The Root & Remedy Podcast

This episode is the ultimate pep talk. If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, afraid of making changes, or worried about what other people are going to think of you, this one's for you. I interviewed Jill Amirault, Toronto-based content creator, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Girls Run the 6ix.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Having the courage to put yourself out there and go after big goals
• How to get over the opinions of others, fear of cringe and being seen trying
• Becoming a content creator, landing brand partnerships and making big girl money
• How to change your life when you feel like you’re settling (especially in your job and relationship)
• Being single, enjoying your alone time and how to move through a breakup
• How to give up your “good” and “safe” job or relationship to go for what you actually want
• Listening to your intuition, trusting yourself and go after what you want
• How to breakup with your partner if you know they’re not your person, but you’re scared to leave
• Making friends as an adult, how to find your people and create a community you love
• Navigating the feelings of being behind, jealous and comparing yourself to others

Connect with Vanessa

• Instagram
• TikTok  
• Testimonials

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply HERE.  

Connect with Jill

• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Girls Run the 6ix

If you know you want kids at some point, are actively trying or currently pregnant, the thought of birth (and how scary it seems) has probably been living in your head rent free. 

In this episode, I am interviewing Laine Ferguson, a full-spectrum birth doula, childbirth educator and founder of The Birth Laine. This is everything you’ve wondered about pregnancy, birth and planning for delivery. We talk about the role of a Doula, how to know when/if you need one, how to create a birth plan, hospital vs. at-home births, techniques for pain management, the most common pregnancy and birth myths we’re all taught, and soooo much more.

I’m not currently pregnant or trying for kids, but I know I want a family in the nearish future so this episode was insanely eye-opening for me when it comes to feeling more confident about pregnancy and birth as a whole, how to make the choices that best support my body, what I want and how enjoyable (not excruciatingly painful and traumatizing) the process can actually be.

Laine is a full-spectrum birth doula, childbirth educator, and founder of The Birth Laine, based in Nelson, BC. She provides inclusive, evidence-based, and trauma-informed support for families through pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum. Her work is rooted in helping people feel confident, informed, and deeply supported — whether they're planning a home birth, hospital birth, medicated birth or anything in between. She's also a mom-of-two, and her own experiences with birth and pregnancy loss have shaped her passion for supporting families in a way that is grounded, compassionate, and real. Beyond her client work, Laine is also the Founder of kaye — a client care platform that's built specifically for Canadian Doulas and Birthworkers. 

We both wanted to note that this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Birth doulas and childbirth educators provide informational, physical, and emotional support - not medical care. Always consult your doctor, midwife, or qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual care for your pregnancy and birth.

Connect with Vanessa:

• Instagram
• TikTok  
• Testimonials

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply HERE.  

Connect With Laine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthlaine/

Virtual 1:1 Birth Prep & Planning: https://www.thebirthlaine.com/childbirth-education-birth-planning

Book a free consultation with Laine:  https://www.thebirthlaine.com/contact

Laine's Favourite Books for Pregnancy, Birth Prep & Beyond:

• Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your Body, by Erica Chidi
• The Birth Partner, by Penny Simpkin (a MUST read for anyone that is supporting anyone through pregnancy and birth)
• The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality, by Kimberly Ann Johnson
• Cookbook: The Nourished Mother, by Lindsay Taylor 

Other resources:

• The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast by Dr. Melanie Jackson
• Evidence Based Birth - Handouts and Website Resource
• The Birth Hour Podcast - Real people's stories of birth
• Hypnobirthing by Poppy Child "Pop That Mumma" 

Referenced in our conversation:

• Dr. Melanie Jackson on the study review for place of birth (home, birth centre, hospital) and maternal and neonatal outcomes - https://www.melaniethemidwife.com/podcasts/the-great-birth-rebellion/episodes/2149072162
• Evidence Based Birth Podcast - Effects of Epidurals on the Second Stage of Labour (Pushing Phase) - https://evidencebasedbirth.com/effects-of-epidurals-on-the-second-stage-of-labor/

GET IN. We're goal setting and planning for 2026 to make this a slam dunk year.

It's time to buy yourself a new journal, reflect on 2025 and set your intentions, goals, manifestations and wants for 2026.

In this episode I'm walking you through my favourite questions to ask yourself at the start of each year to capture the best moments of you past year, what you learned, liked, didn't like and what you want to change for this next year. We'll also talk about setting up habits and systems instead of just creating goals so you ACTUALLY achieve what you want this year.

The journal I buy every year and love with ALL MY HEART. I usually just get a different cover every time: https://studiooh.com/products/floral-tapestry-medium-coptic-bound-journal. You can get them at indigo and on amazon too I think!

In part two of this episode I'm breaking down EXACTLY what you should be doing to increase your sex drive and overall libido. As you know, I have a very holistic view of health, so I talk about coming off hormonal birth control, stress, nutrition, sleep, energy, relationship dynamics and more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Nutrition for balanced hormones episode:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/root-and-remedy-podcast/episodes/EP-28-Nutrition-Essentials-for-Balanced-Hormones-taking-the-drama-out-of-what--when--and-how-to-eat-to-feel-your-best-e2qbn97

Free supplements guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UOL4UEVd4INxGdkT14qyqYFiAho3awup/view?usp=sharing

Get in Touch:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ 
• ⁠⁠Testimonials⁠⁠

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply ⁠⁠HERE.⁠⁠ 

If you've been thinking "where TF is my sex drive?!" you're in good company because TONS of women feel frustrated with how little they want to have sex. This episode is your deep dive into understanding your libido, how it works and why it's low.

In part one of this episode I'm breaking down why your libido has ghosted you through a biological lens. We need to understand our cycle, hormones and the way we're wired before we talk about what you can do. Sadly, most of us were taught none of this in school (sigh) so when we have unpredictable libidos or we're not wanting sex at all, we feel like it's our fault or we've done something wrong. Hint: it's NOT your fault, and there's A LOT you can do to improve it once you understand why it's happening.

In part two I go over tangible steps for exactly HOW to improve your sex drive and overall libido.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Amazing books you need to read:

The Period Brain

This is Your Brain on Birth Control

Beyond the Pill 

If you’re having gnarly PMS, listen to these episodes:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/root-and-remedy-podcast/episodes/EP-08-PMS--Heavy--Painful-Periods-Why-so-many-of-us-are-struggling--how-hormones-become-imbalanced-and-essential-steps-for-better-periods-e2qbn8i

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/root-and-remedy-podcast/episodes/EP-28-Nutrition-Essentials-for-Balanced-Hormones-taking-the-drama-out-of-what--when--and-how-to-eat-to-feel-your-best-e2qbn97

If you want to start tracking your cycle so you can know when or if you’re ovulating, listen to this episode:

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/root-and-remedy-podcast/episodes/EP-10-Cycle-Tracking-For-Birth-Control-how-it-works--what-markers-to-track--how-to-know-when-youre-fertile-and-more-e2qbn8t

My favourite Non-toxic lubricant

Get in Touch:

• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠TikTok⁠ 
• ⁠Testimonials⁠

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply ⁠HERE.⁠ 

Emma Mills-George is the Strategy & Growth Lead at Twig Fertility, where she's played a key role in developing the clinic's brand, operations and physical expansion.

With a background in corporate strategy, hospitality and communications, Emma brings a unique perspective to the intersection of healthcare, patient experience and business growth. Passionate about innovation in fertility and improving access to care, Emma led the development of Fertility Check, Twig's proactive service offering designed to support patients like herself, earlier on in their reproductive health lifecycle. 

About Twig

Twig Fertility takes a modern, compassionate approach to fertility and reproductive health care. Twig blends medical expertise, state-of-the-art technology and whole-person care to help achieve the best outcomes, getting patients to their goals faster and prioritizing an exceptional patient experience at every step of the way.Twig Fertility has two locations in Toronto and is opening in Vancouver in Spring 2025.

Learn more or book online at ⁠www.twigfertility.com⁠ 

There is no shame in the single game. BUT, if you want to find a partner, dating can feel like the biggest uphill climb EVER.

In this week's episode I am talking about how to actually have fun dating, since most of us are dreading it and just want to find our person right away.

We're diving into:

If you're working through a breakup, listen to EP 14: The Breakup Episode: how to navigate a breakup, feel your feelings and rebuild your self-confidence with Brooke Ryan 

Get in Touch:

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply HERE. 

In today's episode I am breaking down how your fertility works, how it declines over time, the factors that impact fertility, why and how I'm getting my fertility tested, what I'll do if my results aren't what I'm hoping and much more!

Since starting my career in women’s health and fertility, my stance on fertility testing and family planning has completely changed. The fact of the matter is that we are struggling with infertility as a society more than ever before. Working every day with women and couples who are on their fertility journey has had a life changing impact on my perspective and now, my personal decisions.

Currently, as many as 1 in 5 women will struggle with infertility and sperm counts in western countries have fallen over 50% within the past 50 years. These statistics are not something to take lightly, especially if you’re like me and know you want a family someday.

Get in Touch:

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply HERE. 

It is your birthright to feel amazing in your body. You deserve to feel strong, sexy, confident, proud and comfortable in the way that you look. The problem is, most of us are not there. We feel ugly, unattractive, too fat, too skinny, too jiggly, our butt is too small, we have tummy roles and cellulite, our clothes don't fit right, the list goes on and on AND ON.

So, we turn to fitness, which isn't inherently a problem on it's own.

But, it becomes one (a very big one), when we approach changing our bodies and working out from a place of self-hatred, disgust and unhappiness.

You want to lose weight? Great. You want to build muscle? Amazing. You reserve the right to change your body in whatever way you please that makes you feel more confident. BUT, you CANNOT beat yourself and body up to get there.

We are approaching health and fitness ALL WRONG and it's causing us to have body dysmorphia, disordered eating patterns, constant anxiety, major insecurities and honestly, is just leaving us feeling miserable. 

In this episode I am laying down the law when it comes to your mindset and relationship to your body while you are working towards your fitness goals. Expect to learn how to approach your fitness journey and working out in a way that makes you feel way happier in your body, less obsessive about food and what you look like, have better balance when it comes to meeting your goals and still having flexibility, why you can't trust social media influencers, concrete steps to build a healthier relationship to food and a stronger body image, and much more.

Get in Touch:

Want to work 1:1 with me? Apply HERE. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Wanting to lose weight is NOT a bad thing. You deserve to feel confident, sexy and amazing in your body, but, you CANNOT beat yourself up to get there. It's not okay to starve yourself, restrict yourself, become obsessed with food or working out and feel like your self-worth comes from what your body looks like.

In this week's episode we are diving into the top mistakes you're probably making if you've been trying to lose body fat, look "toned" and tighten things up. I break down why these mistakes are so common, why we gravitate towards things that genuinely don't work long term, and what to do instead to feel amazing throughout the process of building a body you feel fabulous in.