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Have you ever been told you're in perimenopause but something about that felt off? Or maybe you’re a clinician who's had clients walk in with an “official” diagnosis, zero labs, and a whole lot of confusion.
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we unpack the growing wave of perimenopause talk—from the genuine support women deserve to the frustrating ways it’s being misdiagnosed, overused, and under-supported. We talk about the physiology of this transition, the red flags we look for when evaluating clients, the foundational work that needs to happen before hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is even on the table, and why so many women are more depleted than they even realize.
Whether you’re a practitioner, someone navigating your 30s or 40s, or just tired of being dismissed, this conversation will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface—and what to do about it.
In this episode, we cover:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified provider with questions about your health and never delay seeking care because of something you heard here.
Nothing shared by Unconventional Collaborative is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease, and supplement statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient, provider–client, or supervisory relationship.
All practitioners are responsible for interpreting and applying information within the legal and ethical scope of their own training and credentials. If unsure what falls within your scope of practice, consult your licensing or certifying body.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility for outcomes resulting from use or misuse of this information.
Are you building your wellness business on shaky ground without even realizing it?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on all the things we’ve done wrong in business so you don’t have to. We’re talking about red-flag clients, pricing mistakes, boundary breakdowns, tech headaches, and how easy it is to end up resentful when you make exceptions "just this once."
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or stuck in business decisions that just don’t feel right, then this episode is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Have your clients (or even you) ever used exercise as therapy only to end up more depleted than energized?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re breaking down how to help clients (and ourselves) find the right dose of exercise for their current season of life. From “go hard or go home” narratives to sneaky stressors like high-demand jobs, toddler wake-ups, or perfectionist tendencies, we share how to reframe movement through a truly functional lens. We also cover what the research says about minimum effective dose, signs that exercise might be doing more harm than good, and why giving clients “permission to do less” can actually unlock better outcomes.
Whether you’re a clinician navigating this conversation with patients, or a woman juggling her own fitness goals, this episode will give you practical frameworks and empathetic language to support more sustainable exercise routines.
In this episode, we cover:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Are your clients hitting the gym, eating “clean,” and still feeling exhausted, anxious, and bloated? We see it all the time—women who are praised for their discipline but are actually deeply undernourished. And sometimes? Clinicians miss the signs too.
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re talking about one of the most common but overlooked issues in functional and conventional healthcare: undereating. Whether it's hiding behind food sensitivities, excessive exercise, or outdated calorie goals, under-fueling shows up in all sorts of sneaky ways.
This one’s for clinicians who want to support their clients more holistically—and for high-achieving humans who are doing “everything right” and still not feeling like themselves.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Ever left a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, confused, or worse—unseen?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the red flags we see in both conventional and functional medicine. From providers who brush off symptoms to those who rely too heavily on expensive testing and supplement stacks, we talk through the patterns we’ve seen—and the ones we want to change.
We also share the green flags we look for in collaborative providers, the difference between discernment and dogma in clinical care, and how to advocate for yourself (or your clients) in today’s confusing wellness landscape. If you've ever wondered what questions to ask when choosing a provider, this episode is a must.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Is wearing a weighted vest actually helping or is it just another wellness trend preying on women in perimenopause?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re unpacking the very hot topic of weighted vests and why they’re suddenly everywhere. We break down where this trend came from, what the research doesn’t say, and why social media is once again skipping over the nuance in favor of buzzwords and biohacks.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
The content shared by Unconventional Collaborative is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Are postpartum workouts empowering or just another pressure on moms to “bounce back”?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re diving deep into postpartum fitness culture—and calling out the unrealistic, unhelpful, and often harmful messaging that’s flooding social media. From snapback culture to sleep deprivation, mineral depletion, and the mental load of motherhood, we explore why pushing women into high-intensity training just weeks after giving birth is not just misguided—it’s dangerous.
Whether you’re a practitioner, a mom, or both, this conversation offers validation, education, and a whole lot of real talk.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Is cold plunging really helping your health or just pushing your already stressed system over the edge?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we unpack the cold, hard truth about cold plunges. From hormonal differences to nervous system baselines, we dive into why women respond differently to extreme stressors and what that means for popular wellness trends like cold therapy. Plus, we share what we’re seeing in clinical practice, including how to coach clients who are skipping the basics in favor of biohacks.
If you’ve been wondering whether a cold plunge is helping your hormones—or just adding to your burnout—this episode is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
The content shared by Unconventional Collaborative is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Is it more transparent—or more strategic—to share your prices publicly?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re having an honest, nuanced conversation about pricing in private practice. Do you list your rates on your site? Do you keep them off until a discovery call? We’ve tried it both ways, and in this episode, we unpack the mindset, messaging, and business realities behind each approach.
In this episode, we cover:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
The content shared by Unconventional Collaborative is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
Are fertility monitors giving women real answers or just more reasons to stress?
In this episode of the Functionally Speaking podcast, we’re breaking down the rise of at-home hormone trackers like Mira and Inito, and sharing how we really feel about them. We talk about the promise of data, the pressure to “get it right,” and the fine line between feeling empowered and feeling overwhelmed. We also dig into what these tools can help with, what they can’t, and how we coach clients through fertility without turning it into a numbers game.
If you’ve been wondering whether fertility monitors are helpful, harmful, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
Links and resources:
Connect with Unconventional Collaborative:
Join Us: https://unconventional-collaborative.mn.co/
Website: unconventionalcollaborative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/unconventional.collaborative
Connect with Laura Ligos:
Website: https://thesassydietitian.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesassydietitian
Connect with Danielle Kepics:
Website: https://www.empoweredmindbody.co
Instagram: instagram.com/danielle.kepics
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.
The content shared by Unconventional Collaborative is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This podcast does not create a doctor-patient, provider-client, or supervisory relationship between you and any of the hosts or contributors.
Additionally, health coaches, fitness professionals, clinicians, and other practitioners are solely responsible for how they interpret and apply the information shared. Practitioners are expected to use their professional judgment and remain within the legal and ethical scope of their individual certification, licensure, or credentialing body. If there is any uncertainty about what falls within your professional scope of practice, it is your responsibility to consult with your licensing board, certifying organization, or regulatory authority.
Unconventional Collaborative and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this podcast.
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to Functionally Speaking— the podcast where two clinicians share one brain cell and way too many opinions.
We’re here for the nuance, the hot takes, the facts your…
We’re not here to sugarcoat the science or pretend there’s one right way to do this work — we’re doing it our way. Unfiltered. Slightly feral. And always with love for the humans we serve.
Let’s get into it.

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