The Functional Fueling® Podcast

Micronutrients, Probiotics & Prenatals for Fertility & Pregnancy w/ Ayla Barmer, Fullwell Fertility In this episode, I sit down with Ayla Barmer, registered dietitian and founder of FullWell Fertility, to break down what the research actually says about micronutrients, probiotics, and prenatals for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum health. Despite the growing prenatal market, many suppl...

Low T3 With Normal TSH: How Energy Availability Impacts Thyroid Function If your TSH looks “normal” but you still feel exhausted, with irregular cycles and slowed metabolism, this episode will help you understand what standard testing often misses. In this episode, we break down energy availability—the balance between the energy you take in and the energy your body expends—and why it is one of the...

[The LODown] Is Your Low Progesterone Actually a Thyroid Issue? Low progesterone is one of the most common hormone concerns I see—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we unpack why low progesterone is rarely a true progesterone deficiency and is far more often a downstream signal of poor ovulation quality driven by low T3, metabolic stress, or thyroid autoimmunity. You’ll...

Liver & Kidney Stagnation: The Connection to Stress, Fertility, Sleep & More with Dr. David Allen Struggling with 1–3am wakeups, stress sensitivity, or chronic fatigue? This episode uncovers how liver and kidney stagnation quietly disrupt stress resiliency, fertility, sleep and more. Learn the signs of stagnation, why stress tolerance drops over time, how chronic stress drains fertility an...

Your Guide to a Hormone Healthy Thanksgiving In this episode I chat with my right hand gal, Romana Brennan. Romana is our other functional medicine registered dietitian here at Functional Fueling. In this episode we provide our best holiday survival tips, sharing with you how we navigate the holiday season, and what to do and what not to do to make this your healthiest year yet. You can find all o...

Your Guide to Correcting Insulin Resistance If you're struggling with fatigue, stubborn weight gain, or irregular cycles, insulin resistance could be at the root. Insulin Resistance affects far more than just blood sugar. In this episode, we break down everything you need to know to identify, understand, and correct insulin resistance.   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 How to spo...

Case Study: How She Resolved Her Acne, Chronic Bloating & Got Pregnant with Ease In this episode, I share a powerful case study of a client struggling with bloating, acne, low cortisol, and low progesterone — symptoms that had left her feeling hopeless after working with multiple practitioners. We take a deep dive into what was actually going on behind the scenes, including: Brain-to-ovary com...

Behind the Scenes of My Career Path: Your Questions Answered This is a long overdue podcast episode that you have been asking for, for YEARS! In this episode, I answer the questions I get most often about my career journey, how I built my practice, and the trainings that shaped my approach. You can also find more specifics on this over at functionalfueling.com/about. I hope this episode helps guid...

How I Started Solids and What Feeding Looks Like Now A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 How I introduced solids and open-cup drinking: what I prioritized and what I skipped Green juices for babies: safe bases & what I avoid The baby products & pantry staples I reach for on repeat & brands we actually use The key nutrients babies need from 6–24 months & simple ways we...

[The LOdown] Why You Can't Stay Asleep, What Your Hormones Have to do with it (And How to Fix It) Do you find yourself waking up at 2 or 3 a.m., staring at the ceiling, wondering why you can’t stay asleep? In this week’s episode of The Strength in Hormones Podcast, I dive into the root causes of nighttime waking and what your hormones—like progesterone, thyroid, and cortisol—have to do with it. Yo...

[The LOdown] How to Control Inflammation Around Workouts Inflammation isn’t always the enemy. In fact, it’s exactly what your body needs after a workout to repair muscles, stimulate growth, and get fitter. But when exercise-driven inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to hormonal chaos. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 ✅ The difference between acute (helpful) and chronic (har...

[The LOdown] Minerals for PCOS PCOS is often talked about in terms of hormones, blood sugar, and fertility—but minerals are one of the most overlooked tools for managing symptoms and restoring balance. In this episode of the Strength in Hormones podcast, we explore how specific minerals like magnesium, chromium, zinc, selenium, and electrolytes can directly impact insulin resistance, thyroid healt...

[The LOdown] The Root Causes of Women's Hair Loss If your hair is thinning, shedding faster than it’s growing, or just won’t regain its fullness, the problem may go deeper than shampoo or supplements. In this episode, we uncover how key mineral imbalances—especially zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and iodine—can make or break your hair health.   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Why...

[The Lodown] Your Guide to Coming Off Birth Control: What to Expect & How to Support Your Hormones   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇   Important show links 👇👇👇 Join waitlist for Inflammation Hormony now Get your hormones tested with our DUTCH test- learn more about our hormone testing packages  Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your po...

Is It Really ADHD? Focus, Hormones & the Functional Medicine Lens with Christa Biegler, RD In this episode of the Strength in Hormones podcast, we explore the deeper layers behind ADHD—beyond the common diagnosis and medication route. From neurotransmitters and hormones to micronutrients and brain inflammation, we dive into the functional root causes that often get missed. Whether you've been...

Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin): Root Causes & Functional Solutions Keratosis Pilaris (KP) — often referred to as "chicken skin" — is more than a cosmetic issue. In this episode, we break down what KP really is, why it happens, and what it reveals about your internal health. You'll learn: What causes those stubborn bumps on the back of your arms The role of Vitamin A, essential fatty acids, a...

Your Guide to Egg Quality & Egg Freezing: How to Prepare and Support Your Body for Fertility In this episode of the Strength in Hormones Podcast, Lauren discusses the critical aspects of egg freezing and egg quality. She emphasizes the importance of hormonal balance, nutrition, and lifestyle choices in supporting egg quality as women age or prepare for egg freezing. The conversation covers the...

Case Study: How She Healed From Mold, Recovered Her Thyroid & Progesterone Levels In this powerful case study, I’m walking you through this client's transformation — from severe bloating, brain fog, and fatigue to finally achieving regular, ovulatory cycles and reclaiming her energy. After years of loose stools, hair loss, sinus inflammation, and dependence on caffeine just to function, she di...

[The LOdown] The Hormonal Link to High Cholesterol What if your high cholesterol isn’t just about your diet—but about your hormones? In this episode, we explore the surprising hormonal connections behind elevated cholesterol levels. You’ll learn why your liver—not your lunch—is responsible for the majority of your cholesterol, and how thyroid, estrogen, cortisol, insulin, and progesterone all infl...

[The LOdown] Your Guide to Electrolytes (for the Adrenals, Thyroid, Pregnancy & Breastfeeding) In this episode, Lauren dives into the essential—but often overlooked—role of electrolytes in hormone health and daily function. From stress to sweat to pregnancy, your body’s need for key minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium shifts constantly. Lauren breaks down how hormones such...

[The LOdown] Cycle Syncing with Imbalanced Hormones In this episode of the Strength in Hormones podcast, Lauren discusses the complexities of cycle syncing for women with hormonal imbalances. She emphasizes the importance of understanding individual cycles, particularly for those who do not have a regular 28-day cycle. The conversation covers various aspects of hormonal health, including ovulation...

As women move through perimenopause and menopause, the hormonal landscape shifts dramatically—and so does the way the body holds onto muscle and bone. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Cecily Havert of Northern Virginia Family Practice, to break down what happens to muscle mass, metabolism, and body composition in midlife, and why resistance training is your best ally. A few things we chat about...

[The LOdown] Postpartum Thyroiditis Postpartum thyroiditis is one of the most overlooked conditions affecting new moms—and it can leave you feeling anxious, exhausted, and completely out of sync with your body. In this episode, we unpack what postpartum thyroiditis is, why it often goes undiagnosed, and how it differs from other thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s. You'll learn about the immune sy...

From PCOS to Motherhood with Aurora Culpo In this episode of Strength in Hormones, host Lauren Papanos sits down with Aurora Colpo to explore her deeply personal journey through PCOS, fertility struggles, miscarriages, and perinatal anxiety. Aurora opens up about the emotional and physical toll of hormone imbalances and the natural methods that have helped her reclaim her health—like acupuncture,...

[The LOdown] Why Your Mitochondria are Key to Fatigue, Fertility and the Thyroid This week’s episode of the Strength in Hormones Podcast uncovers one of the most overlooked root causes of hormone imbalance and fatigue: mitochondrial dysfunction. These tiny powerhouses are responsible for making energy in every cell—and when they slow down, so does everything else. We explore how sluggish mitochond...