Pass the Compassion

Last episode, we introduced the concept of cycle syncing, or the practice of adjusting your diet, exercise, and habits to align with the menstrual cycle and best support how you feel. In part 1, we cover the follicular phase & ovulatory phase (check it out if you haven’t yet!). In this episode, we discuss the luteal phase and the menstrual phase. Did you know that the connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain strengthens during the menstrual phase, or that you may find intense cardio-based exercise more challenging in your luteal phase? We discuss all of these fascinating facts & ways our bodies change over the month, and how you can “biohack” your body to optimize your life and live each day even more in tune with your body. Stay tuned from the beginning if you’d like to hear: details from our recent trip to Tulum, Mexico (btw, we meant *Kundalini yoga) strange health issues that arose from the sun our favorite ecosystems a sudden friend emergency that interrupts recording (she's okay!) Jamie’s thoughts on parking lots & cheeze-it's Or, skip to 25 min for the start of cycle syncing content. As always, please message us with any episode or research requests! @passthecompassion on instagram. xoxo and happy valentine’s day!

Our hormones strongly impact things like mental state, appetite, weight gain/loss, thought process, confidence and more. For those who experience a menstrual cycle, experiencing the highs and lows of hormonal changes can often be confusing, frustrating, and painful. In this episode, we explore the topic of cycle syncing: the practice of adjusting your diet, exercise, and habits to align with the menstrual cycle and best support how you feel. This means cultivating a deep understanding of the changes happening emotionally, physically, and mentally each month, and being able to make empowered decisions about your lifestyle: whether that’s rescheduling an important meeting, optimizing your workout schedule, or choosing different foods for the week at the grocery store. In Part 1, we cover the follicular phase (the “spring phase”) and the ovulatory phase (the “summer phase”). In each section, we discuss the primary hormones that are rising or falling, best foods to eat to support those hormone changes, recommended types of exercise, & mental/psychological changes. We’re overwhelmed and excited by the rich info we began finding on this topic, so we decided to split this into two episodes. In the meantime, we’re also working on compiling this info for you all on our instagram: @passthecompassion. Follow to stay tuned! Thanks so much to Alina Alive and her video on youtube that inspired the breakdown and facts shared in this episode. Other sources referenced include the book “In the Flo” by Alisa Vitti, the podcast “Balancing Hormones Naturally” by Leah Brueggemann, and Funk It Wellness for seed cycling info. Happy Thanksgiving, and can't wait to share Part 2! 

Ever wonder what effect your mani-pedi might have on your body, your nail tech, or the environment? Us too! This episode we discuss the health and environmental impacts of nail products and the process of getting your nails done. We discuss our personal habits when it comes to nail salons, and some options for creating a healthier or more sustainable manicure experience. In terms of how viable some of those options are (like bringing your own tools to a nail salon…) we MAY not be the first ones raising our (well-manicured) hands. BUT, learning about what options are available is the first step to making changes. We discuss how to look for an ethical nail salon and find non-toxic, body and environmentally-friendly products, and ponder some questions re: health and nails. Why do we have nails? Do they ever recover completely, even when taking a break from products/treatments? (We slightly digress to talk about a recent negative yoga experience — if you’re not interested, skip from 11 min to 19 min where we pick back up on nails!) Lastly, we take a BuzzFeed quiz to lighten the mood, and find out what non-dairy milk we are. Love you all, happy Spooky Szn and as always, let us know what episodes you want to hear next! @passthecompassion on instagram, xoxo BuzzFeed Quiz: https://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/non-dairy-milk (since we know you wanna take it too) ;)

Welcome back, friends! We hope you had an amazing summer, and can’t believe we’re already entering cozy season. Join us for this episode where we discuss a recent event we attended in Boston, all about leveling up your life; clarifying your goals, setting intentions, and taking a leap into new horizons. We chat about our experience, including a yoga flow, sound bath, vision boarding, networking, and more! Also, we dive deep into the details of a fantastic coffee shop in the South End, that we highly recommend you visit. As always, please let us know if you have any episode topics you’d like us to cover this season, @passthecompassion on instagram. Also, check out the brand that hosted the event, a 100% female owned, ran, and founded business: @1987active on instagram, and shop1987.com. Much love!

Annnnnd we’re back! We took a little hiatus to rest, recharge and crush some goals. Oh, and take a trip to LA. Catch up with us to hear all about our good eats on the west coast, amazing brunch in Vegas, and some food gems back home. We also chat about Mother’s day, May birthday festivities and Jamie’s final submission for her yoga certification. (Congrats Jamie!) Lastly, we wrap up with some exciting recent veg news. Don't forget to follow us on instagram @passthecompassion and let us know what else you want us to cover this year! 

We’ve been WAITING for this one! If you’re having trouble deciding what supplements to purchase, from where, and how much - you’re not alone. The amount of information on supplementation seems endless, but we’re here to break it down for you with some straightforward recommendations. Though it’s always best to eat a well-rounded and nutritious diet, there are some nutrients that can be difficult to get due to dietary restrictions, the season and region you live in, or differing levels of absorption in the body. We got you covered! We discuss b12, omega-3s, calcium, vitamin D, probiotics, digestive enzymes, iron, magnesium, and calcium, why they matter, animal product watch outs (e.g., gelatin and fish derivatives), and our personal supplement rotations. We also talk about the sustainability of supplements, the difference between synthetic and naturally-derived ingredients, and the long road ahead for making them truly environmentally friendly. As always, DM us with any questions or requests, and use the discount below at HUM Nutrition for $10 off your first order! [$10 OFF SUPPLEMENTS: use code 2428C2 at humnutrition.com] [10% OFF SENSITIVITY TESTS: enter Alyson Bortone at checkout on checkmybodyhealth.com]

We are so excited to welcome you back for our fourth season! Since we love our themed episodes, this week we are diving into the sustainability of Valentine's Day. The majority of roses in the USA are imported. Where do they all come from, and what is the carbon footprint of that process? Chocolate is another delicacy of Valentine's Day, though some claim it may be "by some calculations, the single worst non-meat food." What are the reasons for this, and what are some alternatives you can buy? We provide recommendations for purchasing eco-friendly flowers and sweets, and deep dive into the nuances of companies that promise sustainable practices. How authentic is Hershey's promise of fair trade? Are there any red flags to look out for when assessing products and corporations? On a lighter note, we discuss angel numbers, growing up with our favorite bands and artists, and how to enjoy the holiday, whether you love love, or are dreading the 14th. Lots of love and as always, our dm's are open and we're eager to hear from you! Reach out at @passthecompassion on instagram. Happy V-Day!

Can you believe 2021 is coming to a close? In this episode, we start by celebrating some personal milestones before diving into the ethical and nutritional considerations surrounding honey and agave. We discuss honey production in depth, detailing the different practices beekeepers may use, sustainability implications, and why some vegans may choose not to eat honey. We also cover agave production, along with its impact on the environment and the hype it has garnered as a sugar substitute. And with that, that's a wrap for our first year of the podcast and our THIRD season! Thanks so much to all of you for listening. We can't wait for you to join us for all the amazing things we have planned for 2022. All of our love and happiest of holidays.

Have you ever felt confused about the nutritional value of processed foods? It’s likely you’ve heard of diets that recommend only eating “whole foods.” Well, at what point is a food considered “processed”? Are the health claims on products like veggie pasta and fresh juices actually true? How do processed foods measure up in sustainability? This week, we dive into the nuances of processed foods and provide a few rules of thumb for fitting them in to your diet. We also discuss a new celeb-launched vegan product, our latest grocery store finds, and the “annoying” drinks to make as a bartender. We certainly learned something new and hope you do, too!

As we enter the holiday season, you may be worried about the tough questions and food restrictions that come along with parties and gatherings. This week, we discuss family dinner dynamics and how to have difficult conversations and respond to assumptions about your dietary needs. We also provide tips on asking family and friends to easily cater to your diet so you, too, can fully indulge in your favorite seasonal foods. After chatting about our holiday plans and favorite Thanksgiving foods, we also weigh in on the pumpkin spice debate, discuss plant based turkey substitutes, and sprinkle in some Starbucks insider info. Enjoy this light and fun holiday episode, and have a lovely Thanksgiving!