The Functional Aesthetician

Samantha Dench
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Alternative Health

Join licensed esthetician and student of functional medicine, Samantha Dench, to explore the deeper connection between your skin, gut, and hormones. The mission is to help you get to the root cause of your skin problems so you understand what your skin is trying to tell you.

  1. 6h ago

    Perimenopause, Cortisol & Burnout: Stop Chasing Balance, Start Finding Harmony

    Most women are told their labs are "normal" right before they fall apart.  K Miller, the Harmony Coach, serial entrepreneur, mother of five, and homeschooler, spent years bouncing between doctors before an oncologist finally caught a severe iron deficiency, followed by a thyroid disorder and SIBO.  But this didn't fix the exhaustion.  It took slowing down, syncing with her natural rhythms, and ditching the "push through it" mentality to actually feel better. In this episode, K and Samantha unpack why women are taught to operate on a 24-hour clock instead of their own 28-day cycle, why the 90-minute focus window matters more than the 8-hour workday, and why chasing "balance" is quietly burning women out.  We get into emotional eating, the mental load of motherhood, mindset sabotage, and K's five pillars of free health care.  We even dive into a topic most of us are terrified of: the sun. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why "your labs are fine" is the most dangerous sentence in women's healthcareK's health crisis and the iron IV that offered a band-aid fixThe difference between a male’s hormonal cycle and a female’sThe 90-minute focus cycle you're ignoring (and what it's costing your energy)Why women crave chocolate on their period, and the mineral your body is asking forBurnout and the invisible mental load moms carry aloneThe #1 way women self-sabotage their own goals Why "done is better than perfect" changed K's businessThe gut-brain connection and depressionK's 5 Pillars of Health: light, hydration, sleep, movement, and nourishmentWhy women are afraid of fat, and why your brain needs itThe morning habit K says can be life-changing➡️ Connect with K Website Social Media Special Gift PROMO CODE: RGGUEST26 The first 5 people to download her guide get a COMPLIMENTARY one-on-one Recharge Session with K!

  2. Jul 28

    From Vegan to Carnivore: How a Doctor Reversed Her Autoimmune Disease (And What It Means for Your Metabolism)

    If you're over 40, stuck in perimenopause, and doing everything "right" by cutting calories, avoiding butter, choosing low-fat, and still not losing weight, this episode is for you.  Samantha sat down with Dr. Jocelyn Foran, an anesthesiologist, who reversed her own decades-long battle with ulcerative colitis by ditching the food guide and going carnivore. We talk about why insulin is the real driver of stubborn weight gain, fatigue, and inflammation in midlife.  We dig into the flawed science behind the "saturated fat is bad" myth, why cholesterol is a firefighter and not the enemy when it comes to heart disease, and how eating protein and fat first, cutting dairy, ditching ultra-processed food, and timing meals with your body's natural rhythms can help you break free of insulin resistance for good.  Whether you're curious about keto, carnivore, or just want to understand why your metabolism feels broken, this conversation will change how you think about food. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why the "saturated fat causes heart disease" theory was built on manipulated science The truth about cholesterol: why it's essential for your hormones, brain, and cell membraneWhat's really happening in your arteries and why inflammation and insulin are the true culpritsHow insulin resistance shows up differently in every body, as weight gain, acne, depression, high blood pressure, or even infertilityWhy chronic stress spikes insulin just as much as sugar doesHow your body makes all the glucose it needs without eating a single carb What ketones do for your brain A step-by-step transition into low-carb, keto, or carnivore eatingWhy 1,200-calorie diets backfire for women in perimenopause, and what to eat instead to protect your metabolismSimple tricks to blunt a blood sugar spike if you do eat carbs Why meal timing matters and how eating close to bedtime disrupts sleep and blood sugarHow to navigate social eating, food pushers, and restaurant menus without falling off track➡️ Connect with Dr. Jocelyn: Website Instagram YouTube Channel TikTok

  3. Jul 21

    Thyroid, Perimenopause & HRT: Why "Normal" Labs Don't Mean You're Fine

    If your labs keep coming back "normal" but you still feel exhausted, foggy, and nothing like yourself, this episode is for you.  In this week’s solo episode, Samantha breaks down the confusing overlap between thyroid dysfunction and perimenopause, why Hashimoto's goes undiagnosed in women 40+, and why a standard thyroid test isn't giving you the full picture.  She unpacks why so many doctors aren't trained to run the right labs or prescribe HRT, busts the outdated fear around hormone replacement therapy, and reveals what your skin has been quietly trying to tell you about your hormones all along.  In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why thyroid symptoms and perimenopause symptoms overlapWhy doctors and women default to blaming "just hormones"Why your TSH can look "normal" while you're still living in hypothyroidismHashimoto's is the most common autoimmune disease in women 40+, and why it's so often missedThe medication mistake most doctors makeWhy Levothyroxine alone often isn't enough to make you feel betterWhat functional lab testing actually checks beyond a standard panel The exact labs to ask your doctor for at your next appointment, and what it means if they say noWhy an entire generation became afraid of HRT and what the research actually shows nowWhy it's not too late to start HRT, even after menopauseWhat your skin is trying to tell you about your hormones, gut, and thyroid Connect with Us Website  Instagram

  4. Jul 14

    Menopause, Cancer & Chronic Stress: What "Normal Labs" Don't Tell You

    What do you do when your labs say "normal" but your body says otherwise?  Samantha sits down with Moyra Gorski, a wellness educator, breast cancer survivor, and menopause advocate, to talk about alternative approaches to health, cancer, and menopause. Moyra shares her personal journey from a skeptical nurse to learning alternative approaches to health, including the breast cancer diagnosis that sent her searching for root causes instead of radiation treatment.  She opens up about the mindset work that shaped her recovery. The conversation shifts into perimenopause and menopause and why symptoms get dismissed as normal, hard workouts can backfire on a stressed nervous system, and walking, protein, and hydration often do more than another HIIT class.  Samantha and Moyra also dig into hormone replacement therapy, functional lab testing, and why there's no single right answer for every woman. If you've ever left a doctor's office feeling unheard, this episode is your permission slip to keep asking questions. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Normal labs don't mean normal symptoms, doctors are trained in fertility, not perimenopause and menopauseStandard lab panels can miss what's actually going on.Chronic stress is a major driver of hormone disruption and played a role in Moyra’s cancer diagnosis Cortisol and adrenal fatigue deserve as much attention as diet or supplements.Functional testing digs deeper than conventional bloodwork, explaining symptoms that get written off as "normal."Hard workouts can backfire in perimenopause: intense cardio and HIIT stress an already-taxed nervous system; walking and lower-intensity movement tend to work better.Protein, fat, and vegetables are key to a healthy diet, swapping starchy carbs for vegetables, plus prioritizing protein and healthy fats, helps curb insulin resistance and constant hunger.There's no one-size-fits-all protocol: the goal is education and self-advocacy, not chasing trends.Openness to the unfamiliar can change everything➡️ Connect with Moyra Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIN

  5. Jul 7

    SIBO, Bloating & Probiotics: Why Your Gut Protocol Might Be Making Things Worse

    What if the root of your bloating, low energy, and even your skin issues isn't a mystery, it's your gut microbiome?  In this episode, I sit down with ZuZu, holistic health care practitioner and founder of Lily Fields Center and Holistic Health Educators, who reversed her own epilepsy over 35 years ago through food, and has spent decades teaching others how to rebuild their health from the kitchen, not the pharmacy. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: How ZuZu got off epilepsy medications and has been seizure-free since age 21 using food aloneThe gut-nervous system connection: why your microbiome makes your neurotransmitters and hormonesHealthy fats: why the omega-6 to omega-3 balance matters so muchSIBO and bloating: why probiotics and fiber can backfire when bacteria has overgrown in the small intestineThe truth about store-bought yogurt (and what to make at home instead)The 6 hidden causes of constipation, and why you should never start a detox without a practitionerSimple, free daily habits to improve your gut, energy, and long-term wellness starting todayWatch the YouTube video version of this epsiode ➡️ Connect with Zuzu: Website Instagram Facebook Holistic Health Educators Lily Fields Retreat Center

  6. Jun 23

    Skin Microbiome, Gut Health, Acne: The Hidden Root Cause No One's Treating

    Samantha sits down with microbiologist Kiran Krishnan to break down one of the most under-taught topics in skincare: the skin microbiome and its direct connection to gut health.  Kiran spent over a decade pioneering gut microbiome research before turning his focus to the skin, and what he shares will change how you think about acne, skin sensitivity, and aging skin for good. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why the skin's pH balance are entirely dependent on microbes not productsHow "controlled damage" treatments (like microneedling and peels) only work if the skin is functioning properlyThe three ways the gut directly impacts skin healthWhy standard acne treatments and long-term antibiotics fail to address the root causeHow dysfunctional gut health can trigger autoimmune-like skin responsesWhy pediatric eczema is so poorly managed and what helps repair the skin barrierThe Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging linking skin health to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's riskWhy pairing with functional medicine doctors and nutritionists can help estheticians work around scope-of-practice limitationsThis episode is essential listening for any esthetician or client who wants to understand why topical treatments alone fall short, and what's really going on beneath the surface. Connect with Kiran: Website Instagram The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging Overview

  7. Jun 16

    Perimenopause, Cortisol & Weight Gain: What to Do When Harder Workouts Stop Working

    If you've been pushing harder in your workouts but seeing fewer results, this episode is for you. This week I'm joined by Katie, a fitness professional and host of the Wellness After 40 podcast, to break down exactly why exercise needs to change in your 40s, and what to do instead. We're talking about the real reason HIIT workouts can backfire during perimenopause, why cortisol and insulin resistance make certain workouts work against your goals, and the specific fitness shifts that support your hormones instead of stressing them further. Katie also shares her simple framework for choosing workouts that fit your life, plus her full weekly movement recipe for women navigating midlife hormonal changes. Whether you're a devoted HIIT class-goer or just starting to wonder if your current routine is serving you, this conversation will completely shift how you think about movement after 40. ➡️ In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why HIIT workouts can spike cortisol and stall fat loss in perimenopauseThe three types of movement every woman over 40 needs in her weekly routineWhy recovery is as important as the workout itselfThe truth about cold plunging for women Why walking is more powerful than most women realizeHow to start strength training if you've never done it, and why heavy weights matter➡️ Connect with Katie Website Instagram Listen to Katie's Podcast: Wellness After 40

  8. Jun 9

    Cortisol, Perimenopause, Skin Microbiome: Why Women Are So Hard On Themselves

    Why do so many women in their 40s look in the mirror and feel like a stranger is looking back?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Natalya Borakowski, naturopathic physician, founder of Desert Bloom Skincare, and creator of the Unveil You platform, to talk about the science behind mirror anxiety. We also talk about how perimenopause rewires the brain's self-perception, and chronic stress is quietly destroying your collagen. If you've ever caught yourself picking apart your reflection, feeling like you've aged overnight, or wondering why your skin isn't responding the way it used to, this episode is for you. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: What mirror anxiety is, and why it's not vanityHow the loss of progesterone increases brain sensitivity and makes every "imperfection" feel like a threatWhy chronically stressed women are often unaware they're stressed The cortisol-collagen connection: how elevated cortisol breaks down your skin from the insideYour adrenal glands become your primary hormone source during perimenopause, and why that matters for your skinThe truth about the skin microbiome, over-exfoliation, and why stripping your skin makes aging worse"Glass skin" and social media beauty standards: why that glowing look may signal inflammationThe danger of anti-aging ingredients (retinol, salicylic acid, and Botox) being used too youngDr. Natalya's mirror exercise and how to build what she calls "mirror hygiene"The three free anti-aging tools every woman should be using ➡️ Connect with Dr. Natalya Website Instagram  Linkedin ❤️ Free gifts  Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, it helps more women find this show.

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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Join licensed esthetician and student of functional medicine, Samantha Dench, to explore the deeper connection between your skin, gut, and hormones. The mission is to help you get to the root cause of your skin problems so you understand what your skin is trying to tell you.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Dench
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Functional Aesthetician
  • Show Website
    The Functional Aesthetician

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