The Nourish to Thrive Podcast

Tanya Pennington-Miller, MS

Faith-forward, science-backed strategies for women who want more energy, less weight, and real answers. Hosted by Tanya Pennington-Miller—a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Functional Blood Chemistry Specialist with a master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition—this podcast is for women over 35 who are tired of being dismissed, confused by their labs, and stuck in survival mode. Inside each episode, Tanya simplifies the science of metabolism, hormones, and healing while anchoring it all in truth and faith. Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, bloating, stubborn weight, or just want clarity you can trust, you’re in the right place.

  1. 3d ago

    64. HRT 101 and The Truth About Pellets

    If you've ever been handed a form of hormone therapy without much explanation of why, you're not alone. Most women have only heard two versions of the HRT conversation: either it's the miracle fix that makes you feel twenty five again, or it's the dangerous chemicals from decades old headlines. Neither one tells the whole story. In this episode, Tanya breaks down what bioidentical hormone therapy actually is, what the Women's Health Initiative study really said, and why its black box warning stayed on hormone therapy labels for over twenty years before the FDA finally removed it in 2025.  She covers the different delivery methods available, including a direct look at why she doesn't recommend hormone pellets, the role SHBG plays in how a dose actually behaves in your body, and the optimal ranges for testosterone, estradiol, and SHBG itself. This is episode one of a three part September series on HRT. Over the next two episodes, Tanya covers testosterone's benefits and side effects, progesterone dosing, natural support options, and the foundational work that should be in place before or alongside any hormone protocol. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about doing the deeper root cause work, including comprehensive lab testing and DNA analysis, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  2. Sep 3

    63. Q&A: HRT, MOTS-c, and Cholesterol

    Three questions. Three women in very different places. One on HRT and dealing with acne and hair loss she did not sign up for. One who tried MOTS-c and felt absolutely nothing. One whose LDL went up after starting hormones and whose doctor is already talking about a statin. Tanya answers all three, and each one points toward something the standard conversation is missing. On the HRT question, she breaks down why acne and hair loss from testosterone are almost always a DHT conversion issue, how a DUTCH test can show exactly how aggressively a woman is converting, and which natural 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, spearmint tea, nettle root, and zinc, can reduce that side effect burden. She also covers why the SRD5A1 genetic variant matters here and why the foundational work before starting any hormone protocol changes everything. On MOTS-c, she explains what it is actually doing, why some women feel nothing when they try it, and what the research suggests about sequencing SS31 first when mitochondrial damage may be part of the picture. On the LDL question, she covers why the form and delivery of hormones matters for the lipid picture, how phase two liver detoxification connects to rising LDL on HRT, and what it means when the liver is not equipped to handle everything it is being given. This is a standalone Q&A episode and the first of the month. The September series on HRT starts next week. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Research Peptide Vendor (Research Use Only): For those interested in exploring the peptides discussed in this episode for research purposes only. Please consult a qualified practitioner before starting anything new. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] for 30% off every order, use code: NOURISH2THRIVE DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about doing the deeper root cause work, including comprehensive lab testing and DNA analysis, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  3. Aug 27

    62. What Actually Moves the Needle on Cholesterol

    This final episode in the August cholesterol series is where knowledge meets action, and Tanya covers the specific diet, lifestyle, supplement, and research interventions that are actually worth your attention, and explains which to prioritize based on what your particular pattern is showing. Tanya covers the dietary shifts that move lipid markers most directly, including why reducing refined carbs and sugar is the primary lever, why soluble fiber and broccoli sprouts deserve more attention than they typically get, and how to think about dietary fat through the lens of oxidation rather than cholesterol content. She walks through the lifestyle interventions with the most consistent evidence, addresses alcohol directly, goes supplement by supplement with dosing, explains why red yeast rice concerns her despite its natural reputation, and closes with a look at three peptides from the July series that intersect with the cholesterol conversation on the research side. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Supplements Referenced in This Episode: Tanya compiled all the supplements covered today into one link so you can find them easily. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] Broccoli Sprouting Kit: The kit Tanya uses at home to sprout her own broccoli seeds. No soil, no light, just seeds and water. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] Femmenessence Pro (Harmony, Peri, and Post): When estrogen is better supported, so is your liver's ability to clear LDL. Reach out to Tanya on Instagram if you need help choosing the right version. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] Research Peptide Vendor (Research Use Only): For those interested in exploring the peptides discussed in this episode for research purposes only. Please consult a qualified practitioner before starting anything new. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] for 30% off every order, use code: NOURISH2THRIVE DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about doing the deeper root cause work, including comprehensive lab testing and DNA analysis, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  4. Aug 13

    60. Cholesterol, Estrogen, and the Missing Piece

    Your LDL went up at your last appointment. You eat well, you exercise, nothing in your lifestyle changed, and yet your doctor is already talking about a statin. Before you agree to anything, there is a piece of this conversation that is almost certainly missing. In this episode, Tanya reframes the cholesterol conversation from the ground up, starting with the fact that your body produces 75 to 80 percent of its own cholesterol and does so deliberately. She covers why cholesterol is essential for hormone production, cell membrane integrity, bile production, and sex drive. She then goes into why estrogen decline in perimenopause and menopause directly reduces the liver's LDL clearance mechanism, the cortisol-cholesterol connection and how chronic stress drives cholesterol production through the pregnenolone steal, and why cutting out eggs and switching to low-fat everything is rarely the lever women think it is. This is the first episode in a three-part August series on cholesterol as it pertains to women in midlife. The next episode goes deep on the specific lab markers that give you the full picture. The final episode of the series gets into what actually moves the needle. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Femmenessence Pro (Harmony, Peri, and Post): When estrogen is better supported, so is your liver's ability to clear LDL. Reach out to Tanya on Instagram if you need help choosing the right one. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking about the root cause picture in your own body, including how your DNA shapes your response to cholesterol, hormones, and metabolic health, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens in early 2027. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  5. Aug 6

    59. Q&A: Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, and Workouts

    Your LDL went up in perimenopause even though you eat well and exercise. Your blood pressure started creeping up even though nothing changed in your lifestyle. Your workouts are harder to recover from than they used to be. These are three of the most common patterns Tanya hears from women in midlife, and in every case, the answer goes much deeper than what most doctors are offering. In this episode, Tanya answers three listener questions: The hormonal reason your LDL rises in perimenopause and what to ask before agreeing to a statinWhy blood pressure creeps up without lifestyle changes and the genetic piece most doctors missWhy hard workouts feel harder to recover from and how to train with your hormones instead of against themThis is also the opening conversation to what is coming for the rest of August. If the cholesterol question resonated with you, come back next week because Tanya is dedicating the remaining episodes of August to a full deep dive on cholesterol as it pertains to women in midlife. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy: Tanya's 12-week program combining functional lab work and DNA testing to identify the root cause of weight loss resistance, hormonal imbalance, and more. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  6. Jul 30

    58. The Peptide Series Finale

    If you have been here all month, this final episode is the one Tanya has been building toward, the honest, bigger-picture conversation that ties the whole series together. In this series finale, Tanya covers Thymosin Alpha-1, an immune support peptide that works at a completely different level than everything covered in the previous three episodes, and NAD+, NMN, and NR, including why oral NAD+ has poor bioavailability, what NMN and NR actually do differently, and the three routes available from oral supplements to subcutaneous injections to IV infusions. She then steps back for the broader conversation she has been building toward all month: where the functional medicine community's enthusiasm around peptides is genuinely well-placed, where it has moved into influencer and MLM territory that warrants real discernment, the specific health circumstances where a GLP-1 may actually make sense, what to prioritize if you are on one, and where she feels most aligned across the full peptide landscape. This is the final episode in the four-part July peptide series. Episode 55 covered the GLP-1 class. Episode 56 went into the growth hormone peptides. Episode 57 covered the healing and repair peptides. This episode closes the series with the two remaining categories and the honest, bigger-picture conversation Tanya has been saving for last. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Tru Niagen: An NR (nicotinamide riboside) supplement and one of the most well-researched NR products on the market, with published human clinical trials on their actual formulation. This is the one Tanya reaches for with women dealing with energy and mental clarity that have quietly declined and can't be fully explained. Use my link for a discount. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about what the root cause picture in your body actually looks like, get on the waitlist. Enrollment opens early 2027, but being on the list gets you information in the meantime and puts you first in line. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

  7. Jul 23

    57. The Peptides Built for Healing

    If you have been dealing with an injury that won't fully resolve, gut inflammation that doesn't respond to the foundational work, or skin and hair changes that feel like they're accelerating faster than expected, this episode was built for that. These peptides don't suppress appetite or signal your pituitary — they work at the tissue level, amplifying what your body was already trying to do. In this episode, Tanya breaks down BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, GHK-Cu (the copper peptide), and the combination known as the Wolverine Stack. She covers the mechanism behind each one, the difference between injectable and oral forms and when each is appropriate, how BPC-157 and KPV address gut dysfunction from two complementary angles, and what the copper peptide does for collagen, hair, and cellular repair that goes well beyond typical skincare products. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 (Oral Standalone): A liposomal nanoemulsion BPC-157 product that helps the peptide survive digestion and absorb more effectively. A good starting point for women dealing with unresolved gut issues before going the injectable route. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 + KPV — The Gut Repair Stack: A nanoemulsion formula combining BPC-157 and KPV for women dealing specifically with gut inflammation. BPC-157 repairs the gut lining while KPV suppresses the inflammatory signaling driving the damage. Think of one as putting out the fire and the other as rebuilding what the fire damaged. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 + TB-500 — The Wolverine Stack (Oral Version): A nanoemulsion formula combining BPC-157 and TB-500 for a more accessible oral option for those wanting the Wolverine Stack benefits. If you are dealing with a nagging injury, recovering from surgery, or looking to support your body's repair process between training sessions, this one brings both local and systemic healing into one formula. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] Quicksilver Scientific Copper Peptide Facial Serum: A topical copper peptide serum for women whose primary focus is skin elasticity, texture, and collagen support. A great entry point. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal Copper Peptide: The liposomal version of the copper peptide for more systemic effects on collagen, hair follicle health, antioxidant activity, and nerve regeneration. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE] 🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected 📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram 💻 nourishtothrive.com And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

5
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

Faith-forward, science-backed strategies for women who want more energy, less weight, and real answers. Hosted by Tanya Pennington-Miller—a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Functional Blood Chemistry Specialist with a master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition—this podcast is for women over 35 who are tired of being dismissed, confused by their labs, and stuck in survival mode. Inside each episode, Tanya simplifies the science of metabolism, hormones, and healing while anchoring it all in truth and faith. Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, bloating, stubborn weight, or just want clarity you can trust, you’re in the right place.

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