The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant

Luminescence
  • 5.0 (49)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant is a space for science-based, culturally curious, and politically fearless conversations illuminating women’s health.  For decades, science treated women as simply “little men.” No more. Women’s health is complex, but for the 51% of the population with a vagina, understanding it is imperative. Each episode features a roundtable of female health experts to cut through the shame, explain the latest research, and have honest, raw conversations about what we are experiencing, in our bodies and in the world we share. To discuss the podcast directly with Schuyler, join our community at https://www.luminescence.health/.

  1. 3d ago

    Your Heart on Hormones: The Risks No One Told You About Part 1 of 2

    Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US, more than all cancers combined, and yet the cardiovascular changes happening during perimenopause are still widely misunderstood, undertested, and dismissed. In this episode of the Luminescence Podcast, Schuyler Grant sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid and Dr. Sarah de la Torre to get into what's actually happening to your heart as estrogen declines. Dr. Somi opens with the call that became her calling: her mother's near-fatal heart attack at 45, dismissed for six weeks as "too much caffeine." A story that is far too common. They discuss: Why perimenopause dramatically shifts cardiovascular risk — how estrogen loss stiffens arteries, raises blood pressure, and changes cholesterol profiles in ways most women aren't being told about The difference between standard lipid panels and the advanced markers that actually matter — ApoB, LipoA, hs-CRP, and why your doctor might not be ordering them What "cotton candy vs. gummy bear" LDL means — why particle type and number both count, and how this changes your treatment approach The direct link between metabolic health and heart disease — how glucose regulation affects everything, and why CGMs are revealing patterns doctors miss Why women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men — the diagnostic gaps, symptom differences, and systemic issues that have to change For any woman who wants to understand her cardiovascular risk before something happens. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    46 min

  2. Jun 9

    Metabolic Protocols, GLP-1s & Habit Stacking: WTF Is Happening Inside Me? Part 3 of 3

    Hormone therapy, GLP-1 medications, vitamin D, creatine, vibration plates, cold plunging, butter coffee. The list of things women in midlife are being told to try keeps growing. This is part three of the conversation on what's happening structurally in your body. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, and Dr. Sarah de la Torre get into what the science actually supports for metabolic health, muscle preservation, and bone density in perimenopause and menopause and go deep on GLP-1 medications, including why microdosing is quieting food noise and anxiety in ways that go well beyond weight loss. They discuss: Why GLP-1 medications are changing the conversation around weight, metabolism, and anxiety in midlife — and what microdosing actually does that full doses don't What you need to know to protect muscle mass if you're on a GLP-1 — why the medication doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle loss, and how to work with that The role of vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3s for bones and hormones — what the research supports and what's marketing What actually moves the needle for metabolic health beyond the basics — from strength training to vibration plates, and why some interventions work better than others Lightning round verdicts on step tracking, butter coffee, creatine, squats after meals, and cold plunging — what's worth your time and what isn't For any woman trying to sort through the noise around what actually works for midlife health. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    34 min

  3. Jun 2

    Bone Loss, DEXA Scans and Estrogen: WTF is Happening Inside Me? Part 2 of 3

    Think osteoporosis is an old woman's disease? Most women start losing critical bone mass in their thirties and forties, long before menopause, and most won't know it until a fracture happens. This is part two of the conversation on what's happening structurally in your body. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get into the bone health conversation that should have started a decade ago — how estrogen loss, missed screenings, and outdated guidelines are leaving women vulnerable in genuinely preventable ways. They discuss: When bone mass peaks and how quickly it's lost in your thirties and forties — and why this timeline means screening should start earlier than most doctors recommend What estrogen is actually doing for bone strength and structure — beyond just density, why the architecture of bone matters Why DEXA scans are the gold standard for early detection — when to start them, how to ask for one, and what to do if your numbers look normal but you're high-risk Why walking isn't enough for bone health — what weight training, jumping, and targeted impact exercise actually do at the cellular level The risk factors most doctors aren't asking about — eating disorders, family history, chronic steroid use, and why low body weight is more dangerous than most women realize For any woman who wants to understand what's happening to her bones before something breaks. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    23 min

  4. May 26

    Muscle Loss, Joint Pain & the Menopot: WTF Is Happening Inside Me? Part 1 of 3

    Aches, pains, and that mysterious menopause pooch. Is it just aging, or is something else happening in your body? In this episode of the Luminescence Podcast, Schuyler Grant sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower to get into what's actually happening musculoskeletally during perimenopause and menopause — muscle loss, joint pain, shifting metabolism, and why the workouts that used to work have stopped working. They discuss: What the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause actually is — why everything suddenly hurts, and why this collection of symptoms doesn't get talked about enough Why muscle is your most important glucose sink as hormones shift — and how protecting it changes your entire metabolic picture The difference between visceral and subcutaneous fat, and why where you gain weight matters more than the number on the scale for heart health The surprising connections between perimenopause, fibromyalgia, and chronically misdiagnosed pain — including why frozen shoulder peaks in midlife How modern yoga is adapting to support strength and functional movement — and why flexibility without stability can be problematic For any woman who's noticed her body changing and wants to understand what's actually happening beneath the surface. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    25 min

  5. May 19

    Protein, HRT, and Finding Care: Perimenopause Explained Part 2 of 2

    Perimenopause can arrive as sudden rage, body composition shifts, sleep disruption, brain fog, and emotional swings that don't match the circumstances. This is part two of the conversation on perimenopause. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower share personal stories alongside evidence-based lifestyle tools that move the needle whether or not you're on hormone therapy. They discuss: Why protein timing and strength training stabilize energy and mood in perimenopause and how to structure both for maximum impact The difference between bioidentical, natural, and synthetic hormones and what these terms actually mean when you're making treatment decisions When and how to start HRT. The timing considerations, how to make it affordable, and what safety actually looks like How sleep, hydration, and fiber influence hormones and metabolism. The mechanisms behind why these basics matter more now Which telehealth clinics offer nationwide menopausal care worth knowing about and how to navigate this new landscape For any woman who's in it and trying to figure out what to do next beyond being told to exercise more and sleep better. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    31 min

  6. May 12

    Missed, Dismissed & Misdiagnosed: Perimenopause Explained Part 1 of 2

    Most women don't recognize perimenopause until they're already deep in it, and their doctors often miss it too. In this episode, Schuyler Grant sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid, founder of HerMD and women's sexual health expert; Dr. Sarah de la Torre, OB-GYN and functional medicine physician; and Elena Brower, bestselling author and teacher, to talk about what's actually happening hormonally during perimenopause and why so much of it goes unrecognized, minimized, or misdiagnosed. They discuss: Why perimenopause often starts in the late thirties and early forties, long before hot flashes or cycle changes appear The symptoms most commonly missed — sleep disruption, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, and changes in body composition Why so many women leave their doctor's office with an antidepressant when what they actually needed was hormone support How siloed specialties, underfunded research, and undertrained clinicians are failing women at midlife What it means to be the CEO of your own healthcare — and how to advocate for yourself inside a system that wasn't built with you in mind If you've ever walked out of a doctor's office with more confusion than you walked in with, this episode is for you. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    47 min

  7. May 5

    Botox, Fillers & What Actually Works: WTF Is Happening to My Face? Part 3 of 3

    Botox. Fillers. Lasers. Red light masks. Geranium oil and gua sha. If you've wondered about any of these — what they actually do, whether they're worth it, and what two menopause-focused OB-GYNs and a Zen teacher actually do themselves — this is that conversation. In part three of their conversation on the visible changes of midlife, Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get personal about what they actually do, what they recommend, and where they disagree. They discuss: Botox: The medical uses most people don't know about, the case for and against, and what happens when you freeze too much of your face Lasers: How they actually work, the difference between superficial and deeper treatments, and what to look for in a provider Red light therapy masks: What the data actually says and what to look for before you buy Fillers: Why one doctor completely changed her position on them The natural alternatives, geranium oil, gua sha, retinol vs. estrogen, and dermaplaning Each woman's personal philosophy on aging (which turns out to be the most clarifying part of the conversation) A lightning round: Face yoga, staying out of the sun, ring lights, shorter haircuts, tweezers in the car, and more This episode is for any woman who wants real opinions, not just options. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit ⁠www.luminescence.health⁠.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit ⁠stripesbeauty.com⁠ and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit ⁠connect.gdx.net⁠. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at ⁠LivOnLabs.com⁠. BiOptimizers: Go to ⁠bioptimizers.com/luminescence⁠ and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    27 min

  8. Apr 28

    Hormones, Skin & Hair: WTF Is Happening to My Face? Part 2 of 3

    You look in the mirror and something's different. Your skin, your hair. And nobody really warned you that this was coming, or that it was hormonal. This is part two of the conversation on the visible changes of midlife. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get into the biology behind what's actually happening to skin and hair as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline.  They discuss: What declining hormones actually do to collagen, elastin, and blood flow and why your skin is your largest organ, not just a vanity concern Topical estrogen for the face. What it is, how it differs from vaginal estrogen, and why even the doctors in this conversation hadn't heard of it The Women's Health Initiative, the black box warning that just came off vaginal estrogen, and what two decades of misinformation actually cost women Whether starting HRT earlier makes a visible difference and what the data does and doesn't support How to tell the difference between a choice that's genuinely yours and one that's been shaped by outside pressure Most women are handed moisturizer and told to drink more water. This episode goes considerably further than that.  For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit ⁠www.luminescence.health⁠.  Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit ⁠stripesbeauty.com⁠ and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit ⁠connect.gdx.net⁠. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at ⁠LivOnLabs.com⁠. BiOptimizers: Go to ⁠bioptimizers.com/luminescence⁠ and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

    25 min
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5
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49 Ratings

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The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant is a space for science-based, culturally curious, and politically fearless conversations illuminating women’s health.  For decades, science treated women as simply “little men.” No more. Women’s health is complex, but for the 51% of the population with a vagina, understanding it is imperative. Each episode features a roundtable of female health experts to cut through the shame, explain the latest research, and have honest, raw conversations about what we are experiencing, in our bodies and in the world we share. To discuss the podcast directly with Schuyler, join our community at https://www.luminescence.health/.

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