The difference between ovarian and adrenal sources of androgens
Why both low and high testosterone can cause symptoms
How LH, insulin, thyroid function, and stress shape androgen levels
Why PCOS is not an ovary-first condition
Common signs of high & low androgens
How insulin resistance, inflammation, and immune stress drive androgen imbalance
Which labs actually matter for understanding androgen patterns
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
Apply to work with us 1:1 for androgen support
Listen to Adrenal Hormones episode with Dr. Kelly Ruef 
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 130: Chinese Medicine for Kiddos w/ Dr. David Allen

Chinese Medicine for Kiddos w/ Dr. David Allen
In this episode of Strength in Hormones, we explore how Chinese Medicine approaches children’s health differently than Western medicine and why understanding these differences can transform the way you support your child’s digestion, sleep, emotions, and immune system. Chinese Medicine views children as physiologically and energetically developing, with immature digestive systems, sensitive nervous systems, and rapidly evolving emotional regulation, which means symptoms are often signals of deeper imbalances rather than isolated problems.
We discuss common pediatric concerns such as asthma, ADHD, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and behavioral challenges, and how patterns like night waking, nightmares, bedwetting, irritability, and frequent illness can reflect underlying imbalances in the gut, nervous system, and immune function. You’ll learn why digestive health is often the foundation for emotional regulation, focus, sleep quality, and overall development in children.
 
A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇
• How Chinese medicine views children differently than Western medicine
• Why kids’ digestion, nervous systems, and emotions are still developing
• Common patterns behind issues like asthma, ADHD, sleep problems, and digestive concerns
• What symptoms like night waking, nightmares, bedwetting, and irritability can signal
• Why digestive health is often the foundation for behavior and development
• How food temperature, simplicity, and meal timing matter for kids
• When and how herbs may be used safely in children
• How parents can support nervous system regulation and emotional resilience
• Why addressing root imbalances early can prevent long-term issues
 
Important show links 👇👇👇
We do work with kids clinically! Inquire here for more information
Learn more about Dr. David Allen's Healthy Kids Acupuncture & Herbs practice at www.davidallenlac.com
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app