How are your hormones today? For many of us, the answer is "I have no idea." Depending on your health, gender identity, and life stage, hormones may not be on your radar at all. But if you've experienced hormonal imbalances, especially due to menopause or perimenopause, you know that understanding and optimizing hormones can be a key to well-being. In this episode of Health Coach Talk, "The Girlfriend Doctor" Anna Cabeca joins Dr. Sandi to discuss hormones' effects on sexual health, intimacy, and relationships and share her insights into a more holistic approach to hormone health. Dr. Anna explains how our hormones impact everything from memory and mood to sex drive and motivation. These complex, intricate chemicals are connected to liver and adrenal function, circulation, lifestyle factors, nutrition, and age. Over the course of our lives, hormone fluctuation can have a considerable (and sometimes, a disruptive) influence on the delicate balance of our bodies. Hormone replacement therapy may be part of the solution, but it's probably not enough on its own. That's why Dr. Anna advocates for a holistic approach to optimizing hormone health by making intentional shifts in our habits, diets, and lifestyles. Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/anna-cabeca-082/⁠

We hear it all the time: You know you'd make a great health coach, and you've even found a training program that will arm you with the skills, knowledge, and certification you need to start working with your own clients. But what happens next? How do you set prices, get clients, find your niche? In short, what does the step between coach-in-training and successful health coach look like? Joining Dr. Sandi in this episode is Reed Davis, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, who delves into opportunities for health coaches, particularly those who are just starting out. Reflecting on his journey, Reed shares how his earliest clients shaped him into the curious, creative, and successful health coach he is today. Often, those clients came to him frustrated and hopeless, desperate for a root-cause solution to their health problems after conventional doctors prescribed strong drugs and failed to offer a listening ear. Reed helped them get better—all without diagnosing or prescribing anything. Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/reed-davis-081/

You've probably heard conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy for menopausal and post-menopausal women—you may even have heard that it's dangerous. As our guest this week says, "the bottom line is, that's nonsense." Let's set the record straight. This week, Dr. Sandi unpacks the complex history and science of hormone replacement therapy with her friend and colleague, women's health and hormone expert Dr. Felice Gersh In this conversation, Dr. Felice debunks the now-infamous Women's Health Initiative study that drove decades of healthcare practitioners and their patients—including Dr. Sandi—to avoid hormone replacement therapy. She shares the science behind why this study was flawed and highlights the importance of bioidentical hormones, emphasizing their role in addressing conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive health. Full show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/felice-gersh-080/

Dr. Vincent Pedre, a Functional Medicine expert, discusses the gut-brain connection and mind-body practices. He shares how mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga can promote healing. The podcast dives into the importance of the mind-body connection in achieving holistic health through habits like meditation and nutrition.

Workplace wellness isn't just a hot topic for human resources departments or a recruitment tool. It is a tool that has been shown to help employees take control of their health and wellness. This week, Dr. Sandi discusses workplace wellness and menopause with expert Jaqueline Olivera-Cella of wellBe Consulting. As a professional actuary, Jaqueline helps employees mitigate risks for their employees. Lately, her focus has been on employee health concerns and developing solutions for employers to implement. She recently created cases about menopause in the workplace and how women can care for themselves at work. Health coaches can be instrumental in helping women navigate this time of their lives and advocate for themselves in the workplace. They ask questions and encourage their clients to be curious, especially when it comes to their health. Together, coaches and clients can pause and ask, "What is happening?" and then seek out answers. Health coaches are also essential in helping clients find the language to explain what is happening and express their needs while remaining professional. In the workplace, health coaches are not only a tool for employees to reach their health and wellness goals but also a guide to advocating for employee needs. In This Episode: How can health coaches benefit employers and employees? Understand how menopause affects women in the workplace. Learn more about Jaqueline's publications and cases about workplace wellness. How menopause can affect women in the workplace and ways to advocate for yourself.

Expert Chris Kresser discusses the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies, the importance of nutrient synergy, and what to look for in supplement brands. Topics include the impact of modern diets on nutrient absorption, the necessity of supplementation, and the risks of nutrient toxicity.

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, Chief Medical Correspondent for the Drew Barrymore Show and author of Menopause Bootcamp, joins the podcast to discuss the different stages of menopause and the tools available to navigate this phase. She shares her 6 S's of Self-Care, the benefits of plant medicine, and the importance of health coaches in supporting women through menopause.

Functional Medicine Coaching Academy graduates are changing the world. Alum Shawn Blymiller is making a difference in the lives of families one coaching session at a time. This week, Dr. Sandi sits down with Shawn Blymiller of Pure Living and Pure Living Family to discuss his work in building a successful business and non-profit. He is helping kids and families with special needs thrive. In 2018, Shawn's son was diagnosed with Autism and PANDAS a year later. This started Shawn and his wife's journey to discovering functional medicine, health coaching, and FMCA. Shawn saw firsthand how health coaching can improve the lives of families and children with special needs. However, he also knows that those families don't always have the resources available to hire health coaches. This inspired Shawn to create Pure Living and Pure Living Family, a non-profit built on a model inspired by Toms creator Blake Mycoskie, and raised $30,000 to help give families with special needs access to health coaching. Now these families can start thriving. In This Episode: Hear Shawn's inspiring story of finding functional medicine and health coaching. See the steps taken to create a health coaching-based non-profit. Take a look at how Pure Living is helping coaches build client lists and work with corporations. Learn how you can help families with special needs access health coaching.

Everyone loves the delicious smells of baking bread or cookies, gardens in the springtime, or fresh fruit ready to eat. But did you know that those smells have a significant impact on your eating habits? This week, Dr. Sandi welcomes Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist and expert on the psychological science of scents and smells. Without a sense of smell, food wouldn't be the same. According to Herz, aroma has such an impact on our taste that it can genuinely make a difference in the enjoyment of eating. Sure, the mouth can taste the five different flavors (salt, spice, sugar, sour, and umami) and feel the texture of the food, but the smell gives us complex flavors and tastes that draw us to our favorite foods. Moreover, food scents drive cravings and hunger, influencing our food decisions in ways you might not believe. Episode Highlights Learn why your sense of taste mostly comes from your sense of smell. Understand why smelling sweets or fast food for a few minutes leads people to eat healthier options. Get tips and tricks on how you can improve your sense of smell. Hear about how you can make the most out of your eating experience by adding a bit of mindfulness. Find the transcript here: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/rachel-herz-074/

Starting a health coaching business can be a daunting task. Where do you start? What do new health coach graduates need to get started? How do you make your first sale? This week, Dr. Sandi sits down with expert business coach for health coaches, Hailey Rowe.Hailey Rowe has a passion for health and a calling to help health coaches make the most out of their health coaching business. She guides coaches at all levels through everything from first steps to finding clients to growing sales. Her insight into sales and marketing in the health coaching industry is invaluable. Hailey shares her best advice, such as the benefits of getting a "No," examples of great content, like lead magnets, and walks through her 4 Steps of Client Attraction. In This Episode: ~ Learn the 4 Steps of Client Attraction~ Gain insight into how you can grow your business.~ Understand what you need to get your health coaching business started.~ Hear Hailey and Dr. Sandi's tips on making your first sale.