The Hormone Genius Podcast

Most of us think of oral health as brushing, flossing, and avoiding cavities—but what if your mouth is actually one of the earliest windows into your overall health?

In this eye-opening episode of The Hormone Genius Podcast, we're joined once again by holistic dentist Dr. Katie Lee, author of Saved by the Mouth, to explore the remarkable connection between oral health, fertility, hormone balance, inflammation, and even sleep.

Dr. Lee explains why bleeding gums, chronic bad breath, canker sores, dry mouth, and even the shape of your tongue may be signaling much more than a dental problem. We discuss how the oral microbiome influences the entire body, including reproductive health, and why treating the mouth may be a missing piece for women struggling with infertility, endometriosis, chronic inflammation, or unexplained health concerns.

We also dive into one of the most overlooked health issues affecting women: sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnea. Dr. Lee shares why petite women are frequently overlooked, how airway health changes during perimenopause, and why symptoms like TMJ pain, anxiety, weight gain, high blood pressure, fatigue, and dry mouth may all point to an underlying airway issue rather than "just getting older."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why healthy gums should never bleed
• What your breath, tongue, and mouth reveal about your overall health
• How oral bacteria may contribute to infertility, miscarriage, endometriosis, and chronic inflammation
• The surprising connection between the oral microbiome and reproductive health
• Why saliva testing can identify hidden pathogens that routine dental exams often miss
• The best floss, toothbrushes, water flossers, and oral care tips for optimal health
• How perimenopause affects the mouth, and why estrogen plays a key role in oral health
• The relationship between sleep apnea, cortisol, blood sugar, weight gain, heart health, and hormone balance
• Signs you may have an airway problem, even if you don't snore
• Why root-cause medicine should include evaluating the mouth

This conversation will completely change the way you think about oral health. Whether you're trying to conceive, navigating perimenopause, or simply looking to optimize your health, you'll discover why caring for your mouth may be one of the most powerful investments you can make for your entire body.

Because your mouth isn't separate from your health, it may be the place your body has been trying to get your attention all along.

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Medical Disclaimer
This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The information shared in this episode is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

What happens when a labor and delivery nurse begins to realize that the healthcare system she trusted is missing something foundational? In this deeply honest and empowering conversation, Meghan Morin shares her journey from conventional nursing to holistic hormone coaching—and how her own fertility struggles became the catalyst for transformation.
As a nurse, Meghan loved caring for women during some of the most sacred moments of their lives. Yet over time, she began to feel disconnected from the deeper meaning of care. The system often reduced people to numbers, lab values, and symptoms to suppress instead of human beings with stories worth understanding.
Everything changed when Meghan faced her own hormonal and fertility challenges. After months of trying to conceive, she sought medical help only to be dismissed and told she needed to wait longer before anyone would investigate. That moment sparked a deeper search for answers—and ultimately revealed how little education many healthcare professionals receive about foundational hormonal health.
In this episode, Meghan shares how learning to chart her cycle and understand biological markers such as cervical mucus completely changed the way she viewed her body. Rather than relying on apps that simply predict ovulation, she discovered the power of real-time body literacy and how charting could uncover important clues about overall health and fertility.
She also opens up about the surprisingly simple lifestyle changes that transformed her symptoms. By reducing toxic load, improving supplement quality, managing stress, increasing sunlight exposure, and making intentional nutrition changes, Meghan saw severe menstrual cramps resolve naturally. Her story becomes a powerful reminder that symptoms are not random—and that healing often begins with understanding the body instead of fighting against it.
Together, we discuss:
Why severe cramps and hormonal symptoms should never be dismissed as “normal”
The difference between ovulation prediction and true cycle charting
How stress, environment, and lifestyle influence hormones
The gaps in conventional healthcare education around women’s health
Why person-centered care matters now more than ever
The emotional and spiritual dimensions of healing
A hopeful and empowering perspective on perimenopause
This conversation is especially meaningful for nurses, healthcare workers, and women who feel disconnected from their bodies or frustrated by symptom-based care. Meghan offers a refreshing vision of healthcare that honors the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Whether you are navigating fertility struggles, hormone symptoms, burnout in healthcare, or simply wanting to understand your body more deeply, this episode will leave you feeling informed, encouraged, and empowered.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsors:
We Heart Nutrition: 20% OFF CODE GENIUS
Grazing Beauty Tallow: grazingbeauty.com 10% OFF Code HORMONEGENIUS
Hormone Genius Perimenopause Program at www.hormonegenius.com

Medical Disclaimer
This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The information shared in this episode is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

When “Normal” Isn’t Safe: Chelsey Painter Davis on Advocacy, Risk, and Real Informed Consent

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Hormone Genius Podcast, we sit down with Chelsey Painter Davis to hear her story, one that challenges assumptions about “routine” medical care and underscores the life-changing importance of informed consent.

At just 18 years old, Chelsey was prescribed hormonal birth control without a full conversation about risks or alternative options. What followed was a series of devastating complications, including a pulmonary embolism and pseudotumor cerebri, ultimately leading to permanent vision loss. Later, she discovered underlying blood clotting disorders—Factor V and Factor II—that had gone undiagnosed.

Chelsey’s journey didn’t end there. During a later pregnancy, she was encouraged to undergo amniocentesis, until she asked deeper questions and uncovered that the recommendation was tied to abortion planning, not medical necessity. She declined, and her son was born healthy.

This episode is a call to awareness, equipping women with the tools and confidence to ask better questions, trust their intuition, and take an active role in their healthcare decisions.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsors:
We Heart Nutrition: 20% OFF CODE GENIUS

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10% off code HORMONEHAPPY

Medical Disclaimer
This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The information shared in this episode is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or before making changes to your healthcare routine.h

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Pederson, a holistic OBGYN and founder of Vera Health and Fertility, to explore a refreshing and deeply restorative approach to women’s health and fertility.

After years in traditional obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Pederson recognized a gap in care, one that often prioritizes symptom management over true healing. That realization led her to build a practice centered on identifying and addressing root causes, helping women restore hormone balance and optimize fertility naturally.

Together, we dive into the foundational role of nutrition, the power of continuous glucose monitoring, and the often-overlooked connection between gut health and reproductive function. This conversation challenges conventional fertility approaches and offers a hopeful, science-backed path forward for women seeking to understand their bodies more deeply.

Dr. Pederson’s journey from conventional OBGYN to holistic care
Why a root-cause approach is essential for hormone balance and fertility
The “Six Pillars” of hormone health: diet, sleep, exercise, stress, weight, and mindset/spirituality
How nutrition, especially protein intake and breakfast timing, impacts hormones
The hidden effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners on inflammation and fertility
How Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) provide personalized insights into metabolic health
The connection between gut health and reproductive function
A look into Restorative Reproductive Medicine and how it differs from conventional fertility treatments
Key Takeaways
1. Fertility starts with foundational health
Dr. Pederson emphasizes that true hormone balance begins with lifestyle: what we eat, how we sleep, how we manage stress, and how we care for our bodies as a whole.

2. Food is powerful data
Using tools like CGMs allows women to see in real-time how their body responds to certain foods empowering personalized, effective changes.

3. Gut health matters more than you think
Underlying gut dysfunction and inflammation can significantly impact fertility, and addressing these issues can lead to profound outcomes.

4. Healing over bypassing
Unlike conventional approaches that may override the body’s natural processes, restorative reproductive medicine works to heal and support the body—leading to healthier pregnancies and long-term outcomes.

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Sponsors
💛 We Heart Nutrition

Thoughtfully formulated supplements designed to support women’s health at every stage of life.

🎁 20% off with code: GENIUS

🐄 Wonder Cow Colostrum

Supports gut health, immune function, inflammation balance, and tissue repair — especially valuable during postpartum recovery.

🎁 30% off your subscription with code: HORMONEGENIUS

🔗 www.wondercow.com/hormonegenius

Grazing Beauty Tallow Skin Care!
Grazing Beauty is a small-batch, mama-inspired skincare brand specializing in grass-fed tallow products like body balms, bar soaps, and lip balm.

Listeners can use the affiliate code HORMONEGENIUS at checkout for 10% off their order.

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The information presented in The Hormone Genius Podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for actual medical or mental health advice from a doctor, psychologist, or any other medical or mental health professional.

In this episode of The Hormone Genius Podcast, we sit down with Olivia Chasteen, Director of SymptoPro Fertility Education, to have an honest and empowering conversation about women’s health, fertility awareness, and the gap between conventional care and true root-cause solutions.

So many women are handed quick fixes, band-aid solutions that often mask symptoms rather than address what’s really going on. Hormonal contraception is frequently prescribed as a way to “regulate” cycles, yet it doesn’t actually restore or regulate the body’s natural rhythms, and it comes with real side effects that can impact nearly every system in a woman’s body.

Olivia shares how the SymptoPro method, a sympto-thermal approach to Natural Family Planning (NFP), offers a science-based, effective alternative that works with a woman’s body instead of against it.

We explore the history and effectiveness of SymptoPro, including how it has helped couples confidently avoid pregnancy when used correctly, while also serving as a powerful tool for those trying to conceive. But this conversation goes far beyond family planning.

Cycle tracking is a window into a woman’s overall health.

Whether married, single, trying to conceive, or simply wanting to understand her body better, charting can reveal valuable insights from hormonal imbalances to thyroid concerns, luteal phase defects, and more. Olivia explains how even women with no immediate fertility goals can benefit deeply from learning to read the signs their bodies are giving them each day.

We also dive into the reality that charting isn’t always straightforward—and that’s okay. If your charts feel confusing or inconsistent, it doesn’t mean your body is broken. It means there’s more to uncover. Olivia walks through practical troubleshooting strategies and emphasizes the importance of individualized support and education.

In a culture that often paints the female body as inconvenient or flawed, true healing begins when we learn to understand and respect what our bodies are communicating.

There is real support. There are real answers. And there is real beauty in understanding your fertility.

What the SymptoPro method is and how long it’s been helping women and couples
How effective SymptoPro is for avoiding pregnancy when used correctly
How it supports couples trying to conceive
Why cycle tracking is a powerful health tool for all women, not just those planning families
What your fertility chart can reveal about your overall health
Practical tips for when charting feels confusing or overwhelming
Why one method may not fit everyone, and how to find the right approach for you
The deeper issue with “quick fix” solutions in women’s healthcare

Olivia also shares her work as a Certified Lactation Consultant, wellness professional, and instructor serving families in rural Wisconsin where access to fertility education and medical support can be limited, yet deeply needed.

Sponsors
💛 We Heart Nutrition

Thoughtfully formulated supplements designed to support women’s health at every stage of life.

🎁 20% off with code: GENIUS

🐄 Wonder Cow Colostrum

Supports gut health, immune function, inflammation balance, and tissue repair — especially valuable during postpartum recovery.

🎁 30% off your subscription with code: HORMONEGENIUS

🔗 www.wondercow.com/hormonegenius

We’re excited to partner with Salt & Light by Sami, a brand whose mission is to provide toxin-free candles that enhance the aroma of any space.

Hormone Genius listeners receive 10% off

Use code HORMONEHAPPY at checkout

www.saltandlightbysami.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Hormone Genius Podcast. This content is for information is not intended to be a substitute for actual medical or mental health advice from a doctor, psychologist, or any other medical or mental health professional.