About this episode
When most people think about hormones, they think sex, reproduction, or maybe aging. But that's far too narrow. Hormones are the Wi-Fi of your body. They are the invisible signals that keep your brain sharp, your gut sealed, your heart protected, and your immune system resilient. When that Wi-Fi weakens, nothing else runs the way it should. That idea comes straight from Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson, a trailblazer in functional medicine who has spent decades translating complex hormone science into clear, practical insights. And it matters, because the story most of us have been told about hormones is flat-out wrong. Estrogen has been vilified, progesterone dismissed, and women told they've "missed their window" for therapy. But that narrative isn't based on science; it's fueled by fear, bias, and outdated education. The research actually shows that natural hormones protect against disease, support healing, and can transform quality of life well into a woman's seventies, eighties, and nineties. In this episode, we cut through the myths and confusion about hormones. We unpack why synthetic progestins are so harmful, how emotional arguments have overshadowed evidence, and what the science really tells us about hormone therapy at every stage of life. Things You'll Learn In This Episode -Hormones as the body's Wi-FiHormones don't just regulate reproduction; they run the signals for your brain, gut, immunity, and healing. What happens when that Wi-Fi goes offline? -The progesterone vs. progestin problemMost women are prescribed synthetic progestins, not real progesterone. What harm do these impostors cause, and why aren't patients told the difference? -Emotion vs. science in hormone debatesMuch of the fear surrounding hormones is emotional, rather than evidence-based. How does science actually stack up against the myths? -The myth of the "estrogen window"Is it really too late to start hormones after your 60s or 70s, or can thoughtful replacement transform health at any age? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN, ACN, is known as a thought leader in functional medicine. With an emphasis on hormones, nutrition, and digestion, Dr. Berkson has been a distinguished scholar at an estrogen think tank from Tulane University. She is a best-selling author of 22 books, such as the first gut/body/mind/nutrition book (Healthy Digestion the Natural Way, Wiley, 1998) and the breakthrough book on endocrine-disrupting compounds (Hormone Deception, McGraw-Hill, 2000). Berkson has taught relicensing seminars to professionals (
