March 23, 2016 “The idea that we have to experience ourselves and be treated as if we are ill and wrong rather than individuals with our inherited physiology with some common experiences related to that is what I want to change our minds about.” Nancy Dunne is a pioneer in holistic handling of PCOS and was instrumental in my own healing journey. Her positive spin on PCOS, focusing on the benefits of being a high androgen, inherently insulin resistant woman are life changing. In her view, “We are...
Jan 14, 2018•49 min
March 5, 2016 You have a lot of questions about Ovasitol, inositols and male fertility. I invited Dr. Mark H. Ratner, an expert on all of these topics, to join the podcast and answer your most burning questions. Every woman considering getting pregnant will benefit from his clear explanations and sage advice. Listen in as we discuss: What are Ovaitol and inositols and how do they work? Why many doctors don’t understand the benefits of inositols for PCOS Can I take Ovasitol with metformin or if I...
Jan 14, 2018•36 min
March 5, 2016 Women diagnosed with PCOS are often told that they will suffer the symptoms their entire lives. Dr. Meaghan Kirschling and Health Coach Wendy Borhauer, founders of Beyond the Basics Health Academy, disagree. Diagnosis is just the first step toward balance and healing. Whether you are a teenager being told you will “grow out of it” or woman in menopause, there are actions you can take today to begin healing. Listen in as we discuss: Signs, symptoms and treatment of PCOS in adolescen...
Jan 14, 2018•40 min
February 18, 2016 “A lot of women who follow this journey are in a lot of pain because of the inflammation. You can’t do a high-impact workout. You can’t do P90X. You can’t even think about Insanity. CrossFit? Don’t even look at the building as you’re driving by.” – Diamond Dallas Page I’m an early adopter of DDP Yoga. It is a strenuous cardio workout that doesn’t overtax my adrenals and leave me exhausted. At the end of a workout, I feel rejuvenated, strong and flexible– exactly the way you sho...
Jan 14, 2018•42 min
January 22, 2016 Fertility is one of the main concerns I hear about from women with PCOS. Not many women clearly understand their fertility cycles and even fewer feel like they have any control over them. Fertility expert Hannah Ransom visited the PCOS Diva podcast this week to share information with other women with PCOS that want to take more control of their fertility using fertility planning and awareness methods. Listen as we discuss: The difference between natural family planning and ferti...
Jan 14, 2018•27 min
January 6, 2016 You likely won’t hear about the MTHFR genetic mutation in your doctor’s office, but 60% of the population has this condition. If you have the MTHFR mutation, it means that (among other things) your body cannot convert folic acid into folate that you need for a healthy baby and your own cell replication. Listen in as I speak with expert, Angela Heap about: what is MTHFR what tests can determine whether you have the MTHFR mutation the difference between folic acid and folate how MT...
Jan 14, 2018•34 min
December 30, 2015 The simple shift in focus from infertility to fertility can make all the difference when a woman with PCOS is trying to conceive, says Aimee Raupp, a well known author, acupuncturist, and herbalist. In her New York practice, Amy has treated countless women with PCOS who have found their fertility by embracing their physical and emotional health first. Listen as Aimee guides us through: the power of optimism and why it works how letting go of grief, fear and jealousy boosts your...
Jan 14, 2018•44 min
December 16, 2015 PCOS Diva Menopause “Now is a great time; every day is great time to make a lifestyle improvement and know that there is a payoff that comes with that, regardless of having the PCOS diagnosis.” -Dr. Rashmi Kudesia Menopause is increasingly on my mind. As I enjoy my mid-forties, menopause is looming in my immediate future. I have a lot of questions, starting with, “How will menopause affect me, as a woman with PCOS?” Dr. Rashmi Kudesia, a nationally respected reproductive endocr...
Jan 14, 2018•38 min
November 25, 2015 Millions of women around the world struggle with PCOS. That number would make you think that PCOS research would be popular and well funded. For many reasons, this is not the case. The good news is that research physician Dr. Frank González and many who share his passion are undertaking research right now that will change the lives of women with PCOS. Dr. Gonzalez is studying the link between PCOS and inflammation. We know that inflammation is the underpinning of most major dis...
Jan 14, 2018•40 min
November 21, 2015 “(Management of) stress is just as important as diet and exercise in the management of PCOS. It’s a piece that has to be addressed because, unless you do, you can’t get the hormones in check.” – Dr. Shawna Darou Stress hormones inter-play with the hormones we most often hear associated with PCOS. Progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid hormones either bring your body balance or wreak havoc on your health. For women with PCOS, they often worsen symptoms like abdominal ...
Jan 14, 2018•34 min
November 17, 2015 Are you a stress eater? A reward eater? A comfort eater? You’re not crazy. You’re not lazy. This is not about will power. There’s a reason why this destructive eating behavior is going on. Women with PCOS are often told, “You need to lose weight and go on a low carb, ketogenic or paleo diet.” For a lot of us, the thoughts of going on a strict food plan leads to a sense of denial and a cycle of stress/emotional eating. Dr. Melissa McCreery is a well-known psychologist and author...
Jan 14, 2018•38 min
October 28, 2015 “The most critical factor in all of the issues facing women with PCOS is systematic inflammation and its origin which is probably in the gut,” explains Dr. Felice Gersh in our most recent interview. Dr. Gersh is a doctor of integrated medicine and a renowned expert on PCOS. Our conversation was wide ranging as she clearly explained the origin of many of our toughest symptoms. The gut-brain-hormone link can be a delicate balancing act, but once we get it worked out, Dr. Gersh ass...
Jan 14, 2018•47 min
French women are well known for their easy elegance and style. What is their secret to making fabulous look simple? Jamie Cat Callan has made a life’s study out of answering just that question. I was inspired to interview her and learn more about the nuances behind French women’s “joie de vivre” after reading her latest book, “Bonjour Happiness.” The book is a serious, but light hearted guide to capturing the essence of living well. The philosophy fits very well with the PCOS Diva mantra, “A Div...
Jan 14, 2018•29 min
August 27, 2015 Interview with Dr. Tom O’Bryan, who is an internationally recognized expert on Celiac Disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Inflammation due to gluten sensitivity is a central concern to women with PCOS, so I was thrilled to interview him for our latest podcast
Jan 14, 2018•41 min
August 17, 2015 Does any of this sound familiar: chronic fatigue, apathy, depression, brain fog, memory lapse, mood swings, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, OCD, panic attacks, weight gain, hair loss, low body temperature, or joint pain? You may have a thyroid disorder. As a woman with PCOS, your likelihood of having Hashimoto’s Disease is 3 times greater than other women. Many of us suffer from this or some other type of thyroid disorder. With this in mind, I had the pleasure of interview...
Jan 14, 2018•41 min
July 25, 2015 So, what’s your type? Dr. Philip Goglia, nutritionist to pro and semi-pro athletes, stars like Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Ryan Gosling and even a PCOS Diva, can tell you. He specializes in metabolic nutrition and divides the population in to 3 types of metabolisms. I was inspired to interview him after reading his book, “Turn up the Heat – Unlock the Fat Burning Power of Your Metabolism.” His message of eating to your metabolic type spoke to me, and I think you will benefit from...
Jan 14, 2018•39 min
June 30, 2015 PCOS Diva has a fundamental purpose of empowering and educating women about their health and fertility. That is why I am thrilled to get behind a Kickstarter campaign to turn Holly Grigg Spall’s book, Sweetening the Pill: or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control into a documentary. Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein plan to make this thought-provoking book into a documentary. The goal is to empower and educate women so they can make an informed choice about their fertility and birth...
Jan 14, 2018•31 min
June 20, 2015 Menstrual cycle wheel. Average menstrual cycle. Bleeding period and ovulation. Nicole Jardim is a leading expert in the area of menstruation and women’s hormones. During our interview, we explored her work addressing the root cause of period abnormalities. Rather than simply treating or masking the symptoms, she strives to find the root of the irregularities and repair the problem naturally. She gives practical advice about figuring out why your period may be irregular and suggests...
Jan 14, 2018•43 min
June 11, 2015 The natural treatment of PCOS is a passion of mine. I am happy to share this passion with Dr. Lara Briden, a well respected naturopathic physician. Dr. Briden is my “period guru.” Her new book, The Period Repair Manual, was on my list of vacation reading. For every woman who has ever thought, “I will never have a regular period,” this interview is for you. In our 40 minute interview, she addressed many of the questions I get about herbal supplements for treating PCOS symptoms inclu...
Jan 14, 2018•40 min
May 6, 2015 Got stress? Trying to conceive? Dr. Maizes, respected educator, doctor of integrated medicine and author of Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child recently sat down with me to discuss stress and its impact on women with PCOS, particularly those trying to conceive. During our 45 minute interview, she made clear the link between fertility and stress as well as provided some excellent, easy to use advice and coping strategies. Listen...
Jan 14, 2018•44 min
April 23, 2015 Most women with PCOS struggle with fertility; I know I did. I frequently hear from women who are not only concerned about getting pregnant, but about maintaining a healthy pregnancy. I am often asked if there are there increased risks in pregnancy with PCOS and whether supplements help. My recent conversation with Rebecca Murray, APRN, outlined many ways that women can best prepare for pregnancy as well as what they can do to enjoy a healthy, issue-free pregnancy. During our 45 mi...
Jan 14, 2018•47 min
March 18, 2015 Pelvic pain is a common symptom for women struggling with PCOS. With multiple organs tucked into a very small space, irritation can become widespread and extremely painful. In my interview with Jessica Drummond, a well-respected pelvic physical therapist and owner of a private women’s health clinical nutrition and coaching practice, she stresses the importance of getting to the root of your pelvic pain including hormone imbalances, endometriosis, cysts, muscle fatigue and stress. ...
Jan 14, 2018•32 min
March 6, 2015 If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), you have chronic body-wide inflammation. Recently, I spoke with Dr. Felice Gersh, M.D., a leading expert on the subject. Dr. Gersh is one of the top integrative gynecologists in the United States and an expert in the field of PCOS. Her philosophy involves looking at a patient’s whole being in order to help them achieve optimal health. She believes that doctors don’t heal people; they merely help patients resource their own healing abi...
Jan 14, 2018•49 min
February 23, 2015 Most women with PCOS struggle with reproductive as well as metabolic issues including obesity. Questions about how the two might be related are the center of Dr. Dan Dumesic’s work. I was fortunate enough to interview Dr. Dumesic and ask about his research and recent findings. Listen, and you will learn about: How reproductive and metabolic issues may be intertwined Dumesic’s cutting edge research at UCLA examining PCOS in lean women to determine the link between androgen exces...
Jan 14, 2018•36 min
February 2, 2015 The average doctor examines a woman with PCOS, prescribes the pill, tells her to lose some weight and sends her on her way. Dr. Dian Ginsberg is not your average doctor. Listen to our information-packed 43 minute interview to learn her 5 Magic Elements for treating PCOS. Dr. Ginsberg is a respected traditional doctor who has branched out into functional medicine. Her goal is to help patients heal themselves by understanding the underlying causes of PCOS and achieving balanced we...
Jan 14, 2018•43 min
December 23, 2014 It is always a pleasure to speak with someone knowledgeable about PCOS, so I was excited to interview Dr. Mark Perloe, an OBGYN and PCOS fertility expert. He shared that PCOS is less about a woman’s ovaries and more about her insulin resistance. His analogies of the way our bodies process insulin to a car engine and subway train rang true and made a complicated issue very accessible. Listen as he explains why treating PCOS is a 3 legged stool involving your exercise, relationsh...
Jan 14, 2018•40 min
December 2, 2014 I recently had the privilege of speaking with well-known Fermentationist, Summer Bock. Our conversation changed the way I think about fermentation and healing of our gut through natural probiotics. While people have long understood the benefits of probiotics and fermented foods, it is only recently that science has begun to link the two and really explore the far reaching benefits of healthy bacteria in our guts. Listen in as Summer reveals the one fermented food we should all b...
Jan 14, 2018•38 min
November 18, 2014 It isn’t often that I hear rave reviews about a PCOS practitioner. I certainly hear lots of horror stories, so when I repeatedly hear wonderful things about a doctor who has a wonderful bedside manner, and treats her PCOS patients with kindness and respect, I have to take notice. For the past several years, I kept hearing great things about Dr. Katherine Sherif, so I invited her to join me on a PCOS Diva Podcast. Katherine Sherif, M.D. is Professor and Vice Chair of the Departm...
Jan 14, 2018•34 min
I often hear from Divas that their sex drive is low or even non-existent. There are lots of underlying reasons for low libido – from The Pill, depression, stress, anxiety, to low self-esteem and hormonal imbalance. I have called in one of my favorite experts to chat more about how women with PCOS can increase libido. Dr. Jen Landa is a Hormone Expert MD. She’s an Ob/Gyn, Sexpert, and Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD. She’s also the author of The Sex Drive Solution for Women and creator of Re...
Jan 14, 2018•43 min
I feel as if I have found a kindred spirit in Dr. Lara Briden. A few months ago I discovered her Healthy Hormone Blog (http://www.larabriden.com/). She has worked with women with PCOS for the last 2 decades. I am very passionate about spreading the word regarding the risks of the pill as a treatment for PCOS. Dr. Lara is as well. She shared her thoughts with me during this 40 minute interview.
Feb 12, 2016•39 min
