The Luminescence Podcast, hosted by Schuyler Grant, powered by Commune.

A space for science-based, culturally curious, and politically fearless conversations illuminating women’s health.

Ever wonder why your sex drive vanishes, your brain turns to mush, or you want to rage-quit your entire life for no reason? Blame your hormones, or, more specifically, how estrogen and progesterone run your brain. In this episode, Schuyler Grant and her expert panel (Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Marisa Snyder, and Rosie Acosta) break down why it can feel like your brain is actively betraying you, particularly in perimenopause.

What you'll learn:

Estrogen and progesterone are brain hormones (not just “lady parts” hormones)

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis explained in plain language

Why perimenopause brings brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, and vanishing libido

The menstrual cycle phases and how hormones shift throughout

What's happening to your serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels

Why 80% of perimenopause symptoms happen in your brain

A simple breathing technique to calm your nervous system

Here's the thing: for decades, doctors thought women's hormones only affected reproduction. Turns out, estrogen and progesterone control your brain, bones, heart, metabolism, gut health, and basically everything. When they start declining in your mid-to-late thirties, your brain goes through a massive remodeling. No wonder you feel like you're losing your mind. This episode helps you understand what's actually happening and how to take back control.

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