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99:: What The Devil Wears Prada can teach us about cortisol
Miranda Priestly didn't just stress Andy out emotionally. She was actively dysregulating her HPA axis. And if you've ever worked a job — or lived a life — that felt anything like that, this episode is for you.
In honor of Devil Wears Prada 2 hitting theaters, Dr. Kelsy Vick is breaking down one of the most misunderstood hormones in women's health: cortisol. Not to demonize it — but to completely reframe it. Because cortisol is not the villain. A dysregulated cortisol rhythm is. And those are two very different things.
In this episode you'll learn:
- What cortisol actually does for you every single day — and why you'd be in serious trouble without it
- How the HPA axis works and why the rhythm matters more than the level
- What a "Miranda Priestly environment" does to your body over time
- How to recognize if your own cortisol rhythm might be off
- 5 evidence-based tools to restore your cortisol rhythm — even in a high-demand life
All backed by peer-reviewed research. Zero fear mongering. Just the science you actually deserve to have.
🎧 Part of the Spring Cleaning Series — check out our episodes on the lymphatic system, glymphatic system, and liver health linked below.
The Glymphatic System Episode (pod episode 96)
loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :)
sign up for the free Smart Girl Newspaper!
insta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod
youtube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt
tiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod
Sources:
- Knezevic et al. (2023) — Cells / PMC — Cortisol physiology, HPA axis & chronic stress dysregulation 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10706127/
- Lengton et al. (2024) — Clinical Obesity / PMC — Cortisol, HPA axis & body weight 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11907100/
- Li, Huang & Zhu (2025) — Sports / PMC — Optimal exercise modality for cortisol reduction across 44 RCTs 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12736704/
- Liu (2024) — Sleep / PMC — Cortisol-sleep bidirectional relationship in young women 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11381560/
- Meta-analysis — PMC — Mindfulness-based interventions & salivary cortisol 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5069287/
View all episodes
By Dr. Kelsy VickMiranda Priestly didn't just stress Andy out emotionally. She was actively dysregulating her HPA axis. And if you've ever worked a job — or lived a life — that felt anything like that, this episode is for you.
In honor of Devil Wears Prada 2 hitting theaters, Dr. Kelsy Vick is breaking down one of the most misunderstood hormones in women's health: cortisol. Not to demonize it — but to completely reframe it. Because cortisol is not the villain. A dysregulated cortisol rhythm is. And those are two very different things.
In this episode you'll learn:
- What cortisol actually does for you every single day — and why you'd be in serious trouble without it
- How the HPA axis works and why the rhythm matters more than the level
- What a "Miranda Priestly environment" does to your body over time
- How to recognize if your own cortisol rhythm might be off
- 5 evidence-based tools to restore your cortisol rhythm — even in a high-demand life
All backed by peer-reviewed research. Zero fear mongering. Just the science you actually deserve to have.
🎧 Part of the Spring Cleaning Series — check out our episodes on the lymphatic system, glymphatic system, and liver health linked below.
The Glymphatic System Episode (pod episode 96)
loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :)
sign up for the free Smart Girl Newspaper!
insta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod
youtube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt
tiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod
Sources:
- Knezevic et al. (2023) — Cells / PMC — Cortisol physiology, HPA axis & chronic stress dysregulation 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10706127/
- Lengton et al. (2024) — Clinical Obesity / PMC — Cortisol, HPA axis & body weight 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11907100/
- Li, Huang & Zhu (2025) — Sports / PMC — Optimal exercise modality for cortisol reduction across 44 RCTs 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12736704/
- Liu (2024) — Sleep / PMC — Cortisol-sleep bidirectional relationship in young women 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11381560/
- Meta-analysis — PMC — Mindfulness-based interventions & salivary cortisol 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5069287/