Show Notes
If you've been feeling like your body has stopped cooperating in midlife — even when you feel like you're doing everything right — this episode is for you. In this episode, we go deep on something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: the connection between your gut health, your hormones, and how you feel as you move through perimenopause and beyond. Key Topics: Why Cynthia wrote The Menopause Gut — and what no one else is talking about when it comes to midlife gut changes
The gut microbiome explained simply: what it is, where it lives, and why it intersects with every system in your body
The four lifestyle foundations that either support or sabotage your gut health — and why doing less is often the answer in midlife
Why the "double down and work harder" approach backfires for so many women (and what to do instead)
Sleep as the non-negotiable #1 priority — Cynthia's exact words: "If you are not sleeping through the night, I cannot get you to lose weight"
The hyperlink between chronic stress, cortisol, leaky gut, and autoimmune risk — women are 4–5x more likely to develop autoimmune conditions in perimenopause and menopause
Why the inability to sit still or slow down is often a trauma response, not a personality trait
Estrogen as a people-pleasing hormone — and how declining hormones can actually help you find your voice
The three big gut changes happening in perimenopause: loss of digestive fire, changes in motility, and the estrobolome (your body's estrogen-processing plant in the gut)
What to look for on stool testing, and why Cynthia does the lifestyle foundations first before running labs
The gut-brain connection via the vagus nerve, and how gut inflammation drives anxiety, depression, brain fog, and joint pain
Histamine, mast cell degranulation, and why your wine reaction at 38 might have been your first perimenopause symptom (this one hit home for me personally!)
The supplement overwhelm problem — why Cynthia is intentional and evidence-based before recommending probiotics
What "digestive fire" means and the practical role of enzymes, bitters, and TUDCA
Elimination diets as a starting point — and when to escalate to GI diagnostic testing
The rise in colorectal cancer in younger people, and why we cannot afford to ignore bowel changes
Cynthia's take on HRT: why she prefers to dial in lifestyle and gut health first, and what happens when women go straight to hormones without the foundation in place
Thin phenotype PCOS (teaser for part two — this conversation is happening!)
Let's dive in! Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special! Click here to listen: Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERE Spotify – CLICK HERE
Connect with Guest - Instagram | @cynthia_thurlow_
Facebook | @CHTWellness
YouTube | @cynthiathurlow
Twitter/X | @_CynthiaThurlow
Podcast | LISTEN HERE
Substack | SUBSCRIBE HERE
This episode is sponsored by: withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your first order and 20% off your first subscription order
St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15
Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option
Free Resources: Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport
Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide
The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast
Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20"
Metabolic Guide | jennpike.com/metabolic-guide
Get discounts at happybumco.com using code "JENNPIKE"
*code doesn't apply wi
More from The Simplicity Sessions
This one is all about the fear so many business owners have around visibility. After a recent Instagram post, my DMs were flooded with people saying, "I hear you; I understand why I need to be more visible, but I'm just too scared." So let's dive in.
This week's episode is a little different: I was actually a guest on the Eversio Experience Podcast with Dr. Desiree Caruso and Brandi Garden, and we had such a rich conversation that I wanted to share it with all of you here. Chapters: 4:09 — Movement as Part of Life, Not a Chore 6:45 — The Birth of SYNCED: From Aerobics to Auto-Regulation 13:32 — The Teachable Moment: Pushing Past the Stop 16:05 — Dopamine, Endorphins & Why Movement Feels Good 22:04 — Safety in the Gym: Trauma & the Nervous System 25:10 — Jenn's CrossFit Back Injury Story 39:28 — Mushrooms + Movement: The Reset Box 42:20 — The "I Don't Have Time" Myth & Habit Stacking 48:47 — Community Changes Everything: Pat 1 & Pat 2
This is the third and final installment of our Practice and Profit Boot Camp, and today we went all in on the business side. If you've been following along with Parts 1 and 2, you know we've covered the clinical foundations. But today? It's all about the money, the systems, and the mindset shifts that get you out of the session-to-session grind and into a business model that actually supports your life. Chapters: 3:20 — Revenue Goals: Strategy Over Arbitrary Numbers
Today you're tuning into Part Two of a three-day bootcamp I ran called Practice and Profit. This episode is all about the clinical side of your practice — and honestly, whether you're a nutritionist, personal trainer, naturopath, chiropractor, osteopath, massage therapist, Reiki practitioner, life coach, or NP, there's something in here for you. Even if you're on the receiving end of health and wellness services, I think you'll get a lot out of this one.
Welcome to Day One of the Practice & Profit Boot Camp! Today, we're looking at the full picture, where coaches and practitioners are leaving results (and money) on the table.