Strong + Unfiltered: Perimenopause, Hormones, Gut Health + Hormone Optimization

Danielle Kepics PA-C
  • 4.9 (73)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Strong + Unfiltered is the women's health podcast for anyone tired of being told "everything's normal" when you feel like shit. Hosted by Danielle Kepics, PA-C—board-certified physician assistant and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner—this show cuts through the BS of conventional medicine and wellness culture to give you real, evidence-based answers about your health. Each week, Danielle interviews credentialed experts (no weekend-certified wellness gurus here) about hormones, perimenopause, HRT, gut health, SIBO, metabolic wellness, PCOS, thyroid issues, insulin resistance, and everything your doctor isn't telling you. Perfect for women ages 30-50 who are fed up with medical gaslighting and ready for root-cause solutions. New episodes every Monday. Because you deserve better than "just live with it." Be the CEO of your own health.

  1. 6d ago

    EP 252: Your Ovaries Left the Group Chat: Perimenopause, Overtraining + Why You Feel Like Shit

    Welcome back to Strong + Unfiltered. This episode turned into a spicy little reality check about perimenopause, overtraining, body recomposition, endurance culture, nervous system overload, and the internet making women think they're doomed in midlife. We're talking about why your habits matter more than your hormones, why some women are running themselves into the ground emotionally and physically, and why HRT is not magic fairy dust you throw onto a metabolic dumpster fire.   We also get into body recomposition in your 40s, what actually worked for me over the last 16 weeks, why I intentionally stopped running, how much protein women actually need, the importance of sleep + recovery, and the role stress, histamine, and nervous system dysregulation play in how you feel.   And yes… we somehow also ended up ranting about marathon culture during pregnancy, social media support, avocado-induced histamine chaos, and why some endurance athletes respectfully need therapy.   What's Discussed: (06:42) Why support from strangers online sometimes feels stronger than real-life friendships (14:10) The truth about building a business nobody sees behind the scenes (23:10) "Your ovaries left the group chat" and the endurance athlete problem (31:45) Why overtraining is wrecking women's hormones + nervous systems (37:05) The uncomfortable truth about marathon culture during pregnancy + postpartum (47:50) Why exercise can help mental health… until it becomes self-destruction (52:58) My 16-week body recomposition update and why I stopped running completely (58:30) Why the scale barely changed even though my body did (1:02:40) The biggest mistakes women make in perimenopause (1:07:50) Protein goals, lifting heavy, and what actually supports metabolism in your 40s (1:14:05) Histamine issues, insomnia, overheating, and the guacamole betrayal Enter the Brick Giveaway here!  Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG  Follow Jess on IG

    1h 15m

  2. May 18

    EP 251: The Truth About HRT: Blood Clots, Cancer Risk, Pellets + Perimenopause Symptoms

    Welcome back to Strong + Unfiltered. Today's episode is a solo Q&A all about hormone replacement therapy, perimenopause, progesterone, estrogen, blood clot myths, and the massive amount of misinformation women are still being fed about hormones. We're diving into the REAL differences between birth control and bioidentical HRT, what the WHI study actually did (and didn't) show, why some women are safer ON estrogen than off of it, and why "just wait until menopause" is outdated advice that's keeping women suffering unnecessarily. I also break down pellets, PCOS and HRT, cyclic estrogen dosing, how I monitor hormones in practice, and why symptoms like anxiety, rage, fatigue, sleep issues, brain fog, joint pain, and "not feeling like yourself" may absolutely be connected to perimenopause long before your periods disappear. If you've ever been told your labs are "normal" while you feel exhausted, anxious, inflamed, ragey, wide awake at 2am, or completely unlike yourself… this episode is for you. Get your  FREE 9 HRT Myths Debunked ebook here Book an Empowered Medicine consult call here  Book a Hormone Strategy Session here  Enter the GIVEAWAY to win a FREE brick here

    49 min

  3. May 11

    EP 250: Doing Everything Right But Not Losing Weight? Here's Why

    If you feel like you're doing everything right… eating "clean," working out constantly, tracking your macros… and still not losing weight, this episode is going to hit.   Danielle is breaking down your biggest questions around weight loss resistance, metabolism, under eating, and overtraining, and calling out the habits that are quietly keeping you stuck.   We're talking about why chronic dieting, low calorie intake, and doing too much cardio can actually slow progress, and what to do instead if you want real fat loss, better body composition, and a stronger metabolism.   You'll learn how to think about reverse dieting, when to use tools like macro tracking or food scales (and when to stop), and why eating more might actually be the thing your body needs.   This is your reminder that your metabolism isn't broken… but the way you've been taught to approach weight loss might be.   Enter the Brick Giveaway here!  Get your Labs Freebie Here!  Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG

    37 min

  4. May 4

    EP249: Are Your "Healthy Habits" a Red Flag? The Truth About Orthorexia + Endurance Training

    Danielle sits down with Becca Murphy to unpack her personal experience with orthorexia, disordered eating, and how "doing all the right things" can quietly spiral into underfueling, overtraining, and hormonal imbalance. We're talking about the sneaky, socially acceptable behaviors that get praised in fitness culture but are actually massive red flags, especially for high-performing women navigating endurance training, weight loss, and metabolic health. From obsessive tracking with apps like MyFitnessPal, to chronic dieting, to using exercise as a coping mechanism, this episode connects the dots between control, trauma, and the way we use "health" to avoid what's really going on underneath. We also break down how low energy availability, RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), and chronic underfueling can show up as fatigue, poor recovery, hormone issues, and stubborn body composition changes. If you've ever felt wired and tired, stuck in rigid routines, anxious about missing a workout, or unsure how to stop tracking calories and macros… this episode is for you.   Enter the Brick Giveaway here!  Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG  Follow Becca on IG

    56 min

  5. Apr 27

    EP 249: Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones? What Your Conventional Doctor is Missing ft. Dr. Cassie Smith

    In this episode, Danielle sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, author of Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones, to break down the real connection between gut health, hormones, and why so many women still feel off despite "doing all the right things." They dive into the labs most conventional doctors are missing, why looking at symptoms and your full story matters just as much as your lab results, and how things like poor sleep, chronic stress, and over-scheduling are quietly wrecking your health. If you've been bouncing between gut protocols, hormone fixes, and still don't feel like yourself, this episode will help you connect the dots and understand what's actually missing. Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG  Get Dr. Cassie Smith's book here Follow Dr. Cassie on IG

    1h 2m

  6. Apr 20

    EP 248: You're Not Weight Loss Resistant… You're Just Not Doing This

    In this episode, Danielle breaks down one of the most overused phrases in women's health and weight loss: weight loss resistance. If you feel like you're doing everything right but not losing weight, or you're worried your metabolism or hormones are the problem, this episode is for you. Danielle gets honest about why most women are not actually dealing with true weight loss resistance, and what's really getting in the way of fat loss. She walks through the foundational habits that must be consistent before blaming your hormones, including strength training, calorie intake, daily movement, and protein. You'll also learn when weight loss resistance is real, how to tell if your metabolism has adapted, and when it's time to look deeper at things like hormones, stress, gut health, and sleep. If you're stuck, frustrated, or feel like nothing is working, this episode will help you understand what's missing and what to do next. Get your Labs Freebie here!  Join Mindset. Movement. Metabolism here!

    17 min

  7. Apr 13

    EP 247: Your Jaw Might Be Screwing Up Your Pelvis (Also… WTF Is a Hobonichi?)

    This episode is a little different… and honestly, one of our favorites. It's part catching up with my friend Liz Rodriguiz, part going down random rabbit holes, and part accidentally dropping some really solid insights along the way. From airway health to alignment to planners and business… we went everywhere. If you like episodes that feel like you're hanging out with friends but still walk away learning something, this one's for you.   Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG  Follow Liz on IG

    1h 17m

  8. Apr 6

    EP 246: Cycle Tracking, Ovulation, and Perimenopause: What Women Should Actually Know

    Understanding your menstrual cycle is one of the most powerful ways to understand your health, yet many women were never taught how their cycle actually works. In this episode, Danielle sits down with a registered nurse and certified fertility educator to talk about fertility awareness, cycle tracking, ovulation, and how these tools can help women better understand their hormones throughout different stages of life. They discuss why ovulation matters far beyond fertility, how fertility awareness methods compare to hormonal birth control, and why accurate hormone testing depends heavily on timing within the cycle. The conversation also explores how tracking changes during perimenopause, signs that hormone replacement therapy may be worth considering, and the reality many women face when their symptoms are dismissed in conventional healthcare settings. You'll also hear practical advice for improving cycle health, what women with consistently healthy cycles tend to do differently, and one surprisingly simple nervous system tool that can make a bigger difference than most people expect. Ashley is a nurse, certified fertility awareness educator, and hormone health coach—and the creator of The Hippie Martha. A birth nerd, hormone junkie, and holistic fairy godmother, she blends strong clinical skills with cycle literacy, pattern recognition, and whole-body assessment to use the menstrual cycle as a powerful detective tool.    LINKS: HRT Discovery call Hormone strategy session Learn more about working with me  Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) Follow me on IG Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG  Follow Ashley on IG

    1h 2m
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4.9
out of 5
73 Ratings

About

Strong + Unfiltered is the women's health podcast for anyone tired of being told "everything's normal" when you feel like shit. Hosted by Danielle Kepics, PA-C—board-certified physician assistant and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner—this show cuts through the BS of conventional medicine and wellness culture to give you real, evidence-based answers about your health. Each week, Danielle interviews credentialed experts (no weekend-certified wellness gurus here) about hormones, perimenopause, HRT, gut health, SIBO, metabolic wellness, PCOS, thyroid issues, insulin resistance, and everything your doctor isn't telling you. Perfect for women ages 30-50 who are fed up with medical gaslighting and ready for root-cause solutions. New episodes every Monday. Because you deserve better than "just live with it." Be the CEO of your own health.

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