The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant

Most women don't recognize perimenopause until they're already deep in it, and their doctors often miss it too. In this episode, Schuyler Grant sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid, founder of HerMD and women's sexual health expert; Dr. Sarah de la Torre, OB-GYN and functional medicine physician; and Elena Brower, bestselling author and teacher, to talk about what's actually happening hormonally during perimenopause and why so much of it goes unrecognized, minimized, or misdiagnosed. They discuss: Why perimenopause often starts in the late thirties and early forties, long before hot flashes or cycle changes appear The symptoms most commonly missed — sleep disruption, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, and changes in body composition Why so many women leave their doctor's office with an antidepressant when what they actually needed was hormone support How siloed specialties, underfunded research, and undertrained clinicians are failing women at midlife What it means to be the CEO of your own healthcare — and how to advocate for yourself inside a system that wasn't built with you in mind If you've ever walked out of a doctor's office with more confusion than you walked in with, this episode is for you. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health. Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com. BiOptimizers: Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

You look in the mirror and something's different. Your skin, your hair. And nobody really warned you that this was coming, or that it was hormonal. This is part two of the conversation on the visible changes of midlife. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get into the biology behind what's actually happening to skin and hair as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline. They discuss: What declining hormones actually do to collagen, elastin, and blood flow and why your skin is your largest organ, not just a vanity concern Topical estrogen for the face. What it is, how it differs from vaginal estrogen, and why even the doctors in this conversation hadn't heard of it The Women's Health Initiative, the black box warning that just came off vaginal estrogen, and what two decades of misinformation actually cost women Whether starting HRT earlier makes a visible difference and what the data does and doesn't support How to tell the difference between a choice that's genuinely yours and one that's been shaped by outside pressure Most women are handed moisturizer and told to drink more water. This episode goes considerably further than that. For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit ⁠www.luminescence.health⁠. Presented by our sponsors: Stripes: Visit ⁠stripesbeauty.com⁠ and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line. Genova Connect: Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit ⁠connect.gdx.net⁠. LivOn Labs: Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at ⁠LivOnLabs.com⁠. BiOptimizers: Go to ⁠bioptimizers.com/luminescence⁠ and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

Sex therapist and legendary podcast host Dr. Emily Morse joins Schuyler Grant at Luminescence Los Angeles for an open, honest conversation about why so many women feel disconnected from their pleasure — and what to do about it. Together, they explore how shame, stress, trauma, and cultural messaging impact sexual health; why communication is the ultimate lubrication; and practical strategies to reignite intimacy in long-term relationships. From nervous system regulation to mindful masturbation, you'll discover empowering tools to reconnect with your body, your desires, and your partner — at any stage of life. This talk was recorded live at Luminescence Los Angeles - February 1, 2025. Learn more about future events at ⁠onecommune.com/luminescence⁠.

Pleasure Beyond Penetration, Kink, Communication & Chronic Pain It’s time to dismantle the outdated script that defines intimacy as penetration with orgasm as the goal. From queer sex to neurodivergent pleasure to the realities of long-term relationships, this conversation invites you to rethink what connection and satisfaction truly mean. We talk intimacy beyond heteronormative norms, why connection — not orgasm — is what people actually say makes sex satisfying, how kink communities model clear consent and communication, why novelty and curiosity matter (especially for neurodivergent brains), and how chronic pain, fatigue, and health conditions change intimacy without ending it. This is about redefining pleasure on your terms, not the movie version. You'll Learn: Why connection, not orgasm, predicts sexual satisfaction How heteronormative scripts limit pleasure for many women What kink communities teach us about consent + communication Why novelty, sensory input, and curiosity keep desire alive How to explore pleasure if you don’t even know what you like yet Why self-pleasure improves partnered sex and communication Intimacy without penetration: expanding what “sex” means How chronic pain, endometriosis, fatigue, or disability affect intimacy Tools, positioning aids, and adaptations that make sex more accessible Why orgasms are a nervous system event — not just genital If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing sex wrong,” this episode is your reminder: there is no one right way — only what creates safety, connection, and pleasure for you. Featured Guests: Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Nothing will tank your libido faster than stress, which cranks up your cortisol and puts your body in survival mode. Learn what’s really happening in your brain when you feel anxious, numb, or disconnected, and how you can reset your stress hormones and get your mojo back. We talk about how chronic stress can disrupt sleep, metabolism, mood, and connection, and why desire is not “broken,” it is often responding to a nervous system that does not feel safe. Plus, practical tools to regulate stress, send safety signals, and get your vitality back. You'll learn: What the HPA axis is and how cortisol can suppress sex hormones Why chronic stress drives cravings, inflammation, and insulin resistance The difference between spontaneous desire and responsive desire How the mental load and relationship strain can put the brakes on libido Simple nervous system resets like breathwork, walking, and co regulation Sleep basics that support healthier cortisol rhythms How to spot early stress cues so you can intervene sooner Featured Guests: Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

So many of us feel anxious or disconnected from our bodies because we don't understand why our sexual desire fluctuates. This episode breaks down the hormonal dance that drives (and sometimes derails) your sex drive, explaining what happens to your metabolism, mood, and libido through midlife. We get crystal clear on desire vs arousal vs orgasm, why estrogen is a major driver of fantasy and craving, and why progesterone can make you drier, slower to warm up, and harder to orgasm (you’re not broken, you’re hormonally alive). Then we zoom out to the midlife reality: metabolism shifts, insulin resistance, body changes, stress, sleep… and the underrated longevity superpower that changes everything: connection and community. You'll Learn: • Responsive vs spontaneous desire (both normal) • Why ovulation can feel like “sex brain” • Why the luteal phase can mean dryness + more foreplay • What shifts in perimenopause (metabolism, muscle, belly fat) • Simple blood sugar levers: protein, fiber, walking, sleep • Why body image and stress can tank libido • Why connection might matter more than any supplement • If you’ve ever wondered, “Is something wrong with me?”, this episode is your permission slip: your libido isn’t a personality flaw. It’s biology + life. Featured Guests: • Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill • Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution • Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Ever wonder why your sex drive vanishes, your brain turns to mush, or you want to rage-quit your entire life for no reason? Blame your hormones, or, more specifically, how estrogen and progesterone run your brain. In this episode, Schuyler Grant and her expert panel (Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Marisa Snyder, and Rosie Acosta) break down why it can feel like your brain is actively betraying you, particularly in perimenopause. What you'll learn: • Estrogen and progesterone are brain hormones (not just “lady parts” hormones) • The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis explained in plain language • Why perimenopause brings brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, and vanishing libido • The menstrual cycle phases and how hormones shift throughout • What's happening to your serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels • Why 80% of perimenopause symptoms happen in your brain • A simple breathing technique to calm your nervous system Here's the thing: for decades, doctors thought women's hormones only affected reproduction. Turns out, estrogen and progesterone control your brain, bones, heart, metabolism, gut health, and basically everything. When they start declining in your mid-to-late thirties, your brain goes through a massive remodeling. No wonder you feel like you're losing your mind. This episode helps you understand what's actually happening and how to take back control. Featured Guests: • Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill • Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution • Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Host Schuyler Grant and a roundtable of women's health experts cut through the shame and get real about sex hormones and intimacy. From the orgasm gap to hormonal birth control, from stress and cortisol to testosterone therapy, Season 1 tackles the questions women have been asking in whispers—with science, honesty, and zero judgment. This season, host Schuyler Grant joins forces with Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Marisa Snyder, and Rosie Acosta to close the knowledge gap on the three pillars of female vitality: Sex, Hormones, and Intimacy.