On the Ascent: Health

Exercise shouldn't be punishment —it should be something that helps you feel stronger, more confident, and more at home in your body. In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Gwen Swanson, movement coach and founder of Mind + Muscle , to discuss how women can build a healthier relationship with exercise—one focused on strength, confidence, and longevi...

Strength training might be one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term health—yet it’s still one of the most overlooked. In this episode, Dr. Laura is joined by Dr. Samantha Fox, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Breakout PT & Wellness , to break down why resistance training matters and how it supports everything from injury prevention to longevity. We talk about what strength...

If you’re exercising, eating well, and doing everything you know to do—but your body composition still isn’t changing—this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with EB, an integrative nurse practitioner at Eden Health Alaska, to unpack what’s often called weight resistance —and why fat loss becomes harder with age, stress, hormonal shifts, and metabolic cha...

Most women were never taught how their menstrual cycle actually works — or how deeply it affects energy, mood, stress tolerance, workouts, and overall health. In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura Peterson Wright is joined by functional hormone specialist Anne McLeary for a practical, eye-opening conversation about hormones, stress, and learning to work with your cycle instead of co...

In this episode of On the Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Dr. Breana Hauskins , a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Alaska and Montana, to break down gut health in a clear, practical way. We cover what gut health actually means, why it plays such a foundational role in energy, hormones, immunity, and inflammation, and how food sensitivity testing and functiona...

In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Laura continues her discussion with registered dietitian Kylie Viens , diving into what nutrition actually looks like in real life — not on paper. They talk about practical strategies for eating out, navigating food prep without overwhelm, and why when you eat can matter just as much as what you eat. Kylie also explains how stress, mood, and hunger influence foo...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Lauras sit down with Kylie Viens , registered dietitian and diabetes educator, to talk about something most people have been taught incorrectly: How not to be on a diet. We break down what the word “diet” actually means — and how diet culture turned it into restriction, deprivation, and short-term fixes that rarely work. This conversation challenges t...

Pelvic floor issues are common — but they are not normal. In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Dr. Laura Huie , Doctor of Physical Therapy at Point North Physical Therapy , to break down what pelvic floor therapy really is, who it’s for, and why so many women are told to “just live with” symptoms that are absolutely treatable. They cover: What pelvic...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura sits down with Marisa Scott, RNFA and owner of Aspire Med Spa , for an in-depth conversation on radiofrequency (RF)—a regenerative technology used for everything from skin tightening to scar release to vaginal rejuvenation. They discuss: What radiofrequency actually is How RF remodels collagen, releases scar tissue, and triggers fat apoptosis Wh...

Perimenopause can feel like your body has flipped a switch overnight—weight gain, joint aches, brain fog, mood swings, gut issues, and “I just don’t feel like myself anymore.” In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura is joined by Dr. Aderonke “Ade” Akindipe, DNP, FNP-C , founder of Rejuvenate Health & Wellness in Anchorage, Alaska. After working grueling 12-hour shifts during the p...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura sits down with Dr. Nate Dietz of The Premier Life in Anchorage to unpack one of the most powerful – and misunderstood – metrics in modern health tracking: heart rate variability (HRV). HRV measures the tiny variations in time between heartbeats. Rather than being “irregular,” a more variable heart rate actually signals a more adaptable, resilien...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura returns for Part 2 of her conversation with Justin Penny of Gameday Men’s Health — this time diving into one of the most talked-about areas in performance medicine: peptide therapy. While peptides are often associated with men’s optimization, the truth is that women are seeking them out too — for recovery, gut health, libido, sleep, and longevity...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura sits down with Justin Penny , owner of Gameday Men’s Health in Anchorage—a concierge hormone and performance clinic changing the way men access care. While Gameday focuses on helping men optimize testosterone, energy, and performance, this conversation is can be so important for women . Justin breaks down how men’s hormones influence motivation,...

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura sits down with one of Alaska’s most respected physical therapists, Zuzana Rogers , owner of Runner’s Edge and a three-time Olympic physio. With decades of experience treating Olympians, elite runners, and everyday Alaskans, Zuzana delivers clear, evidence-based insight on the one topic too many women overlook until it’s too late: bone density ....

In the very first episode of On The Ascent: Health , Dr. Laura sets the tone for what this podcast is all about: real conversations, evidence-based strategies, and the shared pursuit of feeling strong in every decade of life. She opens up about her personal “why,” the realities of navigating health in midlife, and the mindset shift required to take ownership of your body, habits, and future. From...

What if the biggest shift in your health came not from another fad diet or quick fix, but from taking ownership of your choices? In this trailer, host Laura Peterson Wright introduces On the Ascent: Health — a podcast about stepping up, taking accountability, and building the strong, energized life you want. This show is for women who refuse to let age, stress, or setbacks define them. We’ll dive...