If you own a pair of breasts, this episode is for you. 😉In this episode, Dr. Laura Wright sits down with Sheri Higbee of Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska to discuss breast thermography, a non-invasive imaging technology that uses infrared heat patterns to assess physiological changes within breast tissue.

Sheri explains how thermography differs from mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI, and why she believes combining multiple screening tools can provide women with a more complete picture of breast health.

Together they discuss:

• What breast thermography is and how it works

• The difference between physiological and anatomical imaging

• Dense breast tissue and why it matters

• Breast self-exams and routine screening

• Estrogen dominance and breast health

• Lifestyle factors that may influence breast cancer risk

• Exercise, stress management, and lymphatic health

• Environmental exposures and breast health

• Why prevention and risk reduction deserve more attention

Sheri also shares her personal journey into breast thermography and the experiences that inspired her mission to educate women about breast health.

Connect with Sheri Higbee & Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska:

Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska

Connect with Ascent Health & Performance:

Website: ⁠https://www.ascentak.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@ascenthealth_ak

Will lifting weights make me bulky? How heavy is "heavy enough?" And what's really keeping so many women from strength training?

In this episode of On the Ascent Health, Dr. Laura Wright sits down with Alysa Horn, strength and conditioning specialist, basketball development coach, and owner of The Sweat Lab in Anchorage, Alaska.

Together, they unpack the biggest myths surrounding women's strength training—from the fear of getting bulky to the misconception that lifting heavy is only for athletes. Alysa shares why building muscle is one of the best investments women can make for their long-term health, how to train for longevity instead of exhaustion, and why consistency beats perfection every time.

Whether you've never stepped foot in a weight room or you've been lifting for years, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered to train with confidence.

In this episode:

• Why every woman should strength train

• The difference between resistance training, weight training, powerlifting, and Olympic lifting

• Why lifting heavy doesn't make most women "bulky"

• Strength vs. power—and why both matter as we age

• How muscle supports metabolism, bone density, and longevity

• Finding the right balance between consistency and intensity

• Why recovery and sleep are just as important as your workouts

• How community helps people stay consistent with exercise

• Alysa's personal journey from a herniated disc to lifting heavy again

• The biggest excuses keeping women out of the weight room—and how to overcome them

  
  

  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Alysa Horn and The Sweat Lab

02:00 – Resistance training vs. weightlifting vs. CrossFit

07:30 – How The Sweat Lab differs from a traditional CrossFit gym

11:45 – Should women lift heavy?

15:30 – The myth of "bulking up"

20:15 – Strength, power, and why they matter for longevity

24:00 – Preventing injuries and learning proper technique

28:30 – Community, accountability, and staying consistent

31:45 – Alysa's back injury changed her perspective on lifting

34:15 – The biggest excuses holding women back

36:00 – Recovery, sleep, and building sustainable fitness habits

Connect with Alysa Horn:The Sweat Lab – Anchorage, Alaska

Website: https://www.makeyourselfak.com

Instagram: @thesweatlabak

Connect with Ascent Health & Performance:

Website: https://www.ascentak.com

Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who has been curious about strength training. And if you enjoy the podcast, leaving a rating or review helps more people discover conversations that empower them to move, feel, and live better.

Exercise shouldn't be punishment—it should be something that helps you feel stronger, more confident, and more at home in your body.

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Gwen Swanson, movement coach and founder of Mind + Muscle, to discuss how women can build a healthier relationship with exercise—one focused on strength, confidence, and longevity rather than guilt or chasing a certain body size.

They cover:

• Why women should strength train at every age

• How to build a healthier relationship with exercise

• Moving beyond diet culture and exercising to "get skinny"

• The benefits of strength training for longevity, bone health, and everyday life

• Why mobility, foam rolling, and walking still matter

• How to know if you're lifting enough weight

• The difference between discomfort, soreness, and pain

• Recovery and why getting stronger happens between workouts

• Why form matters—but perfection isn't the goal

• Building confidence and self-trust through movement

• Simple ways to create an effective full-body workout

• How to stay motivated when you don't feel like exercising

• Why movement should be a lifelong practice, not a 12-week challenge

This episode is for women who:

• Feel intimidated by lifting weights

• Have struggled with consistency or motivation

• Want to build strength without obsessing over the scale

• Are looking for a sustainable approach to fitness

• Want to feel stronger, more capable, and more confident in their bodies

Whether you're just getting started or have been exercising for years, this conversation offers practical advice and a refreshing perspective on making movement something you enjoy—not something you have to endure.

Connect with Gwen & Mind + Muscle
Website: https://mindmuscleak.com

Instagram: @gwendianne

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska—a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life.

Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance
Website: https://ascentak.com
Podcast: https://ascentak.com/podcast
Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak

Strength training might be one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term health—yet it’s still one of the most overlooked.

In this episode, Dr. Laura is joined by Dr. Samantha Fox, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Breakout PT & Wellness, to break down why resistance training matters and how it supports everything from injury prevention to longevity.

We talk about what strength training actually is (and isn’t), why it’s especially important for women as we age, and how building muscle impacts your body on a cellular level—not just how you look, but how you function.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to stay active, strong, and capable for the long run—whether that means hiking, skiing, lifting your kids, or simply moving through life with confidence.

💪 Join Us: Ladies Learn to LiftWant to learn how to strength train in a supportive, hands-on environment?

We’re hosting a Ladies Learn to Lift workshop + series at Ascent Health & Performance to teach you the fundamentals of lifting with confidence.

👉 https://ascentak.com/ladies-learn-to-lift/

In this episode, we cover:

• What counts as resistance training (and how it differs from cardio)

• Why strength training is critical for injury prevention

• The connection between muscle, metabolism, and bone density

• Mental health benefits and building confidence through strength

• Why women are unlikely to “bulk up”

• How much strength training you actually need (hint: it’s doable)

• Common mistakes people make when starting

• Practical ways to start—even if you don’t have a gym

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past—what matters is that you start now. Strength training helps you build a body that supports the life you want to live.

Connect with Samantha Fox, DPT & Breakout PT & Wellness

Instagram: @BreakoutPTandWellness
Website: BreakoutPTandWellness.com

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska — a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life.

Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance

Website: ⁠⁠https://ascentak.com/⁠⁠

Podcast : ⁠⁠ascentak.com/podcast⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ascenthealth_ak⁠

If you’re exercising, eating well, and doing everything you know to do—but your body composition still isn’t changing—this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with EB, an integrative nurse practitioner at Eden Health Alaska, to unpack what’s often called weight resistance—and why fat loss becomes harder with age, stress, hormonal shifts, and metabolic changes.

Rather than focusing on the number on the scale, this episode dives into body composition, energy, and longevity. We explore how sleep, insulin resistance, cortisol, gut health, and hormonal balance all interact—and why tools like intermittent fasting can be powerful or counterproductive depending on timing, stress levels, and where you are in life.

You’ll learn:

• What weight resistance really is and why “doing everything right” may no longer work

• How chronic stress, poor sleep, and insulin resistance stall fat loss

• Why intermittent fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all—especially for women

• How cortisol and thyroid function influence metabolism and energy

• The role of gut health and cravings in body composition

• Simple, sustainable habits that actually support metabolic health

This episode is about working with your physiology—not fighting it—and building strength, resilience, and long-term health.

Connect with EB Osara, Integrative Nurse Practitioner
🌐 Website: https://www.edenhealthak.com
📸 Instagram: @eden_health_ak
📞 Office: 907-302-3006

Connect With Us:

On the Ascent: Health is brought to you by Ascent Health & Performance — a multidisciplinary clinic in Anchorage, Alaska offering chiropractic care, physical therapy, shockwave therapy, personal training, and small-group fitness.

🌐 ⁠https://www.ascenthealthak.com⁠

📸 Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak

Most women were never taught how their menstrual cycle actually works — or how deeply it affects energy, mood, stress tolerance, workouts, and overall health.

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright is joined by functional hormone specialist Anne McLeary for a practical, eye-opening conversation about hormones, stress, and learning to work with your cycle instead of constantly pushing through it.

Anne explains why so many women experience heavy or painful periods, PMS, irregular cycles, or burnout, and how modern stress, blood sugar dysregulation, and environmental toxins can disrupt ovulation and hormone balance. We break down the four phases of the menstrual cycle in a simple, approachable way and discuss how energy, motivation, and resilience naturally change throughout the month.

This episode also covers:

• Why ovulation quality matters — even if you’re not trying to conceive

• The connection between stress, estrogen dominance, and progesterone

• What cycle syncing actually means for workouts, nutrition, sleep, and social plans

• Why symptoms like PMS and extreme fatigue aren’t “just normal”

• Simple, actionable steps women can take right now to better support their hormones

• How understanding your cycle now can support a healthier transition into menopause

Workshop

Anne McLeary will be hosting an in-person women’s hormone workshop at Ascent Health & Performance on February 3rd at 6:00 PM, where she’ll dive deeper into understanding your menstrual cycle and supporting hormone balance naturally.

🔗 Learn more and register here:
https://ascentak.com/workshop-womens-hormones/

Connect

Anne McLeary
Instagram: @mcleary.anne
Website: https://www.annemcleary.com

Ascent Health & Performance
Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak
Website: https://www.ascentak.com

About the Podcast:
On The Ascent: Health explores evidence-based conversations around women’s health, performance, longevity, and living well — hosted by Dr. Laura Peterson Wright of Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review — it helps more people discover the show.

In this episode of On the Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Dr. Breana Hauskins, a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Alaska and Montana, to break down gut health in a clear, practical way.

We cover what gut health actually means, why it plays such a foundational role in energy, hormones, immunity, and inflammation, and how food sensitivity testing and functional lab work can be used as tools to guide healing.

This episode also includes a real-life look at Dr. Laura’s own food sensitivity results and why unexpected foods can sometimes show up, while common offenders don’t.

Description)In this episode, we discuss:

• What “gut health” really includes (beyond just digestion)

• The role of stomach acid, enzymes, motility, and absorption

• The gut microbiome and why it matters

• How the standard American diet impacts gut balance and inflammation

• Keto and carnivore diets — potential benefits, limitations, and context

• Processed foods, preservatives, and agricultural chemicals

• Fermented foods and why modern diets are missing them

• Food sensitivity testing (IgG vs IgE) and how to interpret results

• Common mistakes people make when trying to fix gut health on their own

• Why extreme diets and supplement overload often backfire

• When probiotics, enzymes, or testing may actually be helpful

Dr. Bre emphasizes a “test, don’t guess” approach—using objective data, thoughtful diet changes, and realistic lifestyle strategies rather than extremes.

If you’ve ever wondered why your gut symptoms don’t seem to make sense—or why fixing them feels overwhelming—this episode brings clarity and balance to a very noisy topic.

🔗 Learn More About Dr. Bre

Northern Lights Natural Medicine
🌿 Website: https://www.northernlightsnaturalmedicine.com/

🤍 Connect With Us:

On the Ascent: Health is brought to you by Ascent Health & Performance — a multidisciplinary clinic in Anchorage, Alaska offering chiropractic care, physical therapy, shockwave therapy, personal training, and small-group fitness.

📍 Anchorage, Alaska
🌐 https://www.ascenthealthak.com
📸 Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak

In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Laura continues her discussion with registered dietitian Kylie Viens, diving into what nutrition actually looks like in real life — not on paper.

They talk about practical strategies for eating out, navigating food prep without overwhelm, and why when you eat can matter just as much as what you eat. Kylie also explains how stress, mood, and hunger influence food choices, and why willpower is rarely the real issue.

This episode covers:

• How to approach eating out without rigid food rules

• Simple ways to think about food prep (even if it feels intimidating)

• Why meal timing impacts energy, mood, and stress

• The relationship between blood sugar, anxiety, and food choices

• Emotional eating vs. under-fueling

• Navigating nutrition during busy seasons, holidays, and social events

• When it may be helpful to work with a dietitian — even preventatively

Kylie also shares her personal perspective on staying healthy through different seasons of life, including motherhood, and why maintaining energy, strength, and long-term health is a priority for her.

Connect with Kylie Viens & FlyFit Nutrition

Website: ⁠⁠Fly Fit Nutrition⁠

Book a Free 15 minute Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/flyfitnutrition/15min

Instagram: ⁠⁠@dietitianforpilots⁠

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska — a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life. Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance

Website: ⁠⁠https://ascentak.com/⁠⁠

Podcast : ⁠⁠ascentak.com/podcast⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ascenthealth_ak⁠