Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

• 42. The Truth About Menopause and Brain Health That Every Woman Needs to Hear

  In this powerful roundtable discussion, Kate O’Donnell is joined by three renowned practitioners—Dr. Scott Blossom, Jennifer Boyd, and Kimberly Giunta—to explore how perimenopause and menopause affect the heart, brain, hormones, and spirit. Together, they challenge conventional narratives, emphasizing that this sacred transition isn’t something to fix, but to support and honor. From hormone replacement therapy and bioidenticals to the role of self-breast massage, fiber intake, and spiritual trust, this conversation offers a truly integrative view of midlife wellbeing. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why cognitive and cardiovascular shifts occur in midlife The surprising connection between estrogen and brain health How to interpret the language of the menopausal heart The truth about hormone replacement therapy (and what most women aren’t being told) Ayurvedic, Chinese Medicine, and Functional Medicine perspectives on midlife care How self-breast massage can enhance hormonal balance and emotional wellbeing The importance of fiber, the microbiome, and metabolic flexibility in cognitive health Why listening is a healing act—and how to cultivate it How faith, trust, and community support our transformation Guest Bios: Dr. Scott Blossom is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga and somatics teacher, and expert in evidence-based nutrition. He specializes in cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s prevention, and holistic aging. Jennifer Boyd, PA is an ecosychologist and integrative medicine practitioner with deep roots in women’s reproductive health, functional medicine, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Kimberly Giunta is a clinical Ayurvedic specialist and somatic healer who bridges classical Ayurveda with spiritual and emotional healing. Her work focuses on the wisdom of the heart, ritual, and midlife embodiment. Relevant Links: Kripalu Workshop- The Menopausal Heart and Brain: https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/menopausal-heart-and-brain-ayurveda-yoga-and-functional-medicine-approaches The Simple Breast Massage Protocol: https://www.myayurvedamentor.com/simple-breast-massage-protocol  Jennifer's Midlife Magic: Free Journal prompts for Deep Inner Listening: https://boydwellness.vipmembervault.com/products/offers/view/1185585 Kimberly on IG: @kimberlyanngiunta Jennider on IG: @boydwellness Scott on IG: @docblossom Call to Action: If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend going through midlife transitions. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts! Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Summer Self Care Workshop: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/courses/summer-self-care-workshop   Summer Bundle:  https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/bundles/SummerBundle Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Osi Oils — one of my favorite daily rituals. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha. Whether you’re nourishing your face with their gorgeous Glow Face Oil (my personal go-to), caring for your nasal passages with their Nasya Oil, or balancing your constitution with a dosha-specific body oil, Osi Oils is the kind of ritual that gives back. ✨ Listeners get 20% off at osioils.com with the code AYURVEDA20.  

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• 41. Overwhelmed by Wellness Advice? Here’s What Actually Works

  In this solo episode, Kate O’Donnell invites you into a candid conversation on wellness shaming, the complexities of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and the true Ayurvedic perspective on supplementation. With equal parts compassion and clarity, Kate offers her evolving thoughts on what it means to feel confident in your health choices, how to engage with controversial wellness topics without judgment, and why prana—not pills—may be your most powerful daily nutrient. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, overwhelmed by conflicting wellness advice, or just wondering where Ayurveda fits in a supplement-saturated world, this episode offers a grounding voice of wisdom and truth. 🔍 Episode Breakdown Intro to “Wellness Shaming” and how it subtly influences our health choices Why this podcast is a shame-free, judgment-free zone Ayurveda’s definition of true confidence and decision-making from sattva A personal, evolving reflection on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) The Ayurvedic concern about external dependencies vs internal balance Prana: your primary nutrient and how it trumps most supplements How modern wellness often ignores the subtle body Why bloodwork, bio-identicals, and lab-made vitamins can help—but only if used wisely The importance of seasonal cleansing, rest cycles, and breathwork in self-regulation Kate’s honest promise: to be real, responsive, and co-create this space with YOU 👤 About Kate O’Donnell Kate O’Donnell is the host of Everyday Ayurveda, founder of The Ayurvedic Living Institute, and a renowned author of four bestselling books including Everyday Ayurveda for Women’s Health. With over 25 years of experience in Ayurveda and yoga, Kate helps students and clients integrate time-tested practices into modern life for better digestion, balanced hormones, restful sleep, and deeper connection to purpose. Explore more at: https://healwithkate.org 📣 Call to Action Are you ready to tune out the noise and start trusting your body’s wisdom again? 📬 Email Kate with your questions or reflections at [email protected] 📲 Follow on Instagram @kateodonnell.ayurveda 📚 Grab a copy of Everyday Ayurveda for Women’s Health 💻 Join a cleanse or course to realign with nature and nourish your prana ⚠️ Health Disclaimer The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Summer Self Care Workshop: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/courses/summer-self-care-workshop   Summer Bundle:  https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/bundles/SummerBundle Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Osi Oils — one of my favorite daily rituals. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha. Whether you’re nourishing your face with their gorgeous Glow Face Oil (my personal go-to), caring for your nasal passages with their Nasya Oil, or balancing your constitution with a dosha-specific body oil, Osi Oils is the kind of ritual that gives back. ✨ Listeners get 20% off at osioils.com with the code AYURVEDA20.  

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• 40. The Yoga Practice Your Hormones Have Been Waiting For

  This special replay episode features a timeless and transformative conversation between Kate O’Donnell and Emma Balnaves, senior teacher of Shadow Yoga. Originally released a year ago, this episode continues to resonate with women navigating life’s big transitions—from menstruation to menopause and beyond. Emma shares wisdom from her decades of daily yoga practice, weaving together Ayurveda, subtle body awareness, and feminine life cycles. You’ll hear her speak frankly about perimenopause, aging, blood health, and how women’s bodies require a different approach to movement, intuition, and rest. This is more than a yoga conversation—it’s an invitation to evolve your practice with compassion, strength, and ritual. 💫 If you’re listening in real time, you’ll also want to know: Kate and Emma are teaching a Yoga for Women workshop in Boston, September 2025. Details and registration info are linked below! 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode What Shadow Yoga is—and how it differs from mainstream yoga Why menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause are each unique opportunities for energetic transformation The Ayurvedic importance of blood and reproductive energy across the female lifespan How prana, agni, and intuitive awareness shift after 35 (and why it matters) Emma’s personal insights on menopause, grief, and spiritual practice Tools to support your body during hormonal and energetic transitions Why ritual, not rigor, is the real key to a sustainable women’s practice 👤 Guest Bio: Emma Balnaves Emma Balnaves is a senior teacher and co-founder of the Shadow Yoga school, an approach to yoga rooted in the ancient principles of Hatha Yoga and the energetic body. For over two decades, Emma has worked with students around the globe, especially women seeking a deeper connection to their practice through seasonal, intuitive, and energetic awareness. Her teachings emphasize self-inquiry, strength from within, and honoring the life cycles we move through—especially for women in midlife and beyond. 🌐 Learn more about Emma’s work: https://shadowyoga.com 📖 Read her article Yoga for Women (linked in Kate’s book and the show notes below) 🔗 Resources & Links 🔗 Register for the Yoga for Women Workshop with Kate + Emma (Boston, September 2025): https://shadowyogaboston.com/program.html 📄 Yoga for Women article by Emma Balnaves 📘 The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care by Kate O’Donnell 🌐 Shadow Yoga Website: https://shadowyoga.com 📣 Call to Action Loved this conversation? Share it with a friend or tag @kateodonnell.ayurveda on Instagram with your takeaways. And if you’re ready to evolve your yoga practice to meet your real life—body, hormones, intuition and all—join Kate and Emma in Boston this September for the Yoga for Women workshop. This episode is a replay, but its wisdom is more relevant than ever. ⚠️ Health Disclaimer The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Summer Self Care Workshop: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/courses/summer-self-care-workshop   Summer Bundle:  https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/bundles/SummerBundle Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Osi Oils — one of my favorite daily rituals. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha. Whether you’re nourishing your face with their gorgeous Glow Face Oil (my personal go-to), caring for your nasal passages with their Nasya Oil, or balancing your constitution with a dosha-specific body oil, Osi Oils is the kind of ritual that gives back. ✨ Listeners get 20% off at osioils.com with the code AYURVEDA20.  

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• 39. Ayurveda on Coffee: Who Should Drink It and Who Shouldn’t

  Is your morning cup of coffee a life-enhancing ritual—or a daily stressor for your body? In this candid solo episode, Kate O’Donnell breaks down the Ayurvedic perspective on coffee, caffeine, and the signals your body may be sending you about both. From bloat to breakouts, adrenal fatigue to mood swings, Kate explores how the bitter brew impacts digestion, hormones, and emotional well-being—especially during perimenopause and beyond. Whether you thrive on a daily dose of java or suspect it might be messing with your system, this episode offers thoughtful insight, practical strategies, and a gentle invitation to reconsider your relationship with caffeine. You’ll also discover nourishing alternatives like dandelion root, turmeric lattes, and the Ayurvedic staple triphala—plus how to enjoy the joie de vivre of coffee without compromising your health. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why coffee works for some body types—and backfires for others Four clear signs coffee might not be working for your system The Ayurvedic lens on caffeine, digestion, skin health, and mood How perimenopause and adrenal fatigue affect caffeine tolerance The pros and cons of protein coffee and when to drink your brew Seasonal considerations for coffee consumption Herbal alternatives that satisfy the bitter taste (without the burnout) How to quit or cut back without painful caffeine withdrawal The importance of organic beans and paper filters for safe sipping Why pleasure matters just as much as science when it comes to your morning ritual Mentioned in the Episode: Dandy Blend (roasted dandelion + chicory alternative) Triphala powder for digestion and morning elimination Turmeric golden milk and turmeric lattes Organic, naturally decaffeinated coffee Claudia Welch’s work on coffee and female reproductive health Call to Action: Take a few days to observe how your body responds to coffee. Does it energize and steady you—or throw off your digestion, skin, or mood? Let Kate know your experience over on Instagram @kateodonnellayurveda or by leaving a review and sharing the episode with a friend who’s very into their pour-over. Listen + Subscribe: You can listen and subscribe to Everyday Ayurveda with Kate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune into your favorite shows. Health Disclaimer: The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Summer Self Care Workshop: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/courses/summer-self-care-workshop   Summer Bundle:  https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/bundles/SummerBundle Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Osi Oils — one of my favorite daily rituals. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha. Whether you’re nourishing your face with their gorgeous Glow Face Oil (my personal go-to), caring for your nasal passages with their Nasya Oil, or balancing your constitution with a dosha-specific body oil, Osi Oils is the kind of ritual that gives back. ✨ Listeners get 20% off at osioils.com with the code AYURVEDA20.  

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• 38. The Fiber Fix: Heal Hormones, Boost Detox, and Balance Naturally

  What if the key to resolving your hormonal imbalance, easing perimenopause symptoms, and supporting detoxification was as simple as eating more beans? In this episode, Kate is joined by renowned nutritionist and biochemist Karen Hurd—affectionately known as “The Bean Queen”—to explore how soluble fiber plays a vital role in removing toxins and excess hormones from the body. This deep-dive into the biochemical detox process is packed with actionable wisdom, from understanding bile recirculation to rebuilding adrenal health, and what your caffeine habit has to do with hot flashes and energy crashes. Karen’s powerful origin story, which began with saving her daughter from pesticide poisoning, led her down a path of uncovering life-saving truths about the liver’s detox systems, hormonal regulation, and how soluble fiber can change everything—especially for women in midlife. Whether you’re considering HRT, struggling with symptoms of estrogen dominance, or just looking for one thing to do to feel better—this is a can’t-miss conversation. What You’ll Learn: The three detox systems of the body and how they work How soluble fiber helps remove excess hormones and toxins Why your caffeine habit could be hurting your adrenals A biochemical explanation for hot flashes and hormonal swings Why Americans are fiber-deficient—not protein-deficient Simple steps to safely introduce more beans into your diet How fragrance, caffeine, and even chocolate impact hormone health The hidden risks of hormone replacement therapy Guest Bio: Karen Hurd, MS, MPH, is a biochemist, nutritional consultant, and functional health pioneer known for her groundbreaking work on the role of soluble fiber in detoxification and hormonal health. Her practice was born out of personal crisis: when her 18-month-old daughter was poisoned by an organophosphate, conventional medicine gave up. Karen turned to science, food, and fierce maternal determination to save her child’s life—and succeeded. She’s been teaching and practicing for over 30 years and is the creator of the Bean Protocol. Learn more at karenhurd.com. Resources + Links: Karen’s Courses by Condition: karenhurd.com Follow Karen’s podcast interviews on women’s health and detox protocols via her site Email Kate: [email protected] Kate’s books and programs: healwithkate.org Health Disclaimer: The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Summer Self Care Workshop: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/courses/summer-self-care-workshop   Summer Bundle:  https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/bundles/SummerBundle Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Osi Oils — one of my favorite daily rituals. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha. Whether you’re nourishing your face with their gorgeous Glow Face Oil (my personal go-to), caring for your nasal passages with their Nasya Oil, or balancing your constitution with a dosha-specific body oil, Osi Oils is the kind of ritual that gives back. ✨ Listeners get 20% off at osioils.com with the code AYURVEDA20.  

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