The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant

Luminescence

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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Apr 21

    Aging, Identity & Autonomy: WTF Is Happening to My Face? Part 1 of 3

    Nobody warned you that midlife would feel like this. Right as you're starting to see yourself more clearly, the world starts looking at you differently. In the Season 2 premiere of the Luminescence Podcast, Schuyler Grant sits down with OB-GYNs Dr. Somi Javaid and Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and writer and teacher Elena Brower, to open a conversation that's been a long time coming: what actually happens to women's looks as we age. This is about a lot more than skin and hair. They discuss: The impossible standard around how women age: Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and why aging has become the new debate that pits women against each other The archetypes of maiden, mother, and crone: The gifts and shadow sides of each, and why midlife isn't about leaving one behind but learning to hold all of them at once The appreciation gap: Why we can't see ourselves clearly when we're in it, and the practice of learning to appreciate what's actually there before hindsight forces it For any woman navigating the noise around aging and looking for a conversation that actually goes somewhere. 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.

    24 min

  7. Mar 24

    Reignite Pleasure, Intimacy, and Connection at Every Age

    Sex therapist and legendary podcast host Dr. Emily Morse joins Schuyler Grant at Luminescence Los Angeles for an open, honest conversation about why so many women feel disconnected from their pleasure — and what to do about it. Together, they explore how shame, stress, trauma, and cultural messaging impact sexual health; why communication is the ultimate lubrication; and practical strategies to reignite intimacy in long-term relationships. From nervous system regulation to mindful masturbation, you'll discover empowering tools to reconnect with your body, your desires, and your partner — at any stage of life. This talk was recorded live at Luminescence Los Angeles - February 1, 2025. Learn more about future events at ⁠onecommune.com/luminescence⁠.

    37 min

  8. Mar 17

    In the Mood (Or Not): What Every Woman Should Know About Libido

    In this empowering and refreshingly honest talk from Luminescence Los Angeles, Dr. Jolene Brighten reveals why low libido isn’t "just part of being a woman" — and how hormones, stress, metabolism, relationships, and even body image all intersect to influence sexual health. You’ll learn how estrogen, testosterone, insulin, and cortisol impact desire, why prioritizing your pleasure is essential for total health, and practical, science-backed strategies to reclaim your vitality. Whether you’re cycling, postpartum, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, this conversation will help you understand your body and your power on a whole new level. This talk was recorded live at Luminescence Los Angeles - February 1, 2025. Learn more about future events at onecommune.com/luminescence.

    34 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

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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