For my listeners who have been in their menstrual years for quite some time... this one's for you. Perimenopause is a-comin', and it may not be as far off as you think. In fact, symptoms can start as early as your late 30s (though it's more likely to happen in your mid-40s), which is why I want to share what to expect when you're expecting menopause. We weren't educated about our periods before we got them, so I want to make sure you're armed with the right knowledge and tools before this next phase of your reproductive life.

We talk about:

• The wide-ranging symptoms of perimenopause, like hot flashes, mood swings, and decreased libido.
• The hormonal impact on your anatomy, including changes to the vulva, cervix, uterus, and ovaries.
• Why it's so important to manage stress in perimenopause (beyond the usual reasons).
• Body composition changes like bone density and muscle loss.
• Viewing menopause as an opportunity, instead of a sentence.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until April 5, 2023!
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Referenced in this episode:

• Perimenopause Power by Maisie Hill
• The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter
• See Ya Later, Ovulator! by Esther Blum
• Guide to Quitting the Pill

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My favorite part about cycle syncing is that you can find so many areas of your life and interests to apply it to. Tarot is a tool for self-reflection and self-awareness, and in this episode, we explore how you can align with your cycle by embodying different archetypes found in the cards. I provide specific examples of archetypes from the major and minor arcana that mirror the energy of each cycle phase, to give context to what's going on mentally and physically in the body and help you organize your self-care around your cycle.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
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Capitalism requires us to work like machines, producing the same level of output day after day. Humans just can't work like that, especially those of us with menstrual cycles whose energy, focus, creativity, and more shift from one phase to the next. This week's episode explores how this patriarchal structure of working and living can have an impact on your period and your cycle health.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Referenced in this episode:

• Work Flow: Using the Magic of the Menstrual Cycle for Business
• White Supremacy Culture Characteristics
• Meal Planning for Your Menstrual Cycle
• Guided Wim Hof breathing method
• 10-minute yoga nidra

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After sobbing in her boss’s office 15 years ago, Julie Duffy Dillon, registered dietitian and PCOS expert, taught her last diet. Once she learned about weight stigma and diet harm, she couldn't unsee it. Now Julie helps people with PCOS confidently tackle health concerns moving forward without shame and blame. She teaches them how to burn their PCOS diet books while bringing clarity into their relationship with food and body. She has spoken at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and was featured dietitian for the reality show My Big Fat Fabulous Life. You can hear her on her podcast, Find Your Food Voice. Learn about her services including her PCOS Power Course + Community at JulieDuffyDillon.com

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

We discuss:

• Who intuitive eating is for and why
• Eating intuitively with chronic illness, even when conventional treatment includes a restrictive diet
• Whether or not you can cause PCOS to occur (+ her thoughts on post-pill PCOS)
• Why keto and low-calorie diets are particularly damaging to people with PCOS
• How to navigate weight stigma in medical settings, including what to say to your doctor or nurse

Referenced in this episode:

• PCOS Power online course (use code PODCAST for 20% off)
• Diet-Free Doctor’s Visit Handout
• Perimenopause Power by Maisie Hill
• Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
• The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
• Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
• Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey

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The "fertility cliff," or the idea that your fertility takes a complete nosedive on your 35th birthday, is a longstanding myth. In fact, it's based on some really old research (like, shockingly old) and the decline and risks associated with being of "advanced maternal age" are not as dire as we're told. In this episode, I explore the research on this topic and what the numbers actually say, and offer some nutrition and lifestyle recommendations for preconception planning if you are preparing for pregnancy.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Referenced in this episode:

• Thirty, Flirty, and Surviving interview
• How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby? | The Atlantic
• The Panic Years by Nell Frizzell
• Adam Ruins Everything: You Can Still Have Babies After 35
• Miscarriage | Mayo Clinic
• Preterm Birth | March of Dimes

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It's an "It's Just a Phase" episode flashback with my friend Janine Mulone and our amazing guest, Sarah Potter! Sarah is a professional witch, color magic practitioner, tarot reader, and true beam of light.

We talk about:

• Sarah’s journey to becoming a witch in suburban NJ
• Communicating with animals
• What is Color Magic?
• How to use Color Magic for self-empowerment (and how you might be already!)
• Color rituals for creativity
• Which colors align with seasons and moon phases
• Sarah’s Color Magic Year Ahead readings

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Referenced in this episode:

• Follow Sarah on IG: @iamsarahpotter
• Email Sarah to book a reading + be added to her newsletter: [email protected]
• “I Asked A Witch About Manifesting & It Made Me Realize I’ve Been Doing It All Along”

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• Cycle Magic cycle-syncing course
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This episode is all about the most highly-requested topic from my listeners—all about your birth control options. We are lucky to have numerous avenues for contraception these days. However, they're not all perfect, and not every option is suitable for every body. You'll learn about long-term, short-term, hormonal and non-hormonal methods of birth control, as well as barrier methods, fertility awareness, and emergency contraception as well. I share the percentage of efficacy with perfect use and typical use along with the pros and cons of each method to help you decide the best option for your needs.

Check out my new Guide to Quitting the Pill here.

Disclaimer: This information in this episode, and in all episodes of The Lunar Body podcast, is for educational purposes only; it is NOT medical advice and it is your responsibility to speak to a qualified healthcare provider about your unique needs. The final decision when considering any diet, lifestyle change, or medical procedure, whether it’s discussed on the internet, in a podcast, or prescribed by your doctor, is always your own.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Referenced in this episode:

• The Team That Invented the Birth-Control Pill | The Atlantic
• Parsing the pill’s impact on women’s wages | U-M
• Birth control methods & options | Planned Parenthood
• Safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of the contraceptive and non-contraceptive uses of the LNG-IUS | International Journal of Women's Health
• Research on effectiveness on fertility awareness methods
• FAM educator Lisa Hendrickson-Jack: The Fifth Vital Sign | Fertility Friday Podcast

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We are lucky to have a variety of different options for managing menstrual flow these days. In this episode, we explore what's available in the wonderful world of period products, including pads, tampons, underwear, discs, cups, and more. You'll learn how they're used, some pros and cons you may want to consider when choosing the best option for your body, my experiences with different brands, the range of gender-inclusive options, and more.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Referenced in this episode:

• Dr. Jen Gunter on titanium dioxide in tampons
• International Agency for Research on Cancer: Titanium dioxide
• Glad Rags
• Aisle
• Cloth Connection Outreach Charity (& their TikTok)
• Thinx
• Proof
• PFAs found in Thinx, Knix, Proof
• BetterGoods.org PFA evaluation
• SoftCup Disposable
• Cora
• Hello
• Diva Disc
• Period Nirvana menstrual cup/disc quiz

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Many people share with me that they feel like they're learning about their bodies and their intuition "too late" in life, and that they want to avoid the same happening with their children. In this episode, I share how to nurture and support your child in having a healthy relationship with food, with their body image and bodily functions, their menstrual cycle (or sibling's cycle), and spiritual practice. It all starts with you—they pay attention more than you know! The fun part is, you can learn a lot together and make it a special experience as they grow.

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

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Cyclical activism is a practice of being politically involved in a way that is ongoing and sustainable. In the same way that we use cycles to create supportive personal self-care practices, we can use cycles to ensure we are taking action towards collective change in a way we can keep up long-term. I am joined by Janine Mulone of Feel Good Retail for this episode, which is a re-airing of our 2020 podcast It's Just a Phase.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed or unsure of how to get involved, this episode is a great place to start!

Listener perk: Get $100 off Cycle Magic, a cycle-syncing course for menstrual misfits, with the code LUNARLOVE — Available until season 3 ends!
View all podcast listener perks here.

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

• Work with me 1:1
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