899: What Most Doctors Miss About Women’s Energy, Weight, and Mood

Summary

Episode Summary: The Goal Digger Podcast | Episode 899: What Most Doctors Miss About Women’s Energy, Weight, and Mood

Release Date: July 28, 2025
Host: Jenna Kutcher
Guest: Katie Whelan, Founder and CEO of Joy and Blokes

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Introduction

In Episode 899 of The Goal Digger Podcast, host Jenna Kutcher welcomes Katie Whelan, the founder and CEO of Joy and Blokes, a telehealth brand dedicated to empowering individuals by taking control of their hormones, longevity, and overall wellness. This episode delves deep into the often-overlooked aspects of women's health, particularly focusing on energy levels, weight management, and mood regulation.

The Disconnect in Traditional Healthcare

Jenna opens the conversation by highlighting a common frustration among women: receiving normal lab results while still feeling unwell. She asks Katie to shed light on this disconnect.

Katie Whelan [05:05]:
"Ah, you are describing one of the most frustrating things in traditional healthcare, especially for women. I would say when someone hears your normal, but then you don't feel good, there's a big disconnect there."

Katie explains that traditional lab ranges often reflect averages that don't account for individual optimal health. She emphasizes that "normal" doesn't necessarily mean optimal or feeling your best.

Beyond the TSH: Critical Biomarkers Often Overlooked

Jenna seeks Katie's expertise on specific biomarkers that are frequently missed but crucial for women's health.

Katie Whelan [08:17]:
"I might have to give you two, because it's very hard to decide between TSH for thyroid and testosterone."

1. Thyroid Function Beyond TSH:
   Katie emphasizes the importance of comprehensive thyroid panels, including T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies, rather than relying solely on TSH levels. She states, "about 60% of women or 60% of people with thyroid disorder don't even know they have it."

2. Testosterone Levels in Women:
   Contrary to common misconceptions, testosterone plays a vital role in women's health, affecting libido, brain fog, inflammation, and motivation. Katie highlights the impact of modern stress and certain medications, like birth control pills, on lowering testosterone levels.

Understanding Perimenopause

The conversation shifts to perimenopause, a topic gaining more attention among women in their late 30s to 40s.

Katie Whelan [18:11]:
"Perimenopause is just the transition time before menopause, and it can be five to ten years before menopause. It's really just subtle shifts in your hormones."

Key Points:

• Timeline: Typically begins in the mid to late 30s, with most women experiencing it in their 40s.
• Hormonal Imbalance: Decline in progesterone leads to fluctuations in estrogen, causing symptoms like disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, and feeling "off."
• Holistic Approach: Emphasizes taking proactive steps to support the body through these changes rather than viewing them as inevitable decline.

Proactive Health Protocols

Jenna inquires about actionable steps listeners can take after getting their lab work done.

Katie Whelan [21:31]:
"At Joy, we flip the script. After the deep dive lab review and symptom mapping, we collaborate with a clinician to create a personalized plan that may include therapies, supplements, or lifestyle changes."

Three-Step Approach:

1. Deep Dive Lab Review and Symptom Mapping: Comprehensive analysis of biomarkers aligned with individual symptoms.
2. Clinician Consultation: Personalized plan creation, allowing for tailored interventions.
3. Ongoing Optimization and Check-ins: Regular monitoring to adjust the plan as needed, recognizing that health is dynamic.

Lifestyle Tweaks for Enhanced Wellbeing

Jenna and Katie discuss simple yet effective lifestyle changes that can significantly impact health.

Katie Whelan [26:26]:
"One lifestyle tweak I absolutely love is waking up and going outside for like 10 minutes to get morning sunlight. Also, ensuring a high-quality protein intake for breakfast helps sustain energy levels throughout the day."

Additional Recommendations:

• Morning Sunlight: Supports circadian rhythms.
• Protein-Rich Breakfast: Prevents energy crashes.
• Magnesium Glycinate Supplement: Aids in sleep, reduces anxiety, and supports PMS relief. Katie mentions, "Most people are deficient in magnesium, so it's a safe supplement to consider."

Balancing Entrepreneurship and Health

The discussion naturally transitions to the challenges entrepreneurs face in maintaining their health amidst the demands of building a business.

Katie Whelan [28:49]:
"I can feel it. It's a season for me of grinding, and I can feel it on my body and aging. I'm hoping that this busy, stressful season can slow down soon so I can do more of the things that ground me."

Jenna shares her journey of integrating wellness into her entrepreneurial life, emphasizing activities like baking sourdough and gardening to quiet the mind and enhance productivity.

Jenna Kutcher [38:15]:
"When I am doing things like baking sourdough or when I'm out in my garden, it quiets my brain enough to have one thought versus a million thoughts."

Advice for Listeners: Embracing a Proactive Health Mindset

As the episode nears its conclusion, Katie offers empowering advice to listeners struggling with low energy and the demands of chasing big dreams.

Katie Whelan [40:45]:
"You don't have to live like that. Most people come to us and say, I don't have the energy. All we need to do is start with a lab. It gives us options to tweak this and that, and once something clicks, it gets easier to keep going."

Key Takeaways:

• Invest in Your Health: Recognize that health is a foundation for achieving goals.
• Personalize Your Approach: Utilize lab work to understand individual needs.
• Start Small: Begin with manageable changes to build momentum.

Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge and Action

Jenna wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of being proactive about health and leveraging resources like Joy and Blokes for personalized wellness plans.

Katie Whelan [43:28]:
"First of all, you're worth it. Life gets better with every decade. It can truly be better if you make the choice to invest in your health."

Jenna extends a generous offer to listeners, providing a discount on lab testing and supplements with the promo code "Gold Digger," encouraging everyone to take actionable steps towards optimal health.

Final Thought:
The episode underscores the critical need for personalized healthcare, especially for women navigating hormonal changes. By bridging the gap between feeling unwell and achieving optimal health through comprehensive lab work and tailored interventions, Jenna and Katie inspire listeners to prioritize their wellbeing in pursuit of their dreams.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Katie Whelan [05:05]:
  "There is a difference between what is normal in society right now and what we think is optimal and how we get you feeling your best."

• Katie Whelan [08:17]:
  "Most of the time you're gonna say, you know, something's off...you can still have thyroid dysfunction."

• Katie Whelan [18:11]:
  "Perimenopause is just the transition time before menopause...most women will feel it."

• Katie Whelan [21:31]:
  "It's meeting a clinician and going through it together...personalized to you."

• Katie Whelan [26:26]:
  "Magnesium glycinate...helps with sleep, anxiety, PMS, a bunch of things."

• Jenna Kutcher [38:15]:
  "It's so grounding for me and so good, but it also keeps me busy enough to allow my brain to actually think and process and be Present."

• Katie Whelan [40:45]:
  "Just start and say that you're worth it, because you really are."

• Katie Whelan [43:28]:
  "You're worth it. Life gets better with every decade...you make the choice to invest in your health."

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Resources Mentioned

• Joy and Blokes:
  For personalized wellness plans and lab testing, visit joyandblokes.com and use promo code "Gold Digger" for discounts.

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Next Steps for Listeners:

1. Get Lab Work Done: Utilize the comprehensive panels offered by Joy and Blokes to gain insights into your hormonal and overall health.
2. Implement Lifestyle Tweaks: Incorporate morning sunlight exposure and a protein-rich breakfast into your daily routine.
3. Consider Supplements: If accessible, magnesium glycinate can be a beneficial addition to support sleep and reduce anxiety.
4. Engage in Grounding Activities: Activities like baking or gardening can enhance mental clarity and productivity.
5. Prioritize Regular Check-ins: Make health monitoring a part of your ongoing wellness journey to adapt to changing needs.

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This episode serves as a powerful reminder that understanding and optimizing your health is crucial for achieving your personal and professional goals. By taking proactive steps and seeking personalized care, women can navigate hormonal changes with confidence and vitality.

Transcript

[Jenna Kutcher]

Nothing makes me happier than doing work that energizes me and I've always been committed to that. Not just for myself, but for my entire team. That's why I'm so excited about the Working Genius model. It's a powerful tool that helps you discover your natural strengths and where you thrive in your work. When you tap into what you're naturally good at, work becomes more rewarding and you get so much more done. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I took the working Genius assessment, but it blew me away with how accurate and insightful it was. It it affirmed that I am naturally gifted at using my intuition and instincts to evaluate and assess ideas or plans. And it also confirmed my love for self starters and the fact that I can get frustrated if I have to be the main source of motivation for other people to get results. The assessment only takes 10 minutes and it's great for solopreneurs and teams alike. Imagine with me how effortless your teamwork will be if you understand the working geniuses of those that you're working with. Working genius is different from everything else out there because it's 20% personality and 80% productivity. Simply put, if you want to transform your work life, this is it. Get 20% off the 25 Working Genius Assessment, head to working genius.com and enter the promo code Gold Digger at checkout. That's working genius.com promo code gold digger.

[Katie Whelan]

It's not about something's being wrong or it's not about fixing you, but it's really about, you know, really taking care of yourself in a different way. I I think it's your body's like wake up call to say, you know what, these things are changing and you really need to think about how you're supporting yourself and supporting your body through that change so that you can live last half of your life the way that you want to.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I'm Jenna Kutcher, your host of the Gold Digger podcast. I escaped the corporate world at the age of 23 with nothing more than a $300 camera from Craigslist and a dream. Now I'm running a seven figure online business that feels even better than it looks. All all from my house in small town Minnesota with my family. Here we value time as our currency. We mix the woo and the work and we are in the pursuit of building businesses that give us the freedom to live lives that we love. I've always loved turning big goals into reality and I'm here to help you do the same. This isn't just A peek behind the curtain. Come along with me and my guests as we tear the whole curtain down. Every week we tackle practical no fluff marketing strategies and host honest discussions on what works and what doesn't. Join me and my expert guests for actionable insights to help you grow your dream business with confidence. Pull up a seat and get ready to be challenged, inspired and empowered. This is the Goal Digger podcast. What if the reason you feel tired all the time, or you struggle with weight changes, or you feel disconnected from your libido, or your energy isn't just getting older? Like, what if the real issue is that your body's been whispering to you for years but you haven't been listening? My guest today, Katie Whelan, is flipping the script on women's health. She's the founder and CEO of Joy and Blokes, a telehealth brand helping people take control of their hormones, longevity and overall wellness. This isn't just your typical get some labs and good luck kind of business model. Joy is making the kind of advanced personalized wellness care that used to be reserved for celebrities radically accessible and empowering for all of us, including me, who has been a customer for years. Katie's story started with her own struggles, years of fighting fertility issues and hormonal chaos that left her frustrated and ignored by traditional medicine. So she decided to build the company she wished existed. Today. She and her team help thousands of people finally feel like themselves again, using a mix of data driven protocols, prescription therapies and smart supplements. If you've ever wondered what's really going on with your energy, your mood or your metabolism, or if you've just been told to just deal with it, this episode is your permission slip to expect more from your wellness journey. We're going to break down the myths around hormone health. Talk about two biomarkers. You should get tested and explore what it really means to take a proactive, not reactive approach to your health. And hey, if you want to get your own lab work done, which you will want to, after tuning into this episode, you can use the Code gold digger@joy and blokes.com and get 50% off of lab testing or 15 off a therapy of your choice. Your journey to feeling like yourself again, it can start today. Go to Joy and blokes. That's J-O I a N--B L O-K-E-S.com and use a Code Gold Digger. All right Katie, when it's about time you came to the Gold Digger podcast. Welcome to the show. All right, Katie, we're gonna dive off the deep end here, and I want to start with something that I think we just have to hit on first. So so many women here, like, your blood work comes back normal, everything looks good, and yet a lot of us are not feeling well, and we're told, like, just deal with it, or it's just a part of getting older. What is happening? What's going on?

[Katie Whelan]

Ah, you are describing one of the most frustrating things in traditional healthcare, especially for women. I would say when someone hears your normal, but then you don't feel good, there's a big disconnect there. And oftentimes our system will dismiss that gap, really. So really, it's like a mismatch when you're looking at labs and what traditional lab values show you. They take an average of a bunch of people that probably don't feel that well. They're going to their doctor to get their labs tested. They make a wide range and say, here's what's normal. So what we do instead of looking at what's normal is we instead look at it through a lens of what's optimal. And so a lot of times I'll hear people come back to me and go, well, my doctor said my labs are normal. And I'm like, this is exactly. And they're kind of like, accusatory, like, maybe we're just making something up or leading with fear. But I'm like, this is exactly why we exist, because there is a difference between what is normal in society right now and then, you know, what we think is optimal and how we get you feeling your best. The other thing is that most clinicians are not wired to look at root cause or go deeper. You know, they look at a symptom or they throw a pill at a problem. And so what we're really trying to do is look at all the things, look at inflammation, look at vitamin deficiencies, look at how stress and sleep are affecting everything, your hormonal shifts. And so when you look at it and dig deeper, then you can really figure out what's going on. And then the last thing that I want to point out is that there is a cultural issue, especially with women. Oftentimes we're made to feel like we're being dramatic or like we're being difficult. We're kind of told, you know, you can tolerate pain. And so when we are saying something is off and we're getting the feedback that you're fine, you're normal, there's really a big cyclical cycle that just, like, keeps that gaslitting, that, like, you know, cycle of silence going. So those three things is really what we try to change in the system. So we, that's why we want to listen really hard. We want to validate your symptoms, and then we want to come up with a plan that's very personalized to you, matching the labs with your symptoms and goals.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I love this. This is the perfect place to start. And it's so true in terms of, like, normal ranges versus optimal. Like, I don't want to feel like the average American. I don't think the average American feels all that great. And like, what is optimal health? I just think that that's a huge disconnect. And it's so interesting too, because when you start to look at things through that lens and you think, like, I want to be in the panel with the well people, and I want to be like, high performer because we're all achievers out there, right?

[Katie Whelan]

Y. Yeah.

[Jenna Kutcher]

It changes the way that it all is interpreted. So here's something that I want to ask you. So what is like one red flag that you see in blood work or in like, client check ins that often gets missed, but is actually a big deal? Like, what is something that people just kind of skim over and it's like, no, no, pay attention. Blinking red light should be over this.

[Katie Whelan]

I might have to. I might have to give you two, because it's very hard to decide between TSH for thyroid and testosterone. So starting with thyroid, most of the time you're gonna say, you know, something's off, I'm tired, I'm feeling cold, I have mood swings, whatever. You'll go to your primary care and you'll get your TSH checked and that can come back looking normal in normal range, but you can still have thyroid dysfunction. And that's why it's so important to test the full thyroid panel. So Instead of just TSH, you need to look at T3, T4 thyroid antibodies. There's about six or seven things that we test to really break it down and make sure that your thyroid is actually functioning well. What's kind of shocking is that I think it's 60% of women or 60% of people with thyroid disorder don't even know they have it. So they're coming in saying, I don't feel good. And they're, they're going, your TSA is fine, you're fine. And then they just don't feel good. For years. They could have like an autoimmune like Hashimoto's. That's just dismissed. And they're just living with. And they're just told, you're, you're fine, you're aging, it's normal, and it's just not the case because your thyroid affects so much. It's like your internal thermometer that kind of regulates your energy and your metabolism and your, your sleep and your hormones. So it's. It's a big one.

[Jenna Kutcher]

It's kind of a big deal.

[Katie Whelan]

It's a big deal. Don't, don't. Just don't. Don't check. Tsh. That's the psa. And then I don't want to skip testosterone because that's the other one that I see all the time. So people think that's a men's hormone, a male hormone, and they also think it's just for libido, but it's not true. It's a human hormone. We both need it. Women don't need as high of a level as men, but we still need it. And it's actually one of the first things that I got on personally when I was kind of recovering from my personal health struggles. And for me, it felt like all of a sudden I was like, turning a light back on it. It helps with libido, but it was really brain fog inflammation. It was, it was motivation. It was feeling strong and grounded. And so it's way more than just a male hormone that helps with libido. And I think it's low in so many women because of modern stress. And then also some certain medications can actually permanently lower it, like birth control pill, which most women are on for years, you know, in their younger years, and don't realize that that can affect, you know, your testosterone levels permanently. Wow.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I've been on a thyroid journey, and the journey just continues on and on. And it is so interesting because Drew the other day was like, what does your thyroid do again? And it's like, we're smart people, we like to listen to health podcasts all the time, but it's like one of those things where you're like, okay, here's all the things that impacts. And it is just so interesting. And for me, like, I didn't get blood work done until we went through our fertility struggles. And I know, I want to hear your story too, because I don't ever remember getting any sort of blood work done until I had something big enough in my life that mattered enough to, like, go through that process. And since then, now it's become just a part of my wellness and my well being. And I really Noticed that when I started to get serious about my health, blood work almost became this gamification of my health. Like, I wanted to see the levels moving in the right direction. I didn't necessarily care anymore about what I looked like on the outside. I wanted to see what was happening on the inside. And so I think it's really interesting because for a lot of people, you might not be getting blood work done ever, unless there's something that really requires it or makes your doctors notice. I started getting blood work done for my parents, which was really awesome and so helpful to help them understand their bodies more. And it really just became this part of our lives where it's like, let's do a check in. Let's like, check where we're at with things. I want to hear your story, like, how did this all come to be? Why are you passionate about this? How did you get into it?

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah, first of all, I love that you do check it regularly because I think it's something that I so believe in because your health isn't just static, right? It doesn't stay in one place. You have different seasons, you age differently, you have, you know, you have babies, you're postpartum. So it is cool to be able to check in and see what, what you can do to help, you know, optimize or change while you're changing.

[Jenna Kutcher]

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[Katie Whelan]

For me, I did not plan on doing this. I did not plan on being an entrepreneur. I did not plan on being in healthcare. But really I struggled with fertility as well. If I could do it over again, oh my gosh, I would do things so differently now that I have all this information. But at the time, you know, I just, I had a bunch of miscarriages. I did all the IVF stuff and then I had my two babies when I was in my early 40s and I was so, so thankful and grateful for two healthy babies. But I was a little bit shocked because I was in a bad place. It was just a lot of emotional and physical trauma both to go through that. And I think it was a little bit shocking to go, okay, I had all this help to get pregnant, to stay pregnant, to have the babies, and then I'm a bit of a mess, kind of an understatement, but. And then the doctors are like, you're fine, you know, congratulations, be on your way. And so for me, I was actually lucky because my husband had had his own hormonal struggles before me and he was a healthcare entrepreneur. So he had actually started Blokes, which is the men's side of our business, way before I went through my stuff. So I was lucky. I was able to go through the men's side of our business. I got a big deep dive lab. I started working on my hormones and Then I started trying these cool things called peptides. And at, you know, at the end of it, I was like, holy moly. Like, we have to do this for women. Because I felt like my whole life growing up, it's just like, you see women struggle. You see women feel like they're trying so hard to hit a goal to feel better, and they're just hitting a wall. And I felt like I really found something that was a game changer for me and that was too good not to share. So that's why we have joy and we're, you know, I work with my husband and we've combined it into one. We're one brand, one, you know, site. And we do both men and women, but we're really trying to dig in and help people just feel better and live. Live better lives.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I love that. Thank you so much for sharing because, you know, it is interesting how women go through so many changes.

[Katie Whelan]

I know.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Regardless of if you have children or not. Like, our hormones and just everything is changing so rapidly.

[Katie Whelan]

Right.

[Jenna Kutcher]

And the level of support. I saw something so funny the other day. It was satire, but it was like talking about plastic surgery and it was like, you know, because we've already figured out everything else in women's health. Let's go deeper on this. And it was just funny because it was like, the amount of research that's been done for women is menial. I mean, it's so tiny. And it was just this like, hilarious thing of like, yeah, let's talk about this. Because we know everything about women's bodies.

[Katie Whelan]

I'm pretty sure I shared that too, because I like it was. Loved it.

[Jenna Kutcher]

So funny. Okay, so one of the things that I have been hearing about more than ever in my life, probably because of the age I am, is perimenopause. I never heard my mom's generation talk about it. I mean, they barely talked about menopause as it is.

[Katie Whelan]

Right.

[Jenna Kutcher]

What is it? What should every woman know about this area? What should we be paying attention to? Like, when is this happening? I feel like it is everywhere. And it's probably just the algorithm feeding me this content because I'm consuming it. But what is it?

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah, I do. I feel kind of bad because I do think people are. Might be getting sick of it, but it's so much better than not talking about it. I will say that. Yeah, it's everywhere, but it's. It's for good reason. So perimenopause is just the transition time before menopause, and it can be five to ten years before menopause. But it's really just subtle shifts in your, your hormones. And most women will feel it. So what you should know is that it can happen mid to late 30s. Most women are in it when they're in their 40s. That's kind of the majority of it. But even if you have a regular cycle, it can be, you know, underneath your sleep is getting worse, your anxiety is getting worse, you have some cycle changes, maybe feeling a little tired or really it's just like feeling off. And that's what I hear most often when women come to me, they're just like, ah, nothing's really changed, but I'm just not feeling like myself. So that is kind of like the definition of perimenopause. The other thing that you should know is really estrogen and progesterone balance each other. They're like yin and yang. And so what first happens in perimenopause is your progesterone crashes, so that declines. And that is our calming sleep mood hormone. And because that's declining, then that means estrogen will go up and it can also fluctuate wildly. So it's really that imbalance of estrogen and progesterone that's causing those major hormone shifts and the symptoms in perimenopause. I would say the key takeaway for perimenopause is that it's not about something's being wrong or it's not about fixing you, but it's really about, you know, really taking care of yourself in a different way. I think it's your body's like, wake up call to say, you know what, these things are changing and you really need to think about how you're supporting yourself and supporting your body through that change so that you can live the last half of your life the way that you want to.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Oh my gosh. I mean, if we don't go through enough. Right?

[Katie Whelan]

Exactly.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I had to literally, Katie. I was literally doing the math of like, how old am I? And how, like, when am. I'm 37. I. It took me a minute to even land on that. But it is, it is something where I'm like noticing and just paying attention. And I think also too, like, for us personally, we're out of the child bearing years. And so I feel like my focus on my cycle has shifted from the years of paying attention to it for the goal of becoming pregnant and having kids. And so it's really interesting too, even just the different stages and seasons you go through as a woman based on what your goals are and based on where you're at in your life. And so. So it's just something that I think I've been paying attention to. So one thing that I think is really interesting is that a lot of times if you do get lab work done, so if you get blood work done, you don't necessarily walk away with a real action plan. I know somebody in my family was just going through some medical stuff. They got lab work done, they got what they needed, and they walked out. And I was like, okay, but what else was addressed here? Like, did we talk about diet? Did we talk about lifestyle? Did we, you know, no. So can you walk us through, like, what is a proactive protocol? Let's just talk about hormones, because we were kind of just talking about hormones. What would that look like? Like, what would someone take as a step if they were to get blood work done and then actually walk away with an action plan? Not just information, but, like, things they can put into balance in their life.

[Katie Whelan]

100. You're absolutely right that most people get the blood work and then they get told they're fine or they get the, you know, the printout, and then they don't have any direction. And so at Joy, we try to flip that script. So the first kind of thing to note is the deep dive lab review and symptom mapping. So we do the deep dive lab biomarkers to see where you're at, but then you have to match them to your symptoms, like, what's going on? And that's where you can really dive into what we can fix and, like, how we create your personal plan. So then that's exactly what we do next. It's meet a clinician and go through it together. So we want you to not be overwhelmed. We want you to understand what you can fix and really learn about the options for your body. And then you feel comfortable with choosing a plan A or a plan B or choosing to start somewhere small and see how that feels for you. So that clinician consultation is really important. That's where we collaborate with you to come up with the plan of what to do. And that could include therapies, like hormone therapies or peptides. It could include supplements, or it can just be lifestyle stuff. It can be like, you gotta work on your sleep, you gotta, you know, work on your gut health, whatever it may be. But that plan is collaborative and then personalized to you. And then the third thing is really optimizing and checking in, because like I've said before, like, your health is not static. So it is important to keep checking in. I remember probably a year and a half ago, I was suffering from these recurrent infections. I did my lab work and saw all sorts of, like, a whole bunch of things like vitamin D, zinc was low, inflammation was off the charts, gut health was wrong. So I had so many things to fix, and that really helped me fix them. But then since I've been feeling great and, you know, most recently, I had a lab check in, and there was not that much wrong, but I noticed a few things off, and I was like, okay, I actually need to up my creatine intake. And that's the only takeaway I got from that. But the point is, it can help you to really check in and go, what's changed and what. What else can I do? Or what else can I add to, you know, ongoing.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yeah. It's so funny because people ask me all the time, like, what supplements do you take and what do you do and all this stuff. And I'm like, I will not tell you any of that, because it's, for me, it's specific to me and my body and what I need. And I think that something that's interesting and I think maybe my consciousness around it has just been more in a state of awareness of just, like, when people are saying, like, just take this, and you're gonna feel great. And it's like, but everybody is different, and everybody's needs are different. What I take is different from what Drew takes. And we've gone as far as to get, like, our kids DNA methylation done so we know what they can methylate and what they can't. Like, it's just. Every person is so unique, and everybody's needs are so unique. And so if you're taking your recommendations from somebody else of what works for them, it might not work for you. And I think that's part of, like, our culture has gotten too lackadaisical of, like, putting a band aid on it or, like, one thing works for everyone. And I just. I personally don't believe that. And I think that in seeing lab results, it gives you clarity inside of, like, what is happening in your body right now. Where do you need to pay attention? How can you support your body? And as somebody with ADHD who, like, I had never been on medication, I, like, struggled to, like, remember to, like, take things in the morning and take things at night when I know, like, this is what my body actually needs. It helps me to, like, get into that rhythm and routine so much more than just being like, well, I should take that vitamin today. Then I forget about it. Does it this resonate?

[Katie Whelan]

Oh, I, I feel that so much. 100% when you can actually see it and then go like when I saw that my lab results where I'm like, oh, my zinc and D are low and I've been s. I can't fight off this infection. I'm like, okay, that's a clear. Like, I'm going to do this, I'm going to take this. Cuz I want to get rid of this. And that's so it's very helpful. I agree.

[Jenna Kutcher]

It makes your future far more compelling to want to like support it than to like ignore it, which has been just so huge. Okay, so one thing that's interesting is that there are people who don't have thousands of dollars, Right. They are not ready to spend thousands of dollars getting all the health things or you know, they have this desire to feel better fast. But maybe the financial side isn't there.

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Kutcher]

If you could just give. We're just gonna give one of each thing. So what do you think would be one biomarker or one thing that they could test on their body if they have access to it? One lifestyle tweak that they could make. And even though we just said we don't do blanket supplements, is there a supplement that is helpful regardless of what your lab work would say or maybe not? Tell me that.

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah. Okay, so biomarker, first one I'm gonna tell you. Our mission at JOY is to be accessible. So we are really not just for the biohacker. We're for the average woman who says, I'm tired of being tired. So we actually have three lab options and the most accessible one we call our complete hormone panel. It's 56 biomarkers and it comes with a 30 minute clinician visit. And that's $149. And so yeah, oftentimes we also discount it for new patients as well with different codes and that kind of thing. So that I believe is accessible for most. It's a great starting point to help really kind of get you on your way. Lifestyle tweak. I absolutely love in the morning waking up and going outside for like 10 minutes, getting that morning sunlight. And then I would say make sure you put some protein, high quality protein in your breakfast. So I think the sunlight will help with your circadian rhythm and the protein will kind of help with your energy so you're not crashing throughout the day. And then the last one supplement, I totally feel you on being personalized with that I'm 100% on board with your, your thinking there. But I will say one supplement I won't miss is my magnesium at night. Magnesium glycinate. So that like helps with sleep, anxiety, pms, a bunch of things. And most people are deficient in that. So if you can't get a lab or you know, it's not accessible to you, I will say magnesium is probably going to benefit you. It's affordable, it's effective, and again, most people are deficient in it. So it's probably a safe one to pop if you're not getting a lab.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I love that. If you need, need help getting morning sunlight, just adopt a puppy and you will be out when the sun rises. Actually, puppies are great because they make you get out and move. Okay, so I want to talk about just the hormonal pressure cooker. So I know for you and I both like entrepreneurship, motherhood, being in this stage of life, I feel like we're literally just living in this state of a universe that is trying to dysregulate us. Right. Whether it's our nervous system or our hormones. So what is something that you, I'm just like digging right now, Katie. What is something that you are personally doing to support your health right now and what is something that's changed the game for you?

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah, I will 100% agree that this is a pressure cooker right now. And honestly, like, I can't tell you that I'm holding it together all the time and you know, I know I'm not alone. So I feel good in sharing that and knowing that there's another community of women out there that feel, feel similar. I have a very busy season right now with trying to build the business, with trying to show up for my family and with facing, you know, all the things that come with being in my mid-40s. So one thing that I've learned with age is that I can no longer just run on caffeine or willpower. I used to be able to do that, but not anymore. So. Right. So now I like really look at my health as my foundation. That's my starting point. It's not an afterthought. Hormones peptides have been a huge game changer for me. Again, like it's, I feel like it really got my body to feel like it's working for me with me and not against me. And then again those, those lab check ins kind of help as I evolve and as I change through different seasons, tweak, tweak my regimen and Then the other thing I really have loved is I've kind of changed the way I work out the last couple of years. I've hired a trainer and I'm doing strength training and I feel like that's made me feel stronger and more capable and more grounded. It's like this woman roar kind of power that I feel with that. So I think that along with trying to eat real whole foods is important for me.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yeah, I love that. This message is sponsored by Greenlight. As a mom, I've been thinking a lot about how to teach my kids real money lessons. The other day I took them to Target and Coco picked out a toy. She had her little purse with her. So I pulled out the amount of money she would need to spend in order to buy that toy to help her make her decision. But let's be honest, as a mom, carrying around a kid's purse with $50 and change is not fun. So I started researching better ways to teach her about money. And that's how I found Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app for families that helps kids learn to save, spend and invest wisely. With parents always staying in control. I love that you can assign chores, send money to their kid wallet and keep an eye on how they use it. It turns everyday moments into money lessons that stick. Green Light is the easy, convenient way for parents to raise financially smart kids and for families to navigate life together. Maybe that's why millions of parents trust and kids love learning about money on Greenlight, the number one family finance and safety app.

[Katie Whelan]

App.

[Jenna Kutcher]

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[Katie Whelan]

Oh, that's so exciting. I am love that.

[Jenna Kutcher]

And so, yeah, I love that. And I think, too, it's like, it's really interesting because I feel like women feel the nervous system dysregulation even more these days. And it's something that I think we're more aware of. And so it's just interesting where it's like, we have to call in more supports. And I think we also have to raise our own awareness on our own bodies to kind of be the advocates that we need. And most of us are advocating so hard for other people in our lives, not hard for ourselves. And it's, you know, it's the whole analogy of, like, you know, put on your light. What is it? Put on your.

[Katie Whelan]

What is your oxygen mask or life vest? All of the above.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yes.

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah, you're nailing it. That's 100% right. And this is honestly, like, I'm so impressed with your journey because I know that you're. You've been working on your health in different ways, and you obviously have figured out a lot in your life with your work life balance, too. But I will say, like, I don't think you're there yet, but when you get to a certain age, like, your body will just not let you do the things you used to do anymore. And that's where I'm at, where it's like, boom, nope, we're not doing that anymore. You have to take care of yourself.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yes. Isn't that wild? Oh, gosh, yes. So I want to know, in terms of, like, when we think of entrepreneurship, because we're both entrepreneurs, I think our health can often clash with our entrepreneurial drive and the grit and the tenacity required to start businesses. And I think so many entrepreneurs experience high levels of stress, high levels of burnout. And so what has that looked like for you? Because for me, I know that I really unpacked this weird belief that I didn't even recognize that I had until I started to unpack it that, like, I. Either the business was going to be doing great, or I personally would be doing great. I almost separated health and entrepreneurship for a very long time. And you can literally see it in my life and how it unfolded until I started to see how they interacted. What has that been like for you since you're obviously in the health space with your entrepreneurship?

[Katie Whelan]

Yeah, I honestly, like, I've watched you go through it, and what I feel like is, first of all, you're the expert here, because I have not figured it out yet. I am in this, like, busy grinding season of my life. Where it is. It's too much cortisol, too much stress, and I can feel it. My nervous system. I keep. I'm in the algorithm for, like, I got to get my nervous system reset. I got to try these other things. I gotta try microdosing. Whatever it is, like, I'm gonna try it because it is. It is a season for me of grinding, and I think it's hard on my body and hard on aging. And I've noticed that the last couple years, I'm kind of like, whoa, this aging thing is really not a joke when you're in your mid-40s. And so that is something that I struggle with. And honestly, I'm hoping that that busy, stressful season can slow down for me soon and I can do more of the things that really, like, ground me and light me up. Like, I want to bake the sourdough bread. I want to have the chickens as we're talking about. Like, I want to do those. Like, I want to have nothing on my calendar. So I'm looking forward to when that. When that can happen.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Can I give you advice?

[Katie Whelan]

Please.

[Jenna Kutcher]

So you gotta start doing those things now. Like, space is not gonna show up on your calendar. And what's interesting, I literally just recorded an episode about this, but I have adhd, and what I found is that when I am doing things like baking sourdough or when I'm out in my garden, it quiets my brain enough to have one thought versus a million thoughts. And so it is actually the most productive. I am, like, if you're somebody, Katie, that has, like, good shower thoughts where, like, all your best ideas come to you when you're in the shower, I would consider incorporating those things right now because I look at it not as, like, a leisure or, like, I mean, it's. It's so grounding for me and so good, but it also keeps me busy enough to allow my brain to actually think and process and be Present. So I would say start doing those things and don't look at it as a hindrance to you getting your work done. But it's like the best work. And you already know all this because you live it. But it is interesting because I. I went through, I mean, funny. Not funny that the company is called Joy because I went on this, quote, joy journey last year, which is what I coined it of, like, what am I passionate about outside of work? Like, who am I outside of work and motherhood? Do I even have any hobbies? Like, am I an interesting person? Like, if somebody doesn't understand what I do and doesn't care, what do we talk about? And I feel like that was the best thing I've ever done in my entire life. And I feel, like, more grounded than ever. And I also just feel like my business is more clear. So I don't know if that's the advice you wanted to hear, but that is a hot.

[Katie Whelan]

That is so beautiful. And I think it's probably easier said than done.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yes.

[Katie Whelan]

And. And you're living proof that it is working. And so that's.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I mean, but baking bread only is going to take a couple hours out of your week, and it would probably just take the hours that you're, like, watching Netflix. Netflix or like, Doom. Scrolling about content about your nervous system. Okay, so one of the things I love about you, and, I mean, we've had a friendship for years now. It's like, you truly are a champion for people who are navigating motherhood and a mission. And so what advice do you have for somebody who has this ambition? But maybe they're feeling like I don't even have the energy to tackle the things I want to do. Like, I'm too tired to do what I'm meant to do on this planet.

[Katie Whelan]

Oh, my gosh. That is exactly what we're here to support. And I would say you don't have to live like that. Most people come to us and say, I don't have the energy. And that's exactly what we help with. And all we need to do, start with a lab. And that'll give us so many different options of, like, tweak this, tweak that. And once you can feel like, oh, something clicks, like, oh, I got this. I can do this. I can go to the gym, I can go outside for. And ground in the grass. Like, once you start to do something and see some change and, like, feel that hope, then it gets easier to keep going. And so all you have to do is just start and say that you're worth it, because you really are, Effy.

[Jenna Kutcher]

I have to commend you and also laugh with you. So Joy and blokes gave Drew a very unique sense of confidence because the man has never done well with blood work. He's just one of those people. It was the first blood draw that he didn't faint on, ever, when we did the blood work for you. And so it was so funny because then he got really cocky and it didn't last.

[Katie Whelan]

No, I know. You told me about that. And I was so nervous. I was like, oh, no, I'm gonna send someone there, and we're gonna, like, kill your husband.

[Jenna Kutcher]

And, you know, the funniest thing was Katie. So the first. He never really. He told me he got a little queasy with medical stuff. I did not know the level of it. We had gotten married, and it was like. I don't know, like, six days into our life as a married duo. And we did something for, like. I think it was life insurance. I don't know why we were doing this at this stage. And somebody came over to, like, our little apartment, and they drew blood, and Drew didn't say anything to either of us. And all of a sudden, he just face plants all onto the floor, and our dog is, like, rolling the tennis ball at his head. And I'm like, you just killed my husband. I just got married. You killed my husband. He was totally fine. So worry not. You guys gave us such a unique sense of confidence. But what I think was really awesome is just doing the blood work, having the meeting, getting supplements that were not only cutely labeled specifically for myself, that made it, like, fun to take them. Like, there are affirmations on your supplements.

[Katie Whelan]

Oh, yeah, I wrote those myself.

[Jenna Kutcher]

But, like, just feeling. Feeling like I am doing what my body needs and having that ownership around it. I just think it's really, really powerful. And there are so many avenues you can go and so many options based on where you're at financially, where you're at with your well being, where you're at with your goals. I feel like you and I, we scratch the surface, and we could go. We could go real deep. So what is something that you just want every listener to know and understand and believe before they turn this episode off today?

[Katie Whelan]

First of all, you're worth it. You're worth it. And, you know, I believe that, really, life gets better with every decade. There's some weird stuff that comes along with women and aging and perimenopause and menopause, but it really, truly can be better if you make the choice to invest in your health. I think that's. It's a very crucial time for you to decide how you're going to live the rest of your life.

[Jenna Kutcher]

You have a very generous offer for our listeners. Can you talk about that? When I saw that, I was like, wait, is this real? Can you tell me a little bit about that?

[Katie Whelan]

Yes, of course. So I believe what we're offering your listeners is 50% off labs, and then I believe also 15% off any supplement, peptide, anything on the site with your code. Gold digger. Is that right?

[Jenna Kutcher]

Yes. That is so amazing. Thank you so much. I love what you do. I love following your journey. I love being a part of the mission. And I just feel like there's so much empowerment to be had and there's so much that you can unpack as a woman to just feel alive again. I think so many of us don't know how good good can feel. And so we've just gotten used to moving through life in that way. And as someone who is exc. Experienced it herself, I never want to go back. And I just look at my health in such a beautiful way. I heard this analogy. My sister said it because my dad's a big car guy. And she said if you knew you would only get one car for the rest of your life, like, you would take care of that car, you would keep it clean, you would get the oil changed exactly when it needs to be changed. You would make sure that car lasted and said it to my dad, because my dad's like, you know, a gritty paper mill guy who, like, drinks Mountain Dew. And that analogy stuck with me because it is so true. It's like we get one body, we get one chance, and we wait until way past the check engine light goes off until we're stuck on the side of the road, Right. And we're desperate for answers. And I just feel like when I shifted to being more proactive instead of reactive about my health, I just felt built such a different level of ownership in what I can do and how I can impact things. And it's just been a beautiful journey. So thanks for being a part of it.

[Katie Whelan]

Ah, this is so awesome. I really, first of all, love being able to, you know, improve Drew's ego and. No, this is. It's beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing all that you've been through in your health journey, too, because it's certainly an inspiration.

[Jenna Kutcher]

Oh, thanks, Katie. I have personally known Katie for years, and she is an amazing amazing leader and pioneer in this space of just championing women to feel better, to move through their lives better, to tackle big projects like entrepreneurship better. And I just love her approach and I love what they have built with Joy and Blokes. Drew and I have both been customers. We've gone through their lab process. It's honestly amazing and I am just so excited to talk about this more as I've been on my own health journey over the last almost three years. It has just been so eye opening to understand my personal body more and what it needs and really feel empowered with information to make decisions to support and supplement my body in the ways that it is needing before it screams at me that it needs it. So again, if you want to get 50 off lab testing or 15 off a therapy of your choice, go to joy and blokes.com you can use the code Gold Digger which Katie gave to us today. That's J O I A N D B L O K E S dot com. Check it out if you have not gotten your lab work done recently or if you've never gotten it done, now is an amazing time to get a look at what is happening inside your body and support it in the ways that it might be needing. I hope you love today's episode. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Gold Digger podcast. Until next time, keep on digging your biggest goals. Thanks for pulling up a seat for another episode of the Gold Digger podcast. I hope today's episode fueled you with inspiration, gave you information that you can turn into action, and realigned you with your true north in life and business. If you've enjoyed today's episode, head on over to gold diggerpodcast.com for today's show, notes, discount codes for our sponsors, freebies to fuel your results, and so much more. And if you haven't yet, make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss a future show. We'll see you next time, Gold Diggers Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements, and individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in the episode. Your support through affiliate links or sponsored content helps us continue to bring you valuable content. Thank you for being a part of the Gold Digger community.