The Functional Fueling® Podcast

Ancestral Nutrition for Pregnancy & Child Health: Prenatal Vitamins, Teeth & Vaccines with Dr. Tom Cowan

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• Rethinking conventional approaches to prenatal nutrition & childhood health
• An ancestral perspective on nourishing mothers & children
• What dental health & jaw development may reveal about early-life nutrition
• How diet, environment & lifestyle influence childhood development
• Challenging conventional perspectives on immunity, childhood illness & vaccination

Important show links

• Explore Dr. Tom Cowans website for a wealth of free content (podcasts, blogs, videos, etc.),
• Pre-Order my bookThe Thyroid Breakthrough
• TakeThe Energy Leak quiz
• Apply to work 1:1 with us through ourcoaching page
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live?Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER:

The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

[The LOdown] Low White Blood Cells: Immune Exhaustion & Their Connection to Hormones

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What low white blood cell counts may reveal about immune health
• Understanding the different types of white blood cells & their roles
• The connection between chronic viral infections & immune function
• How acute versus chronic stress can influence white blood cell patterns
• The relationship between thyroid hormones & immune regulation
• How estrogen, progesterone & testosterone influence immune activity
• Why immune health & hormonal imbalances often overlap
• What to investigate when white blood cell counts are consistently low

Important show links:

• Pre-Order my bookThe Thyroid Breakthrough
• TakeThe Energy Leak quiz
• Apply to work 1:1 with us through ourcoaching page
• Watch my T3 Lab work up clip
• Learn aboutwhat causes low cortisol in this clip
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER:

The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

How to Support Your Child's Health Through Their Gut Microbiome w/ Stephanie Culler

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What shapes your baby’s microbiome from day one
• The type of probiotic that matters for long-term gut and immune health of your baby
• The role of breast milk, colostrum & human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)
• What we know about supporting the microbiome in formula-fed and C-section babies
• The impact of antibiotics during early development
• How to support a healthy microbiome as your baby grows
• When probiotics, HMOs and microbiome testing may be worth considering

Important show links

• Learn more about gut health for babies and Dr. Stephanie Culler at Persephone.Bio
• Pre-Order my bookThe Thyroid Breakthrough
• TakeThe Energy Leak quiz
• Apply to work 1:1 with us through ourcoaching page
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Leptin: How It Impacts Fertility, Metabolism & Inflammation

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• Why leptin is about much more than hunger & fullness
• The connection between leptin, thyroid function, & metabolism
• How leptin influences ovulation, menstrual cycles, & reproductive hormones
• Low leptin vs. leptin resistance and how they can look surprisingly similar
• The relationship between leptin, blood sugar, and insulin
• How leptin plays an important role in immune regulation and inflammation
• Signs your leptin levels may be worth investigating

Important show links

• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Apply to work 1:1 with us through our coaching page
• Listen to episode on Ghrelin and Leptin
• Watch this short clip on low cortisol
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Do Adaptogens Actually Help Cortisol? The Science of Functional Mushrooms with Olivia Richards

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What are functional mushrooms & how are they different from other mushrooms
• How functional mushrooms can support the HPA axis & stress response
• Which mushrooms may support sleep, energy, focus, & immune health
• Ideal timing and supplementation method of functional mushrooms
• Realistic results timelines

Important show links

• Learn more about Superoom and Olivia Richards
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Case Study: Healing Exercise Intolerance, Cycle Symptoms and Recovering Thyroid Function

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• When exercise intolerance & chronic fatigue can signal something deeper
• The connection between immune dysregulation, viral burden, histamine & thyroid function
• Timing for gut, detox & antimicrobial work
• The involvement of estrogen with ovulation symptoms
•

The layers we worked through to help her return to exercise & better tolerate stressors

Important show links

• Pre-order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Review our Case Study Blogs
• Apply to for our 1:1 coaching program and get customized support from our team
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Your Guide to Understanding Long COVID, MCAS & Dysautonomia w/ Lily Spechler

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What’s really happening in the body with long COVID
• The connection between dysautonomia, POTS & long COVID
• Why histamine & mast cells may be an overlooked piece of the puzzle
• How previous viral infections like EBV may play a role
• Why long COVID can completely change your energy & metabolic needs
• The biggest nutrition mistake seen in long COVID recovery
• Why doing more isn’t always better when it comes to exercise & healing
• The conversation around spike detox protocol
• Why the order of operations matters so much in recovery

Important show links

• Learn more about Lily on Instagram @longcoviddietitian
• Apply to for our 1:1 coaching program and get customized support from our team
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
• Microclots Long Covid Episode
• Long COVID & Period Problems Episode

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

[The LOdown] The Overlooked Environmental Factors Affecting Thyroid Health

A few things we chat about in this episode

• Why your thyroid may be especially sensitive to your environment
• The everyday exposures that could be quietly influencing thyroid function
• The connection between environmental exposures & oxidative stress
• Which exposures I actually pays attention to in my own life
• Simple ways to lower your exposure without living in fear of everything around you
• Why jumping straight into “detox” may not always be the best first step
• Which commonly feared ingredients may not deserve nearly as much attention

Important show links

• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Could Poor Oxygen Delivery Be Draining Your Energy?

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What hypoxia actually means & why oxygen matters for energy production
• Why normal blood oxygen doesn’t always tell the full story
• The connection between oxygen, mitochondria & fatigue
• How breathing, hydration & movement may support oxygen delivery
• Where iron fits into the oxygenation picture
• What may impact oxygen availability at the tissue level
• Emerging strategies being explored to support oxygenation

Important show links

• INJECT Oxygen into your LIFE with Patriox Liquid Oxygen Water
• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

[The LOdown] Period Recovery While Breastfeeding: The When, How & More Details

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What’s actually keeping your cycle away while breastfeeding
• Why nursing frequency may matter more than prolactin
• How much energy breastfeeding really costs your body
• The hormonal dominoes required to start ovulating again
• Why getting your period back doesn’t always mean ovulation is back
• The postpartum exercise + weight-loss mistakes that can prolong amenorrhea
• Why every woman’s timeline for cycle return looks different

Important show links

• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

How to Fix Chronic Pelvic Pain with Dr. Christina Enzmann

A few things we chat about in this episode

• Why chronic pelvic pain is rarely coming from just one place
• The overlooked gut & vaginal microbiome connection
• Why pelvic floor tension can be mistaken for weakness
• How histamine & estrogen may influence symptoms
• The difference between endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other pelvic pain patterns
• What everyday hygiene habits may be disrupting vaginal health
• Where functional medicine looks when conventional answers fall short

Important show links

• Follow Dr. Enzmann and learn more about her practice
• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

[The LOdown] What Late Ovulation is Really Telling You

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• Why late ovulation happens
• What high AMH actually means
• The thyroid's role in ovulation
• The hidden drivers of poor follicle maturation
• How to interpret your cycle tracking data
• The Energy Leaks affecting ovulation

Important show links

• Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

The Complete Guide to hCG: What Your Levels Really Mean with Dr. Sasha Hakman

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Shop our Mineral Magic and Hormone Potion formulas
• Listen to myEnergy Leaks podcast episode
• Learn more about the 6 stages of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

[The LOdown] The Missing Nutrients Behind Hashimoto's

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• The role of nutrient deficiencies in Hashimoto's
• Why women with Hashimoto's have higher nutrient needs
• The hidden connection between oxidative stress and thyroid health
• The first labs I look at before recommending supplements for Hashimoto's

Important show links

• Take The Energy Leak quiz
• Shop our Mineral Magic and Hormone Potion formulas
• Listen to myEnergy Leaks podcast episode
• Learn more about the 6 stages of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Pain, Swelling & Exercise Intolerance? This Lymphatic Tool May Help | Rush Simonson

A few things we chat about in this episode

• Why not all vibration plates are created equal
• The hidden risks of most vibration plates and how it compares to micro-vibration plates
• The connection between mechanical stimulation and bone density
• How vibration may improve pain, soreness, and exercise recovery
• Who may benefit most from low-magnitude vibration & who should use caution

Important show links

• Learn more about the benefits of Juvent plates at https://www.juvent.com/
• Read blog post by RoImmune and Lymphatic Systems: The Missing Link in Chronic Inflammation and Thyroid Autoimmunity
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

What 10 Years of Helping Active Women Taught Me About Why So Many Stay Stuck with Thyroid Symptoms

A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇

• Why so many active women stay stuck despite doing everything right
• The hidden energy leaks I see behind persistent thyroid symptoms
• Why normal thyroid labs don’t always explain how you feel
• The limitations of thyroid hormone medication
• The underfueling patterns keeping many active women from healing
• Why your weight may be a symptom, not the root cause of your hormone imbalances
• The overlooked immune connection behind thyroid dysfunction
• Why restoring hormone utilization matters more than chasing hormone levels
• Why you don’t need to quit exercising to heal your thyroid, but do need to rethink the structure of it

Important show links 👇👇👇

• Book a Clarity Session - 7/3 - 7/17 only
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Coming off Thyroid Medication - Timeline, The Prep and Outcomes

A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇

• Whether it's actually possible to come off thyroid medication
• Why so many women remain symptomatic despite treatment
• The four Energy Leaks I most commonly see in thyroid dysfunction
• How I determine whether someone is ready to taper medication
• Why increasing thyroid medication isn't always the answer
• How restoring whole-body physiology supports thyroid health

Important show links 👇👇👇

• Book a Clarity Session - 7/3 - 7/17 only
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

The Hidden Immune Connection To Endometriosis, HPV, Herpes & Recurrent Vaginal Infections: Causes, Triggers & Solutions with Christian Sohmen

A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇

• The immune connection to fertility & unexplained infertility
• The overlooked immune drivers of endometriosis
• Why recurrent BV, yeast infections, HPV, & herpes keep coming back
• Why antibiotics often don’t solve recurrent infections
• How immune balance influences women’s reproductive health
• Where micro-immunotherapy fits into a root cause approach

Important show links 👇👇👇

• Learn how Micro-immunotherapy can help with autoimmune conditions
• Book a Functional Clarity Session with one of our dietitians
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 151: [The LOdown] AMA: Navigating Toddler Sleep Deprivation and Balancing Business, Motherhood and Health

A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇

• How I balance motherhood with work and healthy habits
• The strategies I used to help my toddler finally become a better sleeper (no crying involved)
• How I make time for movement and self-care as a busy mom
• The productivity tools I rely on
• The non-negotiables and mindset reframes I've adopted since becoming a working mom

Important show links 👇👇👇

• Order your hormone potion in our FFN Shop
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Are Seed Oils Really Harmful? The Truth Behind the Headlines with Cherie Calbom

A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇

• Why seed oils have become one of the most debated topics in nutrition
• The history of seed oils & how they entered the food supply
• How different oils are processed & why that matters
• The role of omega 6 fatty acids in human health
• What current research suggests about dietary fats & inflammation
• How seed oils may influence metabolic, hormonal, and skin health
• The challenges of avoiding seed oils in today's food environment
• Tips for choosing oils when grocery shopping & dining out
• Simple swaps for incorporating a wider variety of fats into your diet

Important show links 👇👇👇

• Join our Functional Thyroid Foundations Course to learn how to eat and exercise for thyroid health
• Purchase a copy of Cherie's book on Amazon 'The Truth Behind Seed Oils"
• Follow me onInstagram
• Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app