Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

Kate O’Donnell
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Everyday Ayurveda, a podcast by Kate O’Donnell, renowned Ayurvedic practitioner, bestselling author, and founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute. Join Kate as she demystifies the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and translates it into practical, everyday practices for modern living. In each episode, Kate shares her deep knowledge and personal experiences from over two decades of studying Ayurveda in India. Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or a seasoned practitioner, you’ll discover valuable insights on diet, lifestyle, self-care, and holistic health. Everyday Ayurveda is your go-to resource for integrating the timeless principles of Ayurveda into your daily routine, fostering a life of balance, health, and happiness. Subscribe now and start your journey towards radiant well-being with Kate O’Donnell. Listen, learn, and transform with Everyday Ayurveda – because true health begins with the choices we make every day.

  1. 85. Is Alcohol Making Your Perimenopause Worse? The Ayurvedic Framework You Need

    3D AGO

    85. Is Alcohol Making Your Perimenopause Worse? The Ayurvedic Framework You Need

    You asked. Kate answered — honestly. In this solo episode, Kate O'Donnell goes deep on one of the most-requested topics from her community: alcohol. Drawing on the Charaka Samhita, seven years of personal observation, and her clinical work with women in perimenopause, she unpacks the Ayurvedic properties of alcohol, why it complicates midlife health, and how to build a more self-aware — and shame-free — relationship with this very common substance.   What We Cover How Ayurveda classifies alcohol as hot and dry — and why that matters Why alcohol and perimenopause are a challenging combination The alcohol-sugar connection and what it reveals about cravings Sleep disruption, the pitta detox window, and why you wake up at 1am Damage control tools: timing, herbs, movement, and the "bar closes at 8" rule When to avoid alcohol during the menstrual cycle How to investigate your why without shame or judgment Host: Kate O'Donnell | healwithkate.org | @katedonnell.ayurveda Health Disclaimer: The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    36 min
  2. 84. Morning Protein for Women Over 40: An Ayurvedic Perspective

    MAY 13

    84. Morning Protein for Women Over 40: An Ayurvedic Perspective

    You've been asking, and Kate is answering. The trend of eating 30 grams of protein  within 30 minutes of waking — popularized in part by exercise physiologist Dr. Stacy Sims — has taken the women's wellness world by storm. In this solo episode, Kate O'Donnell brings her 25-plus years of Ayurvedic practice and teaching to bear on this contemporary nutritional conversation, offering a response that is neither dismissive nor uncritical. The result is a deeply useful framework for approaching morning nourishment on your own terms.   What We Cover The origin of the 30/30 protein trend and why it's a meaningful counterbalance to years of intermittent fasting How the Ayurvedic daily clock (and Kapha time of morning) shapes Kate's response to eating immediately upon waking Vata, Pitta, and Kapha body types and how each relates to morning appetite, muscle building, and digestion  Why Dr. Stacy Sims' research on women's hormones aligns surprisingly well with Ayurvedic principles of individualization The problem with cold, heavy morning proteins — overnight oats from the fridge, fruit-and-Greek-yogurt combos, cold protein shakes Why putting protein powder in cold oats is less effective than adding it to warm, spiced porridge How to train a sluggish morning appetite using digestive spices like dry ginger and cardamom Kate's personal experience starting weight training and discovering she could no longer work out on an empty stomach The difference between therapeutic eating patterns and daily normal eating — and why Ayurveda has always championed the latter A practical warm oatmeal formula: ratios, spices, seeds, and how to prep it the night before   Key Takeaways If you feel nauseous or heavy-stomached in the morning, address that with ginger water before adding more protein. The goal isn't to pound 30 grams into an unprepared gut — it's to gradually train your appetite earlier and build from there. Warm food in the morning supports Kapha-time digestion far better than cold smoothies or refrigerated overnight oats. Two tablespoons of hemp seeds + one tablespoon of nut butter in warm oatmeal gets you close to 15 grams of easily digestible protein. Mixing dairy and fruit — especially cold, first thing — is a food combination Ayurveda specifically cautions against.   Referenced Episodes Episode 23 — Ayurvedic Protein Sources The Ayurvedic Daily Clock episode (recent)   Health Disclaimer The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    34 min
  3. 83. How Your Home Is Quietly Affecting Your Health (And What to Do About It)

    MAY 6

    83. How Your Home Is Quietly Affecting Your Health (And What to Do About It)

    What if your home is either supporting your health or quietly working against it — and you haven't noticed yet? In this episode, Kate sits down with France Brunel, holistic interior designer and RISD graduate working between Brooklyn and Paris. France combines sensory psychology, Ayurveda, and design expertise to help people transform their homes into active wellbeing tools — not just pretty spaces. They explore France's three-step method — clear the stress, align with your space, design the support — and dig into the design pillars of beauty, order, color, and calm. France shares why your brain is constantly scanning your environment for safety cues, and how small intentional shifts can regulate your nervous system, improve your sleep, and reshape your daily habits. Whether you're overwhelmed by clutter, intimidated by color, or just feel "off" in a room you can't explain, this conversation gives you practical, budget-friendly tools to start immediately.   What we cover: Why your home is a biological environment, not just a decorative one France's three-step method: clear, align, design How light levels and placement affect your nervous system after 6 PM The concept of "shopping your own home" before buying anything new How color works physiologically — and why it's not about warm vs. cool Designing for your actual personality, not your ideal self Simple changes that work for families, city dwellers, and small spaces Find France Brunel at francebrunel.com and @iamfrancebrunel on Instagram.   Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    51 min
  4. 82. The Autoimmune-Stress Connection: A Chinese Medicine View on Why Americans Are Getting Sicker

    APR 29

    82. The Autoimmune-Stress Connection: A Chinese Medicine View on Why Americans Are Getting Sicker

    In this episode, Kate O'Donnell sits down with Jiaming Ju — a second-generation Chinese medicine practitioner, former health economist, and founder of the online clinic Kun Health — for a rich, cross-cultural exploration of how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda view the body, health, and healing. Jiaming brings a uniquely layered perspective: she spent a decade running health economics research across New York, India, Jordan, and Singapore before training for four years to become a California-licensed Chinese medicine practitioner. She now practices entirely online alongside her father — one of the early pioneers of telemedicine in Chinese medicine — treating complex chronic cases from around the world, and she still sees everything through the lens of a data economist. What We Cover: How tongue reading works in TCM — and why it differs fundamentally from Ayurvedic tongue assessment The difference between yin deficiency and yang deficiency, and why yang deficiency is far more common in Western patients today The gut-ADHD connection: why so many ADHD presentations begin with early digestive disruption How antibiotic overuse in childhood may have long-term consequences for digestion, focus, and mood The autoimmune-stress connection: Jiaming's "candle wax" theory of burnout and chronic illness Why Americans have disproportionately high rates of autoimmune disease — and what the data shows Seasonal eating in Chinese medicine: where it aligns with Ayurveda and where it diverges Why extreme exercise may harm more than help — and what moderation actually looks like How Jiaming and her father practice true family medicine online, tracking hereditary patterns across generations Guest Bio: Jiaming Ju Jiaming Ju is a second-generation Chinese medicine practitioner and the founder of Kun Health, an online Chinese medicine clinic she runs alongside her father. Trained first as an economist at Columbia University, Jiaming spent over a decade as a health economist leading major think tanks and research initiatives across the globe before returning to the medicine she grew up with. She holds a California license in Chinese medicine and brings a data-driven, prevention-focused approach to her clinical practice. Known for her tongue reading expertise and her candid communication style, Jiaming is on a mission to bring Chinese medicine to a global audience — authentically and rigorously. Website: https://www.kun.health/ Instagram: @byjiamingju  Health Disclaimer The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine. Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    52 min
  5. 81. The Ayurvedic Daily Clock: How To Eat, Sleep, and Live in Rhythm With Your Body

    APR 22

    81. The Ayurvedic Daily Clock: How To Eat, Sleep, and Live in Rhythm With Your Body

    Have you ever wondered why you crash at 3pm, crave food late at night, or can't seem to fall asleep before midnight? Ayurveda has a 5,000-year-old answer — and it's called Dinacharya, or the Ayurvedic daily flow.   In this solo episode, Kate walks you through the complete Ayurvedic 24-hour clock — explaining what elements are active in your body at each time of day, and how to align your eating, sleeping, exercising, and resting with those natural rhythms.   Whether you're new to Ayurveda or have been practicing for years, there's something here for you — and Kate's invitation is simple: take one thing and try it.   In this episode: Why 10pm is the magic bedtime hour — and what your body does when you miss it The midnight fire cycle that drives natural detoxification Morning practices that open channels of elimination Why your biggest meal belongs at midday The afternoon energy crash — and the 10-minute reset that beats it How to wind down from 6–10pm for deeper, more restorative sleep   Subscribe to Everyday Ayurveda with Kate for weekly episodes on Ayurvedic nutrition, seasonal living, and daily practices. Visit healwithkate.org to learn more. Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    34 min
  6. 80. I Brought 12 People to India for Panchakarma. Here's What Happened

    APR 15

    80. I Brought 12 People to India for Panchakarma. Here's What Happened

    After decades of traveling to India for her own Panchakarma practice — a tradition she kept almost entirely private — Kate O'Donnell finally brought a group. Twelve people. Twenty-one days. An Ayurvedic healing village nestled in the countryside near the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border, surrounded by coconut palms, temple chanting, and the gentle rhythm of cows heading out to pasture each morning. In this episode, Kate offers a day-in-the-life travel log of the experience, walking listeners through the structure of a Panchakarma day from sunrise chanting to evening group meetings. She describes the food, the treatments, the classes, the restricted screen time, and the unexpected depth of community that formed among strangers who became lifelong friends. Then she hands the mic to five participants — Susan, Sarah, Maya, Allison, and Bethany — who share, in their own words, what changed.   WHAT WE COVER Why Kate kept her India Panchakarma practice private for decades — and what changed What a day actually looks like at an Ayurvedic healing village (chanting, meals, treatments, classes, rest) The role of ritual, ceremony, and spirituality in Ayurvedic medicine How the healing village limits screens, sunlight, and stimulation during treatment Why community deepens the Panchakarma experience The common threads Kate observed in all participants after coming home: less internal noise, knowing what to do, and restored relationships Real participant voices: what shifted physically, mentally, and spiritually for five travelers NEXT TRIP: JANUARY 2027 Kate will be leading another group Panchakarma journey to India in mid-January 2027. The trip is approximately three weeks, ending around the first week of February.   To get on the waitlist: Visit: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/panchakarma-in-india DM @kateodonell.ayurveda on Instagram with the word INDIA Email hello@ayurvedicliving.institute Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    44 min
  7. 79. How To Eat For Spring: Simple Ayurvedic Meal Ideas That Actually Work

    APR 8

    79. How To Eat For Spring: Simple Ayurvedic Meal Ideas That Actually Work

    Spring has its own hunger. In this solo episode, Kate shares what's actually stocked in her kitchen this time of year and how Ayurveda shapes the way she cooks and eats when the season shifts. No complicated recipes, no pressure to be perfect — just practical, seasonal ideas for when you open the fridge and feel completely lost.   Kate covers spring pantry staples including sprouted mung beans, white beans, chickpeas, asparagus, celery, kale, goat cheese, rye crackers, and corn tortillas. She walks through her signature blended soups (cream of asparagus, cream of celery, carrot-ginger-chickpea), a simple breakfast bok choy broth, quinoa cereal with hemp milk, and the goat cheese pinwheel that has officially earned its place as a lazy-kitchen hero.   Part two of the beloved "What To Eat When You Don't Know What To Eat" series. Recipes and seasonal guidance also in the Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook. Visit healwithkate.org for more. Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    28 min
  8. 78. How To Get Comprehensive Bloodwork and Actually Understand the Results

    APR 1

    78. How To Get Comprehensive Bloodwork and Actually Understand the Results

    The bloodwork conversation is everywhere right now — but are you getting the right tests, and do you know what to do with the results? Kate sits down with two functional medicine practitioners: Tracey O’Shea, medical director at the California Center for Functional Medicine and program director at the Kresser Institute, and Danielle Dellaquila, functional nutritionist and founder of Eagle Vision Nutrition. Together they demystify the comprehensive blood panel from both a clinical and nutritional perspective. What We Cover: What is missing from your standard annual bloodwork How functional medicine ranges differ from conventional lab ranges Full thyroid panels, iron panels, nutrient markers, and insulin Hormone testing in perimenopause: when labs help and when they do not The real out-of-pocket cost of a comprehensive panel ($399-$469) DIY bloodwork services: what they get right and where the gaps are How to balance data with body wisdom Find resources and practitioners at healwithkate.org. Order bloodwork with Danielle Dellaquila: https://www.eaglevisionnutrition.com/comprehensive-blood-analysis/ Danielle's Supplement Dispensary: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/ddellaquila/store-start   Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024 Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals Banyan Botanicals Link:  https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate Super Nasya Oil https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate46v CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3 Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Everyday Ayurveda, a podcast by Kate O’Donnell, renowned Ayurvedic practitioner, bestselling author, and founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute. Join Kate as she demystifies the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and translates it into practical, everyday practices for modern living. In each episode, Kate shares her deep knowledge and personal experiences from over two decades of studying Ayurveda in India. Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or a seasoned practitioner, you’ll discover valuable insights on diet, lifestyle, self-care, and holistic health. Everyday Ayurveda is your go-to resource for integrating the timeless principles of Ayurveda into your daily routine, fostering a life of balance, health, and happiness. Subscribe now and start your journey towards radiant well-being with Kate O’Donnell. Listen, learn, and transform with Everyday Ayurveda – because true health begins with the choices we make every day.

Information

  • Creator
    Kate O’Donnell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Kate O’Donnell
  • Show Website
    Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

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