Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered-

Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Alternative Health

Welcome to Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered Are you a high-functioning woman who looks like you have it all together—but inside, you’re exhausted, bloated, anxious, and wondering, “Why do I feel this way?” You’ve done the labs, changed your diet, pushed through the workouts… and you’re still not getting the answers (or the results) you need. You’re not crazy—and you’re definitely not alone. Hosted by functional medicine doctors and lifelong besties Dr. Jenette Auchter and Dr. Melissa Weiss, Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered is the podcast where real-life struggles meet real root-cause healing. We’re talking hormones, gut health, the stress response, and the emotional patterns so many women silently carry: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and codependency. This isn’t surface-level advice or symptom suppression. This is where you reclaim your energy, your intuition, and your peace—while laughing, crying, and healing right alongside us. Two docs. One mission. Zero sugarcoating. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. The hosts and guests of this podcast are not liable for any actions taken based on the information discussed

  1. 14h ago

    BONUS SERIES: PRT Part 4 - Pain Shows Up, Then What?

    BONUS SERIES: PRT Part 4 - Pain Shows Up, Then What?  What if the problem isn’t the sensation… but what happens the second you feel it? When pain shows up, most of us immediately try to fix it, stretch it, avoid it, analyze it, or make it stop. In Part 4 of Pain, Reprocessed, Dr. Mel introduces somatic tracking — a simple way to notice what you’re feeling without immediately turning the sensation into a problem that needs to be solved. Because sometimes the shift starts when you create space between: the sensation, the story your brain tells about it, and your reaction. What if you didn’t have to fix the sensation right away?

    BONUS SERIES: PRT Part 4 - Pain Shows Up, Then What?

  2. 5d ago

    Hot Flashes & Plot Twists: The Midlife Hormone Mystery with Lori Aikman

    Episode 73: Hot Flashes & Plot Twists: The Midlife Hormone Mystery with Lori Aikman Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel talk with Lori Aikman, a nurse practitioner and founder of Total Metabolic Health, about midlife hormone changes. Hormones matter, but HRT alone isn't the whole answer. Lori shares why the "eat less, exercise more" advice often falls short for women over 40. She also covers what to look at alongside hormones: thyroid, blood sugar, adrenals, gut health and how your body processes hormones.   Guest Lori Aikman, MSN, FNP-C has practiced clinically since 2011 and has training in menopause, perimenopause and functional medicine. She gained 37 pounds during hormonal changes and spent years working out why.   What we cover 0:00 Why hormones are important but not the whole picture 2:54 Lori's story: rapid weight gain, the shame that came with it, and how it shaped her practice 6:36 Why women get piecemeal care ("a band-aid for each symptom") and why no one connects the dots 10:37 Genetics and estrogen metabolism, and why testing how you process hormones matters 12:06 Hormonal birth control, "normal" periods and knowing your cycle as a vital sign 19:07 Perimenopause: average menopause age is 51, and symptoms can start 3–5 years earlier or even up to 10 20:16 Early perimenopause (falling progesterone) vs. later (falling estrogen). Symptoms include irritability, poor sleep, heavier cycles, belly fat, joint pain, dryness and depression 23:04 The "double whammy" of postpartum and perimenopause, and low sex hormones in younger women 26:13 Why some women thrive on HRT and others don't. Lori looks at thyroid, insulin resistance, inflammation, adrenals and gut health 29:00 Individual responses: dose, route of delivery and how people respond to progesterone 33:07 Under-dosed estrogen, the Women's Health Initiative's lasting effect on prescribing, and the longevity benefits for bone, brain and heart 34:54 Testosterone for women: Lori's preferred order, and cream or subcutaneous injection vs. intramuscular 37:42 How long to wait before rechecking labs after starting HRT (6–8 weeks) 39:15 At-home hormone monitoring (Mira) 41:00 Blood tests vs. Dutch testing: when each makes sense, and why not to run a Dutch test on birth control 42:56 Hormone pellets: pros, cons and Lori's reasons for not using them 44:41 Pregnenolone and DHEA: why it's hard to predict how your body will convert them 46:40 Advocating for yourself and not giving up when the first fix doesn't work 48:19 The Weight Loss Resistance Quiz 50:08 Lori's approach: get metabolically healthy, and weight loss follows   Key takeaways HRT can be valuable, especially for long-term bone, brain and heart health, but it isn't a cure-all. Dose, delivery method and your own metabolism change how you respond. Look at thyroid, blood sugar, stress and adrenals, and gut health alongside sex hormones. Know what's normal for your cycle and ask questions about it. Work with a practitioner trained in this area, and keep advocating for yourself.   Connect with your Hosts and Guests!! 📱 Lori Aikman, MSN, FNP-C Facebook: Lori Aikman Instagram: Lori Aikman Doing everything right, but the scale still won't budge? Take the free 3-minute Midlife Weight Loss Resistance Quiz to discover which of five key metabolic and hormonal patterns may deserve a closer look. Take the quiz: https://totalmetabolichealth.com/quiz   📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic  Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com   Our YOUTUBE channel:  www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y   💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!

    Hot Flashes & Plot Twists: The Midlife Hormone Mystery with Lori Aikman

  3. Oct 27

    BONUS SERIES: PRT: Part 3 - Why Fear Can Keep Pain Going

    Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Part 3: Why Fear Can Keep Pain Going   When pain sticks around, we can start becoming afraid of the pain itself  and of the movements, positions, or activities we think might trigger it. In Part 3 of Pain, Reprocessed, Dr. Mel breaks down the pain-fear cycle, how the thoughts we attach to pain can increase the brain’s sense of danger, and why avoiding movement can sometimes reinforce the very fear we’re trying to escape. This episode is about noticing the story behind the sensation and beginning to separate pain from danger.

    BONUS SERIES: PRT: Part 3 - Why Fear Can Keep Pain Going

  4. Oct 22

    PiezoWave: We’ve Got Your Back…and Your Knees!

    Episode 72: PiezoWave: We’ve Got Your Back…and Your Knees! This episode breaks down what Piezo Wave shockwave therapy is, how it works, and why Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel uses it so often in practice. If you’ve heard the term but never quite understood it, this is a clear, patient-friendly explanation of how acoustic compression therapy can help chronic pain, stubborn tendon issues, and tissue healing. Dr. Jenette also shares personal examples from her own disc, knee, and SI joint issues, plus how shockwave pairs with chiropractic care and other in-office therapies.   Key topics In this episode, Dr. Jenette explains why she added Piezo Wave shockwave therapy to the office after her own disc herniations and why she wanted another tool beyond spinal decompression. She shares the most common conditions they treat, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles problems, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff pain, bursitis, patellar tendon issues, hip and gluteal tendon pain, chronic trigger points, neck pain, low back pain, and scar tissue. The team explains what shockwave actually is: acoustic compression therapy that sends mechanical waves into tissue and triggers mechanotransduction, which can support healing, circulation, and collagen remodeling. They discuss why shockwave can be especially useful for chronic injuries, where tissue can get “stuck” in a pattern of altered collagen, guarded muscles, and persistent pain sensitivity. Dr. Jenette and the conversation emphasize that shockwave is not a replacement for diagnosis, but it can help reveal where inflammation, trigger points, and referral patterns may be coming from. They describe what treatment feels like for most people, usually as pressure, tapping, deep ache, or occasional sharp or stinging sensations depending on the tissue and location. They stress that intensity is adjustable, and treatment should be uncomfortable but not miserable, because overdoing it can push the nervous system into fight or flight. The episode covers what to expect after treatment, including possible soreness, delayed improvement over 24 to 48 hours, and why patients are told not to ice or take anti-inflammatories right after sessions if avoidable. Dr. Jenette explains how shockwave pairs well with chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, and strengthening work because it addresses tissue, motion, and nervous system input together. She also reviews the main contraindications, including pregnancy, active cancer, active infection, significant bleeding or clotting disorders, major blood vessels, lungs, and growth plates in children.   Timestamps 00:00 - Why the office loves Piezo Wave shockwave therapy 00:55 - Common conditions treated with shockwave 01:53 - What shockwave therapy actually is 03:37 - Why chronic injuries respond differently than acute ones 04:34 - Why shockwave pairs so well with chiropractic care 05:03 - Specific conditions they treat most often 06:27 - How shockwave can reveal the true pain source 08:06 - What the treatment feels like in real life 10:42 - Why intensity should be uncomfortable, not overwhelming 11:39 - What happens after a session and how healing continues 12:30 - Intro pricing, package discounts, and a patient success story 13:52 - Why they avoid icing and anti-inflammatories right after treatment 14:21 - Combining shockwave with chiropractic, dry needling, and rehab 15:47 - When shockwave should not be used 16:58 - Why Dr. Jenette is so excited about it 17:56 - Using shockwave for sprains, fractures, and stubborn ankle issues 18:54 - Why the intro offer is worth trying 19:24 - Who is a good candidate and how the treatment fits conservative care 20:50 - Final takeaway and invitation to call the office   Connect with your hosts!!   📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic  Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com   Our YOUTUBE channel:  www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y   💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!

    PiezoWave: We’ve Got Your Back…and Your Knees!

  5. Oct 20

    BONUS SERIES: PRT: Part 2 - How Do We Know Pain Might Be Neuroplastic?

    Part 2: How Do We Know Pain Might Be Neuroplastic? In Part 2 of Pain, Reprocessed, Dr. Mel breaks down the patterns that can suggest pain may be neuroplastic. We look at clues like pain that continues beyond healing, symptoms that began during a stressful time, inconsistent pain patterns, symptoms that do not fully match a structural explanation, and conditioned triggers. The biggest takeaway: we do not identify neuroplastic pain from one clue — we look at the whole pattern. This episode is about getting curious about what your pain may be telling you, and whether ongoing damage is really the only explanation. In Part 2 of Pain, Reprocessed, Dr. Mel breaks down the patterns that can suggest pain may be neuroplastic. We look at clues like pain that continues beyond healing, symptoms that began during a stressful time, inconsistent pain patterns, symptoms that do not fully match a structural explanation, and conditioned triggers. The biggest takeaway: we do not identify neuroplastic pain from one clue — we look at the whole pattern. This episode is about getting curious about what your pain may be telling you, and whether ongoing damage is really the only explanation.

    BONUS SERIES: PRT: Part 2 - How Do We Know Pain Might Be Neuroplastic?

  6. Oct 15

    Oh, Bloody Normal! When Your Labs Don’t Match How You Feel

    Episode 71: Oh, Bloody Normal! When Your Labs Don’t Match How You Feel   In this episode, Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel unpack why standard blood work can miss important patterns, especially for people who still feel exhausted, gain weight, lose hair, or have trouble sleeping despite being told everything looks normal. They explain how their functional medicine approach uses a broader lab view to find clues earlier and build a more complete picture of what is driving symptoms. We discuss how their practice approaches blood work differently from primary care and emergency medicine, why ferritin, thyroid markers, blood sugar, and cardiovascular risk labs matter, and how lab results fit into the bigger picture alongside the nervous system, symptoms, and next-step care.   Key topics In this episode, Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel explain why “normal labs” can still leave patients without answers when symptoms clearly persist. They contrast conventional care, which is geared toward emergencies and clear abnormalities, with functional medicine, which looks for patterns and earlier warning signs. They highlight the value of comprehensive testing in their practice, including when previous labs are reviewed and when additional markers are added based on symptoms and history. Ferritin comes up as a major marker for energy, hair loss, shortness of breath, insomnia, heavy periods, and possible iron deficiency patterns that basic panels can miss. They explain why a full thyroid panel can be more revealing than TSH alone, especially when thyroid antibodies point to early autoimmune thyroid disease or subclinical hypothyroid patterns. Dr. Mel shares her own Graves disease story as an example of how full thyroid testing can reveal what a limited workup may overlook. Blood sugar and metabolic health are discussed beyond glucose alone, including A1C, fasting insulin, and sometimes C peptide to catch insulin resistance earlier. They cover cardiovascular risk markers like lipoprotein(a), ApoB, LDL, and triglycerides, noting that some risks are genetic while others are modifiable. They stress that testing is individualized, not “order everything on everyone,” and that the right labs should match the person’s symptoms, history, and goals. The conversation ends with the reminder that labs are only one part of healing, and nervous system regulation, nutrition, sleep, movement, and follow-up care all matter too.   Timestamps 00:00 - Why “normal blood work” can still miss the real problem 00:49 - Feeling dismissed after minimal lab work 01:25 - What primary care and hospital testing are designed to do 03:08 - Functional medicine looks for patterns, not just out-of-range values 04:01 - Why insurance-driven testing often limits deeper evaluation 05:22 - What basic CBC, metabolic panel, glucose, and TSH can tell you 06:45 - Why influencer advice can be misleading and dangerous 07:13 - Adding markers based on the patient’s history and symptoms 07:41 - The problem with needing to “prove” lab requests to insurance 08:33 - Why longer visits and follow-up questions matter 09:03 - Ferritin as a key marker for fatigue, hair loss, and heavy periods 10:20 - Why ferritin reflects iron storage and overall energy 10:20 - Full thyroid panels and thyroid antibodies beyond TSH 11:20 - Catching autoimmune thyroid issues earlier 11:24 - Dr. Melissa’s Graves disease was found through functional testing 12:43 - Blood sugar and metabolic health beyond glucose alone 13:40 - Lipoprotein(a), inherited cardiovascular risk, and what it means 14:39 - ApoB, LDL, and triglycerides as part of the full cholesterol picture 15:09 - Why testing should match the patient, not a one-size-fits-all panel 15:38 - What to do after finding something early: lifestyle, treatment, referral 16:30 - Reviewing prior labs and identifying what is still missing 17:33 - Why the practice feels like peeling back an onion 18:30 - There is no single supplement or silver bullet 19:13 - Why digging deeper matters instead of only treating surface symptoms 19:41 - The nervous system as a major piece of the symptom picture 20:07 - More testing may be needed, including Dutch testing 20:34 - Setting realistic goals like sleep, energy, or walking again 21:21 - Closing thoughts and the value of staying consistent   Connect with your hosts!!   📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic  Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com   Our YOUTUBE channel:  www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y   💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!

  7. Oct 13

    BONUS SERIES: Pain Reprocessing Therapy: Part 1

    Pain Reprocessing Therapy with Dr. Mel Understand the pain. Change the story. Teach the brain safety.  Pain, Reprocessed is a 9-part Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered bonus series exploring how the brain and nervous system can contribute to chronic pain. Dr. Mel breaks down neuroplastic pain, the pain-fear cycle, the thoughts and stories we attach to symptoms, somatic tracking, safety reappraisal, emotions, and behavioral exposure in short, practical episodes. You’ll learn how pain can be very real without always signaling ongoing damage and how changing the way the brain interprets sensations can help create a greater sense of safety in the body. Understand the pain. Change the story. Teach the brain safety. This series is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.

  8. Oct 8

    Finding Your Voice After Years of People-Pleasing—with Sharon Costianes

    Episode 70: Finding Your Voice After Years of People-Pleasing—with Sharon Costianes In this conversation, Dr. Jen and Dr. Mel talk with Sharon Costianes, GCFP, founder of Resonant Knowing, about how movement, voice, and nervous system regulation shape the way we heal, express ourselves, and build safety in our bodies. They explore why chronic pain, people pleasing, and emotional suppression often show up as physical patterns and how small, intentional movement can help interrupt them. Sharon shares practical insight from Feldenkrais work, somatic education, and trauma informed coaching, including a live example of how subtle movement shifts can change posture, reduce tension, and support new patterns of safety.     Key topics In this episode, Sharon explains her background as a guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner, trauma informed somatic voice coach, and founder of Resonant Knowing. The conversation centers on the gap between knowing what you need and actually being able to express it, especially for women used to carrying everyone else’s needs. Sharon breaks down how habit patterns in the nervous system can contribute to chronic pain, shoulder tension, low back pain, and asymmetry. She explains Feldenkrais as a method that uses tiny, verbally guided movement lessons to help the nervous system relearn more efficient patterns. The hosts discuss how safety, consent, and pacing are essential in any body based work. Sharon describes why results can happen quickly, even though the movements are small, because the brain and body respond to new information fast. A live demo shows how a simple cross body movement pattern can reduce tension and shift the organization of the shoulder, neck, and eye. The episode digs into people pleasing as both a thought habit and a physical pattern that lives in the body. Sharon explains the stress cycle, including fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, and why completing activation matters instead of just calming down. They discuss how women often suppress emotion, interrupt stress responses, and lose access to what safety feels like. Sharon shares her own daily regulation routine, including meditation, movement, Feldenkrais practice, and phone reminders to check in with her body. The episode closes with a reflection on coming home to yourself as a core part of healing.   Timestamps 00:00 - Why speaking up feels hard even when you know what you need 00:30 - Sharon Costianes and the work of Resonant Knowing 03:19 - How neuroidentity, habits, and body patterns overlap 04:22 - Why early movement patterns can shape adult pain 07:19 - What a Feldenkrais session actually looks like 09:02 - Using touch and movement to reveal hidden tension patterns 10:35 - Safety, consent, and why small movements matter 12:53 - How quickly the nervous system can change 13:23 - Sharon’s own low back pain breakthrough 15:09 - Why new movement patterns don’t always stick outside the session 16:46 - Working with children and when intervention matters 17:32 - Why typically developing kids are often best left alone 21:45 - What somatic therapy means in practice 22:27 - Somatic education for pain relief and performance 23:43 - How body patterns connect to mindset and self talk 25:25 - People pleasing as a learned pattern in body and mind 26:48 - A live example of a people pleasing body pattern 28:32 - Using crossed movement to shift tension and posture 31:11 - What to do before a hard conversation 32:20 - Regulating the nervous system in a way that fits you 33:33 - How to build a felt sense of safety 35:59 - Why regulation is not the same as calming down 39:35 - What the stress cycle is and why it matters 40:19 - Fight or flight, threat response, and body chemistry 42:13 - How movement helps complete the cycle 43:27 - Why unprocessed stress can show up as chronic illness 44:07 - Sharon’s personal nervous system support routine 46:28 - Why caregivers need regulation too 47:28 - Learning safety through relationship and presence 49:16 - Sharon’s upcoming Homecoming workshop   Connect with the Hosts & Guests! 📱Sharon Costianes | Founder, Resonant Knowing LLC sharon@resonantknowing.com | www.resonantknowing.com   Direct link for Sharon's Homecoming   📱 Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel Instagram: Health In Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic Facebook: Health in Motion Wellness , Health In Motion Chiropractic  Websites: www.drauchter.com , www.healthinmotion-wellness.com   Our YOUTUBE channel:  www.youtube.com/@gutfeelingslifeunfiltered?si=KIF1oOQm64FhEE6Y   💬 Enjoying the podcast? Follow, rate, and share to support our mission of whole-person healing!

    Finding Your Voice After Years of People-Pleasing—with Sharon Costianes
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out of 5
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About

Welcome to Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered Are you a high-functioning woman who looks like you have it all together—but inside, you’re exhausted, bloated, anxious, and wondering, “Why do I feel this way?” You’ve done the labs, changed your diet, pushed through the workouts… and you’re still not getting the answers (or the results) you need. You’re not crazy—and you’re definitely not alone. Hosted by functional medicine doctors and lifelong besties Dr. Jenette Auchter and Dr. Melissa Weiss, Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered is the podcast where real-life struggles meet real root-cause healing. We’re talking hormones, gut health, the stress response, and the emotional patterns so many women silently carry: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and codependency. This isn’t surface-level advice or symptom suppression. This is where you reclaim your energy, your intuition, and your peace—while laughing, crying, and healing right alongside us. Two docs. One mission. Zero sugarcoating. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. The hosts and guests of this podcast are not liable for any actions taken based on the information discussed

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Jen & Dr. Mel
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Gut Feelings: Life Unfiltered-

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