Changing Seasons: Ayurveda, Women’s Health, Menopause & Food as Medicine

In todays conversation with Gabriel Perera Founder and CEO of Wellness brand Ora Health. Jody talks about her journey with the teachings of Ayurveda. She shares how in the first 5 years of practising Ayurveda she was quite rigid in her approach, then overtime her approach has softened.  Jody and Gabriel discuss practitioner guilt that comes from feeling one has to always be healthy unless they hav...

Today Jody speaks with Integrative Nutritionist and GAPS Practitioner Elyse Comerford about how she works with women to help the understand the root causes of their menopausal symptoms Elyse describes how exposure to harmful chemicals, liver congestion, thyroid issues and adrenal function all contribute to the problems women experience during perimenopause and menopause. We discuss how the decisio...

Today Jody speaks with Dr Olivia Lesslar about psychoneuroimmunology and how our brain communicates with the body when it perceives it is under threat.  Olivia breaks down the 8 ancient survival threats and explains that we are now living in a world where humans are constantly being bombarded with messages that tell the brain that our safety is at risk. Dr Lesslar explains the difference between a...

Today Jody speaks about some of the current hot topics in the perimenopause and menopause arena. How much protein should we be eating and is eating 120g a day making you very Pitta - hot and smelly. Are you taking care of your bones and if you are Vata how you need to be very aware and cautious in your approach. Brain health and how in Ayurveda it is directly related to gut health which is still s...

Today Jody chats with Kris Gonzalez about walking a conscious path through perimenopause. Kris is an acupuncturist and educator who spends most of her time these days bringing awareness to how to help women transition into perimenopause gently. Our conversation talks about the influence of the breath on the bowel and how important it is in perimenopause for women to be breathing in a relaxed manne...

Lisa Darveniza is a counsellor, psychotherapist. Growth work teacher and group facilitator and the founder of Awareness Work.  She joins Jody today to talk about the importance of healing the core wounding we experience in childhood. Lisa has developed a 6 month program that guides participants through the steps of rediscovering their authentic self. We discuss the positive impact work in a group...

Dr Jimi Wollumbin returns today to speak with Jody about The Wounded Witch/ Healer archetype and the magnificent unwounded womb.  We speak about the womb being far more than a home for babies and its important role of connecting a woman to her soul. In this episode Jimi introduces us to the world of mythopoetic thinking which helps us understand a concept through the lens of myth. He speaks about...

In this episode Catie talks about her personal perimenopause journey. As a naturopath entering this phase of life in burnout meant she was acutely aware that had to closely manage her health, especially her adrenals. She became vigilant about avoiding cortisol spikes and started making big changes to her life.  Catie reveals how she decided to give HRT a go for 3 months after being exhausted and a...

In todays episode Jody speaks with Tahnee Taylor. Tahnee is a Taoist energetic teacher, yin yoga teacher, mother to 3 beautiful babes and owner of Superfeast with her husband Mason. Jody and Tahnee talk about traditional approaches to menopause and how menopause is considered to be the autumn of a woman’s life in Chinese medicine.  Tahnee explains the principles of Wu Wei the Taoist concept of non...

In this episode Jody speaks about her menopausal journey. She reflects on the changes she has seen in the menopausal arena, in the science and the recommendations around hormone replacement therapy.  Jody looks at how grief has been ongoing for her as she navigates the autumn of her life and she speaks honestly and vulnerably about how she struggled to make her peace with the non-negotiable change...

In this episode Jody talks with Kim Vopini, Vagina Coach, about all things pelvic floor. We discuss prolapse, incontinence, urgency and hormones. Kim shares her personal experience with prolapse and Jody reveals her own journey and how strengthening the pelvic floor may not be a good thing and why. This is an episode you won't want to miss. We cover so many topics including vaginal estrogen a...

Edwina Peden guides women through perimenopause using the wisdom of Ayurveda. As a perimenopausal women herself Edwina has learnt to honour rest. Edwina notices how her mood, energy and interactions with her two young boys is impacted if she doesn’t pause more often these days. Nature is a medicine she uses to help calm herself and her clients. Instagram: @edwina_peden "Send us a message&quot...

Jane McCann is a total inspiration for any aging woman. She has embraced this stage of life with vigour and has no fear around speaking up about the lack of options available to perimenopausal women who have a history of cancer or cancer in their family that means HRT is not an option for them. After being offering anti-depressants that didn’t work for her Jane found herself alone and unsupported...

Lucy Slater is a Somatic psychotherapist who helped people come home to their bodies and feel their emotions. Jody talks to Lucy about how important it is for women on their perimenopausal women to acknowledge and feel their feelings and what happens if they discount their emotions in this season of life. Disturbances in sleep, digestion and fatigue are symptoms women can encounter if they are byp...

Today Jody speaks with Gen X model, writer and yoga teacher Kate Bell about her experience working in the modelling as a perimenopausal woman and what it was like being the oldest woman in the room.  We discuss how Kate tendency to face difficult situations head on helped her navigate perimenopause along with the support of herbal medicine and yoga.  Instagram: @i_am_katebell "Send us a messa...

Sarah Rusbatch is the author of the best-selling book “Beyond Booze”. She is a Grey Area Drinking Coach, menopause coach and key note speaker who shares about her journey to sobriety. In todays conversation we discuss the following: What is Grey Area drinking? When do we know we have a problem with alcohol and how to stop. The impact grey area drinking is having on your mental health The impact al...

Dr Lauren Tober is a clinical psychologist, yoga teacher, educator and author. Her new book Mental Health Aware yoga is a must have for any yoga teacher. In today’s episode here are some of the questions we have covered: You are a Psychologist and a yoga teacher who has spent a large part of your career trying to marry the two together. Have you seen a greater acceptance for yoga in the mental hea...

Today Jody speaks with Brad Hay. Brad is an Ayurvedic & Tantra Teacher, father and builder. We talk about how Brad manages the stresses of young children, a mortgage and a busy life using Ayurvedic wisdom.  Jody and Brad discuss the different challenges the 3 Ayurvedic constitutions (doshas) come up against as they age and how knowing your weak points can help you avoid burn out. Brad highligh...

Today Jody speaks to Kate O’Donnell Ayurvedic Educator and Author about the importance of good gut health as we enter perimenopause. Kate encourages us to include good fats in our diet to avoid dryness that naturally occurs in our body as we age according to Ayurveda. We discuss why leaving adequate time between our meals with aid digestion and how snacking can negatively impact some constitutions...

Jody speaks to Laura Plumb, Ayurvedic practitioner and educator about the elder phase in which a woman becomes ready to pass on the chores to the next generation and we rest and consider what is their legacy and purpose. Laura stresses the most fundamental thing a woman can do in their fifties is to find a way to believe in themselves and know their true value.  They discuss the importance of havi...

Jacqui Lewis – The Broad Place  In this conversation Jody talks to Jacqui Lewis, founder of The Broad Place, a successful international meditation school and retreat business.  Jacqui describes her own journey through perimenopause and how she at first struggled to identify what was happening and the shame she felt about entering perimenopause in her early forties. We discuss how meditation is not...

Jody Vassallo is an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, cookbook author and yoga teacher. She has written two cookbooks on Ayurveda. Jody has been working in the women's health arena for many years and today she talks about her own journey through perimenopause to postmenopause through the lens of Ayurveda. You can purchase Jody's Ayurvedic cookbook The Yogic Kitchen and find out more about t...

In today’s episode Jody chats with beautiful Amy Crawford owner of The Holistic Ingredient an online store, host of the podcast Woman, Conversations for the curious. Jody and Amy discuss: Amy’s perimenopause journey Navigating grief and the loss of a parent in the perimenopausal phase of life Managing stress, rest and an auto-immune disease How resting is easier said than done Her Holistic ingredi...

In this episode Katie Rose and I speak about the importance of living a Sattvic life and how modern life keeps us on this hamster wheel that is challenging to remove ourselves from. We speak about Bhakti, what is and simple Bhakti practices we can incorporate into our lives Katie reflects on being a mother of 5 and a business owner in her forties and how she manages it all with her less in more ap...

In this episode Jody talks with Alex about all things Low Tox and how chemicals can impact women and men as they age. We cover a lot of ground in this podcast talking about: Simple changes people can make in their homes to be living a more low tox life One thing everyone can purchase for their homes to make them healthier places to reside Sustainable fashion and the fabrics that are recommended fo...