Itchy and Bitchy Podcast

Karen unpacks the fast-growing world of digital health, from Apple Watch and smartphone apps to telehealth and new hospital tech that can improve care and streamline recovery at home. She also addresses the downsides, raising concerns around the security of these technologies.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen shares a deeply personal episode on the human-animal bond after the loss of her family’s lovebird, Saki, exploring why pet grief can feel so profound and practical ways to heal. She offers suggestions, from letting yourself feel what you feel to creating memorial rituals, revisiting joyful memories, and caring for your body while you mourn, plus when to seek professional support.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen Nickell revisits menopausal mammal, this time with brand new context: new research from Uganda’s Ngogo chimpanzees shows some chimps experience menopause too. She explains what makes humans evolutionary outliers, unpacks the grandmother hypothesis, and explores why certain toothed whales (like orcas) stop reproducing yet continue to live for decades.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen takes a look at GLP-1 receptor agonists, best known for weight loss and diabetes. She explores the rapidly expanding list of conditions these medications may help treat. From emerging and sometimes conflicting research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease to FDA-approved benefits for cardiovascular health, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease, Karen breaks down what the science currently shows and where caution is still needed.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen counts down her top 10 Itchy & Bitchy moments of 2025, from smarter New Year’s resolutions and promising UTI vaccines on the horizon to updated insights on HRT.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen shares her personal journey with osteoporosis. What distinguishes it from osteopenia? How are DEXA T-scores interpreted? Why does early screening matter? She covers lifestyle and nutrition, hormone considerations, and medication options.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen breaks down red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and where it actually helps: smoothing signs of aging, supporting hair regrowth, calming acne (especially paired with blue light), easing chronic pain and inflammation, and even emerging research for cognition in dementia.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Family nurse practitioner Karen re-airs a timely episode on “holiday heart syndrome,” the spike in alcohol-triggered arrhythmias (often AFib) that can strike otherwise healthy people during festive gatherings. She explains what binge drinking looks like, key symptoms to watch for (from palpitations and chest pressure to shortness of breath), why it raises stroke risk, and simple prevention steps.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

After listening to an episode of Itchy and Bitchy, a woman pushed for further testing and caught grade 1A ovarian cancer early—requiring only surgery. Karen revisits why self-advocacy saves lives, translating expert definitions into everyday guidance and offering practical steps: build a true partnership with your provider, keep detailed symptom and medication notes, ask clear questions about tests, risks, and costs, use reliable resources (not “Dr. Google”), consult your pharmacist, and keep your advance care planning up to date.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

Karen tackles a common menopause question: oral vs. topical estradiol. She explains first-pass metabolism and why transdermal options can lower clot, gallstone, and side-effect risks for many, then compares real-world choices.

Visit our website itchyandbitchy.com to read blog posts on the many topics we have covered on the show.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.

Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system. 
From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we’ll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS