The Hormone Shift Show™ Podcast

“You can bring the love back if you want it back.” - Carolyn Sharp

Midlife has a way of magnifying every crack in a marriage. Small arguments feel bigger, resentments grow heavier, and the spark can feel hard to find. Add shifting hormones, a heavier stress load, and zero tolerance for “just getting by,” and what once felt manageable might now feel unbearable. It’s tempting to believe the only answer is walking away.

Today, I’m joined by Carolyn Sharp, couples therapist, coach, and author of Fired Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationship. With over 30 years of experience, Carolyn shares why so many couples drift into disconnection in midlife, the biggest myths about reigniting intimacy, and why tending to your relationship is just as critical as tending to your health.

We talk about the warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored, the under-functioning/over-functioning trap so many couples fall into, and how radical responsibility and curiosity can help you shift even long-standing patterns. You’ll also learn a simple but powerful exercise Carolyn uses with couples to rebuild trust, how humor and small conversations can act as “reset buttons” for your relationship, and why your physical health and emotional health are inseparable when it comes to intimacy and connection.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have new tools, a fresh perspective, and a reminder that it’s not too late to reignite the spark if you’re willing to do the work.

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Your Takeaways

How shifting hormones and life roles in midlife strain relationships

Why you need to work on connection during major life transitions

The biggest myth about reigniting intimacy and the four-step process that busts it

Early signs of disconnection: living like roommates, no laughter, only talking about logistics

The underrated tools that rebuild trust (eye contact, true listening, and humor)

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Episode Resources

Carolyn Sharp's Website https://www.secureconnectionsretreats.com/

Episode 8 FREE Listener Guide https://leslie-duffy-coaching.kit.com/1f27df3a53

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/8.

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

If you’ve been dragging through the day with zero motivation, feeling anxious or foggy, noticing weight gain, or dealing with random chin hairs, oily skin, or sudden acne, your testosterone could be out of balance.

Most women don’t realize that testosterone matters just as much for us as it does for men. Whether it’s too high or too low, the ripple effects of testosterone imbalance show up everywhere, from your mood to your metabolism.

Today, I’m giving you a crash course on testosterone in women, including what it does, why it matters in midlife, and how to know if your levels are too high or too low. We’ll cover the surprising symptoms most women don’t connect to testosterone, the biggest lifestyle and medication triggers, and how stress and blood sugar swings can wreak havoc on your testosterone levels.

You’ll also learn three natural ways to boost testosterone if it’s low, and three strategies to calm it down if it’s high. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what red flags to look for, what steps you can take right now to support your hormones, and how to bring this “hidden” hormone back into balance so you can feel like yourself again.

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Your Takeaways

Why testosterone matters for women’s energy, mood, libido, and brain health

Signs of low testosterone: fatigue, low motivation, brain fog, weight gain, and low sex drive

Signs of high testosterone: belly fat, acne, facial hair, irritability, and insulin resistance

Everyday triggers that disrupt testosterone: stress, under-eating, medications, toxins, and blood sugar swings

Natural ways to balance testosterone: lift weights, eat enough protein, and prioritize deep sleep

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Free Resources

Testosterone Quick Guide: Get Your Free Guide at https://idyllic-wind-45449.myflodesk.com/episode7

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/7.

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

If you’ve been dealing with heavy periods, clotting, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, or even autoimmune flare-ups, it might not just be “getting older.” In perimenopause, progesterone is the first hormone to take a sharp dive, dropping by nearly 75% between the ages of 35 and 50. And when it does, the ripple effects show up everywhere in your body, from your brain to your bones.

Today, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when progesterone declines, why it matters far beyond fertility, and how to tell if your symptoms are connected. You’ll learn the difference between estrogen dominance and low progesterone, the role ovulation plays in producing this calming hormone, and why stress, under-eating, sedentary living, or certain medications may be stealing your progesterone long before age does.

I’ll also walk you through how functional medicine approaches low progesterone by supporting ovulation, reducing stress, addressing thyroid and adrenal health, and using nutrition and lifestyle tools to restore balance. By the end, you’ll understand why progesterone is your body’s built-in calming system, how to protect it, and what steps you can take right now to feel more like yourself again.

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Your Takeaways

The dramatic decline of progesterone in perimenopause

Low progesterone shows up as anxiety, insomnia, heavy bleeding, and autoimmune flares

Causes of low progesterone include stress, under-eating, infections, poor blood flow, and certain medications

The difference between the conventional medicine and the functional medicine approach

Stress is the ultimate disruptor, and why your body will always choose survival over balance

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Free Resources

Progesterone & Perimenopause Quick Guide: Get Your Free Guide at https://idyllic-wind-45449.myflodesk.com/episode6

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/6.

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Articles

GABA System Modifications During Periods of Hormonal Flux Across the Female Lifespan https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.802530/full

Use of hormone replacement therapy and risk of venous thromboembolism: nested case-control studies using the QResearch and CPRD databases https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.802530/full

Does taking progesterone pose an increased risk for breast cancer? https://cemcor.ubc.ca/ask/what-about-progesterone-and-risk-breast-cancer/

Risk of Breast Cancer by Type of Menopausal Hormone Therapy: a Case-Control Study among Post-Menopausal Women in France https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3815310/

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

Do you feel like your body changed overnight? Maybe your weight won’t budge, your joints ache, your period is all over the place, or your moods swing like a rollercoaster? Chances are, estrogen is connected to your symptoms.

Most of us were never taught about what estrogen does in our bodies, and by the time we walk into our doctor’s office, it’s already causing chaos. Then, their jargon can leave you feeling lost, dismissed, or even foolish for not knowing what’s going on with your own body.

Today, I’m breaking down 10 things every woman over 40 needs to know about estrogen and, more importantly, what to do about it. You’ll learn what estrogen dominance is, how estrogen and progesterone work like a seesaw, why high stress makes estrogen dominance worse, and how estrogen works as your “juicy hormone” to keep your skin plump, your joints flexible, and your vaginal tissue healthy. We’re also digging into how estrogen affects your bones, metabolism, histamine response, and more, plus the steps you can take right now to start to optimize your hormone health.

By the end of this episode, you’ll be aware of red flags that may signal estrogen imbalance, which action steps to prioritize, and why estrogen matters for more than your cycle. It’s time to stop guessing, start tracking, and feel empowered in this season of life.

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Your Takeaways

The three types of estrogen and how they shift through our life stages

Why estrogen is the “juicy hormone” for skin, joints, and vaginal health

How estrogen supports collagen, bone strength, and flexibility

The rollercoaster nature of estrogen in perimenopause

Why estrogen detox is crucial

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/5.

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Free Resources

Fireproof Your Hormones: A real-life approach to calming inflammation and supporting hormone health. Get Your Free Guide at https://stan.store/leslieduffycoaching/p/fireproof-your-hormones

Tracker + Symptom Checklist: Too many symptoms, not enough answers? Grab this free tracker + symptom checklist to start connecting the dots at https://idyllic-wind-45449.myflodesk.com/lj57cu63zk

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Articles

Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685269

Estrogen Inhibits Bone Resorption by Directly Inducing Apoptosis of the Bone-resorbing Osteoclasts https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685269

Phytoestrogens protect joints in collagen induced arthritis by increasing IgG glycosylation and reducing osteoclast activation https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567576919328826

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)



If you’ve ever felt guilty about money, avoided checking your bank account, or wondered why you’re hustling so hard but never feel secure, you’re not alone. In midlife, financial stress doesn’t just live in your bank account; it lives in your body. It keeps you up at night, spikes your cortisol, fuels anxiety, and leaves you running on fumes no matter how hard you push.

In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author and certified money coach Jeannie Dougherty to unpack how your money story was formed and how to let it go in midlife. We talk about the hidden connections between money and health, why forgiveness (including forgiving yourself) is a key part of financial healing, and how to start rewiring your “money brain” so you can break free from old patterns.

Jeannie shares practical ways to uncover your money values, spot red flags in relationships, and shift from scarcity and shame into empowerment and alignment. If you’ve been white-knuckling your finances, manifesting without results, or constantly feeling blocked when it comes to money, this conversation will help you release the guilt, take back your power, and start creating financial and physical freedom.

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Your Takeaways

How family money stories shape your financial mindset

Why forgiveness of others and yourself is key to releasing financial shame

The difference between money mindset and rewiring your brain around money

What your spending patterns reveal about your core values

How health investments today create long-term freedom later

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Links & Resources

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/how-to-rewire-your-money-story-in-midlife-with-jeannie-dougherty/

Book a Wellness Shift Strategy Call with Leslie - Your first step toward feeling clear, capable, and in control of your health again (https://calendly.com/leslieduffycoaching/wellness-shift-strategy-call)

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

While it would be easy to think your increased anxiety or irritability is a result of your workload, your partner, or the state of the world, that might not be the case. Here’s the truth: in perimenopause, shifting estrogen and progesterone is remodeling your brain and making you more vulnerable to anxiety than ever before. Racing thoughts, poor sleep, heart palpitations, jaw tension, or even not wanting to spend time doing things you used to love can all be signs that your hormones, not your willpower, are causing a change.

Understanding the “why” behind your anxiety is the first step toward taking back your power. In this episode, I’m connecting the dots between what’s happening in your brain and what you’re feeling day to day. We’ll unpack how shifting estrogen and progesterone levels change your stress response, why your nervous system suddenly feels more sensitive, and the real reason your body is reacting like there’s danger even when you’re safe.

I’m sharing lifestyle interventions that actually work, the pivotal roles of sleep, nutrition, and movement, and when it might make sense to go deeper with functional testing for hormones, gut health, thyroid, or adrenals. You’ll leave this episode knowing that you’re not broken or crazy, and you can regain a sense of calm and control, even in the middle of the hormone shift.

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Your Takeaways

Why your anxiety might not be about your job or your partner

How fluctuating estrogen and progesterone disrupt calm and focus

Why anxiety feels bigger during midlife

Everyday practices that ease anxious symptoms

Tracking cycles, symptoms, and labs to bring clarity and control

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Links & Resources

FREE Tracker: Feeling Anxious AF? Grab this free tracker + symptom checklist to start connecting the dots.(https://leslie-duffy-coaching.kit.com/d1f0edb06f)

HeartMath (https://www.heartmath.com/)

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/3

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

If you’ve ever found yourself halfway through a bag of chips or surrounded by Oreo crumbs, wondering what just happened, you’re not alone. Your cravings aren’t a sign of low willpower or weakness; they’re driven by shifts in estrogen and dopamine, and amplified during perimenopause and menopause. That “treat yourself” moment of comfort is actually one of the ways your body is trying to self-regulate.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why your cravings feel so hard to resist and how you can take back control without relying on willpower or giving up the foods you love forever. We’ll talk about the dopamine–estrogen connection, the cues that trigger cravings, and how low dopamine can push you toward food, wine, shopping, or scrolling for that quick hit of feel-good. You’ll also learn how stress magnifies cravings, what emotions often hide underneath them, and how to start catching yourself in the moment so you can choose differently.

I’ll share my strategy for creating a plan to calm cravings, replace them with healthier dopamine boosts, and develop your own “treat yourself” menu that supports your body instead of sabotaging it. You’ll leave this episode with tools you can use today, and the relief of knowing this isn’t about discipline, it’s about working with your brain and hormones to create real change.

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Your Takeaways

How stress and hormones team up to fuel cravings

The cue–reward cycle and how to break it

Why food feels like comfort, connection, and survival

Awareness: your first weapon against cravings

Simple swaps and small wins to rewire your rewards

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Grab Leslie’s Resources

FREE PDF: Natural ways to increase dopamine levels (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ygZxPSHEVRca7pb37Og8qaaGMR1py7vl/view?usp=sharing)

Mini-Course: CALM the Cravings [Use discount code: HSS15 for 15% off!] (https://stan.store/leslieduffycoaching/p/calm-the-cravings)

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/2

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Mentioned in this episode

Estradiol and the reward system in humans (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352154617302735)

Hormone sensitivity predicts the beneficial effects of transdermal estradiol on reward-seeking behaviors in perimenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10568486/)

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)



If you’ve been hitting the gym, counting the calories, and still can’t budge the numbers on the scale, here’s the truth: it’s probably not what you’re eating. In midlife, fluctuating estrogen levels make our bodies more sensitive to stress, and we can’t handle the stress response as well as we used to. Your overscheduled life, that coworker you can’t stand, or even the clothes that don’t fit right, can spike your blood sugar just like a candy bar would. The result? Higher cortisol, stubborn belly fat, crappy sleep, and sluggish digestion.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how stress messes with your hormones in midlife and creates weight loss resistance, and why pushing yourself harder isn’t the answer. I’m also sharing my four-step CALM method to get out of fight-or-flight, lower cortisol, and put your body back in fat-burning, hormone-balancing mode. It’s time to start working with your body instead of against it.

If you’ve been doing everything right and still feel stuck, this episode will help you to connect the dots and finally break free.

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What You’ll Learn

Why stress is basically a Snickers bar — minus the fun

The three types of stress and how chronic stress affects your weight

How hormones like cortisol drive stress-related weight gain

The CALM Method for regulating your body, not just your habits

Why letting go, slowing down, and shifting your mindset can actually help you lose weight.

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Resources from Leslie

Get your Free Episode 1 Worksheet! (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ow6p1S0C8X5fvoJ0q0UUqEAT_HKoGskt/view?usp=drive_link)

Free PDF: The CALM Plate —Get your free printable resource (https://stan.store/leslieduffycoaching/p/the-calm-plate)

Mini-Course: CALM the Cravings [Discount code: HSS15] (https://stan.store/leslieduffycoaching/p/calm-the-cravings)

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/1

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Mentioned in this episode

Huberman Lab | Control Stress for Healthy Eating, Metabolism & Aging with Dr. Elissa Epel (https://youtu.be/ulHrUVV3Kq4)

Anti-inflammatory properties of the vagus nerve: potential therapeutic implications of vagus nerve stimulation (https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP271539)

Can Meditation Slow Rate of Cellular Aging? Cognitive Stress, Mindfulness, and Telomeres (https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04414.x)

The Chain Mediating Effect of Negative Perfectionism on Procrastination: An Ego Depletion Perspective (https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/15/9355)

Estrogen Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Suppresses Gluconeogenesis via the Transcription Factor Foxo1 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6341301/)

Impact of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial on cortical and hippocampal volumes (https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.12.005)

Stress, cortisol, and obesity: a role for cortisol responsiveness in identifying individuals prone to obesity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27345309/)

Stress May Cause Excess Abdominal Fat In Otherwise Slender Women, Study Conducted At Yale Shows (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001120072314.htm)

The geroscience agenda: Toxic stress, hormetic stress, and the rate of aging (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163720303020)

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Connect with Leslie

Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

I love hearing from listeners! Email your questions or topic requests to [email protected]

Check out Leslie’s favorite things: Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/leslieduffycoaching)

If you’re a woman over 40 and you barely recognize yourself in the mirror… your energy’s in the tank, your emotions are all over the place, and you’re wondering what happened to the “you” you used to be, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.

I’m Leslie Duffy, a registered nurse, life coach, and certified functional hormone specialist. After 20+ years of helping women reclaim their health, I created The Hormone Shift Show™ Podcast to give you the answers nobody else is talking about.

This is the strategy podcast for women ready to stop guessing and start feeling like themselves again. Here’s what you won’t get: endless to-do lists, restrictive diets, or morning routines that take 2 hours. Here’s what you will get: science-backed tools you can use right now to balance your hormones, regain your energy, and finally breathe again.

Your 40s and 50s aren’t the beginning of the end; they’re your window of health. What you do today shapes how you age and thrive for decades to come.

So if you’re tired of pushing through and ready to rewrite your next chapter, hit follow now.

Your comeback starts here.

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Connect with me and learn more at LeslieDuffyCoaching.com (https://leslieduffycoaching.com/)

Send me a message and follow me on Instagram @LeslieDuffyCoaching (https://www.instagram.com/leslieduffycoaching/)

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)