Imagine being 36 weeks pregnant and discovering that the person you've spent 20 years with has been hiding a devastating truth.

In Part 1 of this deeply personal conversation on Hormones & Hot Takes, Lori shares a story she's kept private for nearly five years. Even Carrie, one of her closest friends, is hearing much of it for the first time.

What begins as a conversation about life's hardest seasons becomes an honest discussion about marriage, infidelity, betrayal trauma, forgiveness, faith, and healing after heartbreak.

While preparing to welcome her fourth child, Lori was also facing her mother's life-threatening illness and grieving the loss of a close friend. Then came the confession that changed the way she viewed her marriage and years of memories.

But here's what surprised her most.

She had already chosen forgiveness. So why was she still struggling with overwhelming emotions, broken trust, and unexpected triggers?

In Part 1, we discuss:

❤️ Discovering infidelity after years of marriage

💔 Why betrayal can affect your trust, memories, and sense of security

🧠 The emotional and physical reactions that can follow traumatic experiences

🙏 The complicated relationship between faith, forgiveness, and healing

💬 Why counseling and honest conversations became part of Lori's journey

👩‍👧 What it looks like to navigate heartbreak while raising children and managing everyday responsibilities

✨ Why healing doesn't always look the way we expected

This conversation isn't about telling women whether they should stay in a marriage or leave. Every relationship and healing journey is different.

It's about sharing a real story, asking difficult questions, and reminding women that they don't have to pretend everything is okay while they're working through something painful.

We'd love to hear from you:

What's something you wish people understood about healing after betrayal?

Please share only what you're comfortable sharing.

🔔 Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for honest conversations about women's health, marriage, motherhood, relationships, faith, trauma, and personal growth.

Topics in this episode:
Marriage after infidelity • Betrayal trauma • Healing after cheating • Forgiveness • Rebuilding trust • Faith and marriage • Relationship trauma • Women's mental health • Emotional healing • Marriage counseling • Motherhood • Personal growth

Until next time, keep asking questions, keep learning, and let's figure this whole womanhood thing out together.

⚠️ Fair warning: We have a tendency to chase rabbit trails. Somehow, they usually lead somewhere worth going.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of infidelity, trauma, and past sexual abuse.

#MarriageAfterInfidelity #BetrayalTrauma #HormonesAndHotTakes

Think pelvic floor problems only happen after having a baby? Think again.

In Part 2 of our conversation with pelvic floor physical therapist Angela Turnow, we're getting practical about pelvic floor health and breaking down some of the misconceptions women have been taught about their bodies.

Can your pelvic floor be both tight AND weak? Are Kegels always the answer? Are squats enough? What do your nervous system, constipation, hydration, and even the way you move throughout the day have to do with your pelvic floor?

We're talking about all of it.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Signs of pelvic floor dysfunction women may overlook
💧 Why hydration matters for pelvic floor health
🚽 The connection between constipation and your pelvic floor
🧠 How your nervous system can affect your bladder, bowels, and pelvic floor
🏋️ Why working out and doing squats doesn't necessarily mean you're strengthening your pelvic floor correctly
🤰 Why pelvic floor dysfunction isn't only a pregnancy or postpartum issue
💪 The difference between a tight pelvic floor and a weak pelvic floor
🚶‍♀️ Why everyday movement matters
❤️ Why individualized pelvic floor therapy can make a difference
🗣️ Why women should keep asking questions when they're told symptoms are "just normal"

And yes...

Somewhere along the way, this becomes a conversation about poop. 😂

Because apparently pelvic floor health involves a lot more than Kegels.

If you've experienced bladder leaks when coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, or exercising, pelvic heaviness, constipation, back or hip discomfort, or you've simply wondered whether your pelvic floor is functioning the way it should, this conversation may give you some new questions to ask.

Our biggest takeaway?

Common doesn't always mean something you simply have to live with.

Ask questions. Pay attention to your body. And when something doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to seek individualized guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What's something about women's health that you were once told was "just normal"?

Tell us in the comments.

☕ Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and let's figure this whole womanhood thing out together.

Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for honest conversations about women's health, hormones, perimenopause, menopause, motherhood, relationships, faith, healing, and everything we wish someone had told us years ago.

🎙️ TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE

Pelvic floor health • Pelvic floor dysfunction • Pelvic floor therapy • Women's health • Bladder leakage • Urinary incontinence • Pelvic floor exercises • Postpartum health • Constipation • Nervous system regulation • Women's wellness • Exercise for women • Healthy aging • Motherhood • Hormones & Hot Takes

#PelvicFloor #PelvicFloorHealth #WomensHealth #PelvicFloorTherapy #PostpartumHealth #WomensWellness #HormonesAndHotTakes

Pee when you sneeze? Still wondering what happened to your core after having kids? If the only advice you've heard is "just do Kegels," this conversation is for you.

In Part 1 of our two-part conversation, orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Angela Turnow joins Carrie and Lori to explain what the pelvic floor is and why she looks beyond one muscle group when someone comes to her for help. We talk about leaking, changes after pregnancy, the connection between your hips, abs, ribs, and pelvic floor, and why it's okay to ask more questions when the advice you've been given isn't helping.

Angela also shares her own experience of feeling unfamiliar with her body after having children. It's an honest conversation about symptoms women often joke about, quietly put up with, or don't realize they can bring up with a professional.

What pelvic floor advice have you heard most often? Tell us in the comments.

And subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes so you don't miss Part 2 with Angela.

00:00 Angela - Part 1: Why Kegels Aren't Enough

00:05 Introduction

01:09 Meet Angela

12:21 What Is the Pelvic Floor?

20:08 The Prolapse Conversation

25:33 The Emsella Chair

Find Angela:

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

Website: https://activemotherhood.mvt.so/

Listen to Hormones & Hot Takes:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033R3AZI2eKDMHGbUVDmhs?si=bTBYIp5iQ92lhMHYYr7-2g

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hormones-hot-takes/id6788397484

This conversation is for education and discussion. If you're experiencing leaking, pelvic pain, or other symptoms, a qualified healthcare professional can help you understand your options.

What happens when the career everyone recognizes no longer fits the life or health you want?

Former television news anchor Nikki Burdine joins Carrie and Lori for an honest conversation about life after morning news, rebuilding after an unexpected career change, and becoming more present for the people who matter most.

Nikki shares how years of waking up at 2:30 a.m., working inside a windowless newsroom, and reporting difficult stories affected her mood, inflammation, nervous system, and Tourette syndrome. She also opens up about her transition into content creation and why she has embraced building a career as an influencer.

The conversation also gets refreshingly real about perimenopause, unexplained anger, changing skin, hormone replacement therapy, Botox, PRP treatments, aging, and the pressure women feel to hide what they do to look and feel their best.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Life after working in television news
• How disrupted sleep can affect your physical and mental health
• Nikki's experience living and working with Tourette syndrome
• The connection between stress, anxiety, and the nervous system
• Unexpected symptoms of perimenopause
• Honest conversations about Botox, PRP, skincare, and aging
• Why women should be able to make their own beauty choices without shame
• Turning social media into an income stream
• Reinventing yourself after losing a job
• Why no woman should rely entirely on one source of income

This conversation is candid, funny, and full of the kinds of things women often experience but do not always say out loud.

What part of Nikki's story resonated with you most? Tell us in the comments.

Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for more honest conversations about women's health, hormones, relationships, motherhood, personal growth, and everything women are thinking but may be afraid to say.

CONNECT WITH NIKKI:
Follow Nikki on Facebook

Follow Nikki on Instagram

Not the News Podcast

Get to know Nikki here

FOLLOW HORMONES & HOT TAKES:
YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

Disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and opinions for informational and entertainment purposes. It is not medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health needs.

#NikkiBurdine #Perimenopause #LifeAfterTV

Has modern feminism empowered women, or has it created new pressures that leave women feeling disconnected from themselves, relationships, and traditional femininity?

In this bold episode of Hormones & Hot Takes, Carrie and Lori explore modern feminism, gender roles, modesty, dating, marriage, and what it means to feel feminine in today's culture.

They share two different perspectives, one from a longtime marriage and one from the modern dating world, while asking whether independence has truly made women happier or simply expected them to carry everything alone.

In this episode:

• How modern feminism has affected women and the family
• The difference between women's rights and toxic feminism
• Why some women struggle to embrace softness and femininity
• Whether feminism has made traditional gender roles confusing
• What women really mean when they want a man to lead
• Why men may feel uncertain about dating, pursuit, and chivalry
• The importance of continuing to pursue your partner in marriage
• How love languages and relationship needs change over time
• Modesty, self-respect, and the pressure to sexualize women
• Why healthy relationships require communication and mutual effort

This conversation is honest, personal, and guaranteed to spark debate. Carrie and Lori are not claiming to have every answer. They are opening the door to a larger conversation about womanhood, masculinity, relationships, faith, and the cultural messages shaping us all.

What do you think? Has modern feminism gone too far, or is it still necessary for women's progress? Share your perspective respectfully in the comments.

Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for candid conversations about women's issues, relationships, motherhood, faith, hormones, mental health, and the topics people are often afraid to discuss.

#ModernFeminism #FeminismDebate #TraditionalFemininity #GenderRoles #DatingAdvice #MarriageAdvice #WomenEmpowerment #HormonesAndHotTakes

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the deaths of children, suicide, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, intrusive thoughts, and other potentially distressing mental-health topics. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

The Lindsay Clancy case has captured national attention—but beyond the courtroom is a conversation about maternal mental health that desperately needs to happen.

In this episode of Hormones & Hot Takes, Carrie and Lori examine the competing arguments surrounding the case and the question at the center of the trial: Was Lindsay Clancy able to understand the wrongfulness of her actions, or was she experiencing a severe postpartum psychiatric crisis?

They discuss:

• The difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis
• Warning signs families should understand
• Intrusive thoughts and why mothers may be afraid to speak up
• Sleep deprivation, hormones, anxiety, and the mental load of motherhood
• Clancy's reported treatment and medication history
• Whether fragmented maternal mental-health care is putting women at risk
• The difference between understanding mental illness and excusing harm
• Why supporting mothers must extend beyond telling them to "ask for help"

This conversation is not about deciding guilt or innocence. It is about asking what we can learn—and what needs to change—so struggling mothers receive meaningful care before a crisis occurs.

What do you believe the Lindsay Clancy case reveals about the way we treat postpartum mental health? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.

👍 Like this episode
💬 Join the conversation
🔔 Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for honest conversations about women's health, hormones, motherhood, relationships, healing, faith, and the topics women are often afraid to discuss.

MENTAL-HEALTH RESOURCES

If you or someone you know may be experiencing postpartum psychosis, seek immediate professional help and do not leave the individual or children alone.

• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-852-6262
• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net

Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. These resources and recommendations are confirmed by Postpartum Support International and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

DISCLAIMER: Carrie and Lori are sharing personal perspectives for discussion and educational purposes. They are not providing medical, psychiatric, or legal advice. Some claims surrounding this active legal case remain disputed. Seek guidance from qualified professionals for personal medical or mental-health concerns.

#LindsayClancy #PostpartumPsychosis #PostpartumDepression #MaternalMentalHealth #WomensMentalHealth #HormonesAndHotTakes

What do you wish someone had told you about marriage, motherhood, friendship, and confidence?

In this honest and unfiltered episode of Hormones & Hot Takes, Lori and Carrie unpack the lessons women often learn the hard way—from realizing that lasting love is a daily choice to navigating mom guilt, breaking generational cycles, and building friendships rooted in authenticity.

They also explore how childhood experiences and unresolved trauma can affect adult relationships, why perfection isn't the goal in motherhood, and how genuine confidence grows when you trust yourself enough to take risks.

In this episode:

• Why love and healthy relationships require intentional effort
• How your inner child can show up in marriage and parenting
• The truth about mom guilt, mistakes, and repairing with your children
• Why friendships naturally change through different seasons
• The difference between supportive friends and enabling friends
• How authenticity helps you find the right people
• Why self-trust is the foundation of real confidence
• The importance of remembering who you were before the world told you who to be

If you've ever questioned whether you're doing marriage, motherhood, friendship, or life "right," this conversation will remind you that growth doesn't require perfection—it requires honesty, grace, and the courage to keep showing up.

💬 What do you wish someone had told you earlier in life? Share your answer in the comments.

Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for honest conversations about women's wellness, motherhood, relationships, emotional healing, faith, hormones, and becoming who you were created to be.

#MarriageAdvice #Motherhood #WomensConfidence #FemaleFriendships #SelfTrust #GenerationalTrauma #EmotionalHealing #HormonesAndHotTakes

What do you wish someone had told you about being a woman?

In this honest, unfiltered episode of Hormones & Hot Takes, we're talking about the realities of womanhood that too often go unspoken—from changing hormones and brain fog to aging, self-care, faith, identity, and the pressure to hold everything together.

We explore:

• Why women feel guilty for prioritizing themselves
• How hormones can affect mood, sleep, energy, memory, weight, and confidence
• What it means to advocate for your own health
• The complicated messages women receive about femininity and independence
• Why aging doesn't mean losing yourself
• How every season can bring you closer to the woman you were created to be
• Our experiences with 75 Hard and finally prioritizing our health

This is the conversation we wish we could have overheard years ago—real, raw, imperfect, and full of hot takes.

💬 What is one thing you wish someone had told you about womanhood, hormones, or aging? Share it in the comments.

Subscribe to Hormones & Hot Takes for honest conversations about women's health, motherhood, faith, relationships, personal growth, and real life without the polished facade.

This episode shares personal experiences and opinions and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health needs.

#HormonesAndHotTakes #WomensHealth #Perimenopause #WomenOver40 #HormoneHealth #HealthyAging #SelfCareForWomen #ChristianWomen