Hormone Happy Hour with Dr. Heather Rhodes

60. Metabolizing Stress to Regulate Your Nervous System… The Missing Piece in Hormones, Gut Health & Fertility

If you’ve ever been told to “just relax,” lower your stress, or try another nervous system tool and it still didn’t fix your hormones, gut issues, energy, libido, or fertility struggles, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Hormone Happy Hour, I’m talking about something I don’t hear discussed enough, the difference between trying to lower stress and actually metabolizing stress. Because the goal isn’t to eliminate stress from your life (that’s impossible), it’s to close the stress loop so your body can return to safety.
When we stay stuck in fight-or-flight, cortisol stays elevated, and your body will literally divert blood flow and nutrients away from things like your gut and reproductive organs. Over time, this can contribute to things like estrogen dominance, low progesterone, poor bile flow, histamine issues, mineral imbalances, pelvic floor tension, and even fertility struggles.
We talk about:
Why most stress tools don’t actually solve the problem
The difference between minimizing stress and metabolizing stress
What fight-or-flight really does to your hormones and digestion
The three biggest reasons women stay stuck in stress patterns
Fear, faith, and making decisions from safety instead of survival
The problem with doing “all the protocols” but still feeling stuck
What it actually means to close the stress loop
The steps of metabolizing stress: trigger, immobilization, action, expression, resolution, and safety
How movement, crying, prayer, breathing, and nourishment help complete the stress cycle
The masculine and feminine parallel in stress and healing
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

59. Before Your Next Fertility Cycle (LISTEN to THIS) | IVF, IUI, Implantation & the Fertility Environment

If you feel stuck repeating fertility cycles or constantly trying the next step, sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is pause and look deeper at the environment behind fertility, not just the next procedure.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m talking to the women who feel like they’re stuck in a cycle of trying, testing, and moving from one fertility step to the next without stepping back to ask what might be underneath it all. Many approaches focus on egg quality, sperm quality, toxins, parasites, and supplements, but sometimes we need to look at the deeper “axle” behind fertility, not just the visible pieces. This conversation is about stepping back, reducing pressure, and supporting the body at a deeper level.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why some women feel stuck repeating fertility cycles
The Ferris wheel analogy and focusing on the “axle,” not just the “seats”
What IUI and IVF actually do and their typical success rates
Why implantation still depends on the uterine and vaginal environment
The impact of always being in “doing” mode and not enough “receiving”
Masculine and feminine energy and relationship polarity during fertility
Functional labs like hair mineral testing and iron/copper balance
Why sometimes the most helpful step is a reset and rebuilding phase
Follow Me on Instagram 
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
29. Hannah's Story 
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

58. What I’d Do Differently If I Started My Fertility Journey Today

If I were starting my fertility journey today, I would approach it very differently and much more simply.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m sharing what I would do differently if I were starting my fertility and hormone healing journey right now. After years of walking this out personally and working with clients, I’ve seen what actually moves the needle and what tends to keep women stuck or spinning their wheels.
I also open up about some of the patterns I had to work through myself, especially around control, undernourishing my body, and missing key signals like libido and cycle health. This episode is about stepping back, simplifying the process, and focusing on the areas that truly create a supportive environment for fertility.
In this episode, I walk through:
The spiritual and nervous system roots that can impact fertility, including fear and control • Why masculine and feminine energy (and relationship alignment) matter more than we think • How libido can be an important signal of hormone health and fertility • The key labs I would run early, including a full iron and copper panel and hair mineral testing • Why mineral balance often needs attention before jumping into complex protocols • The impact of under-eating and why adequate nourishment is foundational for hormone production • Why male partners should be evaluated more thoroughly from the beginning • How to find practitioners who understand the full body while still applying a fertility lens
 
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Episodes Related to Masculine/Feminine Energy:
16. The Role of Energy in Fertility & Healing
43. How to Have Better Sex
28. Girl, You’re Not in Perimenopause
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

57. The Immune System Connection to Fertility

For high-achieving women especially, fertility struggles can sometimes reflect an immune system that’s working overtime and a body that needs deeper support.
In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m digging into a conversation about fertility that I don’t hear talked about enough: the role of the immune system and mineral balance. Many women are told to focus only on hormones or jump straight into complicated gut protocols, but often the body needs a different kind of support first.
I’m also talking about something I see often with the women I work with high-achieving, high-output women whose bodies are dealing with chronic stress, inflammation, and immune overactivity. When the immune system is constantly on high alert, it can make it harder for the body to support implantation, hormone balance, and pregnancy.
In this episode, I walk through:
How the immune system and gut health influence fertility and hormone balance • Why high-achieving women often experience immune overactivation and inflammation • The role progesterone plays in helping calm the immune system • How pathogens, biofilms, toxins, and heavy metals can contribute to immune stress • Why iron, copper, and trace minerals are often an overlooked starting point • The connection between chronic inflammation, implantation challenges, and miscarriage risk • The emotional and spiritual side of fertility, including learning how to receive and release fear
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

56. Creating a Healing Environment & How to Set the Stage for Your Body’s Innate Wisdom

In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, we’re talking about something that often gets overlooked in health conversations: environment.
Many women feel stuck because they’re trying to reach a health goal while the environment around them (mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually) isn’t actually supportive of healing. In this episode, I walk through why the body needs safety and clarity before real change can happen, and how creating the right environment can shift the entire healing process.
We also talk about how belief, nervous system regulation, and supportive relationships all influence the body’s ability to move forward. Healing isn’t just about protocols or information, it’s about building the kind of environment where your body can actually respond.
In this episode, we cover:
Why people can feel stuck even when they’re “doing all the right things”
The importance of creating a supportive healing environment
How belief and mindset influence the healing process
Why safety in the nervous system allows the body to repair
The role of co-regulation with others and with God
How words, inputs, and daily influences shape your internal environment
An introduction to muscle testing and how it can help prioritize what the body needs first
This conversation is about stepping back and asking a bigger question: not just what you’re doing for your health, but the environment in which you’re doing it. When the body feels supported and safe, healing becomes much more accessible.
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

55. Is His Testosterone Low? Signs, Root Causes & What Actually Helps

In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get discussed enough: low testosterone in men. This conversation applies whether fertility is part of your story right now or not. Testosterone affects far more than sex drive. It influences motivation, mood, energy, confidence, and overall vitality. And while low T is becoming more common, the conversation around it is often overly simplified.
We walk through what low testosterone actually looks like, how it’s properly diagnosed, and why standard lab work can miss important pieces. I also explain why symptoms matter just as much as numbers and how patterns like high SHBG or elevated estrogen can affect free testosterone even when total testosterone looks “normal.”
Inside the episode, we cover:
Common symptoms of low testosterone (libido, performance, fatigue, low motivation, brain fog, mood changes)
How testosterone is diagnosed and why two morning labs are typically required
The three main physical patterns I see: low production, high SHBG, and estrogen dominance
Contributors like oxidative stress, gut dysfunction, iron/copper imbalance, liver overload, inflammation, visceral fat, chronic undereating, and long-term keto
Why jumping straight to testosterone replacement therapy can suppress fertility
Foundational root-cause strategies: sleep, circadian rhythm, light exposure, meal timing, minerals, gut support, and iron/copper regulation
Emotional and spiritual drivers tied to masculine identity, provision, protection, and pursuit
How relationship polarity and masculine/feminine dynamics influence libido and hormone health
Before replacing hormones, we have to ask:Is the body supported enough to produce them? If you’re navigating male factor fertility or noticing shifts in energy and drive, this episode will give you clarity on where to look first.
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

54. Unexplained or Delayed Fertility | Here’s Where to Actually Begin Building the Right Environment First

In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m sharing a little spring life update (hello strawberry festivals 🍓) and a final call for my 90-Day Hormone Reset before we dive into today’s real conversation: where I actually start when someone comes to me when experiencing unexplained or delayed fertility. We’re talking about building a truly supportive environment for hormones, not chasing symptoms.
In this episode, we cover:
What suboptimal fertility really means
How AMH is not fixed and why birth control recovery matters
The first tests I recommend in what order
Why iron, copper, and hair mineral testing matter for both partners
Copper’s role in implantation, egg quality, and hormone production
The three fertility “environment” pillars: alignment, abundance, and accuracy
Why fear can quietly block fertility physically and spiritually
This episode is about understanding and getting back to order by correcting foundations, restoring safety in the body, and creating the kind of environment where hormones can function the way they were designed to. 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

53. Things I Have (Shockingly) Changed My Mind About…Labs, GLP-1s, Vitamins, Detoxes/Parasite Cleanses, & More

In this episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m sipping a fun little mocktail and taking you behind the scenes of how my views on health have evolved over the years. If you’ve been in the wellness space for a while, you’ve probably tried a few of these things too. I have. And today I’m sharing what I’ve learned, what I’ve shifted, and what I would approach differently now.
This episode isn’t about bashing trends. It’s about maturity in health. It’s about understanding the difference between chasing solutions and actually building a foundation.
Here’s what we get into:
Why I’ve refined how I use labs (and why more data isn’t always better)
The hierarchy of healing and why minerals and metabolism matter more than trendy detoxes
Parasite cleanses: when they’re supportive and when they’re unnecessary
Why bio-individuality is non-negotiable in real healing
A nuanced conversation about GLP-1s and where they fit (and don’t fit) in personalized care
The role of macros, workouts, and abundance in long-term hormone balance
At the end of the day, this episode is about discernment. It’s about knowing your body well enough to stop jumping from one shiny solution to the next and instead asking, “What is my foundation actually missing?” Because when you understand your minerals, your metabolism, and your nervous system, you stop chasing and start building.
As always, if you’re ready for personalized support, consult calls are open and I’d love to help you identify what your body actually needs next.
 
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Gummies Recipe
BeautyCounter Balm
Progesterone Training Link 
 
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.

52. Postpartum Rebuilding, Not Just Recovery: What Your Body Actually Needs After Pregnancy (Even Years Later)

In today’s episode of Hormone Happy Hour, I’m talking directly to the women who are past the newborn phase. If you’re one, two, or even five years postpartum and wondering why your energy, mood, cycles, or fertility feel off — this conversation is for you.
We dive into what actually happens to your hormones after pregnancy (hint: it doesn’t magically resolve after the first year) and why mineral depletion plays such a huge role in lingering symptoms. I explain how iron and copper can become dysregulated during pregnancy and birth, why that matters for metabolism and hormone production, and how mineral work can completely change the postpartum experience when it’s done intentionally.
In this episode, we cover:
Why postpartum hormone challenges often last years — not months
The mineral shifts pregnancy creates (and why they matter for fertility and energy)
Iron and copper dysregulation and how it affects your hormones and metabolism
How hair mineral testing helps guide personalized healing
Rebuilding your body without burning yourself out
Balancing masculine and feminine energy in motherhood
What true postpartum support should look like
If you’ve been feeling depleted, disconnected from your body, or frustrated that you’re still not where you expected to be, this episode will help you understand why and what to do next.
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.
 

51. Understanding Blood Sugar Regulation: A Whole-Body Look at Energy, Hormones, and Metabolic Support

In this episode, we’re talking about something that impacts energy, hormones, mood, and cravings more than most people realize: blood sugar. We walk through how blood sugar works, the role insulin plays, and why consistent nourishment matters far more than perfection. I also share what I’m seeing in client work, things like how macronutrients, minerals, and total intake all work together to support steady energy and calmer cravings.
This episode isn’t about rigid rules or micromanaging food. It’s about learning how to support your body in a way that feels sustainable, grounded, and responsive to what it’s asking for physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
In this episode, we cover:
Why blood sugar regulation matters for hormones and daily energy
How skipping meals and under-eating quietly disrupt stability
The role of insulin and consistent eating patterns
Why protein, carbs, and fats all matter and why none of them work alone
How mineral status influences cravings and blood sugar swings
What cravings often signal about nutrient needs
The connection between stress, emotions, and blood sugar balance
If you’ve ever felt tired, shaky, moody, or stuck in cycles of cravings and crashes, this episode will help you understand what’s happening and where to start supporting your body more intentionally.
 
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Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed this and found it helpful, I’d love for you to leave a rating & review—it means the world to me and helps other women on their health and fertility journeys find this podcast too.