Cortisol Coach

The Cortisol Coach Podcast is for Christian women over 40 dealing with high cortisol symptoms, perimenopause, menopause, hormone imbalance, and chronic stress.


Exhausted, gaining weight, losing your hair, or stuck with brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, low libido, and weight loss resistance, and nobody can tell you why?

Every week I sit down with doctors, hormone experts, mental health experts, and faith coaches to talk about perimenopause symptoms, menopause symptoms, adrenal fatigue, thyroid health, gut health, fight or flight, and nervous system healing, and how to heal your body, mind, and spirit.

I'm Christine Marie, a certified Biblical Mindset Coach and the Cortisol Coach. I spent 8 years being misdiagnosed and having multiple surgeries before I found out high cortisol and chronic stress were at the root of it all. Now I help women connect the dots so they don't have to walk the road I walked.

New episodes every week. Faith forward. Expert driven. Christian wellness for women who are done settling for half answers. Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode.

Episodes

Oct 11, 2026

35 min

Chronic Fatigue, Brain Fog, and Inflammation | Why Autoimmune Disease Is on the Rise in Women Over 40 with Dr. Leland Stillman
You are exhausted, your brain is foggy, and your body feels like it is working against you β€” but nobody can tell you why. Your labs come back normal. Your doctor says you are fine. And yet you know something is deeply wrong.
Friend, you are not imagining it. You are not broken. And you are not alone. Research now shows that women are nearly three times more likely than men to develop an autoimmune condition and the numbers are rising every year. This episode is going to tell you why.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Leland Stillman, a physician specializing in integrative and functional medicine who earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed his residency at Maine Medical Center before walking away from conventional medicine entirely. Not because he gave up on medicine, but because he refused to give up on his patients. He built his entire practice around one question. What is actually causing this?
Today he works with patients around the world helping them reverse chronic fatigue, autoimmune disease, brain fog, and metabolic dysfunction β€” the kind of chronic illness that conventional medicine keeps calling normal. He is also the author of the brand new book The End of Autoimmunity, which explains why autoimmune disease is on the rise in our generation and gives women a real, practical framework for restoring their health naturally.
What makes this conversation so powerful is that Dr. Stillman connects the dots between chronic stress, cortisol, inflammation, environmental toxins, and nutrient deficiencies to explain why so many women over 40 are watching their health decline despite doing everything right. He also explains what happens when your body simply does not have the bandwidth to heal itself, when your brain fog is so severe that you cannot think clearly enough to even figure out what is wrong. He has a name for that, a reason for it, and most importantly a path out of it.
One of the most memorable moments in this episode is when Dr. Stillman describes a patient who used to make a to-do list and only ever finish the first item. After working with Dr. Stillman he started finishing everything. That is what healing bandwidth looks like in real life. And that is what is possible for you too.
Your symptoms are not in your head. They are signals. And this episode is going to help you finally listen to them.
In this episode you will hear:
Why autoimmune disease is on the rise and what is actually driving it in women over 40
How chronic stress and cortisol accelerate autoimmune disease, inflammation, and metabolic breakdown
Why conventional labs miss so much of what is actually happening in your body
What root cause medicine looks like and how Dr. Stillman approaches a new patient
How nutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins, and light exposure affect your immune system and hormones
Why brain fog and overwhelm may be a bandwidth problem and not a character flaw
How giving your body the right inputs restores your capacity to heal, think clearly, and solve problems
What The End of Autoimmunity covers and why Dr. Stillman wrote it for women like you
Get the Book β€” The End of Autoimmunity by Dr. Leland Stillman:Use code CORTISOLCOACH for 10% off your order.
Paperback:https://store.stillmanwellness.com/products/the-end-of-autoimmunity-paperback?ref=CORTISOLCOACH
Hardcover:https://store.stillmanwellness.com/products/the-end-of-autoimmunity-hardback?ref=CORTISOLCOACH
Shop the full Stillman Wellness store:https://store.stillmanwellness.com/?ref=CORTISOLCOACH
Connect with Dr. Leland Stillman:Website and Substack: https://drstillmanuncensored.comInstagram: @drlelandstillman
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told her labs are normal but knows something is being missed
SEO Keywords and Tags:chronic fatigue women over 40, brain fog perimenopause, autoimmune disease women, autoimmune disease on the rise, chronic illness root cause, inflammation and hormones, why do I feel so tired, fatigue and cortisol, functional medicine autoimmune, integrative medicine women, Dr Leland Stillman, The End of Autoimmunity, root cause medicine, inflammation and cortisol, metabolic health women, environmental medicine, nutrient deficiency women, women over 40 autoimmune, autoimmune reversal natural, chronic illness healing, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, labs normal but sick, autoimmune natural healing, bandwidth brain fog healing, perimenopause autoimmune, menopause inflammation

Oct 11, 2026

35 min

Sep 21, 2026

28 min

Why Weight Loss Gets Harder After 40: Cortisol, Perimenopause, Menopause and Health Debt with Bria Gadd
You are doing all the same things that used to work.
Same effort. Same discipline. Completely different results.
Your leggings are tighter. Your sleep is a mess. Your anxiety is higher than it has been in years. And you are so exhausted that your kids notice.
And you have been told to just try harder.
Friend, trying harder is not the answer. And this episode is going to tell you why.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Bria Gadd, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, holistic health coach, certified personal trainer, and host of the top 1% wellness podcast The Period Whisperer.
Bria spent over 15 years in the fitness and nutrition world helping women lose weight and get their energy back. Then at 37 she hit the same wall her clients were hitting. Same effort. Totally different outcome. Instead of telling herself to just try harder, she went and built an actual strategy for what the female body needs in perimenopause and menopause.
She has been featured on Fox News and Women's Health, and today she is bringing one of the most important concepts you have never heard to this show.
Health debt.
Health debt is what happens when the energy demand being placed on your body becomes greater than the energy supply your body has available. And for women in perimenopause and menopause, that gap is widening every single day without most of us even realizing it.
This episode also holds one of the most personal moments Christine has shared on this show. Her daughter recently told her that all she remembered about her growing up was how tired she always was. If you have children still at home or even if yours are grown you are going to feel that one.
Because choosing to take care of yourself is not selfish. It is the most generous thing you can do for the people who need you most.
Be more in your life. Not just less on a scale.
In this episode you will hear:
What health debt is and how to know if your body is in it
Why weight loss gets harder after 40 and what is actually happening in your body during perimenopause and menopause
How cortisol, sleep, hormones, and metabolism are all connected
Why eating less and exercising harder can make everything worse when your body is already overwhelmed
How eating consistently supports your hormones and energy levels
Why walking and restorative movement can be more powerful than intense workouts right now
What functional lab testing reveals that standard labs miss
Why rest, pleasure, connection, and purpose are not luxuries they are medicine
When your body is actually ready for strength training and building muscle
How investing in your health changes your marriage, your motherhood, and what your children believe is normal
Your body is not working against you. It is trying to protect you with the energy it has available.
Start Your 7-Day Trial of Midlife Mojo:Bria's online membership for women navigating perimenopause and menopause including her 90 Day Hormone Revival program, symptom specific trainings, weekly live coaching, workouts, nutrition resources, recipes, guided meditations, and a community of women walking through this season together.πŸ‘‰ https://bit.ly/midlifemojonow
Connect with Bria Gadd:Website: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bria_period_whispererFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriaThePeriodWhispererTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briagaddYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bria_period_whispererPodcast: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/the-period-whisperer-podcast
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who is trying harder and getting nowhere she needs to hear this
SEO Keywords and Tags:why weight loss gets harder after 40, perimenopause weight loss, menopause weight loss, health debt, cortisol and weight gain, hormonal weight gain, metabolism after 40, low energy menopause, women over 40 hormones, functional lab testing, perimenopause symptoms, menopause symptoms, cortisol levels women, Bria Gadd, The Period Whisperer, Midlife Mojo, holistic health coach, FDN practitioner, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, be more in your life, restorative movement perimenopause, strength training menopause, eating consistently hormones

Sep 21, 2026

28 min

Sep 14, 2026

34 min

Cortisol, Genetics, and Functional Testing | What Your DNA Is Telling You About Your Health with Dr. Sam Shay
You have tried every protocol.
Every wellness approach. Every health strategy on your feed.
And you are still exhausted. Still gaining weight. Still wondering why nothing is working the way it should.
What if the answer has been written in your DNA this whole time?
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Sam Shay, a functional medicine doctor with over 25 years of experience, founder of Fit Genes USA, and one of the most sought after voices in personalized genetics and functional lab testing. Dr. Sam has appeared on more than 200 podcasts, summits, and stages and his whole mission is taking the complicated science of your genetics and making it actually make sense for real life.
This episode covers cortisol in a way you have never heard before. Dr. Sam explains cortisol as the body's fire department. You want it there, but you do not want it raging and spraying water all over your house every single week just in case there might be a fire. That chronic, relentless activation is exactly what is making your body inflamed and unable to function the way it was designed to.
But the most powerful part of this conversation is what Dr. Sam shares about genetics and the shame that drops off your shoulders when you finally understand why your body does what it does. Why you cannot stop craving sugar. Why alcohol hits you differently. Why stress wrecks you faster than the people around you. It is not a willpower problem. It is a genetic reality. And once you know it, you can build your life around it without guilt.
Christine shares her own revelation about alcohol and her own body and how much faster healing became once she stopped fighting her own biology.
Your symptoms are not character flaws. They are data.
In this episode you will hear:
Why cortisol is like the fire department and what happens when it never turns off
What a cortisol awakening response test is and why it tells you more than a standard four point test
How your genetics determine how you respond to stress, sugar, alcohol, and inflammation
Why your struggles with food and cravings may be written into your DNA and why that removes the shame
What a personal genetic blueprint actually looks like and how it changes everything
The six functional lab tests Dr. Sam says expose what is really happening inside your body
Why controlling your environment is more powerful than controlling your willpower
How to get your own genetic blueprint through Fit Genes USA
Get Dr. Sam's Free Masterclass β€” 6 Game-Changing Tests That Expose What's Really Happening Inside Your Body:πŸ‘‰ https://drsamshay.com/masterclass/
Connect with Dr. Sam Shay:Website: https://www.DrSamShay.comFit Genes USA: https://fitgenesusa.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsamshay/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.shay.792/
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts β€” it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been fighting her body instead of understanding it
SEO Keywords and Tags:cortisol and genetics, functional lab testing women, DNA health testing, genetic blueprint health, Fit Genes USA, Dr Sam Shay, cortisol awakening response, functional medicine testing, personalized nutrition genetics, cortisol and inflammation, genetics and weight gain, genetics and sugar cravings, cortisol and stress response, epigenetics women, cortisol testing salivary, hormone and genetic testing, functional medicine women over 40, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, genetics and cortisol, DNA decoded health, nervous system and genetics, inflammation and genetics, biohacking women
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Sep 14, 2026

34 min

Aug 30, 2026

34 min

Thyroid, Weight Gain, and Fatigue | Why Your Labs Are Normal But You Feel Terrible with Dr. Amie Hornaman
Your labs are normal.
Your doctor says everything is fine.
But you cannot get out of bed. Your hair is falling out. You have gained 20 pounds and you are doing everything right.
You are not imagining it. And this episode is going to tell you exactly why.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Amie Hornaman, known as America's number one thyroid expert, founder of the Advanced Thyroid and Hormone Clinic, host of The Thyroid Fixer Podcast, founder of Fixxr supplements, and bestselling author of The Thyroid Fix. Dr. Amie is a functional health practitioner who has become one of the most recognized and unapologetically outspoken voices challenging the conventional approach to thyroid care and she treats patients not just across the US but in the UK and Australia too.
Her personal story is one your listener is going to recognize immediately. Dr. Amie was a competitive figure athlete, eating chicken and broccoli, working out twice a day, tracking every macro when her scale started going up anyway. Six doctors told her she was normal. The seventh finally diagnosed hypothyroidism, handed her a prescription, and sent her home. Nothing changed.
So she fixed it herself. And then she dedicated her career to making sure no other woman had to go through six doctors to get a real answer.
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation is when Dr. Amie shares a message she received the morning of this recording. A patient texted her before and after photos and left her a voice message saying:
You saved my life. And you saved my marriage.
Because that is what getting your thyroid right actually does. It is not just about the weight. It is about your relationships, your career, your ability to show up as a mom, a wife, a friend. The trickle effects of an undiagnosed or undertreated thyroid condition are enormous. And most women have been told to just accept them as part of getting older.
There is no memo that says after 40 you throw in the towel. You can feel your absolute best. Dr. Amie has seen it happen over and over again.
In this episode you will hear:
Why six doctors told Dr. Amie her labs were normal when she had hypothyroidism
What a complete thyroid panel actually looks like versus what most doctors run
Why TSH alone is not enough to tell the full story of your thyroid health
The connection between cortisol, stress, and thyroid dysfunction
Why your symptoms are gifts your body is giving you β€” and what to do with them
How to advocate for yourself when your doctor dismisses your symptoms as normal aging
What thyroid optimization actually feels like and why it changes everything
Why getting personalized treatment is the only way to truly get optimized
Take Dr. Amie's Free Thyroid Assessment:πŸ‘‰ http://dramie.com/quiz
Get the FREE 7-Day Thyroid Healing Kickstarter:πŸ‘‰ https://fixyourthyroid.com/7daykickstart
Thyroid and Hormone Testing plus Consult:πŸ‘‰ https://fixerpowerlab.com
Get the Book β€” The Thyroid Fix:πŸ‘‰ https://thyroidfixbook.com
Connect with Dr. Amie Hornaman:Website: https://dramie.comPodcast: https://dramie.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramiehornamanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dramiehornamanFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dramieBetter Life Doctor: https://www.betterlifedoctor.com
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told her labs are normal but knows something is wrong
SEO Keywords and Tags:thyroid and weight gain, hypothyroidism symptoms women, labs are normal but feel terrible, thyroid fatigue, Dr Amie Hornaman, The Thyroid Fixer, thyroid fix book, thyroid testing women, TSH levels women, complete thyroid panel, thyroid and cortisol, thyroid hair loss, underactive thyroid symptoms, functional medicine thyroid, thyroid optimization, thyroid and hormones women over 40, thyroid and menopause, Fixxr supplements, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, thyroid specialist women, thyroid diagnosis conventional medicine, thyroid and metabolism, thyroid and brain fog

Aug 30, 2026

34 min

Jun 28, 2026

27 min

Stewardship, Discipline, Community, and Faith | Reframing Fitness with Ashton Gregory of Iron Forge Reignite
You have tried every program. Every diet. Every fitness trend on your feed.
And somewhere along the way it became about how you look instead of what your body was actually made for.
There is a different way to think about this.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Ashton Gregory, co-founder of Iron Forge Reignite, a Christian gym in North Fort Worth, Texas built on one unshakable conviction. The body is a temple, and we are called to steward it.
Ashton grew up in South Mississippi, one of the most obese states in the country, but even surrounded by a culture that normalized the opposite, she found fitness early and never let it go. Sports, running, triathlons, even a bikini competition. Through every season she became fascinated not just with training the body, but truly understanding it. She earned her degree in Exercise Science, went back to school for Physical Therapy, and spent over 14 years as a licensed PTA in outpatient care while personal training clients on the side.
When the Lord brought her husband Chris into her life and led them to Texas, they both carried the same dream, owning a gym one day. At the end of 2025, God started opening doors, and Iron Forge Reignite became the result. This is not a gym built on vanity or aesthetics. It is built on four pillars, stewardship, discipline, community, and faith, and Ashton and Chris are unapologetic about never separating any of it.
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation goes beneath the surface of fitness altogether. Ashton shares why most resistance to taking care of the body is not really about the body at all. It is about identity. About seeing yourself the way God already sees you, chosen, beautiful, and worthy, before you ever step foot in a gym.
In this episode you will hear:
What the four pillars of Iron Forge Reignite actually mean and how they show up every day
How Ashton's journey from athlete to physical therapist to gym owner shaped her view of fitness
Why First Timothy 4:8 is one of the most misquoted verses in fitness culture
Why resistance to self care is rooted in identity, not laziness or lack of discipline
How seeing yourself as chosen and beautifully made changes your relationship with your body
What it looked like for Ashton and Chris to wait on God's timing before opening their gym
How to connect with Iron Forge Reignite if you are local to Fort Worth, and how to access their free fasting guide if you are not
Visit Iron Forge Reignite (3 free workouts for new visitors):https://ironforgereignite.pushpress.com/landing/plans/plan_4551a30ed5e14b
Get the Free Unshakable Fasting Manual:https://canva.link/9i0zg2mgb4yj5sj
Connect with Ashton Gregory and Iron Forge Reignite:Instagram: @faithandfit_ash and @ironforgereigniteWebsite: ironforgereignite.comChris's Instagram: @chrisreignites
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been treating her body like a project instead of a gift
SEO Keywords and Tags:stewardship discipline community faith, body as a temple, faith and fitness, Christian gym, Iron Forge Reignite, Ashton Gregory, fitness and identity, body image healing faith, First Timothy 4 8, Christian fitness coach, fasting guide faith, North Fort Worth gym, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, women's body image faith, healing through faith fitness, daughter of the king identity, biblical mindset fitness, physical therapy fitness coach, reframing fitness

Jun 28, 2026

27 min

Jun 18, 2026

44 min

Chronic Stress, High Cortisol, and Spiritual Warfare | Why Your Health Struggles Are Bigger Than Science with Tori Jensen
You have tried everything.
The diets. The supplements. The advice from every wellness account on your feed.
And it still feels impossible to actually get healthy and stay healthy.
There is a reason for that. And it is bigger than science.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Tori Jensen, a registered dietitian and registered nurse with 15 years of clinical experience for a conversation that goes straight to the hill Christine says she will die on. Chronic stress and high cortisol in women's bodies right now is not just physical. It is spiritual warfare.
Tori knows this firsthand. A lifelong athlete and former collegiate soccer player, she built a career in nursing and nutrition before COVID reshaped everything about how she saw her work and her faith. When the vaccine mandate came down in California, she felt God make it unmistakably clear that it was not for her and she stood on that conviction even when it cost her job.
What followed was not bitterness. It was boldness. Tori shares how surrendering areas of her life she never expected to surrender opened a clarity and a peace she had not known before and how that same obedience is available to every woman listening.
This episode will encourage you to believe there is so much more available to you than what feels possible right now.
In this episode you will hear:
Why Christine believes chronic stress and high cortisol in women is rooted in spiritual warfare
Tori's journey from college athlete to registered dietitian to registered nurse
What happened when the COVID vaccine mandate came down and how Tori navigated that decision through faith
How being fired for her convictions ultimately deepened her boldness and her walk with God
Why praying the scary prayer is one of the most powerful things you can do
What it means to surrender areas of your life you never expected to surrender
How simple, consistent lifestyle habits fortify your body and your immune system
Why God has something better for you than whatever you are using as your pacifier right now
Connect with Tori Jensen:Instagram, X, and YouTube: @thetorijensenPodcast: The Nurse Tori Show on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts β€” it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who feels like getting healthy and staying healthy is impossible right now
SEO Keywords and Tags:chronic stress and cortisol, spiritual warfare health, high cortisol women, Tori Jensen RN RD, religious freedom health, faith and healing, praying the scary prayer, registered dietitian nurse, surrender and obedience faith, Christian health coach, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, women over 40 health, biblical mindset health, immune system faith, conviction over fear, First Liberty Institute, homeschool mom health coach, nurse fired religious exemption, God given immune system

Jun 18, 2026

44 min

Jun 14, 2026

37 min


Nervous System Healing, Trauma, and Faith | Why You Keep Getting Stuck and How to Break Free with Heather Shriver Burns
You have a good prayer life.
You are doing all the right things.
And you are still stuck.
You keep finding yourself in the same patterns. The same cycles. The same places you have been a hundred times before. And you cannot figure out why.
It is not your faith that is the problem. It is your nervous system.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with someone who has had a profound and deeply personal impact on her life. Heather Shriver Burns is a master coach, spiritual director, and founder of Seek First Sisterhood. For the past decade she has coached ambitious women of faith from stay at home moms to eight figure business owners helping them break the internal patterns keeping them from freedom, peace, and joy. Her work blends neuroscience, nervous system restoration, story work, and Kingdom principles to help women align their body, soul, and spirit and build a life that feels as good as it looks.
But Heather is not just a guest on this show.
She was Christine's personal coach for many years. Christine earned one of her certifications through Heather. And she is the coach who helped Christine step into healing her nervous system and trauma.
Heather's own story is extraordinary. A teacher turned corporate executive who stumbled into network marketing and built an eight figure business β€” only to lose it overnight at 27 weeks pregnant with her third child. That experience sent her searching. Not just for mindset tools but for something deeper. She discovered neuroscience. Then nervous system work. Then trauma healing. And the Holy Spirit connected every single piece to Scripture in a way that no pastor had ever shown her before.
Today she helps women understand that science and Scripture have always been saying the same thing. They just speak different languages.
This episode is for the woman who has read every book, done the work, knows the Word β€” and still cannot figure out why she keeps ending up in the same place.
You do not need more information. You need to understand why what you already know does not feel true for you.
In this episode you will hear:
Why nervous system dysregulation keeps women stuck no matter how much mindset work they do
The connection between trauma, cortisol, and the patterns that keep repeating in your life
Why healing happens in layers and why God in His kindness does not show us everything at once
How neuroscience and Scripture are saying the exact same thing in different languages
What Heather lost overnight at 27 weeks pregnant and how that loss became her calling
Why you do not need another Bible verse β€” you need to understand why the ones you already know do not feel true for you
What nervous system restoration actually looks like in practice
How Christine's own healing journey led to everything the Cortisol Coach Podcast stands for today
Work with Heather Shriver Burns:
Seek First CEO Academy for entrepreneurs ready to go deep into brain science, nervous system healing, and Kingdom principles
One on one coaching for the woman ready for intimate transformational work
Connect with Heather Shriver Burns:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathershriverburnsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.shriverPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seek-first-ceo-neuroscience-scripture-spirit-led-strategy/id1527176273
Connect with Christine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coachTo be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts β€” it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who keeps finding herself in the same patterns and cannot figure out why
SEO Keywords and Tags:nervous system healing women, trauma and cortisol, why am I stuck, breaking patterns faith, neuroscience and faith, Christian nervous system healing, Heather Shriver Burns, Seek First Sisterhood, nervous system dysregulation, trauma healing Christian women, faith and neuroscience, cortisol and trauma, Kingdom principles healing, women's mindset coach, spiritual director women, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, nervous system restoration, healing happens in layers, stuck in patterns, body soul spirit alignment, women over 40 healing, faith based coaching, biblical mindset healing, somatic healing faith

Jun 14, 2026

37 min

Jun 4, 2026

31 min

Hormones, Weight, and Longevity | Root Cause Medicine for Women in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Hart and Dr. Fashho of Eviva
You have a good doctor.
She runs your labs. She listens. She cares.
And you still leave every appointment feeling like something is being missed.
You are not wrong. And this episode is going to tell you why.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Abigail Hart and Dr. Charise Fashho β€” the co-founders of Eviva Total Wellness, both double board certified OB/GYNs and Obesity Medicine physicians, and Dr. Fashho holds additional certification as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner β€” for a conversation about what happens when two highly trained physicians decide that good is not good enough for the women they serve.
Together they co-founded Eviva Total Wellness β€” a practice dedicated to hormone health, weight wellness, and longevity medicine β€” built for the woman who always knew there had to be more.
Dr. Hart had every credential. A chief residency. A career in gynecologic oncology. A lifelong commitment to fitness and health. And then came her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. She was fit. She was active. She did everything right. And she still got sick. That experience sent her down a path of root cause research and cellular medicine that transformed her understanding of what women actually need.
Dr. Fashho met Dr. Hart on the labor wards β€” two OB/GYNs navigating one of the most demanding jobs in medicine while simultaneously trying to figure out their own health. Motherhood shifted her perspective completely. She started asking the question that medical training had never taught her to ask.
Why.
Christine also shares her own powerful moment β€” discovering that her social anxiety diagnosis was actually a serotonin deficiency revealed through genetic testing. And the reminder that lands throughout this entire conversation:
If you strip everything away, all you have is your health.
In this episode you will hear:
What led two board certified OB/GYNs to go beyond their training and build something new
What root cause and cellular medicine reveals that standard lab work misses
The truth about estrogen dominance and why so many women have it without knowing
What the MTHFR mutation is and why it matters for your hormones, mood, and metabolism
Why Christine's social anxiety diagnosis was actually a serotonin deficiency and how genetic testing revealed it
The functional testing Dr. Hart and Dr. Fashho run that most physicians never order
Why metabolic and cellular medicine is the missing piece for women who do everything right and still feel terrible
What Eviva Total Wellness is building and why it exists for women like you
Connect with Dr. Abigail Hart and Dr. Charise Fashho:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eviva.md
Connect with Christine:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts β€” it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told she is fine but knows something is being missed
SEO Keywords and Tags: hormones weight longevity, perimenopause symptoms, menopause root cause medicine, OB GYN holistic medicine, estrogen dominance, MTHFR mutation women, hormone testing women over 40, functional medicine OB GYN, Eviva Total Wellness, Dr Abigail Hart, Dr Charise Fashho, double board certified OB GYN, obesity medicine women, menopause society certified practitioner, metabolic health women, cellular medicine women, longevity medicine women, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, root cause hormone health, hormone imbalance perimenopause, weight wellness women, serotonin deficiency women, genetic testing hormones, perimenopause treatment, menopause specialist women

Jun 4, 2026

31 min

May 28, 2026

30 min

Hormone Imbalance, Menopause, and Cortisol | Why You Feel Terrible and What to Do About It with Dr. Anna Cabeca
Your labs are normal. Eat less. Walk more. Have a nice day.
If you have heard those words and walked out of a doctor’s office feeling completely unseen, this episode is for you.
In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Anna Cabeca, triple board certified OBGYN, bestselling author, and one of the most sought after voices in women’s hormone health in the world, for a conversation that is going to change the way you think about cortisol, menopause, and what your body is actually capable of.
Dr. Anna knows firsthand that your diagnosis is not your destiny. At 39, she was told she would never conceive again after failing six rounds of infertility treatments and being diagnosed with early menopause. She went on a healing journey around the world and naturally reversed early menopause, conceiving the child she was told she would never have at 41 years old.
Today she helps women understand the powerful connection between cortisol, oxytocin, and hormonal health, and why the keto green approach is changing the way women heal through perimenopause and menopause.
Christine also shares her own powerful moment. The day she met Dr. Anna was the same day she found out she was in mid menopause. And what Dr. Anna shared with her that day changed everything.
Optimal is not the same as normal. And you deserve optimal.
In this episode you will hear:
How cortisol and oxytocin are always in opposition and what that means for your health
Why the keto green approach works specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause
What alkalinity has to do with hormones and why most women have never heard this
How Dr. Anna naturally reversed early menopause and conceived at 41
Why your labs being normal does not mean you are optimal
What functional lab testing reveals that standard labs miss
How to advocate for yourself when your doctor dismisses you
Why dysregulated hormones are spiritual warfare and what God designed your body for
Get Dr. Anna’s FREE 10 Day Breeze Through Menopause Program:https://dranna.com/tribe
Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:
Website:https://drannacabeca.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/thegirlfrienddoctor
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca
Podcast:https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/podcast
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/drannacabeca
Connect with Christine:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show.
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode.
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told her labs are normal but knows something is wrong.
SEO Keywords and Tags:
Dr Anna Cabeca, The Hormone Fix, keto green approach, cortisol and menopause, perimenopause hormones, menopause weight gain, hormone optimization women, early menopause reversal, cortisol and oxytocin, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, functional medicine women, hormone testing women over 40, keto green 16, MenuPause, girlfriend doctor, women’s hormone health, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, normal labs but feel terrible, hormone imbalance menopause, integrative medicine women, adrenal health women, oxytocin and stress, spiritual warfare hormones

May 28, 2026

30 min

May 21, 2026

33 min

In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Tabatha Barber β€” triple board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, menopause, and functional medicine, and founder of Fast to Faith β€” for one of the most powerful and prophetic conversations this show has ever had.
Dr. Tabatha's story is extraordinary. She built a medical career to prove everyone wrong β€” driving herself into Hashimoto's, depression, IBS, weight gain, and a back injury that two surgeons said required spinal fusion. And it was not until God stopped her cold and said β€” you left me in the delivery room and never brought me on the journey β€” that everything changed.
Today she helps women heal their hormones, gut, and metabolism by addressing root causes β€” not just symptoms β€” through her signature Fast to Faith framework that integrates fasting, neuroscience, and biblical truth.
This episode is not just about hormones. It is about what happens when you stop trying to carry your health journey alone and finally invite Jesus in.
Because your body is not broken. Your approach is.
In this episode you will hear:
Dr. Tabatha's raw and remarkable story β€” from teenage mother and high school dropout to triple board certified physician
Why she left conventional medicine and what functional medicine does differently
The gut and hormone connection that is the missing link for most women
What fasting does specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause
How Romans 12:2 is the original neuroplasticity protocol
Why Scripture and science have been saying the same thing all along
The Fast to Faith 40 day program and what it does for women's health
What to say to Jesus when you do not even know where to start
Join Dr. Tabatha's FREE Masterclass β€” From Stuck to Free:
πŸ‘‰ https://masterclass.fasttofaith.com/fromstucktofree
FREE Guide to Intermittent Fasting the Faithful Way:
πŸ‘‰ https://fasttofaith.com/intermittent-fasting-guide/
FREE Balancing Your Hormones Naturally Guide:
πŸ‘‰ https://drtabatha.com/free-hormone-guide/
Connect with Dr. Tabatha Barber:
Website: https://fasttofaith.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutsydrtabatha
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTabatha
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fasttofaith
Connect with Christine:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach
If this episode blessed you:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts β€” it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show
Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode
Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been white knuckling her health journey alone
SEO Keywords & Tags: faith based functional medicine, healing hormones naturally, gut health and hormones, Fast to Faith, Dr Tabatha Barber, fasting and hormones women, perimenopause functional medicine, menopause root cause healing, Hashimoto's natural healing, hormone imbalance women over 40, biblical health, Christian wellness, faith and medicine, cortisol and gut health, metabolic health women, fasting for women over 40, Jesus and healing, functional medicine OBGYN, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, Fast to Faith 40 day program, intermittent fasting women hormones, renewing your mind Romans 12:2

May 21, 2026

33 min

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