The Radically Well Podcast

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Season 2 of The Radically Well Podcast!Rosie Acosta and Tessa Tovar sit down with New York Times bestselling author Andrea Bartz to explore the creative process behind writing psychological thrillers, building unforgettable characters, and embracing vulnerability as an artist.Andrea discusses her latest novel, The Last Ferry Out, her journey from journalism to fiction writing, and why the most compelling stories often come from our most uncomfortable emotions. Together, they dive into creativity, storytelling, perfectionism, intuition, and what it really takes to bring complex female characters to life.Whether you're an aspiring writer, an avid reader, or simply curious about the creative process, this conversation offers inspiration for anyone looking to create meaningful work.✨ What You’ll Learn & What We Discuss- Andrea Bartz's journey from journalism to bestselling novelist- The inspiration behind The Last Ferry Out- How vulnerability creates compelling stories- Writing authentic female characters- Creativity versus perfectionism- Why uncomfortable emotions make the best fiction- Character development without rigid outlines- Lessons every aspiring writer can learn- Building a sustainable creative practice- Finding your authentic voice as an artistFollow Andrea BartzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andibartz Website: https://www.andreabartz.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@andibartz Why I’m Against The Use of Generative AI https://andibartz.substack.com/p/why-im-against-the-use-of-generative Exactly How To Resist AIhttps://andibartz.substack.com/p/exactly-how-to-resist-generative Timestamps00:00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Guest00:02:53 The Journey of Writing and Publishing00:05:46 Character Development and Protagonist Choices00:09:07 The Creative Process and Sources of Inspiration00:12:00 Exploring Themes and Messages in Writing00:15:02 The Role of Thrillers and Mystery in Storytelling00:21:35 The Power of Storytelling in Empathy00:24:02 Diversity in Literature and Its Impact00:28:14 Queer Representation in Literature00:30:02 The Fight Against AI Copyright Infringement00:33:58 Supporting Authors and Local BookstoresEnjoyed this conversation? Be sure to watch our episode with Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer, where we explore mindfulness, possibility, and how changing the way we think can transform the way we live.▶ Watch our conversation with Dr. Ellen Langer: Why Stressed Midlife Women Age Faster (And the 2-Question Reset That Changes Everything)📌 Don't forget to subscribe—Season 3 of The Radically Well Podcast is coming soon with more conversations featuring bestselling authors, leading researchers, physicians, and thought leaders exploring women's health, longevity, creativity, and personal transformation. 💌Dive Deeper With Me:Website: https://www.radicallyloved.com Begin Your Path to Radical Self-Compassion: https://radicallyloved.kit.com/selfco... Deepen Your Practice with the Mindful Love Hub: https://radicallyloved.substack.com?u...  Discover More Mindful EpisodesBoosting Confidence, Libido, and Feeling Your Best at Any Agehttps://youtu.be/iTSzOlzNrGM?list=PL7gs_y4KiKgTlTcmjDgwn1oL9dRSBsLLVTransforming Through Mindful Living Hi, I’m Rosie Acosta. I’m here to question the conventional and share what truly makes a difference in living with presence, love, and compassion. Whether it’s through meditation, mindful living, or healing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to ignore, I believe every moment of our journey holds the power to transform us. I’m not about quick fixes or surface solutions. I’m about real, conscious practices that reconnect us to our truth, our roots, and our higher purpose.Connect with Rosie✨ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosieacosta✨ Facebook: http://facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie ✨ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rosieacosta  ✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RosieAcostaConnect with Tessa: ✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/✨ Website: https://tessatovar.com/✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar

Sometimes being dismissed by the people you trust most is the thing that does the most damage. In this honest, personal episode, Rosie Acosta and co-host Tessa Tovar tackle gaslighting across the three relationships where women experience it most: with their doctors, their partners, and themselves.With real listener questions, personal stories, and practical tools woven throughout, this is a lifeline for any woman who has been told she is fine when she clearly is not. If a doctor has minimized your symptoms, a partner has weaponized your moods, or your own inner voice has turned against you, this conversation is your roadmap. ✨ Here's What We Dive Into- How nearly 50% of women report having menopause symptoms dismissed by their doctors, per a 2023 British Menopause Society survey.- Why only 20% of OB-GYN residency programs include menopause training and what that gap costs women.- How to self-advocate when your labs look normal but your body is telling a different story.- What gaslighting actually means and why it is so harmful in medicine, relationships, and self-talk.- How to build a zero-to-ten mood meter to name your emotional baseline and share it with people you love.- Why asking a partner to repeat a dismissive comment is one of the most powerful deescalation tools available.- How up to 80% of women with perimenopause blame themselves before recognizing their symptoms as hormonal.- What self-gaslighting looks like in midlife and why so many women do it without ever realizing.- Why feeling the anger before the grief underneath it is where real healing begins.- Why sharing your emotional load with community is not weakness but a deeply human act of self-compassion.This episode is sponsored by:BIOptimizers: Essential mineralization for cognitive longevityProtect your brain health and reclaim your sleep during life’s biggest transitions with full-spectrum magnesium.15% off with code radicallyloved at https://bioptimizers.com/radicallylovedTimestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Radically Well Podcast and your hormone besties00:03 Introducing today's topic: gaslighting in medicine, relationships, and yourself00:05 Karen from Portland asks how to advocate without sounding like she's overreacting00:07 Only 20% of OB-GYN programs include menopause training00:09 The definition of gaslighting and why it matters in medical care00:11 Rosie's story: four doctors, normal labs, and a prescription for antidepressants00:14 Medical autonomy and the systemic bias that keeps women silent00:17 Leanne from Brisbane asks how to respond when a partner weaponizes hormones00:19 Rosie's Las Vegas story and the bedtime ritual that changed everything00:24 The zero to ten mood meter: naming exactly where you are00:29 Creating shared language with your partner before the explosion happens00:33 Setting a boundary and the one question that reframes everything00:38 Self-gaslighting: 80% of women blame themselves before seeing it is hormonal00:41 The parallels between self-gaslighting and surviving emotional abuse00:45 The vulnerability underneath the anger and why naming it matters00:51 Get yourself back to zero: Rosie's simplest and most powerful toolDiscover More Mindful EpisodesHow to Find Self-Acceptance and Navigate Body Image Changes in Midlife | Radically Wellhttps://youtu.be/BOmAo9JJaK4Why Women Stop Dressing Up After 40 (and Why They Shouldn't)https://youtu.be/9biPqDGrotwTransforming Through Mindful Living Hi, I’m Rosie Acosta. I’m here to question the conventional and share what truly makes a difference in living with presence, love, and compassion. Whether it’s through meditation, mindful living, or healing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to ignore, I believe every moment of our journey holds the power to transform us. I’m not about quick fixes or surface solutions. I’m about real, conscious practices that reconnect us to our truth, our roots, and our higher purpose.Connect with Rosie:✨ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosieacosta✨ Facebook: http://facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie✨ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rosieacosta✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RosieAcostaConnect with Tessa:✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/✨ Website: https://tessatovar.com/coaching✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar

You were never too nice. You were survivingIn this conversation, Rosie Acosta sits down with Dr. Ingrid Clayton, clinical psychologist, trauma therapist, and author of Fawning, to name the thing so many of us have carried in silence: the moment people-pleasing stopped being a personality trait and became a trauma response.Dr. Ingrid's story is as layered as the work she does. A former blues singer who got sober at 19, returned to school at 30, and earned her doctorate in transpersonal psychology, she now dedicates her life to helping people finally make sense of themselves. Together, Rosie and Ingrid unpack why so many of us were conditioned to please, appease, and shrink, and what it truly takes to start choosing ourselves instead.✨ Here's What We Dive Into:- How the fawn response differs from fight, flight, and freeze and why it shows up most powerfully in childhood trauma.- Why people-pleasing frameworks miss the most critical piece: the body and its nervous system.- What fawning looks like beyond smiling and being nice, including how it quietly operates in relationships and cultural systems.- How women are specifically conditioned to fawn and why we carry shame for doing the very thing society asked of us.- Why trying to speak up or set a boundary can feel genuinely threatening and how that is rooted in lived experience.- What self-abandonment looks like in daily life and how curiosity becomes the most powerful first step toward healing.- Why healing the fawn response is not about getting rid of it, but building more consciousness, flexibility, and choice.- How Dr. Ingrid defines success: more of herself in her own life, watching her clients fall in love with who they are.Follow Dr. Ingrid ClaytonWebsite: https://www.ingridclayton.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingridclaytonphd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PvWTgJMirURfgHWj3h28gSubstack: https://ingridclaytonphd.substack.com/This episode is sponsored by:BIOptimizers: Essential mineralization for cognitive longevityProtect your brain health and reclaim your sleep during life’s biggest transitions with full-spectrum magnesium.15% off with code radicallyloved at https://bioptimizers.com/radicallylovedHighlights: 00:00:00 Intro00:04:30 Getting sober at 19 and answering a deeper calling00:05:50 Why music gave her a voice she couldn't find anywhere else00:08:20 What is the fawn response and why it's not just people-pleasing00:10:22 Thirty years sober and why fawning finally made her make sense to herself00:12:00 Why codependency frameworks miss the body and the context00:14:04 Fawning and gender: why women are conditioned to appease00:17:43 The constant thread beneath all fawning behavior: self-abandonment00:19:18 Why healing feels counterintuitive and even threatening00:23:43 What surprised Dr. Ingrid most while writing the book00:28:09 Where to begin when you realize your people-pleasing might be trauma00:36:44 What she wants every reader to take away: you make sense00:40:05 Why she does this work: watching people fall in love with themselvesDiscover More Mindful EpisodesA Conversation about Empowerment with Kate del Castillohttps://youtu.be/iNQVsixCOwQTransforming Through Mindful Living Hi, I’m Rosie Acosta. I’m here to question the conventional and share what truly makes a difference in living with presence, love, and compassion. Whether it’s through meditation, mindful living, or healing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to ignore, I believe every moment of our journey holds the power to transform us. I’m not about quick fixes or surface solutions. I’m about real, conscious practices that reconnect us to our truth, our roots, and our higher purpose.Connect with Rosie✨ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosieacosta✨ Facebook: http://facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie✨ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rosieacosta✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RosieAcostaConnect with Tessa:✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/✨ Website: https://tessatovar.com/✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar

Testosterone is not just a “guy thing;” it’s the most abundant biologically active hormone in a woman’s body, and it powers far more than libido. This conversation gets real about how modern life depletes testosterone and why women are often shut out of treatment options. We unpack what happens when testosterone declines from your 20s through perimenopause and menopause, why it affects motivation, confidence, muscle, brain function, and libido, and why so many women are told it “doesn’t matter.” We break down testing, HRT options (creams, gels, injections, pellets), risks vs benefits, and why stress, belly fat, and modern life can tank testosterone long before menopause.Connect with Luminescence https://www.onecommune.com/luminescence-podcast You’ll learn:✨ Why testosterone impacts energy, confidence, muscle, bone, and sex drive✨ Signs of low T in women: brain fog, low motivation, poor recovery, low libido✨ Why it’s not FDA-approved for women (and what that means for access)✨ Total vs free testosterone, SHBG, and what to actually test✨ HRT delivery methods: cream, gel, injections, pellets pros and cons✨ Possible side effects: acne, hair changes, mood shifts, cholesterol changes✨ Why stress, insulin resistance, and endocrine disruptors lower testosterone✨ Natural boosters: strength training, protein, vitamin D, reducing plastics, better sleep✨ Why hormones are a full-body system, not just “sex hormones”If you’ve ever felt less driven, less strong, less clear-headed and wondered if it’s “just aging” this conversation might change how you see your hormones.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 This episode is sponsored by:BIOptimizers: Essential mineralization for cognitive longevityProtect your brain health and reclaim your sleep during life’s biggest transitions with full-spectrum magnesium.➡️ 15% off with code radicallyloved at https://bioptimizers.com/radicallylovedChapters00:00 Introduction to Testosterone and Its Importance03:09 Understanding Testosterone's Role in Women's Health05:50 The Knowledge Gap in Hormonal Health09:05 The Impact of Testosterone on Mental Health12:02 Testing and Accessing Testosterone Therapy14:53 Delivery Methods for Testosterone18:10 Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone20:49 Navigating the Healthcare System for Hormonal Health24:06 Potential Side Effects of Testosterone Therapy26:54 Monitoring Hormonal Health30:36 Navigating Hormone Therapy and Health Risks33:37 The Importance of Monitoring and Data in Hormone Therapy36:58 Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone42:05 Understanding Different Forms of Testosterone48:10 The Complexity of Hormonal Responses55:44 Empowering Women Through Knowledge and Community💌Dive Deeper With Me: Website: https://www.radicallyloved.comBegin Your Path to Radical Self-Compassion: https://radicallyloved.kit.com/selfcompassionbookDeepen Your Practice with the Mindful Love Hub: https://radicallyloved.substack.com/?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=2t314wTransforming Through Mindful Living Hi, I’m Rosie Acosta. I’m here to question the conventional and share what truly makes a difference in living with presence, love, and compassion. Whether it’s through meditation, mindful living, or healing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to ignore, I believe every moment of our journey holds the power to transform us. I’m not about quick fixes or surface solutions. I’m about real, conscious practices that reconnect us to our truth, our roots, and our higher purpose. Connect with Rosie✨ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosieacosta✨ Facebook: http://facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie ✨ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rosieacosta  ✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RosieAcostaConnect with Tess: ✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/✨ Website: https://www.tessatovar.com ✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar

Your Brain Controls Your LibidoEver 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.Connect with Luminescence Podcast https://www.onecommune.com/luminescence-podcast 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.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: You're not broken—embracing menopause transitions00:29 - Hormonal influence on brain function and mental health02:44 - Neuroendocrine remodeling during perimenopause03:23 - Estrogen as the master regulator of neural pathways04:18 - Progesterone's calming effects and cortisol regulation05:05 - Communicating hormonal changes with partners06:07 - How hormones are produced and feedback loops in the body07:56 - The impact of estrogen decline on brain and body systems09:31 - Recognizing cyclic changes and perimenopausal symptoms10:49 - Explaining hormonal pathways in layman's terms12:06 - The hormonal timeline from ovulation to menopause13:28 - How brain and ovaries communicate via hormonal signals16:36 - The profound effects of estrogen decline in perimenopause18:10 - The gap in medical training and care for menopausal women19:42 - The importance of early intervention and awareness22:34 - Risks of untreated hormone imbalances on cognition and cardiovascular health25:37 - Integrating mindfulness and self-care practices during transition28:20 - The significance of herbal, dietary, and lifestyle support32:11 - Addressing body image, societal archetypes, and education gaps36:23 - The debate over over-the-counter hormone therapy40:10 - How to talk to your doctor about hormones: preparing your case44:29 - Role of pharmacists, allied health professionals, and integrated care teams47:19 - Linking premenstrual symptoms to perimenopause experiences50:02 - Recognizing early menopause and the importance of tracking symptoms52:25 - Societal perceptions and medical stereotypes about aging women55:22 - Practical self-care tips: movement, nutrition, and stress reduction58:13 - Closing thoughts on supporting women through menopause and future resourcesThis episode is sponsored by:BIOptimizers: Essential mineralization for cognitive longevityProtect your brain health and reclaim your sleep during life’s biggest transitions with full-spectrum magnesium.➡️ 15% off with code radicallyloved at https://bioptimizers.com/radicallyloved💌Dive Deeper With Me For support & Begin Your Path to Radical Self-Compassion: https://radicallyloved.kit.com/selfcompassionbookDeepen Your Practice with the Mindful Love Hub: https://radicallyloved.substack.com/?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=2t314wTransforming Through Mindful Living Hi, I’m Rosie Acosta. I’m here to question the conventional and share what truly makes a difference in living with presence, love, and compassion. Whether it’s through meditation, mindful living, or healing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to ignore, I believe every moment of our journey holds the power to transform us. I’m not about quick fixes or surface solutions. I’m about real, conscious practices that reconnect us to our truth, our roots, and our higher purpose. Connect with Rosie✨ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosieacosta✨ Facebook: http://facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie ✨ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rosieacosta  ✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RosieAcostaConnect with Tessa: ✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/✨ Website: https://tessatovar.com/✨ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar