It Has to Be Me

Ladies: Do not miss this conversation with Meghan Rabbit—journalist and author of The New Rules Of Women’s Health—for breaking news that can save your life. We start the conversation with how historical neglect of women’s bodies in medical research has lasting impacts, ranging from screening equipment poorly suited to our anatomy to healthcare systems that don’t understand or support our needs. Meghan lays out the gaps, challenges, and overlooked truths in women’s healthcare, and explains why we find ourselves misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left without real answers. From chronic pain, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disease to depression and Alzheimer’s, women make up 70 to 80% of patients yet wait longer to be evaluated and taken seriously. We explore why heart disease is the number-one cause of death in women, how female hearts and signs of heart attack differ from those of men, and what to say at the emergency room so you get seen by a doctor now, not shoved into some corridor. We then dive into how hormone health impacts everything from brain function to immune responses to bone health, why pain should never be ignored, and how to assess your breast health beyond mammograms. Meghan targets menopause as our strategic window of opportunity for preventing disease over 50. She covers how to find good doctors and prepare for appointments, and the most effective ways to communicate with practitioners for the best healthcare experience. The key takeaway: Get to know your body so you can advocate for yourself and fast-track your way to solutions. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Women make up 80% of people with autoimmune disease and osteoporosis. Women mount stronger immune responses than men which can lead to autoimmune disease. Women make up 70% of chronic pain patients, and 2/3 of people with Alzheimer’s disease. To prevent chronic pain, don’t push through—listen to pain signals, and seek treatment.Only about 30% of participants in drug trials are women. Participating in studies increases data on women’s health and helps you access medical care.Only 4% of women take hormone therapy. But often, the benefits outweigh the risks. Many women don’t do mammograms because of radiation. You get more exposure on a plane. ABOUT MEGHAN RABBITTAuthor of The New Rules Of Women's Health, Meghan Rabbitt is an award-winning journalist who specializes in writing about women’s health and wellness. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Women’s Health, Prevention, Oprah Daily, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, NPR, and others. She’s known for translating complex medical and scientific topics into clear, actionable information—and for telling stories that help women better understand their bodies, their health, and themselves.CONNECT WITH MEGHANThe New Rules Of Women's Health: https://newrulesofwomenshealth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanrabbittLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-rabbitt-04b80116/MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Struggling through perimenopause? Dr. Emilie Wilson, naturopath and acupuncturist, talks about how she helps women over 40 reclaim their health and vitality with functional medicine. Healing is a creative process, and a good practitioner will partner with you to develop a personalized action plan that fits your lifestyle and needs. Dr Emilie emphasizes the importance of looking at the whole story to identify the root causes of hormone imbalances. We explore why so many women feel dismissed, confused, or stuck when it comes to their symptoms, especially when their labs are “normal” yet they don’t feel like themselves. Hormone health is never just about hormones. Starting with the most common symptoms women experience, such as weight gain, sleep issues, and brain fog, Dr. Emilie explains how gut health, blood sugar, and metabolism are all connected to our hormone health. And how symptoms indicate deeper imbalances that can be corrected with a holistic approach that addresses diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and hydration. From there, she walks us through key labs and tests every woman over 40 should consider to move beyond guesswork and into clarity. We discuss microbiome stool testing, advanced thyroid panels, micronutrient and organic acid tests, and DEXA scans. Tracking patterns, not just numbers, is the path to solutions and sustainable health. Key takeaway: Stop chasing quick fixes. No pill, patch, cream, medication, or supplement will solve all your health issues in midlife. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS Metabolic dysfunction and chronic illnesses are common. But, common doesn’t mean normal. “Normal” lab results don’t always mean optimal health. Advanced testing may be required. In perimenopause and menopause, we can lose our resilience without a holistic treatment plan. Better gut health is foundational. Rebalance your gut to rebalance everything else. HRT, medications, or supplements alone are not golden tickets to optimal health. The Organic Acids Test looks at metabolic capacity and can identify nutrient deficiencies. The DUTCH PlusTM Test indicates how your body is processing available hormones. A comprehensive adrenal assessment reveals how stress is impacting hormone levels. ABOUT DR. EMILIE WILSON Founder of Sanos Wellness, naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist Dr. Emilie Wilson helps women over 40 investigate the causes of hormone imbalances and optimize their metabolism and health during perimenopause and menopause. With over 15 years’ clinical experience in functional medicine, Dr Emilie draws from her personal journey with burnout, weight gain, postpartum depression, and hormone issues to support her patients with custom holistic treatment plans. The author of POST: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Postpartum Self-Care Plan in Pregnancy, Dr. Emilie also writes about women’s health for a diversity of online magazines and websites. CONNECT WITH DR. EMILIE Website: https://www.sanoswellness.com/ Lab Guide: https://www.sanoswellness.com/perimenopause-lab-cheat-sheet Power Hour: https://www.sanoswellness.com/perimenopause-power-hour Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanoswellness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanosWellness/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-wilson-2320a22a1/ MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs. Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others. Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com. CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think. Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Over 50 and want to get your body back? Christi, Sara, and Christine—three members of the 60-Day Reset—talk with me about how they shed the pounds and took control of their lives by taking self-care to the next level.Christi came in struggling with digestive issues, IBS, kidney stones, and candida. She wasn’t showing up for life the way she wanted. By nourishing her body and eating more, not less, she empowered herself with food that sparked a renewed joy of cooking. Sharing the knowledge and enthusiasm, her husband and teenage children all improved their health with her.Sara used her 50th birthday as motivation to finally let go of dieting. After trying plans from vegan to paleo to Whole30, she was exhausted, in chronic pain, and frustrated that “doing everything right” still wasn’t working. Embracing a more flexible approach to food helped her address stress in every part of her life. She gained confidence, and started a new business.Likewise at 50, Christine realized her approach didn’t serve her in midlife. After numbing herself with food and alcohol, she got sober and achieved a freedom with eating she’d not experienced before. Through the lens of her relationship with food, she gained a better understanding of her other choices, and upgraded her communication and action in her work and relationships.We discuss the impact of familial and societal conditioning around food, and the peer pressure built into eating out with others. And how the “Good, Better, or Best, Not Perfect” philosophy of the Skinny60® community provides an alternative to rigid and restrictive thinking.Exploring how strategic eating moves beyond healthy eating, we celebrate what happens when we understand our bodies and listen to them, instead of fighting them at every turn. Using our approach to food as a vehicle for gaining clarity about our other choices sparks a reclamation that has a ripple effect.TESS’S TAKEAWAYS:Strategic eating goes beyond healthy eating and focuses on bio-individual needsChronic dieting disrupts metabolism and can lead to weight gain despite “healthy” eating.For optimal metabolic function and weight-loss, the thyroid requires regular nourishment.Hormone health is directly influenced by gut health, blood sugar, and metabolism.Approaching self-care as a non-negotiable daily practice promotes consistency.Emotional eating often has links to trauma and to nervous-system dysregulation.Create a path to freedom with food by flexibility rather than rigidity.Community support helps you make changes with long-term success.MEET OUR GUESTSCHRISTIA functional fitness coach, Christi Bruzzi is on a mission to prove that exercising can be a source of joy, not a chore. Specializing in the evolving body, Christi blends the technical precision of Balanced Body Pilates with the infectious energy of line dancing and cardio drumming. Whether implementing strength and wellness programs or leading a high-intensity Spin class, Christi aims to make every fitness journey as enjoyable as it is effective. She empowers clients to feel strong and healthy at every stage of life. Find her at Clubchristi.com.SARAFounder of Integro Communications, Sara Kline partners with organizations to develop strategy and storytelling so they grow with clarity and purpose, uncover opportunities, and map a strategic path forward. She’s known for bringing structure, definition and momentum to teams ready to grow but unsure where to focus. Outside her client work, she helps women build careers that align with their lives, and mentors women in building a version of success that prioritizes professional growth and well-being. She is passionate about health and wellness.CHRISTINEWith over 25 years’ experience in financial leadership, Christine Walsh is a certified coach, fractional CFO, speaker, and author of Be The Queen of Your Money. Coaching women to increase their income and profitability with mindset work and accessible tools, Christine teaches how to create an abundant future by transforming the financial narratives holding us back from life on our terms. She is revolutionizing the way women access financial independence through RebelRiseFinance.com and on her podcast Made For Money.MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

What if emotional eating isn’t a problem to be fixed, but a doorway to understanding ourselves so we can be in control of our choices, not hostages to them?This solo episode starts with the premise that we’re all emotional eaters. Food is inextricably linked to key experiences, woven into the fabric of our lives.Looking at our food choices with curiosity—especially if we’re used to framing our habits and compulsions as flaws—we can use those choices as a self-awareness tool.The relationship with food mirrors how we approach other things, and recognizing this helps us address thought and behavior patterns that keep us stuck, opening paths to sustainable change. Food choices that may have defined you start to refine you.We unpack how emotional eating is weaponized, and why so many of us get stuck in cycles of fear, regret, guilt, shame, restriction, and overconsumption. Food cravings indicate unmet physical and emotional needs. Upgrading self-care closes that gap.Addressing familial and societal conditioning, and working with your personality instead of against it combats all-or-nothing thinking, score keeping, and punishment, to find a balanced approach with food that allows room for everything.You can have your cake and eat it, too.TESS’S TAKEAWAYSRather than a disorder to be fixed, emotional eating is a tool for self-awareness.Emotional eating is not a lack of self-control. It’s unmet needs crying out for attention.Restriction, guilt, or shame reinforce emotional eating patterns rather than solve them.Mindful eating is paying attention to your eating experience without judgment.For a balanced relationship with food start with flexibility, not restriction and rigidity.Being aware of diet culture and societal conditioning moderates their impacts.Willpower is a fake muscle. The antidote to emotional eating is investigating core needs.The quality of your food choices correlates to the quality you seek in other things.MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

In the show’s 100th episode, Beau Weaver and Elizabeth Jurgensen, two long-time friends, lead the conversation and interview me. We celebrate the strength, resilience, and wisdom that people build together in relationships.We start with our strange meeting, almost 20 years ago, and significant moments in a friendship that has shaped our lives in ways still emerging.Reflecting on the importance of communicating with care, we unpack the value of listening and supporting without a compulsion to change or fix. By letting go of predetermined outcomes, we can explore without an attachment to resolution, and be satisfied if it never comes.Embracing the “yes and,” we improvise, duck and roll, pivot, and thrive in the unpredictable.A non-linear life trajectory can seem like a collection of random choices. But, when we pinpoint what drives us, seemingly unrelated events make sense, and feed the next chapter of the story. You don't have to know the way. The way knows the way.Beau closes with a thought from Maria Popova: Believe in the part of you that cannot be destroyed by the agonies of hope. And adds: Trust in what is flowing through you.TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Embrace the “Yes and.” Stay open to possibilities.Acknowledge that identity is co-created, and choose your people wisely.You’ll always be too much for the wrong people; never too much for the right ones.Trust in your offers and share them.Sometimes the right teacher for a third grader is a fourth grader.Your vulnerabilities and mistakes are medicine for others.Act with boldness and humility by trusting yourself and doubting yourself.Enjoy being in the middle of the story.ABOUT BEAU WEAVER A voice actor for over 50 years, Beau got his first on-air radio job at 15. He quickly worked his way onto popular music radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas and Houston in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Then, became the signature voice for dozens of major-market network affiliates.From there, he spent decades as one of America’s perennial "A list" announcers, voicing movie trailers, network TV promos and shows, documentaries, commercials, and was the live announcer for Hollywood awards shows. With lead roles in animated TV series, Beau portrayed Superman in the ‘80s, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four in the ‘90s, and was one of the original Transformers.A technical innovator, Beau is widely credited with pioneering the practice of home recording for voice actors, sharing his studio tools and techniques with the entertainment community. The numerous awards he’s won include “Best Voiceover” from PromaxBDA and the “Body of Work” award from the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences.Beau retired recently, and he and Elizabeth relocated from California to Oregon to begin a new chapter.ABOUT ELIZABETH JURGENSENWith a thirst for learning and achieving, Elizabeth has had multiple careers applying herself to education, research, and disciplined practice.Her post-college years were focused on the performing arts, as an actress and dancer. Moving to the corporate world, she got a business degree and worked in finance. Her next pivot was to work as a fitness instructor and wellness coach.Discovering her love for academics, she went back to school, getting a Master’s degree in a new field and teaching college students.Debilitating injuries from a car accident and ten years’ rehabilitation, made her work impossible, and brought Elizabeth to the next major phase of her life. She embraced somatics, exploring trauma healing, relational dynamics, and embodied awareness.A certified somatic educator, Elizabeth integrates insights from ancient archetypes, women’s wisdom traditions, and the interplay of masculine and feminine energies. She shares what she knows in adaptive and informal ways to guide others.MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Struggling to make a dent in your goals for the New Year again? Educator and coach Elizabeth Jurgensen explores with me how annual resolutions have turned rituals of renewal into rituals of failure, and outlines a more sustainable, grounded approach to change.Tracing the surprising history of resolutions, she starts at their origins, millennia ago, in rituals centered on agriculture, responsibility, and community. Those practices evolved into our contemporary intention of making a fresh start with the incoming year. When we don’t become better versions of ourselves immediately, we see it as failure.Elizabeth lays out how societal and familial conditioning steer us toward things we “should” want rather than those we genuinely desire, and how we get used to letting grief, shame, and regret drive our choices.Many of us think of resolutions as punishment, atonement, or restitution. Elizabeth proposes that we break out of that mindset, focus on integration, and reframe the pursuit of goals as exploration and experimentation.Using Elizabeth’s analogy of a garden, we discuss how transitions require patience, attention, and responsiveness to changing conditions. When we insist on rigid timelines, perfection, or outside expectations, we focus on the weeds. “Tending” things allows room for flexibility and compassion, and opens up more possibilities.Key takeaway: Reaching our goals doesn’t mean starting over.TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Internalized capitalism has turned self-improvement into a job.All-or-nothing thinking leads to inconsistency, burnout, and self sabotage.Desire-based goals have intrinsic drive.Avoidance-based goals push energy to repression.To figure out what you most desire, dwell in curiosity and possibility.Progress framed as tending rather than fixing or achieving is more effective.Rest, reflection, and integration are necessary transition points, not signs of failure.Motivation increases when goals consider community impact, not just individual benefit.ABOUT ELIZABETH JURGENSEN With a thirst for learning and achieving, Elizabeth has had multiple careers applying herself to education, research, and disciplined practice.Her post-college years were focused on the performing arts, as an actress and dancer. Moving to the corporate world, she got a business degree and worked in finance. Her next pivot was to work as a fitness instructor and wellness coach.Discovering her love for academics, she went back to school, getting a Master’s degree in a new field and teaching college students.Debilitating injuries from a car accident and ten years’ rehabilitation, made her work impossible, and brought Elizabeth to the next major phase of her life. She embraced somatics, exploring trauma healing, relational dynamics, and embodied awareness.The values of slowing down and turning inward, and the gifts of deep presence and self-care became central to her philosophy. She pursues them as ends in themselves, not toward goal-oriented pursuits, nor in a commercial practice.A certified somatic educator, Elizabeth integrates insights from ancient archetypes, women’s wisdom traditions, and the interplay of masculine and feminine energies. She shares what she knows in adaptive and informal ways to guide others.MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Dietitian Ayla Barmmer helps us understand just how much nutrition and gut health impact fertility, pregnancy, and reproductive health during perimenopause and menopause.While supporting women undergoing IVF, Ayla noticed a troubling pattern: Many were advised by doctors to restrict food, and meet their nutrition needs with prenatal supplements that didn’t prepare their bodies for healthy conception and pregnancy. Furthermore, the medical establishment was hardly addressing men’s pre-conception health at all.These gaps prompted Ayla to revolutionize reproductive supplements for women and men. She developed a prenatal multivitamin and launched FullWell, offering the first dietitian-formulated product in the category. Her commitment to radical transparency—publishing actual third-party test results rather than relying on certifications—redefined expectations in the supplement industry.Ayla walks us through how to care for our reproductive health at all phases of life. We go over key labs and pre-conception food and lifestyle strategies for both women and men. And get the non-negotiable nutrition requirements for healthy pregnancy. From there we discuss recovery after birth (often ignored), other postpartum needs, plus recommendations for breastfeeding, and preparation for subsequent pregnancies.Moving on to priorities in perimenopause and menopause, Ayla cuts through the confusion about protein, collagen, creatine, and enzymes. She red flags various supplements, then gives us a quick course in reading labels and speaking to companies, to ensure we’re giving ourselves the best support.Big takeaway: Reproductive health goes beyond conception and pregnancy. Paying attention to this part of our health at every age is preventative wellness.TESS’S TAKEAWAYSReproductive health is a powerful indicator of overall health at every age.Gut health is foundational for reproductive health in women and men.Women and men need to prepare their bodies 3 months before conception.Men’s pre-conception health profoundly impacts fertility and pregnancy.Semen quality impacts placenta development more than mother’s health.Digestive and liver health impact optimal estrogen metabolism.Adequate protein and fiber are essential for reproductive health.Exercise is essential for optimal hormones and reproductive health.ABOUT AYLA BARMMERAyla Barmmer, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian, functional medicine practitioner, and founder and CEO of FullWell, the only dietitian-led reproductive health supplement company.With Boston Functional Nutrition, she built a globally recognized private practice helping individuals and couples navigate fertility, pregnancy, and hormone health.Seeing a persistent gap in the quality, evidence base, and transparency of reproductive health supplements, Ayla formulated a prenatal vitamin and launched FullWell in 2019, committed to doing things differently. FullWell’s Women’s Prenatal Multivitamin consistently ranks among the top supplements in the category, with users in over 50 countries.As a leading clinical voice in reproductive nutrition, Ayla speaks on evidence-based food strategies, supplement integrity, and women’s health, and uses her Substack to educate consumers and healthcare providers. She has mentored hundreds of practitioners and led one of the largest RD communities in the United States.A mother of two, she lives in New England.CONNECT WITH AYLAWebsite: https://fullwellfertility.com/Substack: https://substack.com/@aylabarmmerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullwellfertility/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullwellfertility/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylabarmmer/MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

We’re getting the truth about Irritable Bowel Syndrome from Meghan Donnelly—GI dietitian and certified FODMAP practitioner. We start with the basics: What IBS is, the common symptoms, how many people it affects, and what causes it. Then dive into diagnostic challenges, conditions IBS can overlap with, and why it is commonly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. With those ambiguities in mind, we identify the red-flag symptoms we never want to ignore. Meghan walks us through the steps to an accurate diagnosis. She covers the importance of working with a gastroenterologist to rule out other digestive issues. Then lays out the benefits of working after diagnosis with a dietitian and a GI psychologist—both specializing in IBS. We turn to the most effective dietary-intervention strategies, from small food and lifestyle changes to the more restrictive Low-FODMAP Diet, which is a short-term tool and not appropriate for everyone. Meghan explains how misinformed food restrictions can not only be unnecessary, but make symptoms worse, leading to nutrient deficiencies and mental health issues. She wraps up with medications, supplements, stress management, gut-directed hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and nervous system regulation. All of these help manage symptoms and transform outcomes for people living with IBS. The key takeaway: Don’t self-diagnose or self-treat. Work with medical practitioners who specialize in IBS to develop a multi-pronged treatment plan that’s specific to you. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects 10–15% of the population, and can be managed. IBS is more common in women, due to fluctuating hormones. 1 in 10 people develop post-infectious IBS after food poisoning or traveler’s diarrhea. IBS is a disorder of the gut-brain interaction. Food can be a trigger —but it isn’t the cause. IBS symptoms include gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel movements. Stress and nervous system regulation play a major role in triggering IBS symptoms. IBS is diagnosed through symptoms and by ruling out digestive diseases and colon cancer. To diagnose and treat IBS, consult with a gastroenterologist and GI dietitian who specialize. ABOUT MEGHAN DONNELLY, MS, RDN, CSDH Meghan is a registered dietitian specializing in gastrointestinal nutrition, and is Director Of Health Communications at the Celiac Disease Foundation. Her experience spans clinical practice, nutrition counseling, medical nonprofits, and the food industry. In her private practice at Nutmeg Nutrition, Meghan helps her clients establish a balanced and joyful relationship with food, particularly when managing digestive disorders (IBS and SIBO), food intolerances, gluten-related conditions (celiac disease), and disordered eating. She also provides nutrition counseling for heart health, kidney disease, weight management, and food intolerances. Monash University certified, she guides clients on Low-FODMAP diets. As lead dietitian for Skinny60®, Meghan provides nutrition education and support for participants in the 60-Day Reset. CONNECT WITH MEGHAN Consult with Meghan: https://www.nutmegnutrition.org/ Low FODMAP Diet Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/podcast/episodes/meghan-donnelly-the-low-fodmap-diet-a-dietitians-guide/ MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Where is your line in the sand? The moment when you say: “Enough—it has to be me,” and fight for change in your life and in the world?In this solo episode, I explore why our actions often fall short of our values, and the fears and dynamics that hold us back from advocating for ourselves and others. Weighing up the costs of staying silent, I go on to the importance of staying informed, using critical thinking, and having the courage to listen to our intuition even when it challenges what the people we love and trust are saying. We dive into the power of adding our voices to the collective, the responsibility that brings, and the consequences of our actions and endorsements. Upgrading our interest and investment in both expands our impact. I share the non-negotiables that dictate where my line is, and where I put energy and resources, with the aim of closing the gap between how things are and how they ought to be.Our commitment to the collective directly reflects our regard for ourselves. How bad does the pain have to get before we prioritize our health and quality of life, go into action, and go after what we want?We have influence without wielding power. If we just use our agency. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Suffering grows in the gap between our values and actions.We don’t control the world. We do play a part in creating it. Speaking up is the beginning of change. Be mindful about your participation. You magnify what you endorse.Personal responsibility expands agency. Blame relinquishes it. Upgrade the level of investment in your own life and the collective. Regulation comes before response so we manage our reactivity. Create more than you consume.MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Peter O’Hanrahan gives a masterclass in the Enneagram of Personality—the system that helps us understand our core beliefs, motivations, and fears so we can break the patterns that keep us stuck. Peter starts with his decision, in the upheaval of the 70’s, to drop out of college and work as a counselor at a crisis center. That led to burnout. Moving to Berkeley, he studied holistic therapies and bodywork, and eventually opened a wellness center applying these modalities. Enneagram pioneer Helen Palmer invited him to attend the first Enneagram class, which became a turning point for Peter. The insight into behaviors that the Enneagram gave him provided a window into the processes of trauma. Peter embarked on a lifelong study of the Enneagram system, teaching it to thousands in diverse parts of the world, and training over 800 practitioners. Laying out the basic principles of the system, Peter walks us through the 9 personality types. From there, he turns to the adjacent types (wings), 3 centers of intelligence, and 3 instinctual sub-types. Collectively, these inform how we think and feel and relate. We cover the strengths of each type, as well as the shadow tendencies and obstacles. Peter emphasizes that while we are more than our patterns, knowing them is a starting point to understanding what drives us. Moving onto practical application, he provides everyday examples of how using the Enneagram tools deepens the relationship to self and others, improves group dynamics, enhances collaborations and partnerships, enables conscious parenting, and advances intentional leadership. The Enneagram helps us stop fighting our instincts and habits, and build awareness and emotional intelligence so we can manage them, responding mindfully with respect and empathy. This conversation with Peter offers powerful strategies for leaning into “It Has To Be Me.” TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: The Enneagram system maps human psychology via nine personality types. The Enneagram looks at core motivations, fears, desires, patterns, not just behavioral traits. The nine types are grouped by their dominant centers of intelligence: body, heart, and head. Influencing each type is its adjacent types (wings)—personality shifts in stress or security. The subtypes (self-preservation, one-to-one, or social) inform personality expression. Each type has a superpower and a shadow. Growth comes from integrating them. Understanding your type can shift automatic reactions to conscious responses. Psychology, culture, and family background shape the expression of your Enneagram type. ABOUT PETER O’HANRAHAN A leading Enneagram teacher and trainer in the United States, Peter O’Hanrahan began his Enneagram study in 1978, when Dr. Kathleen Speeth taught the first class in Berkeley. Peter has facilitated hundreds of workshops for businesses, nonprofits, universities, and churches all over the world, and is a certified teacher with the Enneagram Professional Training Program. He serves on the faculty of the Narrative Enneagram School, and as a member of the International Enneagram Association, has presented at many conferences. Using the Enneagram in his practice as a holistic counselor and body therapist, Peter has developed further approaches and applications. His programs and articles can be found at: TheEnneagramAtWork.com. He lives in Northern California with his wife—and fellow Enneagram practitioner—Pat. CONNECT WITH PETER Website: https://theenneagramatwork.com/ Enneagram Workshops: https://theenneagramatwork.com/teaching-schedule/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.ohanrahan.52 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theenneagramatwork/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-o-hanrahan-9078486/ MEET TESS MASTERS: Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs. Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others. Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com. CONNECT WITH TESS: Website: https://tessmasters.com/ Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/ Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/ Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think. Subscribe to the podcast. Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. Leave a review on Apple podcasts. Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.