Your Genes by Design

Lauri Wakefield
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Your Genes by Design: practical genetics for women 45+. This podcast features short episodes designed to turn complex science into everyday insight.  New episodes are currently paused while  I focus on creating in-depth genomics courses and written resources to help you better understand your own genes and how you can support them.You can also find my articles on Substack (yourgenesbydesign.substack.com), and learn more about me and my work at inspiredlivingforwomen.com.

Episodes

  1. How Your Brain’s Energy, Clarity, and Memory Shift After 45 And the Genes That Shape It

    FEB 11

    How Your Brain’s Energy, Clarity, and Memory Shift After 45 And the Genes That Shape It

    If cognition feels different than it used to and focus feels less steady at times, this episode can help explain why. You’ll learn how: Cognitive patterns are influenced by genetics, not just ageHormonal shifts affect memory, focus, and stress toleranceMitochondrial efficiency plays a bigger role in mental clarity after 45Key genes like APOE, COMT, SOD2, and PPARGC1A shape energy use, inflammation, and cognitive resiliencePractical, biology-aligned support can improve clarity without extremes or overcorrectionThis episode is especially helpful if you’ve noticed mental fatigue, word-finding issues, sensitivity to stress or poor sleep, or clearer patterns tied to movement, food, or daily rhythm. Or if these experiences have always been part of your life but feel harder to ignore now. Visit my website at inspiredlivingforwomen.com to learn more about me and the work I do. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    8 min
  2. How Your Genes Shape Digestion — And Why It Feels Different After 45

    JAN 14

    How Your Genes Shape Digestion — And Why It Feels Different After 45

    If digestion feels different than it used to — foods sitting heavier, more bloating, stronger reactions to stress, or less tolerance for certain fibers — this episode helps explain why. This episode explores how gut health has always been shaped by your genes, and why those patterns often become more apparent after 45 as hormonal, microbial, and digestive supports shift. You’ll learn how: Gut health is influenced by genetics Hormonal changes affect motility, microbiome balance, and digestive comfortThe microbiome becomes more sensitive to stress, sleep, and medications after 45Key genes like FUT2, BCMO1, and ADRB2 shape food tolerance, gut lining support, and stress-related digestionSimple, biology-aligned strategies can support digestion without extremes or restrictionThis episode is especially helpful if you’ve noticed bloating, slower digestion, food sensitivities, stress-related gut symptoms, mixed results from probiotics after 45. Or maybe some of these patterns have always been present but feel harder to ignore now. Visit my website at inspiredlivingforwomen.com to learn more about me and the work I do. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  3. Why Estrogen Behaves Differently After 45 — And How Your Genes Shape the Experience

    12/31/2025

    Why Estrogen Behaves Differently After 45 — And How Your Genes Shape the Experience

    If your sleep feels lighter, your mood responds differently to stress, hot flashes seem unpredictable, or foods and supplements affect you in new ways, this episode helps explain what’s happening. This episode explores how estrogen behaves after 45 — not simply as a hormone that declines, but as one that shifts roles — and why genetics play a key role in how those changes are experienced. You’ll learn how: Estrogen influences more than reproduction, including inflammation, glucose balance, circulation, and stress responseHormone shifts change how receptors, detox pathways, and cortisol interact after 45Three key biological shifts make hormone patterns feel more noticeable in midlifeGenes like ESR2, CYP1B1, SHBG, and COMT shape sensitivity, stability, and stress toleranceSimple, consistent foundations support estrogen metabolism and hormone balance without extremes This episode is especially helpful if you’ve noticed fluctuating energy, changing stress tolerance, mixed hormone signals, or increased sensitivity to foods, supplements, or environmental triggers after 45. To learn more about the work behind this podcast, visit inspiredlivingforwomen.com New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  4. How Your Body Clears Hormones, Stress Metabolites, and Everyday Toxins After 45

    12/17/2025

    How Your Body Clears Hormones, Stress Metabolites, and Everyday Toxins After 45

    If you’ve noticed that caffeine, alcohol, supplements, stress, or even fragrances affect you differently than they used to, this episode will help explain why. In this episode, Lauri explores how detox and methylation pathways work behind the scenes — and why these systems can feel more noticeable after 45 as hormones and genetics interact differently than before. You’ll learn how: Detox and methylation function as daily biological systems, not cleanses Estrogen changes increase the importance of detox pathways in midlife Stress chemistry places added demand on clearance pathways Key genes like COMT, GSTM1, MTHFD1, and NAT2 shape tolerance and recovery Simple, consistent habits support detox without extremesThis episode is especially helpful if you’ve experienced increased sensitivity to caffeine or alcohol, stress that lingers longer, stronger reactions to supplements, or changes in sleep quality after 45. Resources Mentioned: View the Midlife Genomics Series — a six-part article series explaining what genomics is and how to understand your own results. Visit my website at inspiredlivingforwomen.com to learn more about me and my work. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    8 min
  5. How Your Genes Impact Overnight Glucose Regulation and Sleep Patterns After 45

    12/03/2025

    How Your Genes Impact Overnight Glucose Regulation and Sleep Patterns After 45

    If your morning glucose feels higher than expected — or your energy shifts dramatically depending on how well you slept — this episode will help connect the dots. In the final episode of the Glucose & Insulin by Design series, Lauri breaks down how sleep, cortisol, and genetics work together to shape your overnight glucose rhythm. You’ll learn how: Nighttime cortisol affects your morning glucoseSleep stages influence insulin sensitivity and recoveryMidlife hormone changes reshape your stress rhythmKey genes like COMT, IL6, SOD2, and PPARGC1A impact overnight repair and energySimple shifts can support a steadier morning pattern This episode is especially helpful if you’ve noticed the “wired at night, sluggish in the morning” cycle, early-morning glucose spikes, or changes in how your body responds to stress and sleep after 45. View the first article in "The Midlife Genomics" series, Genetics vs. Genomics: The Difference — and Why It Matters After 45 Visit my website at inspiredlivingforwomen.com to find out more about me and what I do. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  6. Your Stress-Clearing Gene — How COMT Shapes Cortisol, Glucose, and Energy After 45

    11/19/2025

    Your Stress-Clearing Gene — How COMT Shapes Cortisol, Glucose, and Energy After 45

    If your energy feels unpredictable — steady one day, wired or restless the next — stress chemistry could be the reason. In this episode of Your Genes by Design, we look at how cortisol responds to everyday pressure, why that response changes after 45, and how your COMT type shapes the way your body clears stress signals and resets. You’ll discover how: • Cortisol frees up glucose any time your brain senses pressure • Slow or prolonged stress chemistry can keep glucose elevated • Estrogen fluctuations after 45 make stress responses feel less predictable • COMT influences how quickly you recover after stress • Daily patterns — like 3 a.m. wakeups, evening alertness, or carb cravings — reflect your stress-glucose rhythm You’ll also learn practical, gene-informed ways to support your natural rhythm based on your COMT variant — whether your system needs more transitions, more structure, or more intentional reset moments throughout the day. If you don’t yet know which gene variants you have or how to find out, I’ll be publishing a three- to four-part series in my Your Genes by Design newsletter on Substack that explains how these genes work, what they influence, and how to start exploring your own results. I’ll link to it in the show notes. If you’ve been wondering why stress, sleep, or energy feel different after 45, this episode connects the dots between cortisol, COMT, hormones, and glucose balance — helping you work with your biology, not against it. Follow Your Genes by Design for short, science-based insights made practical for real life after 45.  And if it resonates, please share it with another woman who might benefit. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    6 min
  7. The Cortisol Curve — How Stress & Genetics Shape Glucose and Energy After 45

    11/12/2025

    The Cortisol Curve — How Stress & Genetics Shape Glucose and Energy After 45

    If your energy feels unpredictable — steady one day, scattered the next — cortisol could be the reason. In this episode of Your Genes by Design, we explore how cortisol sets your body’s daily rhythm, why that rhythm often shifts after 45, and how your genetic makeup influences recovery, metabolism, and glucose control. You’ll discover how: • Cortisol acts as the body’s natural rhythm regulator • Chronic stress can flatten the daily energy curve • Midlife hormone shifts amplify spikes and crashes • Genes like COMT, IL6, SOD2, and PPARGC1A affect stress recovery, inflammation, and fuel balance • Everyday signals reveal when your cortisol rhythm is drifting off track You’ll also learn practical, gene-informed ways to steady mornings, calm evenings, and restore a more natural flow to your day. If you don’t yet know which gene variants you have or how to find out, I’ll be publishing a three- to four-part series  in my Your Genes by Design newsletter on Substack that explains how these genes work, what they influence, and how to start exploring your own results.  If you’ve been wondering why stress feels different after 45, this episode connects the dots between cortisol, genetics, hormones, and glucose balance — helping you work with your biology, not against it. Follow Your Genes by Design for short, science-based insights made practical for real life after 45. And if it resonates, please share it with another woman who might benefit. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  8. Metabolic Flexibility: How Your Body Balances Glucose and Fat After 45

    11/05/2025

    Metabolic Flexibility: How Your Body Balances Glucose and Fat After 45

    Energy isn’t just about what you eat — it’s about how easily your body switches between glucose and fat for fuel. In this episode, we explore metabolic flexibility — the ability to shift between fuel sources — and why that flexibility becomes more important after 45. You’ll hear how genes like PPARGC1A, FADS1, FADS2, and ADIPOQ shape insulin sensitivity, energy stability, and how efficiently your cells use the fuel you already have. If you’ve noticed more hunger between meals, afternoon dips, or less steady energy than before, this short episode helps you understand why those changes happen — and what they reveal about your unique design. Please share this episode with other women 45+ if you think they'd benefit from it. 🎧 Explore the free resource mentioned in this episode — The Oxygen Connection — for practical ways to support your energy system and balance glucose naturally. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    6 min
  9. Oxygenation: The Missing Link Between Energy, Glucose, and Genes

    10/29/2025

    Oxygenation: The Missing Link Between Energy, Glucose, and Genes

    Feeling steady energy isn’t luck — it’s the result of how efficiently your cells use oxygen to turn fuel into power.  In this episode, we trace the path from breath to mitochondria to blood sugar, showing how oxygenation influences glucose and insulin balance after 45. You’ll hear how genes like PPARGC1A, SOD2, and NOS3 shape mitochondrial function, antioxidant defense, and blood flow — and why those factors can make the difference between clean, steady energy and afternoon crashes. If you’ve noticed slower recovery, more fatigue, or brain fog that coffee doesn’t fix, this short episode helps you understand what’s happening at a cellular level — and how small shifts in movement, breathing, and sleep can help your energy stay steady. Please share this episode with other women 45 + if you think they'd benefit from it. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  10. Unraveling Glucose and Insulin: Easy-to-Understand Insights

    10/22/2025

    Unraveling Glucose and Insulin: Easy-to-Understand Insights

    Glucose and insulin come up often in health conversations, but many of us were never really taught how they work together. Once you understand that connection, things like mid-afternoon crashes and sudden cravings start to make a lot more sense. In this episode, we look at the glucose–insulin relationship in simple, practical terms — and how genes like TCF7L2, FADS1, and PPARGC1A can influence how your body handles carbs, fats, and energy after 45. You’ll hear why two people can eat the same meal and feel completely different, and what those differences reveal about your own metabolism. If you’ve ever felt your energy crash a few hours after eating, this short episode helps you see what’s really happening — and how small, everyday shifts can bring your system back into balance. Know someone 45+ who’d benefit? Share this. After 45, energy balance depends on more than blood sugar — it depends on oxygen use inside your cells. The Oxygen Connection expands on this link and helps you see how small shifts in oxygen delivery improve glucose control and daily energy.  New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    7 min
  11. Stronger Cravings After 45? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

    10/15/2025

    Stronger Cravings After 45? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

    Cravings after 45 aren’t about willpower — they’re signals. As estrogen and cortisol shift, your body’s glucose and reward systems shift with them, making familiar habits feel harder to break. In this first episode, we look at what’s really driving those cravings and how genes like FTO, MC4R, DRD2 / DRD4, and COMT influence hunger, fullness, and reward. You’ll also hear simple ways to interrupt the craving loop and respond to what your body actually needs. If you’ve noticed stronger cravings, quicker energy dips, or that “why can’t I stop?” feeling, this short episode helps you see what your body is truly asking for — fuel, calm, or comfort — and how to respond with more awareness. Know a woman 45+ who’d benefit? Share this episode. If you’re starting to connect how food, energy, and glucose fit together, you’ll love The Oxygen Connection — a free resource that expands on how oxygen use influences metabolism and steady energy after 45. New to genomics? Understanding Genomics: A Practical Foundation is a short course that shows how genes work together within pathways and systems, making it easier to understand how the body functions. View the course details. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. The information shared reflects general biological and genetic principles. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health decisions.

    6 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Your Genes by Design: practical genetics for women 45+. This podcast features short episodes designed to turn complex science into everyday insight.  New episodes are currently paused while  I focus on creating in-depth genomics courses and written resources to help you better understand your own genes and how you can support them.You can also find my articles on Substack (yourgenesbydesign.substack.com), and learn more about me and my work at inspiredlivingforwomen.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauri Wakefield
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Your Genes by Design
  • Show Website
    Your Genes by Design