For decades we were told that fat was the enemy. Low-fat diets became the norm, and many people began avoiding one of the most essential nutrients in human physiology.

But fat is not optional.

In fact, fat and protein are the only two macronutrients that are truly essential for survival. The body cannot produce essential fatty acids, meaning they must come from the diet.

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the science of dietary fat and why it plays a critical role in hormone production, skin health, brain function, inflammation balance, and nutrient absorption.

We explore the minimum fat requirements needed for survival, why women often need more fat than standard guidelines suggest, and what happens metabolically when fat intake is too low. Dr. Ashley also discusses the relationship between dietary fat and steroid hormone production, the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, and why fat is necessary to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K.

If you've ever wondered how much fat your body actually needs - and why avoiding fat can sometimes backfire - this episode provides a science-based look at one of the most misunderstood nutrients in modern nutrition

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

Protein is one of the most essential nutrients in human physiology — yet many women are still under-consuming it.

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the science of dietary protein and why it plays a central role in metabolism, hormones, fertility, muscle health, and pregnancy.

You’ll learn why protein and fat are the only two truly essential macronutrients, how amino acids support nearly every system in the body, and why the current recommended protein intake often represents the minimum required for survival rather than optimal health.

We explore the role of protein in muscle maintenance, blood sugar regulation, hormone signaling, and connective tissue health, along with practical guidance on how much protein women may actually need and how to distribute protein throughout the day.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re getting enough protein — and why it matters for long-term health — this episode provides a clear, science-based overview of one of the most important nutrients in the human diet. 

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

This episode is a candid conversation with Grace Parce where we move beyond the highlight reel and into what pregnancy actually feels like day to day.

We talk about physical changes, energy, training adjustments, nutrition, and the emotional shifts that come with this stage. You’ll hear how we’re approaching this season through a lens of body literacy, nourishment, and realistic expectations.

This is not a “perfect pregnancy” conversation. It’s real, grounded, and rooted in understanding your body rather than fighting it.

If you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or supporting your body through hormonal shifts, this episode will give you a more honest framework for what to expect and how to navigate it.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fern_dr.ashleyburton
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

In this episode of FERN Rising, I sit down with Sierra Robertson for our very first conversation—despite the fact that our husbands have been connected through social media for years. And honestly, it felt like we were picking up mid-conversation.

Sierra shares her experience through five births, offering a grounded and refreshing perspective on pregnancy, motherhood, and trusting your body. We also touch on homeschooling and the rhythms of raising a growing family—but what really stands out in this conversation is the power of staying calm, tuning in, and letting your body lead.

We dive into the role of strength training before and during pregnancy, and how building a strong, capable body can completely shift your experience of pregnancy, labor, and recovery.

This episode is a reminder that your body is not something to fight against—it’s something to understand, support, and trust.

In this episode, we cover:

• Sierra’s experience with five pregnancies and births
• Why staying calm and relaxed matters more than you think
• The impact of strength training on pregnancy and birth outcomes
• Learning to listen to your body (and quiet the outside noise)
• A glimpse into homeschooling and family life

Whether you're preparing for pregnancy, currently expecting, or simply want to feel more connected to your body—this conversation will leave you feeling empowered and grounded.

Find me here: 

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Book a Session: https://drashleyburton.janeapp.com/

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

In this episode, I’m so excited to welcome Jodi Scott, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Goo and Spry Life  - a visionary in women’s health, psychoneuroimmunology, and plant-based care. Jodi’s journey began in a tiny kitchen where she and her family crafted herbal salves from plants they grew themselves. What started as family medicine blossomed into a national brand sold in over 120,000 stores and over 1 million jars  - then sold, lost, and ultimately rebought to preserve its mission rooted in whole-body wellness.

With a Master’s in Health Psychology and pre-med training, Jodi blends science and lived experience, exploring how the body’s systems  -  especially the nervous system, immune network, and skin  -  interact with hormones, fertility, and stress physiology. Today, she leads multiple women-centered wellness brands focused on resilience, regulation, and reclaiming health from the ground up.

In this conversation, we dig into:
Why chronic low-grade inflammation is often the unseen link in fertility struggles
The skin as an immune and endocrine interface, not just a barrier
How stress perception and vagal tone influence hormonal balance and reproductive health
Ingredient safety and thoughtful plant-based care during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum
How women can cultivate body literacy, empowerment, and sustainable resilience in their health journeys

Whether you’re navigating fertility challenges, curious about the mind-body connection, or simply want smarter ways to support long-term wellbeing, this episode will challenge what you think you know about stress, hormones, and healing.

🔗 Connect with Jodi & Green Goo:
🌿 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengoohelps/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenGooHelps
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-scott-7234331b8/
✨ Collab & Special Offers: https://www.greengoo.com/pages/collab

Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode that empowers your body, hormones, and nervous system.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

 At 25 weeks pregnant, I was asked to screen for gestational diabetes — but instead of doing the standard glucose drink, I chose to wear a continuous glucose monitor for a week and watch what my blood sugar did in real life.

In this episode, I share what I saw during sleep, after meals, during workouts, and throughout my active workdays. We talk about why gestational diabetes screening exists, how pregnancy naturally changes insulin sensitivity, what “normal” glucose patterns can look like, and why my results were honestly… pretty boring.

Which is a good thing.

I also share the one thing I would do differently next time: where I placed the sensor, and how lying on it overnight likely triggered a false low reading called a compression low.

This is a practical, evidence-informed look at pregnancy metabolism, glucose regulation, balanced eating, and movement — through the lens of my own real-time data.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

Is it safe to lift weights during pregnancy? And beyond safety — is it actually beneficial?

In this episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the research on resistance training during pregnancy and its impact on both maternal and fetal health. Drawing from current evidence, this episode explores how strength training supports metabolic health, reduces pregnancy-related discomfort, improves mental well-being, and may positively influence labor outcomes and long-term child development.

You’ll learn how resistance training affects gestational diabetes risk, back pain, fatigue, weight gain, and mental health — and why common fears around lifting weights, blood flow, and fetal safety are not supported by the science. This episode also addresses macrosomia, birth outcomes, and what the research shows about fetal growth, stress tolerance, and neonatal health.

Whether you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or supporting women through pregnancy, this episode offers a grounded, evidence-based look at why strength training is a powerful and often underutilized tool in prenatal care.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

LH strips and cycle-tracking apps are often marketed as tools for understanding fertility — but they are increasingly being misused as a form of contraception, with real consequences.

In this episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton explains why LH ovulation strips are not a reliable or safe method for preventing pregnancy. Using real clinical experience and reproductive physiology, she breaks down what LH strips actually measure, why they do not confirm ovulation, and why they cannot define “safe days.” This episode also addresses why LH strips are especially unreliable for women with PCOS, where frequent or elevated LH surges can occur without ovulation.

You’ll learn why apps and LH strips lack the cross-checking required for fertility awareness, how misunderstandings about cervical mucus lead to accidental pregnancies, and why so-called “non-peak” fertile mucus is not safer than peak mucus. Dr. Burton also explains sperm survival, why every cycle must be evaluated on its own, and what distinguishes true fertility awareness methods from guesswork.

This episode is essential listening for anyone using — or considering using — fertility awareness for contraception, and for women who want body literacy rooted in physiology, not assumptions.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

If cycle-tracking apps can’t accurately tell you when you ovulate, what should you be using instead?

In this follow-up episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton explains how to track fertility in a way that is grounded in real physiology — not calendar predictions or algorithms. This episode walks through what makes a fertility app useful, why observation matters more than prediction, and how tools like Read Your Body are designed to support true fertility awareness charting rather than guess ovulation dates.

You’ll learn why every cycle is a stand-alone cycle, which fertility biomarkers actually matter, and how tracking basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervical position provides far more accurate insight into ovulation, cycle health, and fertility than calendar-based apps. Dr. Burton also explains why learning to chart with a FAMM-certified practitioner is essential — especially when fertility awareness is used as a reliable method of contraception.

This episode is for women who want to understand their cycles deeply, make informed decisions about conception or contraception, and move from passive tracking to confident, evidence-based fertility awareness.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations. 

What does pregnancy look like when two health professionals are also the patients?

In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Parce for a candid conversation about pregnancy, glucose monitoring, and navigating the medical system from the inside out.

We discuss:
 • Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in pregnancy
 • Gestational diabetes screening and the glucose tolerance test
 • The 20-week anatomy scan experience
 • Understanding pregnancy testing and data without spiraling
 • Emotional and identity shifts during pregnancy

This is a balanced conversation — physiology meets lived experience. No fear, no dogma — just thoughtful discussion about pregnancy health, glucose regulation, and navigating change.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or associated organizations.