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

Jody Vassallo
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  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
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A podcast exploring women’s health through the wisdom of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, with empowering conversations on menopause, natural healing, and food as medicine to support every stage of life.  Hosted by Jody Vassallo, Ayurvedic guide, intuitive cook, and founder of ‘Gather’.  Each episode is an invitation to slow down, listen in, and reconnect with the wisdom of your body and the cycles of nature. Through the lens of traditional medicine and lived experience, we dive into the big topics: perimenopause, menopause, fertility, gut health, grief and loss, surrogacy, Ayurveda, and food as medicine. This is a space for real conversations, tender truths, and practical ways to nourish yourself no matter what season you're in.

  1. 6D AGO

    77 - The Benefits Of Breathwork with Brett Aldrich.

    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.

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 6

    76 - Your Misaligned Feet May Be Creating Your Knee And Hip Issues with Kat Villain.

    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.

    1 hr

  3. JAN 29

    75 - Foot Soaking And How It May Help Hot Flushes And Tinnitus with Dr Yue Wang.

    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.

    1h 2m

  4. JAN 23

    74 - Is Your Root Canal Ruining Your Health with Dr Michelle Jorgensen.

    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.

    1h 3m

  5. JAN 16

    73 - Dr Shivani Gupta: The Inflammation Code - Is Your Lifestyle Inflaming You?

    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.

    1h 4m

  6. JAN 9

    72 - The Red Thread: Connecting Us To Our Female Ancestors with Tahnee Taylor.

    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" 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.

    1h 29m

  7. JAN 2

    71 - Is Your Floppy Tongue Affecting How You Breathe In Your Sleep with Ronda Holman.

    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" 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.

    1h 11m

  8. 12/26/2025

    70 - The Art of Noticing: Japan's 72 Micro-Seasons with Emily Smith.

    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" 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.

    1h 13m
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About

A podcast exploring women’s health through the wisdom of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, with empowering conversations on menopause, natural healing, and food as medicine to support every stage of life.  Hosted by Jody Vassallo, Ayurvedic guide, intuitive cook, and founder of ‘Gather’.  Each episode is an invitation to slow down, listen in, and reconnect with the wisdom of your body and the cycles of nature. Through the lens of traditional medicine and lived experience, we dive into the big topics: perimenopause, menopause, fertility, gut health, grief and loss, surrogacy, Ayurveda, and food as medicine. This is a space for real conversations, tender truths, and practical ways to nourish yourself no matter what season you're in.

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