Not our traditional podcast but the replay of a live event we hosted in the office on November 7th.

We start with the basics: what hormones are and how Western endocrinology sees them as the body’s chemical messaging system. Then we weave in Chinese medicine's yin/yang lens — thinking about energy, balance, and how lifestyle, emotions, and environment shape your hormones as much as labs do.

If you’ve felt dismissed by a normal lab result but still feel awful, this episode is for you. We talk about microdosing hormones, safer stepwise approaches, and when non-pharmacologic tools (herbs, acupuncture, lifestyle tweaks) might be smarter first moves. There’s a lot on testing too — why saliva panels and basal body temperature (or wearables like the Oura ring) can show patterns that a single blood draw won’t.

We also explore practical cases: thyroids that read “normal” but act wonky, birth control or IUD transitions and when to test, hysterectomy and post‑ovary hormone shifts, insomnia that won’t quit, and the role of trauma or head injury. Plus we introduce energy-measurement tools like the BioWell to help uncover old stuck spots that still affect you today.

The vibe here is collaborative — build a team, keep track of what you try (what helps, what backfires), and be the captain of your own health ship. If one approach hasn’t worked, there are gentle, individualized ways to keep exploring until you find what fits.

Listen in for hopeful, practical next steps and a reminder: you don’t have to accept feeling “just okay.” Small changes, the right tests at the right time, and a team who listens can make a huge difference.

This episode is like sitting down with two wise, warm girlfriends who actually get what it means to navigate midlife. Dr. April Schulte and Mia talk real talk about aging gracefully, the pillars of wellness (sleep, stress, nutrition, movement, and smart supplements), and how tiny habits stack up to big changes. Expect practical tips on strength training, habit formation, and how to choose the right trainer or hormone plan without rushing into it.

We also get vulnerable: Mia shares her heartbreaking loss and how faith, nature, and service helped her heal while going through menopause. The conversation gets into cellular regeneration — what it is and why stem cell turnover matters — and explores modern tools like hormone micro-dosing and energy-enhancing patches that can support your vitality (yes, there’s a simple explanation of how they work).

Whether you’re curious about managing hot flashes, building sustainable fitness habits, or learning gentle, effective ways to support your body and nervous system, you’ll find warmth, wisdom, and actionable steps. Grab a cuppa, take a deep breath, and enjoy this caring guide through midlife transformation.

Check out the LifeWave patches mention in this episode: https://lifewave.com/drapril

Free 30-minute call with Mia: https://calendly.com/trainwmia/30-minute-call-with-mia?month=2025-11

Mia Finnegan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@miafinnegan-m2y

Mia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia_finnegan/

Mia Finnegan website: https://www.miafinnegan.com/

Hey friends,

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the mixed messages around menopause, hormones, and “quick-fix” medications, this episode is a warm, clarifying conversation you’ll want to hear. Dr. April Schulte and Dr. Markus Wettstein walk you through how Western endocrinology and traditional Chinese medicine can actually complement each other—not compete—to help you feel better, sooner.

They unpack what endocrinology really is (think of hormones as your body’s internal messaging system) and explain how energy medicine adds another layer of understanding—allowing us to detect imbalance before it develops into diagnosable disease. It’s all about recognizing those subtle shifts early and supporting the system gently.

When it comes to menopause and perimenopause, the takeaways are practical: you don’t have to suffer through symptoms or rush straight to hormone replacement therapy. Many issues like hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, and dryness can stem from a yin deficiency—which can often be eased by incorporating yin-nourishing foods (like eggs, asparagus, okra, oysters, seeds, and seaweed) and lifestyle adjustments, as well as reducing heat-promoting habits such as regular coffee consumption.

They also explore testosterone in men—how stress, lifestyle, and energy allocation influence levels—and why hormone replacement isn’t always the first or only solution. Medications and injections certainly have their place, especially as a bridge when someone is too depleted to begin deeper healing, but this episode emphasizes individualized care and getting to the root causes.

Most importantly, the tone is empowering: you know your body, and with the right guidance, you can do so much to support your own healing. Dr. April and Dr. Markus encourage true collaboration between practitioners and patients—build your team, ask for integrated care, and don’t settle for feeling like just a number.

So if you’re looking for a friendly, science-meets-wisdom take on aging gracefully, hormonal balance, and tapping into your body’s innate healing power, this episode feels like sitting down with two grounded, experienced clinicians who genuinely want you to thrive—not just exist.