Hormone Health Podcast

Ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes at Hormone Health Studio?

In this episode, I sit down with Ava, our admin coordinator and student naturopath, to chat about her role at HHS, what it’s like being part of the team, and how she’s growing her knowledge of naturopathic care while working alongside our practitioners.

A little behind-the-scenes look at the people, passion and purpose behind HHS.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has had a recent name change to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) - talk about a name glow up!

We welcome the new name change as its a shift to a whole-body health and medical perspective. PMOS doesn't just impact the hormones, it impacts multiple body systems, including hormones, metabolism, and mental health, rather than just the ovaries.

This episode is dedicated to discussing the details of the new name change as-well as recapping the diagnostic criteria, PMOS phenotypes (spoiler alert, you can be more than one phenotype), and what treatment/management actually looks like when you're in clinic dealing with it in real life.

TW: Eating Disorders

• We also make note of the large Australian cohort study (n=8,467) which found a significant association between PMOS and an increased link to disordered eating and eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, binge eating.

Episode Resources

• Rotterdam Criteria
• PMOS Phenotypes Explained
  • Data-driven subtypes of polycystic ovary syndrome and their association with clinical outcomes
• Lancet Article: Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process
• PMID: 31056307
• Catch our other episode with Endocrinologist Dr Soji Swaraj: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Across The Lifespan

Throughout this episode, we use the term 'women' when discussing PMOS. We acknowledge this language may not reflect the identities of all listeners, including those assigned female at birth (AFAB) who do not identify as women but who may also experience PMOS. Additionally, where we cite research or studies on PMOS that do not distinguish between gender identity categories, we use 'women' to remain consistent with the original source material. This terminology choice is not intended to exclude or erase any individual's experience.

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

If you're a local parent in Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, chances are you've already heard of Amy Chatburn Stevens, she's a bit of a legend around here when it comes to supporting new parents and their bubs on the feeding journey. We're so thankful to have her join us today to chat about what it takes to set yourself up for a positive breastfeeding journey.

Topics covered with Amy

• Where should you even begin when it comes to preparing to breastfeed?
• Are there things you can do during pregnancy to get their body ready?
• What should you have on hand at home before the baby comes?
• What happens in that first hour after birth, and how can moms advocate for the best start?
• How to tell if you have a good latch?
• Conversations around low/over milk supply,
• Tongues ties,
• How to know if your baby is getting enough milk.
• Amy's personal opinion on dummies and common breastfeeding products/gadgets

Amy's qualifications

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC),
• Registered Nurse,
• Registered Midwife,
• Masters Degree Child and Family Health Nursing.

Where to find Amy

• ASC Lactation Website
• @ibclc.amy

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

The nervous system is running the show and influencing our mood, hormones, digestion, recovery and relationships. And most of us were never taught how it actually works.

In this episode, we break it all down with our ultimate nervous system Naturopath - T'Keyah (TK).

TK explains the difference between your sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) states, and why your body responds the way it does under stress. She also discusses the fawn response, a learnt behaviour and survival state that is often missed. Did you know the nervous system is a real-life, tangible thing!

We also spend some time on something so many of us are quietly struggling with, how to actually do less. In a society that glamorises busyness and hustle, especially online, it can feel impossible to slow down when you're already overstimulated from work, children, and social pressures. TK gets honest about why that pull is so strong, and what it's really doing to our nervous system."

As TK put it: "The goal was never to be calm. It's to have a resilient nervous system".

Content note: This episode briefly discusses the role of sexual trauma and chronic health concerns

Something is shifting. The way we talk about Herpes in 2026 looks nothing like it did ten years ago.

This episode is dedicated to changing the way we speak about this very, very common virus - Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Because HSV affects an enormous proportion of the global population, yet it remains one of the most stigmatised, misunderstood, and under-discussed diagnoses in sexual health.

Today we're joined by Jessie, Naturopath and founder of Botanical Abundance, who specialises in hormonal, vaginal, and sexual health.

In this episode, we're going more than skin deep. We're talking about how common HSV actually is, how it spreads, why so many people go undiagnosed for years, where the stigma came from, how naturopathic care can support people, including neurodivergent folk living with HSV, what it means for fertility and pregnancy, and what someone who has just been diagnosed actually needs to hear right now.

Let's get this episode to Go Viral, excuse the pun... But this conversation is one everyone needs to be having.

Episode Resources

• Jessie-Anne, Botanical Abundance - Join her waitlist for "The Ultimate Guide to Herpes"
• Comfortable In My Skin - Herpes Stories
• Good Vibes Clinic
• @IntimateEcology

Abbreviations Used

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
• MetaDaddy aka @Meta

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

Sorry we ghosted you, but here's the tea on where the bloody hell we've been!

Also, this weeks episode we're exploring the gut–brain axis, and a program called Nerva that we've been recommending to clients for a few years now with some genuinely incredible results.

We're joined by Amy Coen, Accredited Practising Dietitian at Nerva, a clinically validated gut-brain therapy program for IBS and other disorders of gut-brain interaction. Amy brings firsthand clinical experience as well insight into her role educating healthcare practitioners across Australia to deepen their understanding of the gut-brain axis and its role in gastrointestinal symptoms.

In this episode we cover:

• What the gut–brain axis actually is (and why it matters for digestive symptoms)
• How the brain influences bloating, pain and bowel changes
• What Nerva is, how it's structured, and who it's for?
• How long before people start noticing results?
• Some interesting (and funny) case studies - #freethefart
• Why hypnotherapy can feel confronting — and what the science actually says
• Is Nerva appropriate for those with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis?

So whether you're a practitioner or someone navigating your own gut health journey, this one is worth a listen.

If you are interested in Nerva and you are a current or prospective client - please reach out to us at directly [email protected] or get some further information on Nervas website or Youtube.

In this episode, we are speaking with Renée Grandi all about "Endometriosis Brain"

Renee is a Neuroscience Researcher with a Master’s in Neuroscience and a clinical background as a Naturopath and Clinical Nutritionist. She is also the founder of the Women’s Integrative Health Clinic, where she focuses on complex conditions such as endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, and chronic fatigue, particularly their effects on the brain and nervous system.

- When we talk about endometriosis, it’s usually framed around pelvic pain and reproductive health. But the impact of endometriosis goes far beyond the pelvis—right into the brain and nervous system. In this episode, we dive deep into the neuroscience of endometriosis, exploring how chronic pain reshapes the brain, why mental health struggles are so common, and what this means for healing.

Here’s what we cover in this conversation:

• What is the “endometriosis brain”? Understanding how this term captures the neurological and psychological dimensions of endometriosis.
• Endometriosis and mental health: The strong links between pain, mood, and cognitive changes.
• Central sensitisation explained: How bottom-up and top-down pathways, neurotransmitters, and even the brain’s detox systems contribute to neuropathic pain.
• What brain imaging shows us: Key research findings on the differences in the brains of women with symptomatic versus asymptomatic endometriosis.
• How pain rewires the nervous system: A closer look at the regions of the brain involved, how they interconnect, and what this means for the symptoms women experience.
• The role of stress, trauma, and hormones: How external and internal factors can trigger or intensify symptoms.
• The glymphatic system: A newer area of neuroscience research that sheds light on brain inflammation and pain in endometriosis.
• Therapeutic goals: Why supporting the brain and nervous system is just as important as treating physical symptoms.
• Practical strategies for healing: From medical to integrative and lifestyle approaches, ways to help rebalance the nervous system and reduce pain.
• A message of hope: What women need to know about the brain’s ability to change, adapt, and heal.

✨ Whether you’re living with endometriosis, supporting someone who is, or curious about the mind-body connection in chronic pain, this episode offers a science-driven, compassionate perspective on the “endometriosis brain.”

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email at [email protected].

In this weeks episode we’re exploring why women’s bodies respond differently to diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes compared to men — and why the same strategies for weight loss don’t always work.

Women’s physiology is different, not defective - and understanding those differences is the key to creating real, sustainable results

Here's a little sneak-peek into some of the topics we discuss:

1. Why diets don't work in the long run
2. Hormones that drive weight gain
3. Moving smarter, not harder
4. Five foundations for lasting change.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that the usual approaches just don’t work for you, this episode will give you clarity, and a fresh perspective on working with your body, not against it.

For 10% off our Feel Good Program, use the code "PODCAST"

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email at [email protected].

*Episode warning*This episode touches on the topic of weight loss. I want to acknowledge that conversations around body weight can feel triggering, especially if you’ve experienced body dissatisfaction or disordered eating. Please know that our focus is not on shrinking bodies, but on supporting health, energy, and feeling at home in your body. If weight loss talk feels unhelpful for you right now, feel free to skip this episode or come back to it when it feels safe.

Period pain is experienced by 90% (yes! 90%!!) of tweens and teens — but how much is “normal,” and when should you seek help?

In this episode, we explore what period pain actually is, why it happens, and how common it really is among our teens and teens in Australia. We’ll unpack the difference between mild, manageable cramps and severe pain that could signal conditions like endometriosis, plus introduce the PIPPA tool — a simple way to screen whether period pain needs further medical attention.

You’ll also learn about both conventional and natural approaches for managing pain and heavy bleeding, from over the counter medications, hormone medications, to the latest research on nutrients herbal options.

Whether you’re a parent or primary care giver, or a teen navigating new cycles, or a health professional, this episode will give you practical tools and insights to make periods a healthier, less disruptive experience.

Episode Resources

• Period ImPact and Pain Assessment (PIPPA) Online Screening Tool
• Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia
• Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
• Effect of Curcumin on Dysmenorrhea and Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• The Efficacy of Zinc Administration in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea

Tween/Teen Period Care Resources

• ModiBodi Period Underwear
• KMART Period Belt
• TENS machine: Tap. 2
• Wet Pouch (A handy school bag-sized is designed to keep her worn storage safely stashed away when she's managing her period away from home).

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a DM on Instagram or email at [email protected].

Today we’re joined by Madeline Longrigg, founder of Body Lane, a Brisbane-based clinic specialising in myotherapy, C-section scar release, and pregnancy and postpartum support. Madeline is also the creator of the C-Section Release Method, a hands-on training course that equips practitioners to support post-surgical healing and recovery.

In this episode, Maddie takes us on a deep dive into C-section scars - the physical and emotional healing journey, how a scar should feel, symptoms that manifest from poor scar healing and how you can start improving your scar right now in the comfort of your home.

Maddie finishes this conversation up with a beautifully guided touch visualisation for you, the listener.

I know you're going to love this ep, enjoy!

Services available:

• Practitioner Training: C-Section Release Method
• Online C-Section Scar Release Course for Mums: coming soon! Make sure you're following @bodylane_ for updates.
• In person treatments available in Brisbane: Body Lane, 89 Beatrice Terrace, Ascot QLD 4007
• Purchase the Scar Release Kit
• C-Section Release Practitioner List