Advertise on podcast: Changing Seasons: Ayurveda, Women’s Health, Menopause & Food as Medicine

In today's episode Jody chats with Jennier Gularson, a physician assistant who specialises in hormone health for women in perimenopause and menopause. Jennifer is a functional medicine practitioner who spends her days helping women understand the type of HRT they may need for their symptoms. We discuss the different types of HRT, pellets, transdermal, shots and why. Some women benefit from taking HRT daily in the form of a trans dermal cream or others with busy lives may be better off with a patch that is applied several times a week. We speak about some of the side effects of HRT, like reflux and why it occurs.  How HRT differs from birth control and what a compounding chemist does and how what you get from a prescription you get from your pharmacy. Jennifer talks about how she uses a compounding pharmacist for progesterone for women experiencing anxiety as it is not dumped into the system. Jennifer describes the ingredients used for bio identical hormones, soy and yam and why this type of HRT is the best choice for women.  We talk about the different doshas and their approach to menopause and their HRT treatment. This is a very interesting episode for women considering HRT or who are looking for questions answered around HRT. Podcast: The Optimal Body Podcast Instagram: @jennifergularson "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Today Jody welcomes Rachel Nokes, yoga teacher and Ayurvedic Lifestyle consultant to the podcast to discuss the healing powers of mantra. Rachel has been a devoted yogi for many years and initially introduction to mantra came on her first yoga training. At first she didn't warm to the practice but after being introduced to it again on another yoga teacher training she was hooked. Rachel recognised the transformative power of the practice of quieting the mind and she now incorporates mantra into all of her yoga classes. Reciting mantra can be challenging, Rachel says and one needs to practise humility and patience as we are rewiring neural pathways in the brain and often learning sounds tricky, adding sanskrit to the mix and you have a practice that requires deep devotion and commitment. Rachel is currently organising Bhakti Women's Summit which this year will be dedicated to Sacred Sound. The free online Summit will run from March 25-27, 2026 and offers the perfect opportunity for people to practice mantra and other sound practices and discover what appeals to them. Work With Rachel https://www.rayoflightyoga.com/ Bhakti Women Summit Sacred Sound March 25th-27th 2026 https://www.rayoflightyoga.com/sacredsoundsummit2026 Sanskrit Course https://the-ray-of-light-collection.teachable.com/p/sanskrit-experience-the-language-of-love Instagram https://www.rayoflightyoga.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rayoflight000/ "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Jody welcomes Ayurvedic practitioner Yogi Cameron to the podcast today to speak about how Ayurveda treats the person, not the symptom.  He speaks about how he works with clients these days to the capacity they are able to hold and that a person with only heal if they believe healing is possible. We discuss the importance of getting to know the patient and asking the right questions, one of his favourite questions being "Is this the life you want?" Yogi Cameron describes how the ego can confuse our minds and have us questioning everything because of its need to know. The remedy for this is acceptance and curiosity in the mystery of life as nothing is truly certain or known. Cameron describes how aging happens when we are stressed and doing things that don't feel aligned with our truth and purpose. Spending time in contemplation, out in nature and in stillness are all ways to quieten the mind and get the ego out of the way. Instagram: @yogicameron Website: inspireliving.co Ayurvedic Oils and Incense https://www.mytemple.love/collections/ayurvedic-skin-oils "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Jody talks us through what it is like to experience one of her Back to Nature retreats and why she has chosen camping over luxe accommodation.  The benefits of being on the land quickly help guests relax and ground, right from the moment they arrive and start setting up the tent, Jody can see the elements working to connect them into the space and ground their energy. Jody describes how she has designed these retreats to help bring people back home to themselves through reminding them of their natural connection with the elements. Doing yoga under the stars, bathing in mountain water, sunning themselves on rocks and gazing out at the trees are all ways guests find to settle their nervous systems. Having minimal access to technology Jody notices that the vata settles in the fearful anxious retreat participants and their love of creating comes alive. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Brett Aldrich joins Jody on the podcast today to discuss the benefits of breathwork for the different doshas. Brett is a yogi, breathwork teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner. She talks about how emotions are stored in the body and that breathwork can help people release those emotions. We chat about cyclical breathwork, in through the mouth and out through the mouth can create a deep awareness in the body and activate relaxation. Cyclical breathwork takes people into their parasympathetic nervous system and can regulate the nervous system. Brett speaks about how different doshas may require a specific approach to the breathwork practice and they may even require different styles of breathwork depending on what is going on in their bodies. This is a fascinating episode and will be of particular interest for yoga teachers or anyone working with clients who are emotionally disregulated. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Kat Villain joins Jody today to speak about all things yoga and alignment. Kat teaches Katonah Yoga, Breathwork and Spirituality and shares in detail about how we need to start with the breath to get us back into the body. Once we are in our body we can begin to see how our feet create the foundation for the rest of the body and that proper cueing for the feet can change everything. Kat describes how misalignment in the feet will show up in our hips and then ripple up through the whole body. She details how we can see where we are weighting in the feet by recognising areas of dryness and hardening and that  leaning back in feet can relate to holding back in life and kidney issues and pressing forward is more about the lungs and liver and the tendency to launch into projects. This is a fascinating conversation about practising yoga, connecting with our bodies and calming our minds so we can find our way back to our deep inner truth. Website: www.katvillain.com  Substack: https://katvillain.substack.com Book: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000042588677/Kat-Villain-Yoga-as-Origami Foot Mapping: https://stan.store/kat-villain/p/foot-mapping-20 "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Today Jody speaks to Dr Yue Wang, a holistic Chinese Medicine Menopause doctor about the benefits of foot soaking. Yue covers why foot soaking can benefit women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, tinnitus, brain fog and anxiety. She walks us through the water temperature, ingredients that can be added to the water, how long the feet need to be soaked and why foot soaking is favoured over hot baths, dry saunas and showers. Dr Yue also speaks about the importance of getting adequate sun exposure and how often women in menopause are deficient in Vitamin D and how this becomes and issue with osteoporosis. She stresses we must be aware of the type of sunscreens we are using and the ingredients that must be avoided. We talk extensively about tinnitus and vertigo, how it is related to liver stagnation and kidney deficiency issues and what women can do to treat it.  Yue stresses that women must not skip breakfast and she recommends a savoury high protein breakfast over a higher carbohydrate sweet breakfast and explains why. There is so much gold in this episode and I hope you like me will give foot soaking a go and report back with the results. Instagram: @menopausedrwang "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Today Jody is joined by Dr Michelle Jorgensen to discuss all things dental. Michelle changed the way she practised dentistry after a health crisis that she discovered was from the removal of mercury fillings. We speak about how root canal treatment leads to the infection in the tooth going deeper into the body, causing auto-immune disease and other serious health issues. Removal of the tooth is the only option Michelle stresses once the nerve is dead. Michelle talks about why flouride is no longer a viable treatment option in dentistry and how hydroxyapatite can help remineralise teeth and the ways it can be used at home. We discuss how all types of sugars create an acidic environment in the mouth and when is best to drink lemon water and why it needs to be 30 minutes away from brushing your teeth. Oil pulling is something that Michelle is a fan of but she explains that oil pulling also pulls good bacteria out of the mouth and that is not a great practice to do daily unless you have gum disease Drinks can have a huge impact on mouth and teeth health and Michelle explains why alkaline water can be doing more harm than good. This is a fascinating conversation about how to take better care of your mouth and health. I hope you get as much out of listening to Michelle talk as I did. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Dr Shivani Gupta joins Jody on Changing Seasons podcast today to talk about her new book called The Inflammation Code. Shivani describes how she grew up being treated by both western medicine and her Indian grandmother's spices cabinet.  Later in life after dealing with leaky gut issues in her own life she was motivated to research the root causes of what was causing inflammation in our bodies. Shivani came to understand that sleep clears inflammation and as we age sleep is important and vital for health and longevity. We discuss how the different doshas can adjust their lifestyles to seasonal changes and different stages in life and what happens to each constitution if they don't adjust their lives accordingly. Shivani talks about how she organises her year around her Pitta dosha so that she can rest in summer because if she doesn't she is at risk of burning out come autumn. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/?hl=en Website: https://shivanigupta.com/ 15% promo code: changingseasons "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Today Tahnee Taylor returns to Changing Seasons podcast to discuss The Red Thread, a concept that Tahnee shared a few months back with Jody about the deep connection to our female ancestors and how it impacts our lives. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation today with Tahnee, she shares about seasons within seasons and how she is noticing a shift since turning forty and feeling she is coming out of her summer within summer and moving into the harvest time where she can sense the energy changing. Tahnee talks about how education and the obsession with the known can hinder our natural curiosity and that she uses the phrase "I wonder" from Steiner with her children to encourage them to think for themselves instead of being prescribed answers to all their questions. "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Ronda Holman joins Jody today on Changing Seasons podcast to discuss why mouth breathing is impacting your sleep, your mouth health and how it can lead to severe health issues over time. We discuss mouth tape and who should use it and who should steer away from using it. Ronda explains why strengthening the 8 muscles in the tongue is essential for a good night's sleep and speaks about why floppy tongue can become such an issue as we age. Jody and Ronda look at the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling and Nasya and why both these practices can aid in a more restful sleep. Guasha, face massage and exercises can also help in opening the muscles and fascia of the face and Ronda provides suggestions for exercises we can do at home and simple equipment people can buy online to aid in strengthening the tongue and the muscle needed to swallow. Ronda tells Jody why humming and Butyko breath are effective practices  to retrain the body to breathe through the nose and improve sleep.  This is a fascinating episode for anyone who lives with a snorer or is a snorer themselves and is looking for ways to stop mouth breathing.  Resources: App to test your sleep for snoring https://www.snorelab.com/ Book Breathe Better While You Sleep - Ronda Holman Breath - James Nestor Water Bottle To Strengthen The Tongue https://www.remplenish.com/collections/shop-all Mouth Piece Chewing Aid https://myomunchee.com/shop/ "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Today Jody welcomes Emily Smith to the Changing Seasons podcast. Emily is a documentary film maker who recently moved to Japan and has found herself reconnecting with her mothers heritage through foraging and the 72 mico seasons. Growing up in England Emily had struggled to find her place, yet always felt at home in nature, she would forage cobnuts with her father and enjoyed the freedom she felt outdoors. Two years ago on a holiday to Japan Emily discovered a house in a small village and immediately felt a deep connection to the land there. She now lives in that house with her husband and two dogs. Emily spends her days foraging and documenting Japan's 72 micro seasons that were adapted from the Chinese calendar. The first season begins in February, each season lasts roughly five days.  Every morning Emily wakes early and takes her camera and dogs outside to forage and observe what is happening in her environment. Currently in the season of "cold sets in" Emily speaks about how the hard frost now appears on the ground and leaves continue to fall from trees. The practice of documenting the 72 micro seasons has allowed Emily to slow down and rediscover a childlike curiosity about the world in which she finds herself living. We speak about her love of foraging sansai (wild mountain vegetables which include warabi, butterbur fiddleheads) with her 93 year old adopted neighbour she calls  grandma, her recent encounter with a serow (Japanese goat like antelope and her secret love of hornets. Instagram @down2forage  @hy_mushroom society "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

In today's episode Jody talks about her recent food tour to Japan and how she was reminded that food can create a beautiful connection between us and the seasons. She shares how she noticed that eating the foods in season and embracing local rituals like bath in onsens calmed her nervous system and in turn meant her digestive system was free of gas, bloating or constipation. Jody goes on to discuss the frustration she is feeling at the moment around the messaging in the world around women and menopause. She speaks about how important the messy middle is as we transition from one season of life to another. Japan Food Tour 2026 Join Jody's next Japan Food Tour October 2026 https://www.jodyvassallo.com/food-yoga-tour-of-japan "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Clara Cohen joins Jody today on Changing Seasons podcast to discuss hormones through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Clara talks in detail about the different ages and stages of development in men and women and how mens cycles are ruled by the sun and women's cycles by the moon and how this  impacts our energy and hormones. We discuss what organ systems govern and balance our hormones and what lifestyle factors are contributing to hormone imbalance. Clara talks about endometriosis and how trauma and emotional disharmony can impact the condition. Links: https://acuproacademy.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Acuproacademy Instagram:  @acuproacademy "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.

Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya joins us on Changing Seasons podcast to discuss the power of Dinacharya, a daily Ayurvedic practice that she discovered could help treat  inflammation, thyroid conditions, gut issues and auto- immune diseases.  Bhaswati talks about how she works with her patients to establish daily routines that not only increase ojas but also improve self-esteem. We discuss her favourite Ayurvedic herbs, which include vijaya (cannabis), haritaki,  Shativari, and Bhaswati describes how to use them. I learnt so much from this conversation and hope you will too. Where to find Dr Bhattacharya: Website:   www.drbhaswati.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbhaswati Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdrbhaswati/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbhaswati/ Twitter:  https://x.com/drbhaswati "Send us a message" Support the show Connect: Website • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/ Gather • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/gather Instagram • https://instagram.com/jodyvassallobeautifulfood Newsletter • https://jodyvassallo.substack.com/ Contact • https://www.jodyvassallo.com/contact Support the Show: Leave a review on Apple • https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/changing-seasons-podcast/id1757970211 Credits: Host: Jody Vassallo Production: Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.io © Changing Seasons. All rights reserved.