The Fatigue Fixer

Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, Story Studio Network
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  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated fortnightly

Join Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, a Naturopathic Doctor who's been the guiding light for thousands of women struggling with fatigue for over a decade. Dr. Sarah challenges the common misconception that feeling drained equates to being flawed. In "The Fatigue Fixer", she offers insights into our body's messages, reminding us that our tiredness isn't a sign of weakness, but a signal of misalignment. By truly understanding and caring for our bodies, we can navigate the road to better energy. In a world filled with immeasurable expectations, Sarah aims to support every woman, from the hands-on mom to the aspiring Prime Minister. Dive in as we dissect the physical, emotional and societal pressures draining our energy, and together, shift the narrative around fatigue. Your exhaustion has a story; let's rewrite it together. Get your daily dose of fatigue fixing tips over on Dr. Sarah’s Instagram @sarahvadeboncoeur or visit her website at www.docereclinic.ca to learn more about how you can work with her.

  1. 2 days ago

    53. The One About Getting Out of Fight or Flight Mode with Valerie Beaulieu

    Nervous system dysregulation, chronic pain, migraines, fatigue, and perfectionism are all connected in ways most of us were never taught to understand. In this episode, I sit down with Valerie Beaulieu (former Athletic Therapist, Migraine and Neuroplasticity Expert) to explore what the nervous system actually does, what nervous system dysregulation looks like in real life, and why so many high-achieving women find themselves stuck in cycles of exhaustion, pain, people-pleasing, and survival mode. We discuss the role fear plays in chronic symptoms, how fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses show up in everyday life, and why silence can feel so uncomfortable when your nervous system is constantly scanning for danger. Valerie also shares the latest thinking on neuroplastic pain, including how the brain can continue to generate pain signals even after an injury has healed, and how our beliefs, emotions, and internal narratives can influence healing. If you've ever wondered why you feel stuck despite doing all the "right" things, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on the connection between your brain, body, emotions, and energy. Key Takeaways: Your nervous system is constantly gathering information and determining whether you are safe or under threat.Many women spend years operating in survival mode without realizing it.Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses can show up as perfectionism, overworking, people-pleasing, procrastination, or feeling stuck.Fear is often at the root of chronic stress patterns, even when it appears as anger, guilt, shame, or frustration.The stories and beliefs you attach to your symptoms can influence how your brain experiences pain and fatigue.Neuroplastic pain is real pain generated by learned brain pathways rather than ongoing tissue damage.Chronic pain and chronic fatigue are not "all in your head," but your brain plays an important role in how symptoms are experienced. Additional Episodes You Might Enjoy:  32. The One That Sets The Record Straight on Cortisol45. The One Where You Feel Safe To Speak Up with Elise Besler22. The One Where You Take Care of Everyone But Yourself with Amanda Rocheleau Connect with Valerie: Valerie Beaulieu is a former Athletic Therapist, Migraine and Neuroplasticity Expert with over 17 years of experience helping people overcome acute sports-related injuries, chronic pain, and stress-related symptoms. After years of working with everyone from everyday individuals to Olympic athletes, she discovered that achieving freedom from chronic pain and symptoms goes far beyond the physical body and is deeply connected to the brain, nervous system, emotions, and identity patterns. Today, Valerie specializes in helping women break free from chronic migraines, pain, and symptoms by retraining the brain and nervous system through a powerful mind-body approach. Through her speaking, coaching, and signature R.I.S.E. program, she empowers women to stop living in survival mode, regain trust in their bodies, and reclaim agency over their health and lives. Linktree: Linktr.ee/ValerieMindBodyRx IG: @valerie_mindbody_coach FB: Valerie Beaulieu - Mind-Body Living Rx YouTube: Valerie Beaulieu | Rise Above Pain 💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    48 min

  2. 17 Jun

    52. The One Where Insulin Resistance is Stealing Your Energy

    💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer If you’re struggling with fatigue, abdominal weight gain, brain fog, and cravings, you may be dealing with a very common metabolic dysfunction: insulin resistance. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur unpacks one of the most common—but often overlooked—causes of low energy: insulin resistance. You'll learn what insulin resistance actually is, why it can develop years before prediabetes, how muscle, sleep, stress, and hormones influence blood sugar regulation, and which lab tests can help identify it early. Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical, sustainable strategies to improve insulin sensitivity without restrictive diets or all-or-nothing thinking. If you've ever been told your blood sugar is "normal" but you still feel exhausted, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Insulin resistance often develops years—or even decades—before prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed.Normal blood sugar does not necessarily mean your insulin levels are normal.Common symptoms include:Afternoon energy crashesBrain fogIncreased cravings for sugar or carbohydratesFeeling irritable or "hangry" when meals are delayedWeight gain around the midsectionMuscle acts as one of the body's biggest glucose sinks, making strength training and movement powerful tools for prevention.Chronic stress, poor sleep, perimenopause, PCOS, a history of gestational diabetes, and certain medications can all increase risk.Waist circumference is one of the strongest predictors of future insulin resistance and metabolic disease.Whether or not Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are helpful for understanding your blood sugar levels Which exact labs can show early signs of insulin resistance Resources & Additional Episodes: Download my free lab guide The Missing Piece, to learn which lab markers every woman should know, and the optimal ranges I use in clinical practice.32. The One That Sets The Record Straight on Cortisol47. The One Where I Changed My Mind About Cholesterol44. The One Where Exercise Stops Feeling So Hard Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    49 min

  3. 3 Jun

    51. The One Where Fibroids Get Mistreated with Nam Kiwanuka

    💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fibroids, heavy periods, iron deficiency, anemia, exhaustion, women’s health, and medical dismissal are at the center of this powerful conversation with Nam Kiwanuka, award-winning journalist and host of the podcast '(MIS)Treated'. Nam shares her deeply personal experience navigating years of debilitating symptoms, severe blood loss, and repeated dismissal within the healthcare system, before finally receiving appropriate care for fibroids. Together, we explore the enormous physical, emotional, financial, and systemic impact of untreated women’s health concerns — especially for women who have been taught to normalize pain, exhaustion, and suffering. This episode is an honest conversation about what happens when women are not listened to, the shame that often surrounds reproductive health, and why better advocacy, education, and healthcare systems are urgently needed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Key Takeaways: Fibroids affect a huge percentage of women, yet many still struggle for years to receive appropriate careHeavy periods and severe fatigue are often normalized, even when they are signs of significant blood loss and iron deficiencyMedical dismissal can have profound impacts on a woman’s body, mental health, relationships, career, and overall quality of lifeWomen and minorities were not required to be included in clinical trials until 1993, contributing to major gaps in women’s healthcare researchShame and stigma keep many women from openly discussing symptoms related to menstruation and reproductive healthThe economic costs of untreated women’s health conditions extend far beyond healthcare spending and affect productivity, careers, and familiesStorytelling and lived experience are powerful tools for creating awareness and driving systemic healthcare change------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You may also enjoy:  '(MIS)Treated' hosted by Nam KiwanukaEP 13: The One Where Your Period Is A Pain------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Guest Info: Nam Kiwanuka is an award-winning journalist and the host/producer of TVO’s '(MIS)Treated', a podcast on women's health. She has hosted 'The Thread with Nam Kiwanuka', 'The Agenda in the Summer', and co-hosted 'The Agenda with Steve Paikin'. She also contributes to columns for TVO.org. Originally from Uganda, Nam spent her early years in a refugee camp in Kenya before settling in London, Ontario. She's lived and worked in the UK, the USA, and Sierra Leone. Her remarkable career in journalism includes roles as the first Black woman in Canada to host a magazine sports show with NBAXL and CFL Crunch on Sportsnet, as a VJ / videographer at MuchMusic, and writing a column for the BBC’s 'Focus on Africa'. She's interviewed Britney Spears, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, and Africa's first female head of state and Nobel Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, plus many more newsmakers.  Beyond her professional work, she’s a passionate plant collector with a collection to rival Allan Gardens, and is determined to perfect her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Learn more about '(MIS)Treated': TVO.org/podcasts/mistreated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    50 min

  4. 20 May

    50. The One Where a Diagnosis Changes Everything with Pam Conquest

    💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer Invisible illness, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis are often misunderstood, especially for high-achieving women who are used to pushing through and performing, no matter how they feel. In this episode, I sit down with palliative care nurse consultant and MS patient Pam Conquest to talk about what it’s really like to live with an illness that others can’t see. We explore Pam’s journey from early symptoms to diagnosis, and the emotional reality that comes with it, including grief, identity shifts, and learning to live within new limits. This conversation is honest, compassionate, and deeply practical for anyone navigating fatigue, chronic illness, or supporting someone who is. Key TakeawaysInvisible illness can be incredibly isolating, especially when you “look fine” on the outsideMany women dismiss or minimize early symptoms and delay seeking careChronic illness often comes with grief, even if nothing “visible” has changedHigh-achieving women tend to override their limits, which can worsen fatigue You cannot “push through” your way out of chronic fatigueTools like Spoon Theory and the PEARLS framework can help you communicate and manage your energy more effectivelySelf-compassion is not optional, it is essential for living well with chronic illness Pam Conquest is a palliative care nurse consultant who helps individuals with chronic and life-limiting illnesses to better manage symptoms, including fatigue. Her work is uniquely shaped by both clinical expertise and lived experience. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014, Pam has navigated years of relapses, treatments, and the ongoing reality of fatigue. As a mother to one child on Earth and one in Heaven, she understands how invisible grief can quietly and deeply affect energy, and recognizes grief and loss as a common thread in people with chronic and life limiting illnesses. Blending professional insight with personal experience, Pam offers a compassionate and powerful perspective on how chronic illness and grief intersect, and how individuals can better understand and manage their energy. Follow her on Instagram. Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:The One Where We Tackle Autoimmune Fatigue with Alison Danby The One Where You Redefine SuccessThe One Where You Hear Your Body Speak ------------------------- Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    48 min

  5. 6 May

    49. The One Where You're in Energy Debt

    💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer Fatigue, burnout, and low energy are incredibly common for high-achieving women who are used to performing at a high level in every area of their lives. If you are the one everyone relies on, the one who keeps things running, and the one who rarely drops the ball, this episode will feel very familiar. In this kickoff to Season 5, I introduce the concept of Energy Wealth and explain why so many capable, driven women end up feeling exhausted despite having created a life that checks all the boxes. When you are overgiving, overfunctioning, and constantly performing all day long, your energy gets depleted faster than you can replenish it. This leads to what I call energy debt. And no amount of pushing through is going to fix that. This episode will help you start seeing your energy differently so you can quickly know what’s making you tired and what you actually need in that moment. Key Topics & Takeaways:If you spent money the way you spend your energy… you’d be brokeChronic fatigue isn’t a personal failure, it’s often the result of energy debtHigh-achieving women tend to overfunction (hello, doing everything for everyone) and under-recoverYour energy isn’t just physical—it’s made up of four key accounts:Body → physical energy, sleep, nourishmentBrain → focus, decision-making, mental clarityHeart → emotional capacity, patience, connectionSpirit → joy, meaning, feeling like yourselfYou can’t fix energy debt by pushing harder, you rebuild energy through small, consistent deposits. The most powerful place to start: identify your most depleted account and support that first. Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:The One Where You Didn’t Sign Up for This with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish (overfunctioning in your relationship)The One Where You Stop Doing Everything For Your Kids (overfunctioning with your kids) ------------------------- Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    25 min

  6. Season 5 Trailer

    Welcome to The Fatigue Fixer, Season 5!

    💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU! Share your questions, stories, or thoughts about this episode — your message might even be featured on a future show. Leave me a voicemail here (https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer) You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re just exhausted. What if your exhaustion isn’t a failure, but a math problem?  In Season 5 of The Fatigue Fixer Podcast, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur reframes fatigue for what it really is: an energy deficit. Because no matter how capable you are, you can’t outwork depletion.  Dr. Sarah introduces a new way to understand fatigue: energy wealth. When you’re constantly overgiving, overthinking, and overfunctioning, burnout isn’t surprising. It’s inevitable.  Starting May 6th, we’re breaking fatigue down into four key areas—your body, brain, heart, and spirit—to uncover what’s really draining you and how to start rebuilding your reserves so your energy account goes from in the red to abundantly in the green.   This season goes deeper than quick fixes. It’s about having the energy for a life that feels like yours again.   Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer ------------------------- Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    2 min

  7. 4 Mar

    48. The One Where You Google Your Symptoms At Night

    If you struggle with health anxiety, medical anxiety, or obsessive symptom checking, late-night Googling symptoms, worrying you have a rare disease, repeatedly checking your body, booking (and almost cancelling) appointments, or feeling embarrassed about how much you worry — this episode is for you. This episode, I’m unpacking health anxiety: why it’s so common (especially in women), how our medical system and wellness culture both fuel it, and how to step out of the spiral without ignoring your health. This isn’t about dismissing your symptoms. It’s about calming your nervous system and rebuilding trust with your body. Key Takeaways Health anxiety is common in women and often rooted in not being believed.Hyper-vigilance is a protection strategy… but an exhausting one.The “one root cause” promise is seductive but rarely realistic.More testing doesn’t always create peace (hello, incidental findings).Acceptance is not giving up, it’s ending the war with your body. What You’ll Learn Why women are more prone to health-related worryHow to recognize when research and testing have become anxiety-drivenThe difference between intuition and anxietyWhy over-testing can increase fearPractical mindset shifts to reduce spiralingHow acceptance can actually be the most powerful healing step Related Episodes You’ll Love🎧 2. The One Where You Hear Your Body Speak (Especially if bloating or chronic symptoms have sent you down rabbit holes before) 💌 Leave Me a Voicemail! I want to hear from YOU. Share your questions, your health anxiety spirals, or what resonated with you in this episode. Your message might be featured in a future episode and it could help another woman feel less alone. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer ------------------------- Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    39 min

  8. 18 Feb

    47. The One Where I Changed My Mind About Cholesterol

    Cholesterol confusion is real, especially for women. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur shares her personal shift in understanding cholesterol, women’s cardiovascular risk, and what truly matters when it comes to protecting your heart. Sarah breaks down the basics of LDL and HDL (and why they’re not “good” vs “bad” types of cholesterol), explains why context matters more than one lab result, and busts common myths about saturated fat, seed oils, and hormone health. She also discusses the unique heart-health clues women get during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, and how lifetime exposure to high LDL shapes long-term risk. If you’ve ever been told you're “too young to worry about heart disease,” felt overwhelmed by lab work, or been confused by all the conflicting cholesterol advice online, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and clear on what to do next. What You’ll Learn Why LDL, HDL, and APO B matter (and what they actually mean)How lifetime exposure (& not just today’s numbers) affects riskMyths about cholesterol, saturated fats, and seed oilsWhy pregnancy complications are early cardiovascular “warning signs”How perimenopause and menopause change cholesterol levelsWhen to consider advanced testing like Lp(a)Key Takeaways Know your numbers: LDL, HDL, APO B, Lp(a)High HDL does not cancel out high LDLDiet matters most through fiber + reduced saturated fatsYour personal history (pregnancy, genetics, menopause) mattersUpdating your beliefs as evidence changes is powerful 💌 Have a question about heart health? I want to hear from YOU. Leave me a voicemail with your questions about heart health or share your story. Leave me a voicemail here: Speakpipe.com/TheFatigueFixer ------------------------- Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur is a Naturopathic Doctor, mom, and fatigue fixer who’s on a mission to help women fix their fatigue and get the health care they deserve. You can find her talking about all things fatigue on Instagram and learn more about her services at drsarahv.ca. The Fatigue Fixer is produced by Story Studio Network.

    43 min
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Trailers

About

Join Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, a Naturopathic Doctor who's been the guiding light for thousands of women struggling with fatigue for over a decade. Dr. Sarah challenges the common misconception that feeling drained equates to being flawed. In "The Fatigue Fixer", she offers insights into our body's messages, reminding us that our tiredness isn't a sign of weakness, but a signal of misalignment. By truly understanding and caring for our bodies, we can navigate the road to better energy. In a world filled with immeasurable expectations, Sarah aims to support every woman, from the hands-on mom to the aspiring Prime Minister. Dive in as we dissect the physical, emotional and societal pressures draining our energy, and together, shift the narrative around fatigue. Your exhaustion has a story; let's rewrite it together. Get your daily dose of fatigue fixing tips over on Dr. Sarah’s Instagram @sarahvadeboncoeur or visit her website at www.docereclinic.ca to learn more about how you can work with her.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, Story Studio Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur
  • Show Website
    The Fatigue Fixer

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