Finally Answered

Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP
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You have done everything right, and you still know something is wrong because you were told your labs are normal, but you feel exhausted. Finally Answered is a podcast for women in midlife who are exhausted, dismissed, and tired of being told it is all in their heads. Each episode explains what is actually happening in your body, in plain language, so the exhaustion, sleep, weight, mood, and fog finally make sense. With Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, BHRT-certified. A podcast from Compassion Primary Care.

Episodes

  1. 7h ago

    Will BHRT Help With Mood Swings or Anxiety?

    The anxiety came out of nowhere. Maybe you never struggled with it before, and now there's irritability, tearfulness, a panic-like feeling, or a sense that you're just not yourself, and nothing in your life actually changed to explain it. You're not imagining it, and you're not losing your mind. When hormones shift in perimenopause and menopause, mood shifts with them. In this episode, I talk about whether BHRT can help with mood swings and anxiety. I walk through how estrogen and progesterone influence serotonin, GABA, your stress response, and your sleep, and why those shifts can bring new anxiety, irritability, or mood changes even when life hasn't changed. I also share what it actually looks like when a woman comes to me with these symptoms: the history, the labs I run, and the plan we build together. And I'm honest about the limits, BHRT is not a cure for every mood symptom and does not replace mental health care, but when mood changes are hormone-related, it can be part of a genuinely helpful plan. I'm Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, BHRT-certified. Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran, and founder of Compassion Primary Care in Tampa, Florida. You can also watch this on my YouTube channel. If this was helpful, follow Finally Answered on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so new episodes find you. If you want someone to look at your whole picture with you, I offer a free discovery call: https://link.compassionprimarycare.com/widget/bookings/new-call/discovery-call-stasha If you're not a Christian and would like to know more, I invite you here. This life is fleeting, but eternity is forever: https://compassionprimarycare.com/about/testimony/ Not your twenties. Not your new normal. Finally, answers. This episode is educational and does not constitute medical advice. BHRT is not a treatment for anxiety disorders and does not replace mental health care. If you're struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a qualified professional, and if you're in crisis, contact your local emergency services or a crisis line right away.

  2. 4d ago

    It's Not Always Hormones: What Else Causes Midlife Weight Gain

    Here's where a lot of midlife weight advice goes wrong: not all weight gain is hormonal, and not all hormonal weight gain is about your sex hormones. Before we blame estrogen or thyroid for everything, some other things have to be on the table, and hormone therapy is not the weight-loss shortcut it sometimes gets sold as. In this episode I walk through what mimics hormonal weight gain, including medications, sleep apnea, alcohol, gut health, and muscle loss; what a targeted, practical lab workup actually includes; and the honest truth about hormones and weight loss, what hormone therapy can and cannot do, and why the real plan addresses metabolism from several sides at once. I'm Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, BHRT-certified. Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran, and founder of Compassion Primary Care in Tampa, Florida. You can also watch this on my YouTube channel. If this was helpful, follow Finally Answered on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so new episodes find you. If that's the kind of honest, root-cause look at your health you've been wanting, I offer a free discovery call:https://link.compassionprimarycare.com/widget/bookings/new-call/discovery-call-stasha Not your twenties. Not your new normal. Finally, answers. This episode is educational and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized evaluation.

  3. 5d ago

    What is Adrenal Dysfunction? And Why Your Doctor States Your Cortisol is "Fine"

    You're exhausted but wired. You drag in the morning, crash in the afternoon, and then feel oddly alert at night when you finally want to sleep. You've been told your labs are normal, but you know your body isn't running the way it used to. Often, that pattern traces back to your adrenal glands and the stress hormone they make: cortisol. In this episode, I walk through what adrenal dysfunction really means, how cortisol is supposed to follow a daily rhythm, high in the morning and low at night, and what happens when that rhythm gets thrown off by chronic stress, poor sleep, blood sugar swings, and the demands of midlife. I cover the symptoms I see most, why I prefer a four-point cortisol test that measures the rhythm across the whole day instead of relying on a single morning number, and why no hormone, cortisol included, should ever be looked at in isolation. I'm Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, BHRT-certified. Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran, and founder of Compassion Primary Care in Tampa, Florida. You can also watch this on my YouTube channel. If this was helpful, follow Finally Answered on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so new episodes find you. If you want someone to look at your whole picture with you, not just one lab, I offer a free discovery call: https://link.compassionprimarycare.com/widget/bookings/new-call/discovery-call-stasha Not your twenties. Not your new normal. Finally, answers. This episode is educational and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized evaluation.

  4. Oct 29

    Which Hormones Actually Drive Weight Gain?

    If hormones are making your weight harder to manage, which ones? It's almost never a single hormone, it's how several of them interact, which is exactly why checking just one and being told it's "normal" misses the picture. In this episode I walk through the hormones behind midlife weight: thyroid, and why TSH alone isn't enough; insulin resistance, and why your A1C and glucose can look normal while fasting insulin is already high; cortisol, and the tired-morning, afternoon-crash, wired-at-night pattern; testosterone in women, and why it matters for muscle; and estrogen and progesterone, and how the shifts affect sleep, cravings, and where fat is stored. I'm Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, BHRT-certified. Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran, and founder of Compassion Primary Care in Tampa, Florida. You can also watch this on my YouTube channel. If this was helpful, follow Finally Answered on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so new episodes find you. Want your whole hormone picture looked at together instead of one lab at a time? I offer a free discovery call:https://link.compassionprimarycare.com/widget/bookings/new-call/discovery-call-stasha Not your twenties. Not your new normal. Finally, answers. This episode is educational and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized evaluation.

  5. Oct 23

    How Do I Know If a Hormone Imbalance Is Causing My Weight Gain?

    In this podcast episode Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, founder of Compassion Primary Care discusses whether weight gain in midlife may be related to hormonal changes. It notes that hormones can fluctuate or decline, but nutrition and calorie intake remain relevant. Hormones also affect systems throughout the body, potentially influencing thinking, sleep, energy, mood, stress responses, food cravings, sexual health, and fat storage. Stasha identifies accompanying symptoms as one clue that hormones may be contributing to weight gain. These may include fatigue, disrupted sleep, cravings, brain fog, changes in libido, vaginal dryness, and thinning or loss of hair. Timing is another consideration, including perimenopause, menopause, the period after childbirth, or starting medications such as birth control pills. The pattern of weight distribution may also offer clues. This episode discusses weight concentrated around the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs, and describes insulin resistance and changes in cortisol as possible factors associated with abdominal weight gain. It emphasizes that weight changes can involve physiological processes, even when someone is attentive to eating, exercise, and stress management. Stasha explains that estrogen can fluctuate rapidly during perimenopause, alongside changes in mood, fatigue, and menstrual cycles. Progesterone declines more gradually, while testosterone may be suboptimal; these hormonal changes may affect weight, muscle gain, and weight loss. Common approaches that once worked may need adjustment, such as adding resistance or strength training. Stasha concludes that symptoms, weight distribution, and life stage should be considered together when assessing possible hormone-related weight gain. The next episode will discuss which specific factors are checked when evaluating these concerns.

  6. Oct 20

    How Testosterone Is Actually Used In Women Dosing, Cancer Concerns, and Safety

    This episode discusses testosterone as one possible factor in fatigue and other concerns among midlife women, particularly when routine lab results are described as normal. It explains that testosterone is produced by the ovaries and other parts of the body, gradually declines, and has receptors throughout the body. The speaker emphasizes that treatment aims for physiological levels rather than male-range levels. Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP and Founder of Compassion Primary Care, describes her approach to assessment: reviewing symptoms and prior lab results, taking a thorough history, and considering factors beyond hormone levels, including ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid function, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). She notes that lab reference ranges are population averages and says results should be considered alongside a patient’s symptoms and history. Testosterone formulations, including oral medication, pellets, injections, topical creams, and vaginal applications are reviewed. Stasha does not prescribe oral testosterone or pellets, and typically uses creams or compounded injections. She explains that formulation and dosing are selected individually, and discusses vaginal application as an option when symptoms include dryness or painful intercourse. Treatment considerations for women with a cancer history or concerns about estrogen, noting that hormone use should be discussed in light of individual circumstances and may involve consultation with an oncologist. She also describes compounded medications as a way to tailor formulations and doses, and discusses the limited research on testosterone for women, including challenges with measuring low levels. Monitoring is presented as part of treatment. Stasha describes follow-up around six weeks after starting therapy and repeat blood work around three months later. Possible signs of excessive testosterone include acne, facial hair, oily skin, voice changes, hair loss, aggression, and mood changes. The podcast concludes by placing hormone treatment within a broader review of health, including thyroid function, gut health, nutrition, sleep, stress, and medication needs. The speaker emphasizes that testosterone is not appropriate for everyone and that care should be based on an individual’s symptoms and overall health.

  7. Oct 18

    Does Compassion Primary Care Take Insurance?

    This podcast episode explains that Compassion Primary Care does not bill insurance and operates as a direct primary care practice. Patients pay a monthly membership fee directly to the practice, with Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP and Founder of Compassion Primary Care describing the model as having no additional or hidden fees. Patients may also keep commercial insurance, Medicare, or a health-sharing plan, but the practice does not accept Medicare Advantage or HMO patients. Stasha contrasts direct primary care with insurance-based care, saying that insurance requirements can affect which diagnoses, tests, and treatments are covered. The membership model is presented as allowing more time with patients, including longer appointments and a more integrative approach focused on investigating possible root causes of health concerns. Using car and homeowner’s insurance as comparisons, the lecture distinguishes routine care from coverage for major or unexpected expenses. Stasha encourages patients to retain insurance or another form of coverage for hospitalization, surgery, specialist care, and other high-cost situations, while using direct primary care for ongoing primary care and chronic health concerns. This episode describes early investigation and preventive care as a way to identify health issues before they progress. Stasha gives insulin resistance as an example, noting that it can precede diabetes, and discusses looking for early signs related to chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Stasha discusses lab and imaging costs, including functional tests that insurance may not cover. Patients are told the cost of testing in advance and may choose to pay out of pocket; the lecture notes that cash prices can sometimes be lower than insurance-billed costs. The practice offers monthly access through calls, texts, virtual appointments, and in-person visits, which may take place in patients’ homes or at The Wellness Center of Ellenton. Stasha discusses how patients can combine membership with insurance, or pay out of pocket, and emphasizes transparent pricing.

  8. Oct 18

    Testosterone Is Not Just a Male Hormone (What It Does in Women)

    We discuss the role of testosterone in women, noting that women naturally produce it in smaller amounts than men and that its use in women is not new. We also cover the FDA’s September 17, 2026 meeting on finding an approved treatment for postmenopausal women, and the speakers’ repeated point that more research is needed.

  9. Oct 15

    Why I Built This Practice And Who It Is For

    You woke up tired again. Nothing has changed in your life, and you have been diligent about your health. You eat well. You move your body. And something still does not feel right. You went to your doctor, the labs were done, and you were told everything was normal.You are not imagining this. You are not losing your mind. And you do not have to prove you are struggling to be taken seriously here.I'm Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, BHRT-certified. Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran, and founder of Compassion Primary Care in Tampa, Florida. I built this practice for the woman who has been to the appointments, had the labs drawn, and left every single time knowing something was still wrong.This is the episode to start with. It is not about one symptom. It is about who I am, why this practice exists, and how I work.If you want to go further, I offer a free discovery call. It is not a medical visit, just a conversation to see whether this practice is right for you:https://link.compassionprimarycare.com/widget/bookings/new-call/discovery-call-stashaNot your twenties. Not your new normal. Finally, answers.

  • 9 Episodes

About

You have done everything right, and you still know something is wrong because you were told your labs are normal, but you feel exhausted. Finally Answered is a podcast for women in midlife who are exhausted, dismissed, and tired of being told it is all in their heads. Each episode explains what is actually happening in your body, in plain language, so the exhaustion, sleep, weight, mood, and fog finally make sense. With Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP, ARNP, BHRT-certified. A podcast from Compassion Primary Care.

Information

  • Creator
    Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stasha-Gae Roberts, DNP
  • Show Website
    Finally Answered