If you've ever struggled with bloating, food sensitivities, autoimmune symptoms, inflammation, brain fog, skin issues, or hormone challenges, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, Carrie dives into one of the most overlooked aspects of gut health: the gut barrier (sometimes called the gut lining). She explains what it is, why it matters, and how a compromised gut barrier—often referred to as "leaky gut"—can impact far more than digestion.

Drawing from both her personal journey with Hashimoto's and years of experience coaching women through gut and hormone challenges, Carrie breaks down:

What the gut barrier actually does The connection between gut health, inflammation, immunity, and hormones What "leaky gut" means and what can contribute to it Lifestyle habits that help support gut healing The science behind ingredients like glutamine, colostrum, prebiotics, postbiotics, and polyphenols Why the launch of Plexus Armor caught her attention A powerful story about autoimmune healing and what it means for your body to finally feel "calm and at peace"

Most importantly, Carrie shares why gut health is about so much more than digestion—and why supporting the foundation of the body may be one of the most important things we can do for long-term wellness.

Because healing isn't about chasing symptoms. It's about creating the right environment for the body to thrive.

Connect with Carrie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriechojnowski/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.o.chojnowski

Website: thrivewithcarrie.com

Email: carrie@thrivewithcarrie.com

See you next time!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you've ever thought:

"I'm doing everything right, so why do I feel so different?"

This episode is for you.

In this conversation, I sit down with Certified Integrative Health Practitioner Jen Oknin to unpack one of the biggest frustrations women face in perimenopause and menopause: feeling like the strategies that used to work suddenly don't anymore.

We dive into the changing biology of midlife and explore why weight loss, energy, recovery, inflammation, and confidence can feel so much harder during this season of life.

We also discuss:

• What peptides actually are and how they work in the body
• The truth about GLP-1 medications and common misconceptions
• Why protecting muscle matters for metabolism and healthy aging
• How functional lab testing and genomics can provide deeper insight into your health
• Why one-size-fits-all wellness plans often fail women in midlife
• How personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies can help you work with your biology instead of against it

Most importantly, Jen shares a powerful message that every woman needs to hear:

You are not failing. The rules changed and nobody told you.

If you've been feeling exhausted, frustrated, inflamed, stuck, or confused by all the noise surrounding hormones, weight loss, peptides, and GLP-1s, this episode will leave you with real answers and a completely different way of understanding the body you have now.

Connect with Jen
Website: jenoknin.com
Instagram: @jenoknin
LinkedIn: Jennifer Oknin

About Jen

Jennifer Oknin is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner who helps midlife women understand their biology and reclaim their energy, metabolism, and confidence. After a high‑pressure career at GE and years of being told she was “fine” despite feeling exhausted and unwell, Jennifer turned to functional health and discovered the power of reading labs and genetics through a precision lens. She now uses functional blood chemistry, genomics, and personalized protocols to help women navigate perimenopause, menopause, inflammation, and hormonal shifts with clarity. Her work is rooted in one belief: women aren’t failing — they’re being failed by a system that doesn’t look closely enough.

Follow Carrie on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriechojnowski/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.o.chojnowski

Visit https://thrivewithcarrie.com/ to book a free discovery call!

See you next time!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This week on the Thrive with Carrie podcast, Carrie gets real about a type of exhaustion so many women are quietly carrying ~ the emotional, mental, and physical depletion that comes from constantly holding everything together.

From managing schedules, caregiving, careers, family responsibilities, and the invisible mental load of everyday life, many women are stuck in a chronic state of stress and survival mode without even realizing it.

In this deeply honest conversation, Carrie breaks down: why so many women feel “wired but tired” how chronic stress impacts the nervous system, gut, hormones, sleep, and metabolism why midlife can suddenly feel harder on the body the gut-brain connection and how stress disrupts digestion and mood why pushing harder often backfires simple ways to begin supporting your body from a place of nourishment instead of punishment

If you’ve been feeling exhausted in a way that sleep alone can’t fix, this episode will remind you that your body isn’t broken — it may simply be asking for safety, support, and restoration.

This is a conversation about slowing down, regulating the nervous system, nourishing the body, and remembering that your health matters too.

Because you were never meant to pour endlessly from an empty cup.

Follow Carrie on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriechojnowski/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.o.chojnowski

Visit https://thrivewithcarrie.com/ to book a free discovery call!

See you next time!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.