- 1 hour 5 minutesMenopause & Gut Health: The Hidden Link Between Progesterone, Anxiety & the Microbiome
In this episode, Cynthia Thurlow joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to explore the estrobolome and its role in metabolizing estrogen and progesterone, stress and cortisol as a driver of hormone imbalance, and DUTCH Test patterns that can signal gut dysfunction.
Cynthia and Dr. Jaclyn also discuss:
- How gut health can impact hormone metabolism, not just digestion
- The many roles of progesterone, including GABA signaling, myelin maintenance, and neuroplasticity
- Cyclical symptom tracking to determine hormonal versus non-hormonal anxiety
- The differences between bioidentical hormone therapy, oral contraceptives, and synthetic progestins
- Simple daily habits to support gut and hormone health
Show Notes
Check out Cynthia Thurlow’s book, The Menopause Gut, and follow her on Instagram @cynthia_thurlow_!
Discover easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to see how the DUTCH Test can profoundly change the lives of your patients.
15 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 8 minutesFunctional Medicine Providers vs. AI: Using Both Without Perpetuating Myths
In this episode, Dr. Tara Scott and Mark Newman join host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to explore hormone misinformation, the differences between hormone testing methods, and the hormonal drivers often missed by single-point testing.
Their conversation also covers:
- The benefits and risks of using AI to interpret hormone labs
- What single-point testing can miss when it comes to cortisol testing and cycle mapping
- The importance of baseline and follow-up hormone testing versus the conventional symptom to prescription pipeline
- How common symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and anxiety can have overlapping hormonal drivers that may not be noticeable in single-marker testing
- The increase in virtual care and how patients in underserved areas are gaining access to specialized hormone care
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Tara Scott and personalized hormone care through Forum Health.
Follow Forum Health on Instagram @forum_health and on YouTube.
Explore easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support.
8 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 7 minutesOsteoblast vs. Osteoclast Activity: How Estrogen Decline Drives Bone Loss
In this episode, Phoebe Liebling joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss bone loss, mixed messaging in fitness and nutrition culture that can damage bone density, and the critical role of estrogen in bone remodeling.
Their conversation also covers:
- The invisible and non-linear nature of bone loss
- Estrogen as a stimulant for osteoblast activity and calcium retention
- Common habits like chronic under fueling, excess cardio, and fasted training and how they can quietly contribute to bone loss
- How typical DXA scans begin at 65, missing the fastest bone-loss window which occurs much earlier during perimenopause
- A practical framework for reversing bone loss through nutrient-dense eating, protein intake, and targeted supplementation
Show Notes
Learn more about Phoebe Liebling and follow her on Instagram @lieblinghealth!
Explore easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support.
1 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 5 minutesFiber, Hormones & the Hidden Drivers of Colorectal Cancer
In this episode, registered dietician Erin Kenney joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to explore the connection between gut health, diet, hormones, and the rising rates of colorectal cancer, particularly in younger adults.
This episode also highlights:
- The critical role of fiber and gut microbiome diversity
- The link between ultra-processed food additives and gut inflammation
- How long-term elimination diets can reduce microbiome diversity and end up being harmful
- Tips for packaged food labels and proper digestion
- A practical colon-health checklist, including eating fermented foods daily and staying physically active
Show Notes
Learn more about Erin Kenney and follow her on Instagram @nutritionrewired!
Explore easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to gain access to peer-reviewed and validated research, comprehensive patient reports, and expert clinical support.
25 August 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 9 minutesTestosterone Dosing in Menopause: Protocols, Pitfalls & the Evidence Gap
Join the conversation as Dr. Tori Hudson and host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton discuss the evolution of menopause hormone therapy through the eras: pre-2002, post-Women’s Health Initiative, and the current state of menopause hormone therapy, with a particular focus on testosterone therapy.
This episode also covers:
- Testosterone usage and dosing and the correlation with libido, mood, energy, and muscle mass
- Dr. Hudson’s dosing protocols and concerns about supraphysiological dosing
- Methods of delivery for estrogen therapy
- Cardiovascular disease as an underappreciated priority in menopause care
- The importance of individualized care over following hormone therapy trends
Show Notes
Check out The American Heart Association’s PREVENTä Online Calculator mentioned in this episode.
Read Dr. Hudson's DUTCH Article on testosterone prescribing in postmenopausal women, and check out the testosterone guidelines discussed in this episode.
Learn more about Dr. Tori Hudson and her practice, A Woman’s Time!
Explore easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to peer-reviewed and validated research, comprehensive patient reports, and expert clinical support.
18 August 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 58 secondsUnderstanding the Root Cause of Acne: Gut Health, Hormones & Inflammation
In this episode, Dr. Mamina Turegano and host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton examine root causes for skin conditions and discuss how hormone balance, gut health, stress levels, and diet can impact skin health.
This episode also highlights:
- The links between gut dysbiosis and acne, rosacea, and psoriasis
- How the balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can impact the skin
- Theories on the rise in adult female acne
- The effect of environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors on skin health
- Skin as a systemic signal of gut health, hormone health, stress, and diet
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Mamina Turegano and follow her on Instagram @dr.mamina!
Learn about easy at-home collection for patients with DUTCH Direct.
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support.
11 August 2026, 12:00 pm - 52 minutes 20 secondsThe Missing Labs in Standard Panels: CRP, Homocysteine, Ferritin & Fasting Insulin
In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Dunlop joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss the gap between “normal” and “optimal” lab reference ranges, commonly missed labs, and the importance of root cause assessment over treating isolated markers.
Dr. Dunlop and Dr. Smeaton also discuss:
- How “normal” does not equate to “optimal” when it comes to standard lab ranges
- Addressing the foundations before testing, like nervous system regulation, gut integrity, and sleep hygiene
- The importance of treating the root cause rather than treating markers in silos
- Other labs worth requesting, such as ferritin, homocysteine, and fasting insulin
- The impact of simple nervous system regulation tools
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Dunlop and Root Rx, and follow her on Instagram @docstephaniemd!
Become a DUTCH Provider today to see how the DUTCH Test can profoundly change the lives of your patients.
4 August 2026, 12:00 pm - 1 hour 59 secondsMenopause & Muscle Loss: What Women Should Know About Strength, Hormones & Hormone Therapy
In this conversation, Dr. Jaime Seeman joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss muscle as an underappreciated cornerstone of women’s metabolic and hormone health, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, and the importance of resistance training.
This episode also highlights:
- Muscle as a metabolic organ, not just a cosmetic one, and the importance of muscle tissue quality
- How resistance training and cardio affect body composition differently
- The importance of preserving fast-twitch muscle fibers for longevity later in life
- Strategies for protein and carbohydrate intake
- How the DUTCH Test can help identify where hormonal intervention can fill the gaps beyond lifestyle habits, particularly with estrogen, DHEA, and androgen levels post-menopause
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Jaime Seeman and follow her on Instagram @doctorfitandfabulous!
Become a DUTCH Provider to discover how the DUTCH Test can profoundly change the lives of your patients.
28 July 2026, 12:00 pm - 52 minutes 31 secondsCeliac Disease Beyond the Gut: Stress, Inflammation & HPA Axis Dysregulation
In this episode, registered dietician and celiac disease specialist Erin Kenny joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss the differences between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, the social and emotional toll of diagnosis, and common myths and misinformation.
Their conversation also covers:
- The underestimated social and emotional burden of the disease
- How less symptoms do not equate to less intestinal damage
- Hidden drivers behind symptoms, including dysbiosis, hormonal issues, thyroid dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation
- The physiological effects of stress
- How DUTCH testing can help identify HPA axis dysregulation
Show Notes
Learn more about Erin Kenny and follow her on Instagram @the_celiac_space!
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support.
21 July 2026, 12:00 pm - 54 minutes 7 secondsThe Hormones Behind Hair Loss: Androgens, Cortisol & Thyroid
In this episode, Dr. Rubaina Dang and host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton explore the root causes of hair loss in women, particularly the information that standard labs can miss. Dr. Dang and Dr. Smeaton also dive into the hormones driving hair loss, optimal versus “normal” lab levels, and the gut-skin-hair axis.
Their conversation also highlights:
- Dr. Dang’s recommended panels for anyone presenting with hair loss
- The key differences between “normal” and optimal lab ranges when it comes to hair health
- Stressors that can cause telogen effluvium, including illness, rapid weight loss, postpartum, or a major life event
- How gut dysbiosis and inflammation can affect hair follicles
- Dr. Dang’s rankings for popular hair-growth products and ingredients
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Rubaina Dang and follow her on Instagram @healwithdrdang!
Check out our white paper on 5a-androstanediol.
Become a DUTCH Provider to see how the DUTCH Test can profoundly change the lives of your patients.
14 July 2026, 12:00 pm - 56 minutes 19 secondsReassessing the Menopausal Transition: Estrogen, Bone Remodeling & Early Intervention
In this episode, Dr. Margaret Beeson joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss bone health, estrogen decline during perimenopause, and the importance of family history as a predictor of bone health and risk of osteoporosis.
Dr. Beeson and Dr. Smeaton also discuss:
- How estrogen decline contributes to bone loss
- Genetics and family history as the strongest predictors of risk
- The need for DEXA scans to occur earlier and establish a baseline of bone density
- The impact of estrogen and progesterone therapy on bone health and how DUTCH testing captures those hormone levels
- Systemic issues in primary care that can make proactive screening difficult
Show Notes
Learn more about Dr. Margaret Beeson and her practice, Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic.
Become a DUTCH Provider to get access to comprehensive patient reports, peer-reviewed and validated research, and expert clinical support.
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