The Optimal Bio Podcast

Wondering what actually happens at a hormone consultation? Depending on where you go, it can look very different, from a two-minute conversation to a full review of your symptoms, health history, and labs.   In this episode of The Provider Series, Kelsey Martin, FNP, from our Austin office, walks through what happens before, during, and after your first visit at Optimal Bio–including why education comes first and what a comprehensive lab panel can reveal about how you feel.   You deserve to understand the why behind your symptoms. Request a consultation at https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/

An Ironman finisher. A father of four. Someone who felt fine. So when a physician friend kept telling Thom Asta to get his hormones checked, he was hesitant... until he saw his numbers.   In our first patient episode, Thom shares his story in his own words: what surprised him about his lab results, what he learned about “normal” ranges, how working with a Provider at our Cary office shaped his care over time, and how he approached recovery from a major spine surgery. He also explains why he now encourages friends, family, and his daughters to look into their hormone health.   Feeling like yourself again starts with getting real answers. Request a consultation at https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/

Told you're too young? That it's just for women? That testosterone is risky? There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and it is hard to know what to trust.   In this episode of The Provider Series, Candi Brown, NP, from our Wilmington office, separates the most common hormone myths from what the research actually shows, so you can ask better questions and advocate for the care you deserve.   Feeling like yourself again starts with getting real answers. Request a consultation at https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/

Why are so many women told their fatigue, brain fog, lack of motivation, and poor sleep are “normal”... even when something clearly feels off? In this episode, we break down: • The gaps in women’s health research • Why symptoms are often dismissed • Why “normal” labs do not mean everything is fine • Hormones as it relates to perimenopause, postpartum, and menopause • Addressing the root cause instead of being handed a quick diagnosis Because being dismissed is not the same thing as being healthy! Schedule a consultation with us here: https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/

In this episode of The Provider Series, Christian Davis, NP, from our Charlottesville office, joins to discuss one of the most important and often overlooked topics in women’s health: cardiovascular risk.   Heart disease develops over decades and remains the leading cause of death in women. Yet many don’t realize how closely it is tied to hormone health.   Christian explains how optimized hormones support the body’s natural ability to protect the heart. When hormones are balanced, they help maintain healthy blood flow, metabolism, and vascular function, helping to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk. When hormones decline, factors like chronic inflammation, poor sleep, and stress can begin to disrupt that protection.   Whether you are focused on prevention or looking for answers to ongoing symptoms, this episode offers clarity, education, and a new perspective on what true heart health looks like.   Ready to take a proactive approach to your health? Schedule a consultation at https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of The Provider Series, Christian Davis, NP, from our Charlottesville office, returns to discuss one of the most misunderstood chapters in women’s health: postpartum. She explains how pregnancy elevates hormones to their peak, why estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone rapidly drop after delivery, and how this sudden shift contributes to fatigue, mood changes, anxiety, hair loss, sleep disruption, and low libido. Christian also highlights postpartum thyroid dysfunction, prolactin’s impact on dopamine, the importance of nutrition, and why rest and community support are essential for recovery. Together, they break down what happens in the first 48 hours postpartum, how hormonal changes influence mood and bonding, why thyroid health affects milk supply and overall healing, and how preexisting hormone issues shape the postpartum experience. She also shares what postpartum care should look like (and why many women aren’t receiving it.) Whether you’re postpartum, preparing for pregnancy, or supporting someone you love, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and science-backed insight into what the body is truly going through. Ready to feel like yourself again? Schedule a consultation at https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode of the Provider Series, CEO Tylar Brannon sits down with Irene Burns, PA, from our Pinehurst office, to unpack one of the most misunderstood hormones: cortisol. Cortisol isn’t the “bad hormone” social media makes it out to be. It’s actually essential for energy, immunity, and brain function. But when it stays elevated for too long due to chronic stress, poor sleep, under-eating, blue light, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalance, it can contribute to inflammation, anxiety, brain fog, weight gain, and insulin resistance. Tylar and Irene break down why cortisol is necessary for life, how chronic stress disrupts thyroid and testosterone production, and why symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and lack of motivation are often hormone-related. They also discuss how testosterone calms the nervous system and supports cortisol regulation, as well as simple lifestyle habits that naturally help reset cortisol. If you’ve been feeling “tired and wired,” inflamed, or unable to focus, this episode will help you understand what’s going on inside your body, and what steps can help you restore balance. Ready to feel like yourself again?
 👉  Schedule a consultation: https://optimalbio.com/contact-us/

In this episode of the Provider Series, CEO Tylar Brannon sits down with Tanya Nix, Nurse Practitioner at our Greenville office, for a deep dive into one of the most important pillars of health: sleep. They break down what really happens in your body at night, from brain detoxification and immune repair to hormone balance and metabolic health. Tonya explains how cortisol, melatonin, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen all influence sleep, and why issues often start years before menopause. They also explore how poor sleep affects mood, fertility, weight, insulin resistance, and long-term disease risk, as well as the lifestyle habits and supplements that can help you get truly restorative rest. If you’re dealing with brain fog, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, or irregular cycles, this episode will help you understand why sleep could be the missing link. 👉 Schedule a consultation: https://optimalbio.com/contact-us

In this week's episode of the Optimal Bio Podcast, Tylar sits down with Christian Davis, NP, to break down the science behind perimenopause, the transition years when testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen begin to shift before menopause officially begins. They explore why symptoms vary widely among women, how genetics and environmental factors play a role, and why hormonal imbalance during perimenopause can impact everything from sleep and mood to cardiovascular and brain health. They also discuss how personalized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes can help restore balance, reduce long-term health risks, and empower women to feel strong, energized, and in control again. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind perimenopausal symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, lack of motivation, or disrupted sleep, this episode is the perfect place to start. Learn how your hormones can help you protect your long-term wellness and feel like yourself again. 👉 Schedule a consultation: https://optimalbio.com/contact-us

In this episode of The Optimal Bio Podcast, host Tylar sits down with Irene Burns, PA, from the Optimal Bio Pinehurst office. Listen as they discuss the connection between PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hormone health, especially within the military community. Drawing from her clinical expertise and personal experience as a military spouse, Irene shares how trauma and chronic stress can disrupt hormones like testosterone and cortisol, impacting mood, cognition, sleep, and overall well-being. Together, they explore why these invisible conditions are often overlooked, how Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) can support recovery, and why addressing hormonal balance is essential for healing both body and mind. Have you ever wondered how hormones influence mental health, energy, and resilience? This conversation is one you won’t want to miss. 👉 Schedule a consultation: https://optimalbio.com/contact-us