The Balanced Dose Podcast

Dr Nickie Lovat, MD, PhD (Pharmacology)
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Medicine

Join Dr. Nickie Lovat, MD, PhD (Pharmacology and Therapeutics) and Nichole Jackson-Lind, NP of Firefly Medical Group PLLC, as they navigate the complex world of hormones, health, and supplementation. In each episode of "The Balanced Dose Podcast," your hosts combines their expertise in bio-identical hormone therapy with cutting-edge research to help you understand how medications and hormones affect your well-being. Explore the latest advancements in functional medicine, uncover the truth behind Big Pharma, and learn how to achieve a balanced approach to health. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply curious about the science behind your prescriptions, this podcast offers the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your health. Tune in for expert interviews, case studies, and actionable tips to empower your wellness journey. This Podcast is education, not medical advice.

Episodes

  1. Oct 23

    Progesterone: The Hormone of Calm, Sleep, and Balance

    If you fall asleep fine but wake at 3 a.m. wired, progesterone might be the reason. In this episode we explore the calm-and-sleep side of progesterone and its whole-body benefits for bone, brain, and vascular health. Its metabolite allopregnanolone works on the same brain receptor as benzodiazepines, which is why it soothes and supports sleep — and why low progesterone can show up as insomnia, anxiety, and worsening PMS, often the first hormone to fall in perimenopause. We also clear up the big confusion: micronized bioidentical progesterone is not the same as a synthetic progestin, which actually blocks the progesterone receptor. And because the brain, breast, and bone all use progesterone, it benefits women with or without a uterus. #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  2. Oct 2

    GLP-1 RAs: An Honest Conversation About the Tool of the Decade

    GLP-1 medications went from a niche diabetes drug to a cultural moment almost overnight. In this episode, we cut through the hype for an honest look at what these drugs actually do, what they don't, and how to use them well. Semaglutide and tirzepatide mimic gut hormones that slow digestion and turn down appetite — they change the appetite signal, not your metabolism — and the trials back real results, from about 10% weight loss in STEP 1 to over 20% in SURMOUNT-1, plus cardiovascular benefit in SELECT. But they come with honest tradeoffs: GI side effects, muscle loss, and significant regain when you stop. The bottom line — these are a powerful tool, not a shortcut, and they work best inside a real plan with hormones, protein, strength, and a clear off-ramp. Next episode: Progesterone, the hormone of calm, sleep, and balance. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  3. Sep 11

    Estrogen, Part 2: Estrogen Therapy — Benefits, Risks & How It's Done

    Last episode mapped what estrogen does — this one is about how to replace it. We give an honest, practical guide to estrogen therapy: the symptom relief, bone protection, and cardiovascular benefits of estradiol, plus the oral-vs-transdermal question most people get backwards. Oral estradiol's first pass through the liver is what delivers the heart benefits, and the old clot and stroke warnings came from Premarin, not estradiol. We break down who therapy is really for, why oral is the default for most healthy women near menopause, and when transdermal makes sense — so you can stop assuming a patch is automatically safer and ask whether oral estradiol is right for you. #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  4. Aug 21

    Estrogen, Part 1: The Whole-Body Hormone

    Estrogen was never just a fertility hormone. In Part 1 of our estrogen series, we reframe it as a whole-body, protective hormone — with receptors in your bones, brain, blood vessels, skin, joints, bladder, and beyond. We break down the three estrogens and their roles, what estrogen does throughout the body, and why low estrogen shows up as everything from joint pain and sleep changes to mood shifts and recurrent UTIs — symptoms that are so often misattributed. If estrogen only mattered for fertility, why does losing it affect so much? Tune in to find out, then join us for Part 2 on estrogen therapy. #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  5. Jul 31

    The Truth About HRT: Safety, the WHI Story & What “Bioidentical” Means

    Did HRT ever actually cause breast cancer? The Women's Health Initiative tested horse-derived estrogen (Premarin) plus a synthetic progestin, not the safer bioidentical hormones. That scary "26% more breast cancer" headline was a relative risk; in absolute terms it was about 8 extra cases per 10,000 women per year — under 1 in 1,000. The estrogen-alone arm of the same study actually showed roughly a 23% reduction in invasive breast cancer. "Bioidentical" means molecularly identical to the hormones your body makes — and Premarin isn't estradiol, just as a synthetic progestin isn't progesterone. The takeaway: don't rule yourself out of HRT over a study built on drugs most of us no longer prescribe — get an individualized assessment. Firefly Medical prescribes bioidentical estradiol and progesterone, never Premarin or synthetic progestins, with careful candidacy screening.     #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  6. Jul 10

    The Menopause Transition: From Perimenopause Through Postmenopause

    #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine #menopause #perimenopause #womenshealth  She's 41, her periods are still regular, and her doctor says she's too young for hormone issues. She isn't — and most of what she's been told about the transition is wrong.In this episode, Dr. Nickie Lovat (MD, PhD, Pharmacology and Therapeutics) and Nichole Jackson-Lind, NP, map the entire menopause transition — from perimenopause through postmenopause — and clear up the misconceptions women hear at every stage. You'll learn why estrogen runs high in perimenopause (not low), why progesterone is actually the first hormone to fall, why FSH testing is unreliable and the diagnosis should stay clinical, and why hot flashes can paradoxically worsen when estrogen is added too early. We cover where HRT actually fits at each stage — including why perimenopause is often a progesterone story, not an estrogen one — plus the lifestyle and non-hormonal options that genuinely help.Wherever you are in the transition, help exists. If your symptoms started before 45, or it's been 12 months without a period, this episode is for you. This Podcast is education, not medical advice. https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  7. Jun 19

    Welcome to The Balanced Dose: Hormones 101

    Welcome to the very first episode. Hosts Dr Nickie Lovat, MD, PhD and Nichole Jackson-Lind, NP introduce themselves, the work behind Firefly Medical, and the Balanced Dose philosophy — then give you a simple, working model of how hormones actually run your body. If you've been dismissed, under-screened, or told that feeling exhausted, foggy, and not-yourself is "just aging you have to accept," this episode is your starting point. We break down what hormones are (your body's messengers), meet the major players — estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, cortisol, and insulin — and explain why they work like an orchestra: one off-note affects the whole system. The lab guides the question, not the dose. We believe the patient over the number.  #bhrt #hormones #supplements #health #functionalmedicine  https://www.fireflymedical.net  https://www.balanceddose.com  @fireflymedical

  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Join Dr. Nickie Lovat, MD, PhD (Pharmacology and Therapeutics) and Nichole Jackson-Lind, NP of Firefly Medical Group PLLC, as they navigate the complex world of hormones, health, and supplementation. In each episode of "The Balanced Dose Podcast," your hosts combines their expertise in bio-identical hormone therapy with cutting-edge research to help you understand how medications and hormones affect your well-being. Explore the latest advancements in functional medicine, uncover the truth behind Big Pharma, and learn how to achieve a balanced approach to health. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply curious about the science behind your prescriptions, this podcast offers the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your health. Tune in for expert interviews, case studies, and actionable tips to empower your wellness journey. This Podcast is education, not medical advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Nickie Lovat, MD, PhD (Pharmacology)
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Balanced Dose Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Balanced Dose Podcast

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