Podcast Summary: Slay The Gatekeeper
Episode: Un-Gatekeeping The Wisdom Of Our Cells
Host: Courtney Johnson
Guest: Alana Keneally
Date: September 30, 2025
Overview
This episode of Slay the Gatekeeper is a vibrant, in-depth conversation between host Courtney Johnson and guest Alana Keneally, a founder in health tech and a passionate science communicator. Together, they "un-gatekeep" science-backed health knowledge—especially around women's wellness, nutrition, hormones, and entrepreneurship—through practical “cheat codes” and lively dialogue. The episode blends actionable health advice, mindset shifts for self-growth, and lessons from starting and running a transformative health company. The tone is energetic, cheeky, and honest, peppered with real anecdotes and humor.
Major Discussion Points & Insights
1. Challenging Health Myths and “Gatekept” Wisdom
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Aspirin for Period Cramps
- Alana shares that generic, old-school aspirin is the single, most effective solution for menstrual cramps—far superior to expensive supplements or trendy alternatives. She explains its biological mechanism with prostaglandins (02:08).
- Quote: “Aspirin’s just... It’s one of the oldest medicines in the world. The actual mechanism is it blocks enzymes that make prostaglandins, which are like hormone-like substances that can be really stressful.” — Alana [02:08]
- Discussion about accessibility vs. marketing: Industry pushes $75 period supplements when a cheap box of aspirin works better (03:17–03:29).
- Alana shares that generic, old-school aspirin is the single, most effective solution for menstrual cramps—far superior to expensive supplements or trendy alternatives. She explains its biological mechanism with prostaglandins (02:08).
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Gatekeeping of Progesterone
- Progesterone is described as a “miracle hormone,” massively underutilized for issues from PMS to cancer. Alana critiques how doctors default to birth control, leaving progesterone relatively unknown and unavailable—especially for premenopausal women (18:11–21:53).
- Quote: “Progesterone is like... literally a miracle medicine and no one knows about it. It’s literally the most underutilized medicine in the world.” — Alana [18:11]
- Practical application: Topical transdermal progesterone, rotating application sites, and its benefits for various ages.
- Progesterone is described as a “miracle hormone,” massively underutilized for issues from PMS to cancer. Alana critiques how doctors default to birth control, leaving progesterone relatively unknown and unavailable—especially for premenopausal women (18:11–21:53).
2. Nutrition: Simplicity and Substance Over Trends
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Foundational Nutrition
- Alana deconstructs the myth that “everyone’s different” when it comes to dietary advice. Foundationally, humans have similar cellular needs: fat and sugar for energy; protein for amino acids—not energy. (06:08)
- Quote: “In a cell, there’s only two pathways of making energy: fat and sugar. Only two.” — Alana [06:08]
- Critiques trend-driven, influencer-led advice and emphasizes fundamental biology.
- Alana deconstructs the myth that “everyone’s different” when it comes to dietary advice. Foundationally, humans have similar cellular needs: fat and sugar for energy; protein for amino acids—not energy. (06:08)
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The Power of Gelatin
- Alana encourages eating the gelatin layer in bone broth, for glycine and balanced amino acids. She credits gelatin and home-made gummies (with juice + gelatin) for tangible health improvements, such as normalizing high platelet counts (09:07–10:13).
- Quote: “Honestly, like, I’ve cured a lot of people with gelatin... The gelatin is really important.” — Alana [09:39]
- Alana encourages eating the gelatin layer in bone broth, for glycine and balanced amino acids. She credits gelatin and home-made gummies (with juice + gelatin) for tangible health improvements, such as normalizing high platelet counts (09:07–10:13).
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Seed Oils and PUFA Dangers
- Seed oils (canola, sunflower, rapeseed, avocado oil) are highlighted as detrimental due to high PUFA content, metabolic slowing, and even cancer links. Saturated fats like butter or coconut oil are promoted instead (13:26–16:21).
- Quote: “Just not eating [seed oils] ... they slow metabolism, they can be estrogenic, they can be carcinogenic.” — Alana [13:26]
- Navigating dining out: Always ask restaurants to cook in butter (16:45).
- Seed oils (canola, sunflower, rapeseed, avocado oil) are highlighted as detrimental due to high PUFA content, metabolic slowing, and even cancer links. Saturated fats like butter or coconut oil are promoted instead (13:26–16:21).
3. Mindset, Discovery & Entrepreneurship "Cheat Codes"
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Obsession Beats Talent
- Building a transformative company requires relentless obsession, not just talent or hard work (22:24–23:11).
- Quote: “Obsession beats talent. Obsession beats hard work. Obsession beats everything...” — Alana [23:08]
- Entrepreneurship is a long-haul, ten-year arc loaded with unpredictable challenges.
- Building a transformative company requires relentless obsession, not just talent or hard work (22:24–23:11).
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ROI of Time and Social Media
- Regular “time audits” and focusing on true return on investment—whether with platforms like Twitter, or with social life—guide Alana’s creative focus (11:40–12:12).
- Quote: “Wait, that’s a good cheat code. Time audits. And what’s the ROI of where you’re spending your time?” — Courtney [12:12]
- Regular “time audits” and focusing on true return on investment—whether with platforms like Twitter, or with social life—guide Alana’s creative focus (11:40–12:12).
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Messy Action & Resiliency
- Alana admits to setting up her business “wrong” repeatedly, learning legal/admin lessons through trial and error. Staying emotionally level through chaos is a gradual, learned skill (27:36–29:11).
- Quote: “You just become more tolerant... You realize it all just passes, you know.” — Alana [28:16]
- Alana admits to setting up her business “wrong” repeatedly, learning legal/admin lessons through trial and error. Staying emotionally level through chaos is a gradual, learned skill (27:36–29:11).
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Delegation and Team Culture
- Hiring decisively, quick to fire, and finding team members who are “obsessed” and treat the business like their own is crucial. Philippines-based assistants are a favorite resource (29:22–31:09).
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Prioritizing Substance and Truth
- Alana and Courtney challenge superficial content and health product launches that lack scientific backbone or personal obsession (31:57–36:25).
- Quote: “You have to care so much about the information and the products over yourself.” — Alana [31:57]
- Alana and Courtney challenge superficial content and health product launches that lack scientific backbone or personal obsession (31:57–36:25).
4. The Mind-Body Connection
- Autoimmune and Emotional Health
- Both discuss how physical health can be tightly linked to living in alignment with one’s “dream” or purpose, especially among women.
- Quote: “The path along their dream is like a path of healing of their physical health too.” — Courtney [37:26]
- Alana highlights emotional trauma, stress, and “unrest in your nest” (home life) as roots of many diseases, including cancer. She argues against the narrative that the “body is attacking itself.” (38:14–39:54)
- Both discuss how physical health can be tightly linked to living in alignment with one’s “dream” or purpose, especially among women.
5. Science Communication & “Cell Wisdom”
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On Writing “Cell U Verse”
- Alana’s upcoming book unpacks what cancer truly is, rooted in evolutionary biology—contrary to the lack of consensus among oncologists. She describes every cell as a “magical universe,” and advocates for truth and humility in health communication. (40:58–42:09)
- Quote: “Every cell is like a universe. A beautiful, perfect, magical universe inside.” — Alana [42:01]
- Alana’s upcoming book unpacks what cancer truly is, rooted in evolutionary biology—contrary to the lack of consensus among oncologists. She describes every cell as a “magical universe,” and advocates for truth and humility in health communication. (40:58–42:09)
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Content Creation & Personal Brand
- Courtney and Alana discuss bold, spicy science communication versus clickbait, and the energetic power of truly caring, obsessed creators (44:15–45:06).
- Quote: “I have a disorder where content can't be boring.” — Alana [43:46]
- Courtney and Alana discuss bold, spicy science communication versus clickbait, and the energetic power of truly caring, obsessed creators (44:15–45:06).
Notable Quotes & Moments
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Courtney on living “feral” for dreams:
“Why aren’t people, like, hungry? Like, why aren’t you, like, feral your dream?” [07:57] -
On finding obsessed creators:
“That’s why I’m going to the farmer’s market. There’ll be someone just, like, obsessed with pickles... you can tell they love it, and they’re so excited.” — Courtney [35:24] -
Alana grounds product philosophy:
“Before you start a CPG product, you should get really in bed with it... like, massage it, chew on it, every—all the things.” [32:44] -
On science humility:
“I wrote a book about cancer. I’m still like, but what if... like, I still love hearing opposing opinions.” — Alana [36:30]
Timestamps of Key Segments
- Aspirin for Period Cramps: 01:46–03:29
- Nutrition Science (Fats, Proteins, Sugars): 06:04–07:57
- Gelatin’s Health Role: 09:02–10:46
- Seed Oils and PUFA Dangers: 13:26–16:21
- Progesterone Explained & Applied: 18:11–21:53
- Time Auditing/ROI Mindset: 12:12–12:54
- Entrepreneurship & Obsession: 22:24–23:57
- Messy Action & Resilience: 27:36–29:11
- Delegation Cheat Codes: 29:22–31:46
- Product & Truth over Image: 31:57–36:25
- Autoimmune, Emotions, Healing: 37:26–39:54
- “Cell U Verse” Book Insights: 40:58–42:09
- Content Creation & Science Communication: 44:15–45:06
Additional Resources
- Alana’s Instagram: @alanakeneally
- Company: Raina Health
- Upcoming Book: Cell U Verse
In Summary
"Un-Gatekeeping the Wisdom Of Our Cells" delivers a whirlwind of radically practical health advice, candid entrepreneurship truths, and fierce advocacy for demystifying scientific wisdom—especially for women’s health. Both Courtney and Alana champion obsession, humility, and being energetically connected to what you build and share. Their chemistry, playful riffing, and deep-cut knowledge make this more than a health podcast—it’s a manifesto for truth, action, and living one's dream from the cell up.