The Wholesome Fertility Podcast Michelle | Fertility Wellness - Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Lifestyle

Alexandria DeVito, MS, CNS, is a functional nutritionist who specializes in fertility and
preconception health. She is the author of 9 Months Is Not Enough: The Ultimate
Pre-pregnancy Checklist to Create a Baby-Ready Body and Build Generational Health. She is also the founder and CEO of Poplin, the first pre-pregnancy wellness company. Prior to founding Poplin, Alexandria worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also has a master’s degree in nutrition; extensive training as a doula, yoga teacher, and personal trainer; and is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, all of which inform her approach to pre-pregnancy wellness.
 
https://getpoplin.com

https://www.instagram.com/getpoplin/

https://www.facebook.com/getpoplin

 
Click here to find out how to get the first chapter of "The Way of Fertility" for free.
 
For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
 
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/
 
Summary of this episode:
 
Alexandria DeVito shares her journey from working in the corporate world to becoming a fertility health advocate. She obtained an MBA from Harvard and a master's degree in nutrition while working in healthcare. She then trained in functional medicine and started seeing clients as a nutritionist. Many of her clients were struggling to conceive, which led her to focus on fertility health. The conversation explores the challenges of fertility struggles and the lack of preconception health guidelines in clinical practice. It highlights the emotional, physical, and financial toll of fertility struggles and the need for better preparation and support. The conversation discusses the importance of preconception care and the impact it can have on the health of both parents and future generations. It highlights the challenges faced by females in accessing comprehensive medical care, which often focuses on contraception rather than preconception care. The conversation emphasizes that there is no such thing as starting preconception care too early or too late. Our bodies were designed to conceive, but our modern environments create a mismatch. Factors such as nutrition, supplements, and stress can affect fertility. 
 
 
Transcript:
 
Michelle (00:00)
Welcome to the podcast, Alexandria.
 
Alexandria DeVito (00:03)
Thank you so much for having me.
 
Michelle (00:05)
So we just had a really great pre-talk and we definitely are on the same page on so many things. And what I love about you is that you are here really to empower couples on the fertility journey. I got to look at your book. I was very excited because I feel like I really resonate with the
 
And I just love the fact that you really approach it from such an empowering perspective. Absolutely love that. But for the listeners, I would love for you to share your background, how you got into the work that you do.
 
Alexandria DeVito (00:38)
Hmm, you got it.
 
Yes, I mean, I think there's a lot of alignment philosophically about, you know, just how much more agency we have over our reproductive health and all the different ways that we can prepare to conceive, which I'm sure we will talk all about. So I came into the world of fertility actually, initially through the corporate world. So I was doing corporate consulting and was working in healthcare, largely with pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies. So I kind of learned the healthcare landscape from that lens.
 
enjoyed working in healthcare. I thought it was just such an incredibly impactful field. And at some point I decided that I wanted to switch from what I felt was operating in a more react

Paul F. Austin is one of the most prominent voices in the world of psychedelics.
As the founder of Third Wave, he has educated millions on the importance of safe and effective psychedelic experiences. A pioneer at the intersection of psychedelics, personal transformation, and professional success, his work has been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, and the BBC's Worklife.
 
Paul helps leaders, creatives, and pioneers leverage psychedelics for exponential personal growth and professional development. He views psychedelics as a skill refined through mentorship, courageous exploration, and intentional use.
According to Paul, learning how to master this skill will be crucial in the story of humanity’s present-future evolution.
 
Note: Psychedelics are not legal in most U.S. states so it’s important to take this episode as educational and not medical or suggestive advice. This is a potent controlled substance and this episode is not intended to recommend or suggest that anyone take it. 
 
Website & Social media links (Facebook, instagram, twitter)
 
Social Media Paul F. Austin:
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulaustin3w/
- X: https://twitter.com/PaulAustin3w?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-austin/
 
Social Media Third Wave
- YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCATHWJYqouqzF3-5GMIaOuQ
- FB: https://www.facebook.com/thirdwaveishere
- X: https://twitter.com/thirdwaveishere
- IG: http://www.instagram.com/thirdwaveishere
- LI: http://www.linkedin.com/company/third-wave-psychedelics/
 
In this conversation, Paul Austin discusses his personal journey with psychedelics and how they have impacted his life. He explains the potential therapeutic benefits of microdosing psychedelics, such as psilocybin and ketamine, and how they can help with mental health issues and even fertility. Paul emphasizes the importance of finding a qualified practitioner and following a safe and responsible approach when using psychedelics. He also shares resources, such as his podcast and coaching program, for those who want to learn more.
 
Takeaways
Psychedelics, when used responsibly, may have therapeutic benefits for the mind. Psychedelics can promote neuroplasticity and reduce inflammation in the brain, leading to positive changes in mental health. Finding a qualified practitioner and following a safe approach is crucial when using psychedelics. Resources like podcasts, guides, and coaching programs are available for those interested in learning more about psychedelics.  
Click here to find out how to get the first chapter of "The Way of Fertility" for free.
 
For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
 
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/
 
For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
 
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/
 
 
Transcript:
 
Michelle (00:00)
Welcome to the podcast fall.
 
Paul Austin (00:01)
Thank you for having me on, Michelle.
 
Michelle (00:03)
I'd love for you to share your background, how you got into this work. And then we'll obviously dive in a little later.
 
Paul Austin (00:10)
Well, the topic we're covering today is or has been a fairly taboo one. And the place that I grew up in was raised in that was, I would say particularly so. My family was pretty religious growing up. So we were in church every Sunday. This is, I grew up in Michigan in the Midwest and.
 
at the age of 16,

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Drawing from the current scientific literature and the wisdom of traditional cultures, her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. Her bestselling book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes (and online course of the same name), presents a revolutionary nutrient-dense, lower carb approach for managing gestational diabetes. Her work has not only helped tens of thousands of women manage their gestational diabetes (most without the need for blood sugar-lowering medication), but has also influenced nutrition policies internationally. Lily’s clinical expertise and extensive background in prenatal nutrition have made her a highly sought after consultant and speaker in the field. 
Lily’s second book, Real Food for Pregnancy, is an evidence-based look at the gap between conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines and what's optimal for mother and baby. With over 930 citations, this is the most comprehensive text on prenatal nutrition to date. Lily is also creator of the popular blog, www.LilyNicholsRDN.com, which explores a variety of topics related to real food, mindful eating, and pregnancy nutrition. 
 
Website & Social media links (Facebook, instagram, twitter)
 
https://lilynicholsrdn.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilynicholsrdn/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilatesNutritionist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LilyNicholsRDN
Book: https://realfoodforfertility.com/
 
Takeaways
Optimizing health prior to conception is crucial for a healthy pregnancy. Balancing macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and protein, is important for fertility. Including organ meats, like liver, in the diet can provide essential nutrients for fertility. Concerns about toxins in liver are unfounded, as the liver does not store toxins. Vitamin A toxicity is rare and usually associated with synthetic supplements, not whole food sources like liver. Click here to find out how to get the first chapter of "The Way of Fertility" for free.
 
For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
 
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/

 
Transcript:
 
Michelle (00:00)
Welcome to the podcast, Lily.
 
Lily (00:01)
Thanks for having me.
 
Michelle (00:02)
I'm definitely excited to talk to you a lot about your book that just came out, which by the way, congratulations, it looks like it's doing phenomenal as I knew it would. it just has so many great tips and information and research.
 
So, before we get started, I'd love for you to introduce yourself, your background, how you got into this work, and also what inspired you to write the book with Lisa.
 
Lily (00:24)
Yeah, sure. So first of all, thank you for the kind words in the book. We're very excited that it's been welcomed with open arms. My work, my professional background is as a registered dietitian nutritionist and also a diabetes educator. And I've really spent the majority of my career working in the women's health space, spanning the whole childbearing years from preconception through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding.
 
Also focusing on certain pregnancy complications, especially gestational diabetes. So that's really what I found working in many different areas in the prenatal space from clinical practice to public policy to training other practitioners to not just like conventional clinical practice, but my own private practice is that.
 
There's often a significant difference between what actually works well for helping to maintain optimal health and healthy pregnancies vers

 
Josephine Atluri is an author, certified life coach and an expert in meditation and mindfulness. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Josephine followed her passion for total wellness and has helped thousands of people overcome adversity to find joy. She supports and empowers organizations and individuals through her wellness retreats, classes and written work. Plus, her experience creating her modern day family of seven children via In Vitro fertilization, international adoption and surrogacy inspires her work as a highly sought-after fertility, pregnancy, and parenting mindfulness coach.
Josephine hosts a popular podcast, “Responding to Life: Talking Health, Fertility, & Parenthood,” where she interviews guests on their inspiring responses to life’s challenges. Her parenting mindfulness expertise and fertility advocacy work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Motherly, MindBodyGreen, The Bump, Prevention, Well+Good, and Woman’s Day. Josephine is the author of the books, “Mindfulness Journal for Parents” and “5 Minute Mindfulness for Pregnancy.” She also sits on the board of the nonprofit, Shero’s Rise, an organization dedicated to uplifting girls in underserved communities.
 
Website & Social media links (Facebook, instagram, twitter)
Website: www.jatluri.com
Instagram: @josephineratluri @respondingtolifepodcast
Url: https://www.instagram.com/josephineratluri/
YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3kIxDHQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-atluri-0aaa32129
 
Information on Josephine’s retreat can be found here:
https://www.jatluri.com/retreat-1 use coupon code LOTUS to get a discount!
 
SummaryJosephine shares her background in fertility mindfulness and meditation and how she got into the work. She discusses her own infertility journey, including failed IVF cycles, the loss of twins, and the decision to pursue international adoption and surrogacy. Josephine explains the concept of mindfulness as awareness coupled with curiosity and compassion. She emphasizes the importance of being present and using breathing techniques as a tool for reducing stress and finding calm. Josephine also talks about her books on mindfulness during pregnancy and parenthood and her retreats for women.
 
 
Takeaways
Fertility mindfulness and meditation can provide coping strategies and overall wellness care for individuals trying to build their families. Mindfulness is a lifestyle that involves being aware of oneself and the world, and it can lead to reduced stress, better sleep, improved immunity, and better relationships. Breathing techniques are a powerful tool for moving from a state of stress to a state of calm, and they can be practiced anywhere and anytime. Mindfulness can help individuals navigate the challenges and anxieties of pregnancy and parenthood, and it can be incorporated into daily life through various modalities. Being present and practicing mindfulness can lead to mental clarity, emotional freedom, and a deeper connection with oneself and the present moment.  
For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com
 
Click here to find out how to get the first chapter of "The Way of Fertility" for free.
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
 
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/
 
 
Transcript:
 
Michelle (00:00)
Welcome to the podcast, Josephine.
 
Jo (00:02)
Thanks for having me. I'm super excited to be speaking with you today.
 
Michelle (00:06)
Me too, so I'd love for you to start out with giving us your background and how you got into the work that you're doing.
 
Jo (00:13)
Yeah, so I am specializing in fertility mindfulness and meditation, and I was working in healthcare upon returning back to work many year

On tomorrow’s episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, I speak to my dear friend and intuitive spirit baby medium @nancyweissintuitive Nancy Weiss. Nancy has been drawn to her work from her own fertility journey and her story is absolutely amazing. I absolutely love speaking with Nancy and highly suggest you hear our conversation because it’s packed with wisdom! Be sure to tune in!
 
Nancy Weiss is a Reiki master, psychic medium, hypnosis practitioner and spiritual coach specializing in spirit babies and personal growth.  She helps women connect with the souls of their babies before pregnancy and guides them to trusting their intuition and their spiritual connection on their motherhood journey.  Her own experience of becoming a first-time mother at the age of 42 via embryo adoption and communicating with her daughter before pregnancy was the catalyst to share this sacred work with others.
 
Nancy shares her incredible journey of finding her babies through embryo adoption and the power of mindset and energetics in the fertility journey. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with spirit babies and fostering a playful and positive mindset. Nancy also discusses the role of divine timing and the signs that spirit babies send to communicate with their future parents.
 
Links:
 
Instagram @nancyweissintuitive
"Cawfee with Spirit" Podcast on Youtube: https://bit.ly/3IQoec3
Book Your Spirit Baby Session: https://bit.ly/42Ah2d9
 
Takeaways:
The power of mindset and energetics in the fertility journey Connecting with spirit babies and fostering a playful and positive mindset Trusting in divine timing and the signs that spirit babies send The importance of grounding and reconnecting with the body  
The Way of Fertility is here! Be sure to check it out here www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility
 
Click here to find out how to get the first chapter of "The Way of Fertility" for free.
 
For more information about Michelle, visitwww.michelleoravitz.com
 
The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/
Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility
 
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/
—------------
 
 
Transcript: 
 
Michelle (00:01)
Welcome back to the podcast Nancy. I'm so happy to have you back.
 
Nancy (00:05)
Hey, Michelle, I am so happy to be here too. It's been a long time, and I'm happy to be back talking about my favorite subject.
 
Michelle (00:14)
Okay, so we had an initial episode a while back, but I want you to, if it's okay, share your story again. But your story is so freaking amazing, just like how you found your babies and how it was meant to be. And I just love it so much. So I'd love for you to share that.
 
Nancy (00:32)
Of course, of course. So, um, it's like trying to remember now. Okay. Um, so we're going back six years, right? Cause my children are now four and six years old. Um, my husband and I got married late later in life. I think we were 40 when we got married. I can't remember anything, my dates. So don't mind me, but we were around 40, um, when we got married and, um, wanted to start a family.
 
Michelle (00:36)
Ha ha.
 
Nancy (01:00)
And we went through multiple rounds of IVF. It was kind of, you know, I didn't really give myself a chance to get pregnant naturally, which in hindsight I would have, but I spent so many years, you know, at getting older saying, oh, I'm gonna need IVF, I'm gonna need IVF, and that's the route that I took to have my children. So we had about...
 
I had four egg retrievals, five transfers, using our own genetics that did not work. And I just kept my heart and my mind open the whole time of how my babies would come in because my main thing was about being all about mindset and energetics of how would I bring my, how to bring my babies in to havin

Dr. Angela Thyer and Judy Simon discuss their book 'Getting to Baby' and the importance of nutrition and lifestyle in fertility. They share their backgrounds and how they came together to help women improve their nutrition and health for better fertility outcomes. The book covers the connection between food and fertility, the importance of whole foods, debunking misconceptions about diet and fertility, and the benefits of intuitive eating and cooking. They emphasize the need for diversity in food choices and the impact of processed foods on fertility. The book also includes practical tips and recipes to support a healthy pregnancy journey. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of breakfast and meal timing, the impact of nutrition on fertility, the role of integrative medicine in fertility treatment, and the power of lifestyle choices in influencing fertility outcomes. The guests emphasize the importance of combining foods and the role of vegetables in supporting digestion and overall health. They also discuss the impact of stress, sleep, and epigenetics on fertility. The conversation highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to fertility treatment and the importance of finding a supportive healthcare team.
 
Takeaways
Nutrition and lifestyle play a crucial role in fertility and improving fertility outcomes. Eating whole foods, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, plant-based proteins, and whole grains, is important for fertility. There are many misconceptions about diet and fertility, such as the need to cut out carbs or follow specific diets. It's important to focus on nourishing the body with whole foods. Intuitive eating and cooking skills are valuable in creating a healthy and sustainable approach to nutrition. Diversity in food choices is essential for optimal fertility and overall health. Processed foods can negatively impact fertility, and it's important to prioritize whole foods. The book provides practical tips, recipes, and a six-week blueprint to support a healthy pregnancy journey. Breakfast is an important meal for fertility and overall health. It is best to have a substantial breakfast with protein, fiber, and vegetables. Meal timing is crucial, and it is recommended to have more calories earlier in the day and fewer at night. Combining foods, especially vegetables, can support digestion and nutrient absorption. Stress, sleep, and lifestyle choices have a significant impact on fertility outcomes. Epigenetics plays a role in fertility, and lifestyle choices can influence gene expression. A multidisciplinary approach to fertility treatment, including integrative medicine, can provide comprehensive support. Finding a supportive healthcare team is essential for navigating the fertility journey.  
Guest Bio: Judy Simon
Judy Simon, MS, RDN, CD, CHES is an award winning registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in reproductive health. She is the founder of Mind Body Nutrition, PLLC and a clinical instructor at the University of Washington. Judy’s expertise includes fertility, PCOS, eating disorders, weight inclusive medicine and reproductive health. 
Judy has held leadership roles in the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Nutrition Special Interest Group and is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 
Judy integrates mindfulness, intuitive eating, eating competence, while taking a non-judgmental, inclusive down approach to help people have healthier, more fertile lives. 
Judy is the co-founder of Food For Fertility program and co-author of the upcoming (April, 2024) book Getting to Baby A Food-first Fertility Plan to Improve Your Odds and Shorten Your Time to Pregnancy, Ben Bella Publisher
 
Guest Bio: Angela Thyer
Angela Thyer, MD is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Ob/Gyn and Lifestyle Medicine. She is a founding partner of Seattle Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Thyer completed her und