Advertise on podcast: Wise Divine Women Podcast: Menopause • Libido • Breast Care • Oh MY! The unfiltered truth for Women

Can changing how you eat change how you age? What if the secret to greater energy, vitality, and longevity was as simple as returning to nature? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes raw food activist and author Axay Shah, who shares his remarkable 16-year journey of embracing a raw, plant-based lifestyle. At age 50, Axay began questioning why declining energy was considered an inevitable part of aging. What started as a personal experiment in December 2009 became a lifelong commitment to natural nutrition, simplicity, and intentional living. Now in his late 60s, Axay shares how his approach to food has influenced his energy, digestion, and overall well-being. Together, Dana and Axay explore the relationship between nutrition, healthy aging, mindful eating, and reconnecting with nature. They discuss why making small, sustainable changes may be more valuable than following another restrictive diet. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why Axay embraced raw foods and what he learned over 16 years.How to begin incorporating more raw fruits and vegetables without feeling overwhelmed.The importance of seasonal, locally available foods.Why mindful eating matters more than complicated food rules.The relationship between nutrition, energy, and healthy aging.How food choices influence our relationship with our bodies.Why simplicity, consistency, and personal responsibility are central to lasting lifestyle changes.A Powerful Reminder: "Respect yourself and nature." You don't have to change everything overnight. Start with one small choice, notice how your body responds, and build a foundation that supports your health. Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Raw Food Activism 02:38 – Axay's Journey to Raw Food 05:26 – Overcoming Challenges 08:18 – Local and Seasonal Eating 11:09 – Creating Sustainable Habits 13:49 – Exploring Raw Food Benefits 16:16 – Simplicity in Nutrition 19:14 – Food and Well-Being 21:49 – Understanding Food as Fuel 24:43 – The Evolution of Human Diets 27:52 – Understanding Food Labels 30:04 – Nature's Simplicity 32:47 – Food and Healthcare Industries 36:24 – Building a Strong Health Foundation 39:18 – Raw Foods and Community 43:08 – Making Lifestyle Changes Simple Connect with Axay ShahAxay Shah | Raw Food Guru | RawFoodiest.com IN NATURE WE TRUST Book: In Nature We Trust Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.com/author/akshayshah Connect with Dana IrvineDana Irvine, FDNP | Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Breast Health Educator & Host of Wise Divine Women Ready to stop guessing about your hormones, metabolism, digestion, and overall wellness? Discover personalized functional nutrition, root-cause testing, and practical next steps. Visit https://DanaIrvine.com Explore https://WiseDivineWomen.com Your body is communicating. Let's learn to listen. This conversation shares personal experiences and perspectives. A fully raw diet is not necessary for good health and requires careful nutritional planning. Individual results vary. #RawFoodLifestyle #HealthyAging #PlantBasedNutrition #FunctionalNutrition #Longevity #MindfulEating #WholeFoodNutrition #WiseDivineWomen #DanaIrvine #AxayShah

What if you didn't have to love every inch of your body to finally feel at peace with it? For women navigating midlife, perimenopause, and menopause, changing bodies can bring unexpected emotions, self-doubt, and pressure to look the way we did 10 or 20 years ago. But what if we could stop fighting our bodies and start appreciating everything they do for us? In this heartfelt episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes author, body image coach, and educator Anne Poirier, author of The Body Joyful and The Body Neutrality Playbook. Anne shares her deeply personal journey through childhood body shaming, anorexia, decades of dieting, and eventually discovering a healthier relationship with her body. Together, Dana and Anne explore how body neutrality can help women move away from self-criticism, reconnect with their personal values, and embrace the changing seasons of life with greater confidence, compassion, and joy. What You'll DiscoverBody neutrality vs. body positivity: Why you don't have to love your appearance to respect and care for your body.Healing negative self-talk: How childhood experiences and societal expectations influence our beliefs about weight, food, and self-worth.Menopause and body image: Giving ourselves permission to grieve physical changes without getting trapped in the past.Movement for longevity: Shifting exercise away from weight loss and toward strength, independence, and quality of life.Breaking generational cycles: Modeling a healthier relationship with food, movement, and body image for our daughters and future generations.Episode Chapters00:00 – Anne's journey to body acceptance 02:48 – Childhood messages and societal beauty standards 05:32 – Breaking free from lifelong body criticism 08:32 – Understanding body neutrality 11:27 – Appreciating what your body can do 14:09 – Movement, strength, and confidence 16:52 – Inside The Body Neutrality Playbook 21:18 – Challenging beliefs about food and body image 22:47 – Changing the conversation for future generations 24:15 – Discovering your values and motivation 26:36 – Curiosity and compassionate self-talk 29:07 – Anne's books and personal growth 30:27 – Grieving the changes in our bodies 32:04 – Letting go of the perfect-body illusion 35:30 – Choosing a healthier relationship with yourself 38:58 – Why our thoughts are "choiceable" 39:56 – Anne's free body confidence guide Connect with Anne PoirierWebsite: Anne Poirier Free Resource: Body Confidence Unlocked: Feeling at Home in Your Body Regardless of Size, Shape, or Age. Visit Anne's website for more information. Connect with Dana IrvineDana Irvine, FDNP, is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, breast health educator, and host of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, helping women over 40 understand their hormones, metabolism, breast health, and whole-body wellness. Explore functional nutrition, personalized wellness, and root-cause health support at: https://danairvine.com https://wisedivinewomen.com From fed up to faith fueled — becoming the Wise Divine Woman you were called to be.

Are you financially prepared for the next chapter of your life? We spend so much time caring for our families, managing our health, and planning for everyone else's future. But what about our own financial security? In this empowering episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes Marcia Mantell, retirement planning expert, author, and Social Security and Medicare specialist, for an honest, practical, and surprisingly fun conversation about women's financial independence. Whether you're in your 40s, approaching retirement, already retired, or navigating life after the loss of a spouse, Marcia shares why it's never too early—or too late—to take ownership of your financial future. Together, they explore retirement planning, rising healthcare costs, financial literacy, estate planning, and preparing financially for a longer life. 7 Essential Financial Planning Steps for WomenStart saving now. Automate retirement contributions and build consistent savings habits.Protect your financial identity. Understand your credit history, account ownership, and access to household finances.Schedule financial check-ins. Review savings, investments, and future goals at least twice yearly.Know your retirement milestones. Understand Social Security, Medicare, and important retirement decisions.Prepare for rising costs. Plan for healthcare, inflation, housing, and living into your 90s.Organize your estate documents. Review wills, powers of attorney, beneficiaries, and family wishes.Create your Freedom Fund. Build a personal financial account that supports your independence.Episode Chapters00:00 – Financial Awareness for Women 05:26 – Starting Your Retirement Planning Journey 10:01 – Economic Challenges and Organization 14:18 – Creating Your Retirement Checklist 19:13 – Important Retirement Age Milestones 24:43 – Healthcare Costs and Inflation 27:02 – Marcia's Books and Resources 27:53 – Understanding Social Security 30:40 – Planning for Longevity 34:06 – Communication and Financial Legacy 38:21 – Estate Planning and Life After Loss 41:58 – Protecting Credit and Retirement Planning 46:17 – Financial Independence and Your Freedom Fund Connect with Marcia MantellWebsite: Marcia Mantell Books: What's the Deal with Retirement Planning for Women? This episode primarily discusses U.S. retirement programs. Canadian listeners should consult Canadian financial planning resources. Connect with Dana IrvineDana Irvine, FDNP, is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, breast health educator, and host of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, supporting women with hormone health, metabolism, breast health, and whole-body wellness. Functional Wellness: https://danairvine.com Wise Divine Women: https://wisedivinewomen.com Subscribe to the Wise Divine Women Podcast and share this episode with a woman who deserves greater financial confidence! For educational purposes only. Not individualized financial, legal, or tax advice.

Is it menopause, Lyme disease, chronic stress, or something else entirely? For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, inflammation, and disrupted sleep can be confusing. But what happens when these symptoms may be connected to an underlying tick-borne infection? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes Dr. Jaquel Patterson, ND, MBA, a nationally recognized leader in naturopathic and functional medicine, educator, and author of Women and Lyme. Together, they explore the complex relationship between Lyme disease, hormonal changes, immune dysregulation, and women's brain health. Dr. Patterson shares her clinical experience working with chronic illness, explaining why Lyme disease is sometimes called the great imitator, how testing challenges can delay appropriate care, and why a personalized, integrative approach matters. This conversation also explores neuroinflammation, mental health, gut health, stress resilience, and the importance of being heard throughout your healthcare journey. In This Episode, You'll DiscoverWhy Lyme disease symptoms may overlap with menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune conditions.Why Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose and how false-negative tests complicate the journey.How estrogen, progesterone, immune function, and inflammation interact.The role of antibiotics, herbal approaches, and individualized integrative care.How chronic inflammation and infections may influence mood, memory, and cognitive function.Why gut health, stress management, and foundational nutrition support overall wellness.How to advocate for comprehensive testing and meaningful healthcare conversations.Why small, consistent steps can make a difference in rebuilding health.Episode Chapters00:00 – Is It Lyme Disease or Menopause? 02:01 – Recognizing Lyme Symptoms and Testing Challenges 05:56 – Immune Regulation and Functional Medicine 14:11 – Herbal Remedies and Treatment Options 16:36 – Lyme Vaccines and Prevention Research 18:05 – Women's Hormones, Lyme Disease and Brain Health 21:52 – Rebuilding Health and Addressing Root Causes 25:32 – Integrative Healthcare and Being Heard 29:51 – Empowering Women to Advocate for Their Health 33:07 – Small Wins, Hope and Final Words of Wisdom Connect With Dr. Jaquel PattersonBook: Women and Lyme Practice:Fairfield Family Health Dr. Jaquel Patterson is a nationally recognized leader in naturopathic and functional medicine, an educator for integrative healthcare providers, a sought-after speaker, three-time Amazon bestselling author, and Forbes contributor. Connect With Dana IrvineDana Irvine, FDNP Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner | Breast Health Educator | Host of Wise Divine Women Podcast Are you struggling with hormonal changes, brain fog, inflammation, fatigue, or unexplained symptoms? Discover how a personalized functional nutrition approach can help you better understand your health and identify your next steps. Visit: https://danairvine.com Wise Divine Women: https://wisedivinewomen.com Your body is not the enemy. It is communicating. Let's learn how to listen. This episode is provided for education and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.

Dana Irvine sits down with health coach Jill Gordon to talk about women’s health after 50, why food sensitivities can drive symptoms that get mislabeled as “just aging,” and how mindset changes the way the body responds to healing. Jill also shares the story behind her book and her practical framework for making health feel simpler and more doable. We discuss how Jill’s work with women over 50 grew out of her daughter’s Crohn’s disease journey, why real food often creates dramatic changes fast, and how stress can block digestion and recovery even when diet is solid. The conversation also covers her FREEDOM framework, NLP, and the importance of choosing curiosity over panic when symptoms show up. Key topics Jill shares why she wrote You’re Over 50, Not Effing Dead after helping more than a thousand women and wanting to reach more people with her approach.In this episode: the origin of her health coaching journey, which began with her daughter’s Crohn’s diagnosis and a shift toward real food and holistic care.Jill explains how a week of real food changed her daughter’s health and how four months later she was off medication.We discuss NLP, how language shapes behavior, and why the body responds to the messages you repeatedly send it.Jill breaks down her FREEDOM framework as a simple health guide for women over 50:Find what you wantRest, relax, releaseEat real foodEngage in communityDig deepOwn itMindset.Timestamps 00:00 - Dana introduces Jill Gordon and her mission for women over 50 00:56 - Why Jill wrote a book to help more women at scale 02:34 - The Crohn’s disease crisis that started Jill’s food and health journey 03:30 - A real-food reset that changed Jill’s daughter’s health in one week 05:03 - Why symptom panic makes healing more complicated than it needs to be 05:33 - Eliminating inflammatory foods and discovering hidden triggers like corn 06:32 - Get curious instead of assuming symptoms are random 07:05 - Challenging the idea that symptoms are just “old age” 07:31 - Why this life stage needs a different approach to stress and recovery 08:15 - Corn, wheat, carrageenan, and other hidden inflammatory ingredients 09:47 - Why Jill’s book uses a guidebook style instead of a complicated rulebook 10:40 - Why community support is part of real healing 11:09 - Mold toxicity, brain fog, and digging for root causes 11:39 - The “own it” part of taking action in small daily steps 12:38 - How the FREEDOM framework helps rewire habits and thinking 13:45 - Menopause as a new chapter, not a dead end 15:37 - Why doing everything at once usually fails 16:07 - Test, don’t guess, but start with simple food experiments first 17:02 - A family example of congestion improving after air quality changes 18:35 - Why reintroducing trigger foods often brings symptoms back 19:34 - Why lactase does not make dairy safe for everyone 20:25 - Jill’s daughter and the long-term reality of gluten and dairy sensitivity 23:40 - Why wheat in Europe can feel different than wheat in North America 25:50 - Travel, less stress, and the parasympathetic state 26:13 - You can’t control everything, but you can control your reaction 27:17 - Jill’s wisdom word: choose 27:46 - Where to find Jill and her book 29:54 - Closing thoughts and how to connect with the show Connect with Jill Gordon Grab her bookYou're Over 50. Not Effing Dead: The FREEDOM System for Women Over 50 to Live, Look and Feel Better

What if the answers you've been searching for aren't found in another supplement, health protocol, or wellness trend—but in learning to listen to the still, small voice within? In this inspiring episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana welcomes Gina Marie Boyd, an integrative health practitioner, Ayurvedic practitioner, and spiritual counselor, for a powerful conversation about spirituality, intuition, functional wellness, and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. In This Episode, You'll Discover:The mind-body-spirit connection: Why physical wellness is only one part of the whole-person health journey.Spiritual awakening and self-discovery: How Gina's recovery journey transformed her understanding of faith, purpose, and healing.Ayurveda and personalized wellness: Understanding your unique constitution, or dosha, and why one-size-fits-all approaches don't work for everyone.The power of intuition: How creating quiet moments can help you reconnect with your inner wisdom.Stress, skin health, and emotional wellness: Exploring how our internal experiences may influence how we feel and look.Meditation and grounding: Simple practices including breathwork, spending time in nature, and transcendental meditation.Grace and compassion: Releasing perfectionism and learning to honour your individual healing journey.A Powerful Reminder"Listen to the small still voice within." — Gina Marie Boyd You don't need a perfect meditation routine, complicated wellness protocol, or another program promising all the answers. Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Gina Marie Boyd 00:45 – Skin health, aging, and inner wellness 02:40 – Gina's journey from corporate success to recovery 05:07 – Faith, spirituality, and whole-person health 09:19 – Ayurveda and the emotional aspects of wellness 10:52 – Carolyn Myss and Anatomy of the Spirit 12:12 – Learning to listen to your body's signals 15:04 – Cultivating intuition through everyday practices 18:59 – Grounding, breathwork, and mindfulness 21:27 – Understanding Ayurveda and your unique constitution 24:28 – Functional medicine and personalized wellness 26:23 – Transcendental meditation and inner awareness 30:04 – Spiritual awakening and navigating life transitions 36:01 – Gina's REALIGN framework 39:15 – Words of wisdom: Listen within 39:49 – The importance of grace and compassion Connect with Gina Marie BoydWebsite: https://ginamarieboyd.com Instagram: @gina.marie.boyd Connect with Dana Irvine, FDNPFunctional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner | Breast Health Educator | Host of Wise Divine Women Are you ready to stop guessing and begin understanding what your body needs? Explore personalized functional nutrition, hormone health, breast wellness, and root-cause testing. Website: https://danairvine.com Wise Divine Women: https://wisedivinewomen.com Subscribe to the Wise Divine Women Podcast and share this conversation with a woman who needs encouragement to slow down, reconnect with herself, and embrace her healing journey. Where Faith Meets Functional Wellness. Spiritual awakening, Gina Marie Boyd, Ayurveda for women, mind-body-spirit connection, integrative medicine, functional wellness, holistic health for women over 40, intuition and healing, transcendental meditation, stress management, spiritual health, emotional wellness, faith and healing, Wise Divine Women Podcast.

What does it take to overcome life-threatening health challenges, navigate personal loss, and turn your experiences into a passion for helping others? In this heartfelt episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes back Lisa Mack, founder of Lisa's Thermography & Wellness, for an inspiring conversation about determination, resilience, holistic health, and the importance of listening to your body. Lisa shares her remarkable journey, beginning with a childhood diagnosis of congenital heart disease, followed by a heart attack at just 24, open-heart surgery, serious lung complications, and the challenges of becoming a mother despite difficult medical predictions. Her search for answers to her children's health challenges eventually led her to holistic nutrition and a passion for thermography. Together, Dana and Lisa explore how personal experiences, emotional stress, inflammation, and lifestyle choices can influence our well-being—and why understanding the whole person matters. Thermography: Looking Beyond the Surface Discover how thermography uses non-invasive infrared imaging to assess skin temperature patterns and observe changes over time. Lisa explains why she believes in combining thermography, nutrition, stress management, and compassionate care with conventional healthcare. In This Episode, You'll Discover: How Lisa transformed her health challenges into a mission of helping others.The importance of advocating for yourself and your family.Why stress management and emotional healing matter.How thermography can complement a whole-body wellness approach.The value of reviewing reports and monitoring thermal patterns over time.Why compassionate practitioners and personalized wellness plans make a difference.Lisa's exciting expansion into equine thermography.The power of determination, happiness, and finding peace after adversity.Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Lisa's Journey 02:07 – Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis 03:52 – Heart Surgery & Motherhood 05:57 – Lung Complications & Recovery 08:12 – Discovering Holistic Medicine 10:00 – Her Daughter's Health Challenges 11:49 – Personal Loss & Finding Joy Again 14:05 – Why Thermography Matters 15:55 – Understanding Your Report 17:56 – Making Thermography Accessible 20:02 – Stress, Prevention & Whole-Body Health 21:54 – Lisa's Personal Thermography Experience 24:01 – Follow-Up Imaging & Lifestyle Changes 26:01 – Compassionate Care & Future Expansion 27:56 – Equine Thermography & Lisa's Mission 29:45 – Lisa's Final Words: Determination & Peace Connect With Lisa MackLisa's Thermography & Wellness Website: https://lisasthermographyandwellness.com Explore full-body thermography, clinic locations, and wellness education. Connect With Dana Irvine, FDNPFunctional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner | Breast Health Educator | Host of Wise Divine Women Website: https://danairvine.com Explore functional nutrition, hormone health, breast wellness, and personalized testing options. Final Thought Lisa reminds us that life will always bring challenges, but determination, faith, happiness, and peace can help carry us through. Your body has a story. Are you listening? #WiseDivineWomen #LisaMack #Thermography #HolisticHealth #FunctionalNutrition #WomensHealth #Inflammation #StressManagement #PreventiveWellness #HealthAwareness #Determination #HealingJourney

What if healing sexual shame was the first step toward rediscovering your confidence, joy, intimacy, and connection with yourself? In this empowering episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers, sexual and relational health expert, author, and educator, for an honest conversation about sexuality, spirituality, cultural conditioning, and breaking free from shame. Dr. Tina shares her upbringing in a Swedish immigrant family where conversations about bodies, sexuality, and pleasure were natural and shame-free. This experience inspired her life's work helping individuals recognize how religious teachings, family beliefs, and societal expectations can shape their relationship with sexuality. Because pleasure, love, and authentic living aren't things we need to earn. In This Episode, You'll Discover How cultural and religious messages influence sexual confidence and self-worth.Why sexual shame can follow women into adulthood and intimate relationships.How midlife offers an opportunity to rediscover authenticity, pleasure, and connection.Ways parents and grandparents can raise children without passing down shame.What it means to create sacred, intentional intimacy.Why self-compassion, communication, and personal responsibility matter in healthy relationships.How choosing joy can become a radical act of self-love.Episode Timeline 00:00 – Meet Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers 01:07 – Growing up with shame-free conversations about sexuality 03:14 – How religious and cultural shame develops 06:30 – Honouring our bodies and responsible pleasure 08:40 – Why humans are wired for connection 10:02 – Midlife, menopause, and rediscovering authenticity 12:13 – Challenging inherited beliefs about sexuality 14:43 – The history of sexual education and cultural change 19:21 – Healing shame and rebuilding trust 22:46 – Parenting without passing down sexual shame 24:35 – Healing your inner child while raising children 27:26 – Creating sacred and intentional intimacy 29:58 – Exploring desire and communicating with partners 32:21 – Reclaiming joy, pleasure, and self-love 35:28 – Dr. Tina's books, resources, and how to connect Words of Wisdom "Trust is built on truth and transparency." "Radical rebellion is living your joy and happiness." Connect With Dr. Tina Instagram: @drtinashameless Website Books: Sex, God, and the Conservative Church: Erasing Shame from Sexual IntimacyShameless Parenting: Everything You Need to Raise Shame-Free, Confident Kids and Heal Your Shame TooConnect With Dana Dana Irvine, FDNP Functional Nutrition Practitioner | Breast Health Educator | Host of Wise Divine Women Explore personalized support for women's hormone health, menopause, breast health, and whole-body wellness. 🌐DanaIrvine.com 🌐 WiseDivineWomen.com Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a woman who needs permission to embrace her authentic self. Sexual shame healing, women's sexual health, menopause and intimacy, sexual confidence after 40, religious shame, sacred sexuality, healthy relationships, self-love, shame-free parenting, midlife empowerment, Wise Divine Women Podcast.

October is Breast Health Awareness Month, but breast health is about more than waiting for your next mammogram, ultrasound, or screening letter. In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine, FDNP, Breast Health Educator and Medical Thermography Practitioner, opens a month-long conversation about functional breast health after 40—and how women can move from fear and uncertainty toward curiosity, awareness, and proactive care. Dana encourages women to create a relationship with their breasts by learning their own normal. Instead of approaching breast self-awareness like a frightening search for something wrong, she explains how regularly observing and touching your breasts can help you become familiar with your unique texture, tenderness, appearance, and changes over time. But breast health doesn't exist separately from the rest of the body. Dana explores how hormones, estrogen metabolism, gut health, mineral status, stress, sleep, blood sugar, inflammation, lymphatic movement, nutrition and environmental exposures can all be part of the bigger wellness picture. You'll also hear about functional tools Dana uses in her practice, including thermography, Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), gut testing and hormone testing, and how these tools may help practitioners ask better questions about whole-body health. In This Episode• Breast health beyond traditional screening • How to “know your normal” through breast self-awareness • Creating a monthly breast map and tracking changes • Hormones, gut health and estrogen metabolism • Stress, lymphatic health, inflammation and lifestyle • Thermography and functional testing • Changes that should be discussed with your healthcare provider • Moving from fear toward curiosity and respect for your body Dana's Key Message“Breast health begins with understanding your normal.” Your body is constantly communicating. Rather than waiting until something feels wrong, Dana encourages women to become active participants in their health—observing patterns, asking questions and building supportive daily habits. If you notice a new or persistent lump, nipple discharge, new nipple inversion, skin dimpling, redness, swelling, or another unexplained breast change, document it and speak with your healthcare provider. Coming this month: more conversations about breast awareness, hormones, gut and oral health, lifestyle foundations, functional testing, thermography and proactive breast wellness. Wise Divine Women Podcast Hosted by Dana Irvine, FDNP, the Wise Divine Women Podcast explores women’s health, personal growth, functional wellness, breast health, hormones and the wisdom that comes from truly learning to understand ourselves. Ready to Better Understand Your Own Body? For support with hormones, metabolism, breast health, digestion, stress, and whole-body wellness, DanaIrvine.com and book a Health Clarity Call. Subscribe to the Wise Divine Women Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who is entering a new season of life, love, identity, or self-discovery. Keywords: breast health after 40, functional breast health, breast awareness, thermography, hormone health, HTMA, gut health, estrogen metabolism, breast self-awareness, holistic wellness

What if improving health wasn’t just about telling people what to eat or how much to exercise—but about building stronger communities, setting meaningful goals, creating better environments, and designing solutions with the people they’re meant to serve? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine sits down with Kwame Terra, founder of bEHR Health, to explore his journey from aspiring orthopedic surgeon to public health innovator. Kwame shares how his early experiences in research, behavioral neuroscience, mindfulness, and public health shifted his focus from treating disease to asking a bigger question: How can we address the conditions influencing health before disease develops? That question eventually led to bEHR Health, a community-centered health platform designed to help improve health outcomes within Black communities through education, engagement, technology, and real-time data. Kwame explains why community is one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—pieces of the health equation. Through Bare Connect, community members can gather, work, learn, exercise, host events, and create wellness initiatives based on what their community actually wants and needs. The conversation also explores Community-Based Participatory Research, an approach that invites community members to become active partners in identifying problems and developing solutions rather than having programs imposed from the top down. Kwame and Dana discuss nutrition, lifestyle, mindfulness, access to healthy choices, health disparities, goal setting, social connection, and the potential for real-time health data to help communities identify what is actually creating meaningful change. Kwame also shares a powerful perspective on longevity: living longer begins with having something meaningful to live for. Inspiration, purpose, connection, and meaningful goals can encourage people to become more engaged with their own lives and health. Words of Wisdom“The perceived separation is merely a perception.” And when something doesn’t work? Learn from it, change your approach, and try again. Connect with KwameInstagram:@kwameterra bEHR Health: bEHRhealth.com Follow Kwame and bEHR Health to learn more about their community initiatives, challenges, and growing vision for health equity. Wise Divine Women Podcast Hosted by Dana Irvine, FDNP, the Wise Divine Women Podcast explores women’s health, personal growth, functional wellness, breast health, hormones and the wisdom that comes from truly learning to understand ourselves. Ready to Better Understand Your Own Body? For support with hormones, metabolism, breast health, digestion, stress, and whole-body wellness, DanaIrvine.com and book a Health Clarity Call. Subscribe to the Wise Divine Women Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who is entering a new season of life, love, identity, or self-discovery. #WiseDivineWomen #KwameTerra #BareHealth #BlackHealth #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #CommunityHealth #Longevity #Wellness #HealthInnovation #Mindfulness #HealthyCommunities

What happens when grief, menopause, chronic stress, and years of “holding it all together” collide? In Part 2 of this deeply personal Wise Divine Women Podcast series, Dana Irvine shares a side of her story she has never fully explored publicly: the connection between grief, hormonal change, emotional flatness, and the nervous system. After losing her sister Deanna to brain cancer, Dana continued doing what so many women do—working, caring for others, building businesses, supporting family, and staying strong. But years later, she began asking a difficult question: Why do I sometimes feel disconnected from my emotions and empathy? Dana explores how unresolved grief may lead the nervous system to create protective responses that help us remain functional during overwhelming seasons. She also examines what can happen when this emotional load overlaps with the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen, progesterone, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, cortisol, and the HPA axis all play important roles in mood, connection, stress response, sleep, and emotional resilience. When hormonal changes meet chronic stress and grief, the result can feel like a “perfect storm” of depletion. Dana shares how she began recognizing these patterns not only emotionally, but through her own functional health testing—including hormone testing, gut health analysis, thermography, bloodwork, and DNA insights. This episode is not about being broken. It is about becoming curious about what the body may be communicating—and recognizing when it is time to stop simply pushing through. In This Episode: How grief can affect emotional connection and nervous system regulationWhy being “the strong one” can come with a hidden costThe relationship between menopause, estrogen, progesterone, and emotional wellbeingHow serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and cortisol influence mood and resilienceChronic stress and HPA-axis activationThe gut-brain connection and emotional healthWhy Dana describes her experience as “body-wide depletion”Using functional testing to better understand individual patternsMoving from survival and willpower toward healing and connectionKey Takeaway Sometimes emotional flatness is not a lack of love or caring. It may be the result of years of stress, grief, hormonal change, and a nervous system trying to keep you functioning. Dana believes depletion can be addressed—and that understanding your unique body may be an important first step toward reconnecting with yourself. Resources Wise Divine Women Dana Irvine Connect with Dana Irvine to learn more https://wisedivinehealthclaritycall.youcanbook.me/ This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individualized medical or mental health care. grief, menopause, grief and menopause, emotional health, emotional numbness, emotional flatness, empathy, lack of empathy, nervous system, nervous system regulation, chronic stress, cortisol, HPA axis, estrogen, progesterone, serotonin, dopamine, hormone depletion, hormonal changes, menopause mental health, menopause emotions, midlife women, women’s health, unresolved grief, grief recovery, stress response, burnout, body-wide depletion, gut-brain axis, gut health, hormone testing, DNA testing, thermography, functional medicine, functional health, personalized wellness, emotional resilience, healing after loss,

What if your sexuality didn’t have an expiration date? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine sits down with Bel DiLorenzo for an open, empowering conversation about pelvic health, intimacy, libido, aging, and the fascinating practice of Pompoir—a method of developing strength, awareness, and intentional control of the pelvic floor muscles. Bel’s journey began during the pandemic, when she searched for ways to improve intimacy in her own relationship. Her research led her to Pompoir, a practice believed to have historical roots in India. But when Bel tried to learn it, she found very little clear, practical instruction. Bel shares stories of women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s discovering that they can continue learning about their bodies and reconnecting with pleasure. One particularly powerful story involves an 86-year-old student who used the practice to reconnect with a sensual, confident part of herself she felt she had lost. This conversation isn't simply about sex. It is about body agency, self-connection, confidence, curiosity, and giving women permission to continue discovering themselves throughout every season of life. Bel also discusses her desire to see more scientific research examining sexuality alongside areas such as sleep, energy, health, and longevity. A Powerful ReminderOne of Bel’s central messages is: “We have a lot more agency over our bodies and our pleasure than we were taught to believe.” Whether you are navigating postpartum changes, perimenopause, menopause, changing libido, or simply wanting to reconnect with your body, this episode offers a refreshing reminder: sexuality and sensuality can remain meaningful parts of who we are at every age. Connect with BelBel offers Pompoir education, an animated training program, coaching, a book, articles, videos, and free educational resources through her work at Goddess. Contact Info: Website: https://www.gohddess.comInstagram: @goh_ddessLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bel-dilorenzo/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gohddessOther: https://www.reddit.com/r/pompoir/ https://www.tiktok.com/@goh.ddess Wise Divine Women Podcast Hosted by Dana Irvine, FDNP, the Wise Divine Women Podcast explores women’s health, personal growth, functional wellness, breast health, hormones, and the wisdom that comes from truly learning to understand ourselves. Ready to Better Understand Your Own Body? For support with hormones, metabolism, breast health, digestion, stress, and whole-body wellness, visit DanaIrvine.com and book a Health Clarity Call. Subscribe to the Wise Divine Women Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who is entering a new season of life, love, identity, or self-discovery. ,Pompoir, pelvic floor health, pelvic floor muscles, women’s libido, menopause and sexuality, intimacy after 40, sexual wellness, female orgasm, women’s health, pelvic muscle training, aging and sexuality, self-care, sensuality, body confidence, women’s empowerment

What happens when you look at your life and realize you’ve been functioning, achieving, caring for everyone else… but somehow don’t feel fully connected to yourself? In Part 1 of this personal Wise Divine Women Podcast series, Dana Irvine opens an honest conversation about menopause, emotional flatness, empathy, grief, and the biological factors that may influence how women feel during midlife. Dana shares the question that started her own exploration: Why do I sometimes feel like I’ve lost my empathy? Although she continues to care deeply for others, Dana describes feeling depleted, disconnected, and sometimes as though she has been watching life through a window rather than fully experiencing it. Looking back over nearly a decade, she began questioning whether menopause, grief, stress, hormones, gut health, and her own genetics were all contributing pieces. Rather than accepting these changes as simply “getting older,” Dana began reviewing years of information from her blood work, hormone testing, thermography, gut testing, and earlier DNA results. What emerged was a new perspective: emotional wellbeing may not be about mindset alone. Our biology, life experiences, hormonal shifts, stress, and individual genetic tendencies can all become part of a much larger picture. This episode begins Dana’s journey of putting those pieces together and learning how to rebuild from a place of greater understanding, precision, and self-awareness. In This Episode: Dana’s personal experience with menopause and emotional disconnectWhat “lack of empathy” can feel like in everyday lifeFeeling present while still feeling emotionally flatWhy menopause experiences can look completely different from woman to womanThe impact of grief and emotional depletionReviewing blood work, hormone testing, gut health, thermography, and DNAWhy your health story is rarely explained by one single factorMoving beyond random wellness strategies toward greater precision Key Takeaway Feeling emotionally disconnected does not necessarily mean you have stopped caring. For Dana, asking difficult questions opened the door to exploring how grief, menopause, biology, stress, and depletion may have intersected during this season of life. Connect with Dana Irvine Website: danairvine.com Learn more Start here : https://wisedivinehealthclaritycall.youcanbook.me/ Coming Next: Part 2 explores what Dana calls her “perfect storm”—what happens when grief and menopause collide and the nervous system, hormones, and emotional resilience are all affected at the same time. menopause, perimenopause, emotional health, emotional disconnect, lack of empathy, menopause symptoms, menopause brain changes, women’s health, midlife women, hormonal changes, hormonal balance, menopause emotions, emotional flatness, brain fog, grief and menopause, chronic stress, women over 40, women over 50, hormone testing, blood work, DNA testing, genetic testing, functional health, functional medicine, gut health, gut-brain connection, thermography, root cause health, self-discovery, nervous system health, emotional wellbeing, menopause journey, rebuilding health, personalized health, women’s hormones, Wise Divine Women, Dana Irvine This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individualized medical or mental health care.

What if healing didn’t always require years of retelling your story? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine sits down with psychotherapist and sex therapist Brooke Bralove for a powerful conversation about trauma, the nervous system, intimacy, pelvic pain, libido, and a therapeutic approach called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Brooke has spent more than 22 years as a psychotherapist, working with women navigating anxiety, relationships, sexuality, shame, identity, and the transitions that often accompany midlife. Her own experience with ART after a painful breakup led her to train in the modality and eventually incorporate it deeply into her practice. ART uses rapid eye movements and voluntary image replacement to work with distressing memories, images, and the physical sensations connected to them. Brooke explains why understanding a traumatic experience intellectually doesn't always change the body's response—and why addressing the nervous system can be an important part of healing. When the Body RemembersThis conversation takes an especially important turn when Dana and Brooke discuss pelvic pain, painful intimacy, and low libido. When intimacy has repeatedly been associated with pain, the body may begin anticipating danger before anything has even happened. A kiss, touch, or initiation of intimacy may trigger guarding, tension, avoidance, or a fight-or-flight-or-freeze response. Brooke shares how ART works with the images and body sensations connected to those experiences and then uses imagery to help create a different emotional and physical response. Midlife, Desire & Reconnecting With YourselfMidlife can bring far more than hormonal changes. Women may be navigating empty nesting, changing relationships, identity shifts, painful sex, loss of desire, career transitions, and the feeling that they simply don't recognize themselves anymore. Brooke sees many women who love their partners but say the “fire” has disappeared. Rather than treating libido as an isolated symptom, this conversation invites women to consider the relationship between desire, emotional history, physical comfort, relationships, and nervous-system safety. Brooke leaves us with a message every woman deserves to hear: “Pleasure is your birthright.” Pleasure isn't something women need to apologize for wanting. Brooke encourages women to recognize their right to seek, experience, communicate, and ask for pleasure throughout every season of life. that ART can be offered virtually or in person, and that Connect with Brooke BraloveWebsite: brookbraylove.com Instagram: @brookbraylove Connect with DanaDana Irvine, FDNP Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner • Breast Health Educator • Host of the Wise Divine Women Podcast If you're ready to understand the deeper patterns influencing your hormones, metabolism, breast health, digestion, and whole-body wellness, DanaIrvine.com to learn more or book aHealth Clarity Call. Keywords: Accelerated Resolution Therapy, ART therapy, Brooke Bralove, women's mental health, trauma healing, nervous system healing, low libido, pelvic pain, painful sex, menopause, perimenopause, midlife women, sexual health, intimacy, transformational therapy, Wise Divine Women Podcast

What happens when you stop living in survival mode and begin listening to the deeper wisdom within you? In this episode of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Dana Irvine welcomes Mary Armendarez, author of Return to Your Soul, for a heartfelt conversation about soul-searching, self-love, energy, healing, and learning to trust yourself again. Mary shares her personal journey from years of people-pleasing, trauma, anxiety, and giving her power away to discovering practices that helped her reconnect with herself. She describes reaching a point where she realized she had spent much of her life surviving rather than asking two simple but powerful questions: What am I feeling? What do I need? Mary and Dana explore the mind-body-spirit connection and the importance of paying attention to the signals our bodies give us. Mary encourages women to become curious about physical and emotional patterns rather than continually disconnecting from themselves. The conversation shifts to practical spiritual tools Mary uses in her own life and teaches others, including breathwork, visualization, intention, grounding, energetic boundaries, and working with color. She shares her practice of visualizing violet energy as a symbol of transformation and protection, along with simple rituals you can incorporate into everyday moments—from showering and washing your hands to walking through a doorway. Mary also discusses reconnecting with Mother Earth, balancing what she describes as divine feminine and masculine energies, learning to receive instead of constantly giving, and creating stronger energetic boundaries. Her message throughout the conversation is simple: you have permission to come home to yourself. After years of difficult experiences, Mary describes reaching a place where she can finally say she feels peace and calm. Those experiences eventually inspired her to write Return to Your Soul, which includes guided practices and meditations designed to help readers explore their own healing journey. A Simple Practice to TryBefore reaching for your phone tomorrow morning, stop. Take a breath and ask: What am I feeling? What do I need? What is my next step? You don’t need to solve your entire life in one morning. Sometimes transformation begins by becoming present enough to hear yourself again. Connect with MaryLook for Mary Armendarez and her book Return to Your Soul. Mary also offers courses, guided practices, personalized meditations, and tools focused on energetic alignment and self-connection. Connect with DanaContinue your journey with Dana Irvine, FDNP, host of the Wise Divine Women Podcast, Breast Health Educator, and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner. Explore functional wellness, hormone and breast health education, root-cause testing, and the Wise Divine Women community at DanaIrvine.com. Wise Divine Women — where faith meets functional wellness. soul searching, Return to Your Soul, Mary Armendarez, self-love, energy healing, visualization, spiritual healing, divine feminine, divine masculine, self-trust, energy protection, inner peace, grounding, women’s empowerment, mind-body-spirit connection