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