FERN Rising Podcast with Dr. Ashley Burton

In this episode, I sit down with Mindan Gunther-Moore, birth and postpartum doula, educator, mentor, and co-owner of Harbour City Doulas, for an honest conversation about pregnancy, birth, and the realities of the postpartum experience. Drawing on years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, labour, and the transition into parenthood, Mindan shares valuable insights into how women ca...

In today’s episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton explores one of the biggest recent updates in women’s health and fertility medicine: the proposed renaming of PCOS to PMOS, which stands for Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. Inspired by recent discussions shared by Fiona McCulloch and emerging international endocrine consensus statements, this episode dives into why many experts believe...

In today’s episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton dives into the evidence-based realities ofvegetarian nutrition during preconception and pregnancy.  This episode is heavily inspired by and adapted from the work of Lily Nichols and her book RealFood for Pregnancy, one of the most respected evidence-based resources in maternal nutrition. We explore the key nutrients that are often more difficult...

Pregnancy has a way of teaching you things no textbook ever could. In this casual catch-up episode, I sit down with my friend Grace Parce for an honest conversation about pregnancy, body changes, shifting expectations, and everything we're learning along the way. We share personal updates, reflect on the realities of growing a baby, and talk about the physical, emotional, and mental changes t...

Postpartum nutrition is one of the most overlooked pieces of recovery after birth — but it plays a critical role in healing, hormone balance, and breast milk production. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton (BSc, DC, RHN, FAMM Practitioner) shares her complete postpartum meal prep plan, including freezer-friendly meals, high-protein snacks, and nutrient-dense recipes designed to support new moms. To...

For decades we’ve been told to fear salt. But sodium is one of the most essential minerals in human physiology - playing a critical role in nerve signaling, blood volume, hormone communication, hydration, digestion, and energy production. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the science of salt from the chemical level all the way to real-world physiology. We explore what salt actually is...

You’ve learned about protein, fats, and carbs… but what if the most important piece for hormone balance, gut health, and metabolism isn’t a macro at all? In this episode, we dive into the science of fiber — the missing link in most women’s nutrition (and men’s too). Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down what actually happens in your gut when you eat fiber daily, including how your microbiome functions lik...

Carbohydrates are one of the most debated nutrients in modern nutrition. Some diets promote them as the body’s primary fuel, while others suggest avoiding them entirely. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the physiology of carbohydrates and explains how the body processes glucose, why carbohydrates are not technically essential nutrients, and how they still play important roles in ener...

For decades we were told that fat was the enemy. Low-fat diets became the norm, and many people began avoiding one of the most essential nutrients in human physiology. But fat is not optional. In fact, fat and protein are the only two macronutrients that are truly essential for survival. The body cannot produce essential fatty acids, meaning they must come from the diet. In this episode, Dr. Ashle...

Protein is one of the most essential nutrients in human physiology — yet many women are still under-consuming it. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the science of dietary protein and why it plays a central role in metabolism, hormones, fertility, muscle health, and pregnancy. You’ll learn why protein and fat are the only two truly essential macronutrients, how amino acids support near...

This episode is a candid conversation with Grace Parce where we move beyond the highlight reel and into what pregnancy actually feels like day to day. We talk about physical changes, energy, training adjustments, nutrition, and the emotional shifts that come with this stage. You’ll hear how we’re approaching this season through a lens of body literacy, nourishment, and realistic expectations. This...

In this episode of FERN Rising , I sit down with Sierra Robertson for our very first conversation—despite the fact that our husbands have been connected through social media for years. And honestly, it felt like we were picking up mid-conversation. Sierra shares her experience through five births, offering a grounded and refreshing perspective on pregnancy, motherhood, and trusting your body. We a...

In this episode, I’m so excited to welcome Jodi Scott, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Goo and Spry Life   - a visionary in women’s health, psychoneuroimmunology, and plant-based care. Jodi’s journey began in a tiny kitchen where she and her family crafted herbal salves from plants they grew themselves. What started as family medicine blossomed into a national brand sold in over 120,000 stores and ove...

 At 25 weeks pregnant, I was asked to screen for gestational diabetes — but instead of doing the standard glucose drink, I chose to wear a continuous glucose monitor for a week and watch what my blood sugar did in real life. In this episode, I share what I saw during sleep, after meals, during workouts, and throughout my active workdays. We talk about why gestational diabetes screening exists, how...

Is it safe to lift weights during pregnancy? And beyond safety — is it actually beneficial ? In this episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the research on resistance training during pregnancy and its impact on both maternal and fetal health. Drawing from current evidence, this episode explores how strength training supports metabolic health, reduces pregnancy-related discomfort, im...

LH strips and cycle-tracking apps are often marketed as tools for understanding fertility — but they are increasingly being misused as a form of contraception, with real consequences. In this episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton explains why LH ovulation strips are not a reliable or safe method for preventing pregnancy. Using real clinical experience and reproductive physiology, she breaks do...

If cycle-tracking apps can’t accurately tell you when you ovulate, what should you be using instead? In this follow-up episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton explains how to track fertility in a way that is grounded in real physiology — not calendar predictions or algorithms. This episode walks through what makes a fertility app useful, why observation matters more than prediction, and how tool...

What does pregnancy look like when two health professionals are also the patients? In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Parce for a candid conversation about pregnancy, glucose monitoring, and navigating the medical system from the inside out. We discuss:  • Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in pregnancy  • Gestational diabetes screening and the glucose tolerance test  • The 20-week anatomy scan...

Can fertility apps actually predict ovulation? In this episode of FERN Rising , Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down the research on ovulation prediction apps and why period trackers often fail to accurately identify the fertile window — even in women with “regular” cycles. Drawing from multiple peer-reviewed studies, she explains why calendar-based algorithms miss true ovulation timing, how LH-confirmed...

Managing the fertile window is the foundation of effective fertility awareness, whether your goal is to avoid pregnancy naturally, optimize conception, or deepen your understanding of your menstrual cycle. In this episode of FERN Rising, Dr. Ashley Burton, chiropractor, holistic nutritionist, and FAMM Certified Practitioner, walks you through how to confidently confirm ovulation using cervical muc...

Intermittent fasting is often promoted as a universal solution for metabolic health, but women’s physiology tells a more nuanced story. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Burton breaks down why fasting is a hormetic stress and how women respond differently due to hormonal fluctuations, cortisol sensitivity, and reproductive energy demands. You’ll learn why skipping breakfast and eating late may backfire...

Choosing the Right Fertility Awareness Method for Your Body There is no one-size-fits-all fertility awareness method. In this episode, we walk through the three main categories of fertility awareness based methods: cervical mucus–only methods, sympto-thermal methods, and sympto-hormonal methods. We break down how each method works, what fertility signs they rely on, and how cervical mucus, basal b...

FAMM Mini Series  - Episode 3 The Menstrual Cycle Explained: Follicles, Phases, and What Your Uterus Is Doing Each Month The menstrual cycle is more than just a period. It is a monthly reflection of hormone balance, ovulation, and overall health. In this episode, we break down the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle, explain how follicles develop and decline over time, and explore what estro...

FAMM Mini Series  - Episode 2 Hormones and Ovulation: How the Brain and Ovaries Communicate Ovulation is not random. It is the result of a coordinated hormonal conversation between the brain and the ovaries. In this episode, we explore the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis and explain how hormones like GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone work together to drive ovulation and the menstrual c...

FAMM Mini Series - Episode 1 Sexual Anatomy 101: Understanding Female and Male Reproductive Anatomy In this episode, we lay the foundation for fertility awareness by walking through female and male sexual anatomy in a clear and respectful way. You will learn the purpose of the vulva, vagina, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, as well as the male reproductive organs involved in sperm production...