S3E4: How listening to your body and cycles can heal ancestral challenges

In this episode, Carrie McKinnon hosts Dr Sara Farwell and Dr Maciej Zatonski, co-founders of Solution Makers, a bespoke life and health coaching firm. This episode explores the fascinating connection between women’s hormonal cycles and cognitive health. They share practical insights and tools to navigate brain health throughout different phases of life, from menstruation to menopause.Sara is a cognitive neuroscientist and Maciej is a physician and former surgeon. At Solution Makers, they help people improve mental, emotional, and physical fitness. They offer specialised programmes rooted in brain health and their combined 30+ years of experience in medicine, corporate leadership, business, academia, and wellness. You can find Sara and Matt here: https://solutionsmakers.com/

Join us as Mia Dins, a soul-led entrepreneur, intuitive medium, and former elite boxer, shares her powerful journey through body, spirit, and cyclic awareness. Discover practical insights on how understanding your cycle can transform your health, athletic performance, and spiritual connection.In this episode:Mia’s diverse life journey across Germany, New Zealand, Bali, and Vietnam, and how travel amplified her spiritual awakeningThe importance of honoring your menstrual and seasonal cycles for emotional and physical well-beingHow childhood trauma and societal conditioning impact women’s womb and cycle healthThe intersection of boxing, energy, and spirituality: using martial arts for healing and connectionPractical tips for integrating cycle awareness into athletic training and daily lifeHow to navigate social media, work, and health aligned with your cycleThe role of ancestral healing and energy release in menstrual healthThe power of intuition and spirit guidance during different phases of the cycleMia's instagram: @mia_dins

Unlock the secret to understanding your body on a deeper level with Emma Goff, a fertility awareness educator and cyclical doula. In this episode, Emma reveals how mastering your menstrual cycle can empower you, help you navigate life's transitions, and decode your body's unique signals, from menarche to menopause and beyond. If you've ever wondered why you're more tired or moody at certain times, or how stress impacts your cycle, this conversation will transform your relationship with your body forever.Discover Emma’s innovative concept of a "cyclical doula," a supportive guide through every phase of your reproductive life. She shares practical insights into reading cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and hormone cues, tools that can help you pinpoint fertility windows, recognize signs of hormonal imbalance, and feel more prepared for life's surprises. Whether you're transitioning off hormonal birth control, postpartum, or simply seeking to harness the power of cycle awareness, Emma provides clear frameworks that demystify complex biological signals and reinforce that you're smarter than any app.In this episode, you'll gain actionable takeaways: Myths about cycle length and regulationHow stress and grief influence fertilityThe importance of normalizing menstrual variations. Emma delves into the societal gaps that keep us disconnected from our bodies and how body literacy can shatter those barriers especially for young people and new menstruators. Plus, she discusses the intersection of trauma, grief, and hormonal health, revealing how understanding your cycle can aid emotional healing and resilience.Emma’s work is a call to action: teach the next generation, reclaim your own body knowledge, and challenge the systems that profit from ignorance.

In this episode, Carrie sits down with D’Layne Benson to unpack what’s really happening beneath chronic overwhelm, burnout, and the constant feeling of “doing too much but never enough.”Drawing from her experience as a nurse and her work supporting women through nervous system regulation, D’Layne explains how over-functioning, people-pleasing, and perfectionism are not personality flaws, but physiological patterns shaped by stress, hormones, and survival.Together, they explore why rest isn’t something to earn, how the body communicates long before it breaks down, and what it actually looks like to rebuild trust with your body instead of fighting it.This conversation is grounding, honest, and deeply validating for anyone who’s been stuck in go-mode for too long.Here's how to get in touch with D'Layne: FB https://www.facebook.com/dlaynebenson IG https://www.instagram.com/dlaynebensonwellness LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlaynebensonwellness Website http://www.dlaynebensonwellness.com Free Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14gojdvWdK/

In this episode, Carrie talks with Tanja Degitz, a chronic pain and burnout mentor for women entrepreneurs. Tanja shares how leaving a stable career, building an online business, and living as a digital nomad led her to confront burnout, chronic pain, and people-pleasing patterns she couldn’t outwork.Together, they explore how menstrual cycle awareness, mindfulness, and redefining consistency can help women prevent burnout and build lives that actually feel sustainable.In this episode we dive into why high-achieving women burn out first, how cycle awareness changes self-care and productivity, the link between people-pleasing, pain, and exhaustion, and why slowing down is a strategic skill, not a weakness!Where to find Tanja: Download Tanja's free Pain Relief Starter Kit: https://the-healing-letter.kit.com/c8bd7c9f51 Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/making.it_possible/

We're back and we've got a new song!

In this episode, we continue our journey with The Menarche Zine, a heartfelt collection of stories about women’s first periods. This time, we travel to Kenya to uncover a powerful tale that highlights the shared yet deeply personal experience of menarche and its cultural significance. Join us as we explore how storytelling transforms this universal milestone into a celebration of connection, identity, and empowerment.

In this episode, we explore The Menarche Zine, a heartfelt collection of stories about women’s first periods. Join us as we dive into a unique tale from Newfoundland, shedding light on the shared, yet deeply personal, experience of menarche and its cultural significance. Discover how storytelling can turn a universal milestone into a celebration of connection and empowerment.

Dive into the world of menstrual cycle awareness, cultural exploration, and creative expression with our latest episode featuring Maja Juzwiak. As a nomadic photographer turned advocate for menstrual health, Maja brings a fresh perspective to the conversation.Join us as we learn all about Maja's journey from a life of travel to founding the association "Unboxing Cycles" in Zürich, Switzerland. Discover how her passion for art, philosophy, and psychology intertwines with her mission to destigmatize discussions around menstrual health.In this enlightening episode, Maja shares stories of her encounters with different cultures and their unique approaches to cycle tracking. Explore the intersection of art, storytelling, and menstrual advocacy as we uncover the creative ways communities around the world are embracing cycle awareness.Learn more about Maja and the work she's doing by visiting: unboxingcycles.com or following her on Instagram: @majajuzwiakStay connected with us on social media for updates and more thought-provoking content:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/28ish/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/28_ish/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28ish/

For the last episode of 2023, we sat down with Dr. Laura DeCesaris to discuss the process of optimizing one's cycle. Dr. Laura DeCesaris is a functional medicine-trained health strategist and consultant for high-achieving women. Her background in health and nutrition, chiropractic medicine, and functional medicine informs her private practice, Heartroot Health as she combines this with her passion for the improvement of women’s health through simple, sustainable lifestyle changes. In this episode, Dr. DeCesaris and Carrie discuss women’s biohacking and the menstrual cycle, balancing life before, during, and after the cycle, holistic self care, and optimizing your cycle. You can learn more about Dr. DeCesaris by visiting her website at www.drlauradecesaris.com and check out her Instagram page at dr.lauradecesaris.Stay Tuned and Connected with Us at:FB/Linkedin: 28ish IG: 28_ishFor all of our listeners, thank you for a wonderful year and we will see you in 2024!