The Imperfect PCOS Podcast

Ever wonder how these women in their late 40’s successfully get pregnant completely naturally when the odds are completely stacked against them? Girlllll me too! As it turns out, our mindset can unlock the potential for SO many things, including getting pregnant beyond what doctors would consider the “ideal age.” Meet Rosanne Austin, two-time bestselling author and fertility expert who helps type-...

There is so much noise and misinformation out there about GLP-1 medications (aka Ozempic) when it comes to weight loss and PCOS. Today we have the pleasure of sitting down and separating some of the facts from fiction with Merris Taylor, a Registered Dietitian who also has PCOS and has been on both sides of the weight loss struggle. She has had her own journey with GLP-1 medication and has had tru...

Jackie has lost over 65 pounds and kept it off for over 14 years. She struggled with food noise, cravings, mindless eating, you name it, and landed herself with a Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diagnosis at the young age of 19. After that, she decided everything about how she viewed and used food for comfort needed to change. Instead of falling victim to one of those ultra-restrictive yo-yo diets, Jacki...

When Dr. Harper first started practicing medicine, she realized how many women were coming to her with issues surrounding their sexual health. Complaints like “sex hurts so bad” or “I don’t care if I never have sex with my partner again.” She began to see how many tools and resources we have out there for men, and yet the complete lack of quality support women have access to.  In fact, Dr. Harper...

Acne is a MAJOR issue for so many of us with PCOS. Meg Gaic, leading acne expert, is no stranger to dealing with the frustrating, embarrassing, and not to mention expensive implications of cystic acne and endless breakouts.  The number one reason we can get acne with PCOS is elevated androgens, but when these levels are “normal”, there are SO many question marks that can pop up. Let’s explore pote...

PCOS and thyroid issues often go hand in hand, and who better to break it down for us than Amanda Montalvo, a women’s health dietitian who has both?? Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and let’s chat with Amanda as she uncovers some of the mysteries of the thyroid. What big red flags should we be looking for symptom-wise to see if we might have thyroid problems? What labs are actually helpful to have r...

There’s no way to skirt around this one: dairy has gotten a really bad rap in the health and nutrition space.  But why? And how do we know that what we’re hearing from so-and-so “influencer” on social media or watching in documentaries on Netflix is, in fact, true? I am so ready to dive into the inner workings of our agricultural industry here in the United States, and who better to guide us than...

How many of us have heard that weight gain causes our PCOS? Yep, me too. It’s time to bust this myth, and so many others alongside none other than hormone queen Dr. Jolene Brighten. If you’ve been hanging around the women’s health space, you’ve very likely heard of Dr. Brighten. She marries the science and biochemistry behind hormones with her appreciation of nutrition and lifestyle components to...

So many of us silently struggle with s*xual pain. Not only can it lead to a loss of libido, it can cause s*xual fear and s*xual distress. If we can’t even admit our issues to our parents or our partners, who can we talk to?! Meet Janelle Howell, Doctor of Physical Therapy and CEO of The Vagina Rehab Doctor. Dr. Howell is no stranger to diving into these topics in depth to erase the shame and stigm...

If you’ve ever wondered about how your body will change during perimenopause and menopause (or if you’re currently in the thick of this and struggling), this episode is going to be your new audio bible. From crappy sleep, to mood changes like deeper depression and anger, to thinning hair, to just feeling “blah” - we’re sitting down with expert Dr. Carrie Jones to help us understand exactly why we...

Ovarian cysts, heavy periods, and fibroids- oh my. What DON’T we deal with as women?! Fibroids can cause heavy and painful periods, bleeding in between periods, back pain, bladder and bowel pressure, pain with sex, and even miscarriage.  Today Brooke Davis, a Registered Nurse and Holistic Nutritionist, sits down to help us understand the driving force of fibroids, how they impact our health, and w...

Poor sleep (or not enough shut eye) can negatively impact our energy levels, mood, hormones, workouts, and even our weight! Plus, women with PCOS are at a higher risk for both insomnia and sleep apnea. Bottom line: getting enough deep sleep can absolutely make or break your health journey.  Today Rebekka Wall, a Certified Adult Sleep Consultant, joins us to dive deep into why some of us aren’t sle...

Sick of generic advice from a doctor’s office pamphlet? I get it.  A functional approach to your PCOS fills the gaps and targets the root cause of your symptoms, so you can FINALLY understand how to get back to feeling like YOU again. Join me and women’s health expert Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD, as we explore personalized PCOS management, ditching the one-size-fits-all approach.  Say goodbye t...

Unsure why your period is missing?   Google may have let you down so far but my friend and trusted colleague, Lindsey Lusson won’t. Lindsey is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA), period recovery, and fertility.    Listen in today as she dives into:   The nitty gritty of HA, or period loss related to over exercise and/or under eating The key differences between P...

Wondering what’s on the menu for a healthy pregnancy? Join the club! With so much misinformation floating around, it's like trying to find your way through a maze blindfolded.    But don’t worry, Mama. Ryann Kipping, MPH, RDN, a.k.a. The Prenatal Nutritionist is coming on the show today to ease your mind.    In this episode, she’s dishing out answers to those burning questions you've been Googling...

Ain’t nobody got time for counting calories (especially us workin’ women). In fact, it isn’t even necessary. You can lose weight and keep it off without obsessing over every bite you take.    Take it from today’s guest, Katie Pekera, a Registered Dietitian nutritionist who has had her own 40lb weight loss.   In this episode, Katie is sharing her playbook for taking the overwhelm out of weight loss...

Alright, buckle up because we're diving into a topic that's as crucial as it is overlooked – pelvic floor health. Seriously, why aren't we getting the 411 on this before AND during pregnancy and postpartum?    This is a topic that gets the feminist inside of me fired up. That’s why I’m so excited to sit down with an expert who is filling this major gap in women’s healthcare on the daily.   We've g...

“Why can’t I stop emotional eating?” This is something I hear from clients all of the time, and If you find yourself asking the same question, this episode is for you.    Meet Michelle Yates, RD, LMNT. With her personal triumph over an eating disorder and body dysmorphia, she brings that priceless "I've been there" perspective.   Listen in as Michelle shares her own journey and talks about the dif...

PCOS ladies listen up: 50% of us will develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.    Scary, right? But here's the deal: Simple tweaks to how you eat, move, and handle stress can change the future for you.    That’s why I’m bringing on Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Educator, Kristie Messerli to share simple and SUSTAINABLE lifestyle tweaks to help you manage your blood sugars (and lose weight) that don...

Questions like:   ‘Will gaining too much weight hurt my baby?’ or ‘Did I bring gestational diabetes on myself?’ or ‘Did my PCOS cause this?’ are sadly real questions I’ve gotten from expecting mamas who are scared that by doing normal things like eating carbs or indulging a pregnancy craving or two will hurt their baby (so not true!!).    It's high time we debunk these fears and replace them with...

If hormonal acne and/or hair loss are killing your confidence, I see you. I get it- girrrrl I’ve been there.    I know, there's nothing that can make you feel more self-conscious and powerless than buying endless products and praying that one will finally make you feel (and look) like you again.    But what if I told you that you have more power to tame this beast than you might think?    Meet Car...

Let's talk about high cholesterol! This isn't just an "old man's" problem; it's a widespread issue affecting a whopping 90 million adults in the U.S. Yep -- 90 MILLION!   And it impacts just as many women as men. That’s why, our guest today, Ashley Reaver, RD is on a mission to help women lower their cholesterol naturally (even if they have a family history!).    You read that right. Medication is...

Are you tired of feeling embarrassed or scared about your thinning hair? You're definitely not alone. As women, we experience massive hormonal shifts throughout our lives. From postpartum hair loss that affects a staggering 40 to 50% of women to the hair-related challenges caused by conditions like PCOS, which impacts 1 in 10 women of childbearing age, it's clear that this is a topic we need to ad...

PCOS weight gain hitting your self-esteem hard? If you answered yes, this episode is for you.    Meet Savana Antonation,MSW, RSW. Not only is Savana a body image therapist, but she's also a fellow cyster who understands the emotional struggles that come with PCOS weight gain firsthand.   In this episode, Savana is dishing out the dirt on diet culture and how it affects women struggling with PCOS w...

Meet Dr. Shawn Tassone, aka America's Holistic Gynecologist. He's the first US doc to be double board certified in obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. With a medical degree and a Ph. D. in mind-body medicine, he's not your typical OB-GYN. He's all about busting women's health myths and giving you the power to take charge of your well-being. In this episode, we...