The Cycle Codes (The PMDD Podcast)

This week on The Cycle Codes™ Podcast, I’m joined by the unapologetically real and wildly loved Kat John — speaker, coach, meditation teacher and woman who has been deeply honest about her perimenopause journey.Together, we dive into:• What perimenopause actually feels like behind the scenes• How Kat navigates mood shifts, brain fog and anxiety while running a big brand• The surprising moment she realised she’d hated her period for 25 years• How she rebuilt a relationship with her cycle later in life• The conversations that changed everything in her marriage• Why “weaponising the cycle” destroys connection — and how to repair fast• The sacred shift from self-judgment to self-kindness• Navigating rage, tenderness, responsibility, and being a human woman in a messy worldKat is one of the most grounded, authentic and emotionally honest women I've ever spoken to — and this conversation will land for ANY woman navigating cycles, relationships, or the beginnings of perimenopause.🎧 Listen in, share it with a friend, and tag me with your takeaways.Connect with Kat:Insta: @kat.johnWebsite: katjohn.com.au---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

In this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Nik Toth from The Aware Family – nutrition therapist, Aware Parenting practitioner, and mum – for a raw, honest conversation about fertility, birth trauma and why our babies’ tears are not the problem.Nik shares how she was told she had blocked fallopian tubes, a thinning egg reserve, no ovulation and a partner with almost zero sperm count… and that “not even IVF” would work. Instead of accepting that as the final truth, she leaned into her background in nutritional medicine, herbs, supplements, energy work and nervous system support – and fell pregnant six weeks later.We also dive into her birth story in Bali – a planned home water birth that turned into an emergency C-section, NICU, meconium aspiration and the most harrowing 15 minutes of her life when she thought her baby had died and nobody in the operating theatre spoke to her in English.From there, we talk about:How her “colicky baby” cried 10–12 hours a day for monthsThe moment she discovered Aware Parenting and decided to listen instead of constantly soothing and shushingWhat actually happens when a baby has a big cry in safe armsWhy suppressing feelings in babies shows up later as sleep issues, behaviour and anxietyThe link between nervous system regulation, hormones, sleep and our cyclesIf you’re a cycle-aware mum, pregnant, trying to conceive, or healing a birth story – this one will land deep.Trigger warning: We do talk about birth trauma, NICU and emergency C-section. Please listen gently.Connect with Nik & her work:🌐 theawarefamily.comThe freebie for exhausted parents: https://my.theawarefamily.com/3essentialsThe link for the 8 free sleep audits https://niktoth.thrivecart.com/sleep-audit/?coupon=CYCLECODES---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

This episode is a lighthouse for anyone who’s been told “there’s nothing you can do.” Roxanne shares her raw, unfiltered journey—from heavy periods at 11, years on the pill (and a frightening breast lump), anxiety, panic attacks, and two miscarriages… to finally saying “enough,” studying naturopathic nutrition, and rebuilding her health from the inside out.We unpack:• Why PMDD is multifactorial (and why a single pill won’t fix a systems problem)• The missing piece: nervous system regulation as the foundation for every change• How mineral depletion and heavy metals (HTMA), gut dysfunction, and trauma can blunt hormone signaling• Practical supports: circadian rhythm resets, blood sugar basics, seed cycling, meal-prepping for luteal, and testing that brings clarity• The difference between PMDD flare-ups and being a human with emotions (and why repair matters)Roxanne now supports women worldwide with a whole-systems lens—so you can stop negotiating with your truth and start living symptom-free(ish) cycles with real tools, not guesswork. If you’ve ever felt dismissed or defeated, this one will put power back in your hands.Connect with Roxanne:Www.the-HSCC.com Instagram: holisticselfcare.coEmail: info@the-hscc.com ---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

What if PMDD isn’t a life sentence — but an invitation to know yourself more deeply?In this powerful episode, I sit down with Brianna Viegas, PMDD coach and graduate of Lisa de Jong’s Menstrual Cycle Awareness program, to talk about what life looks like after PMDD.We unpack:Why “PMDD is incurable” is one of the most damaging myths out thereHow to shift from managing symptoms to living symptom-freePartnering with your body instead of trying to fix itNavigating motherhood, relationships, and identity through the lens of cyclical awarenessThe beauty of repair, regulation, and real self-trustBrianna shares her personal evolution from survival to sovereignty — and what it really means to live in rhythm with your body beyond diagnosis.To get in touch with Briana:https://brianavillegas.comhttps://brianavillegas.com/holidaybundleInsta: @brianavillegascoaching---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

In this soul-stirring episode, I’m joined by Emily from Whole & Wild, a professional coach helping women uncage their intuition and reclaim their bigness.We dive deep into the four feminine archetypes — Maiden, Mother, Wild Woman, and Crone — and how understanding these cyclical energies can reconnect you to your body’s natural rhythm and wisdom.Emily shares her personal story of “caging” her intuition, the moment she chose to live wild and free, and the powerful metaphor of the wolves returning to Yellowstone — a story that mirrors what happens when we reintroduce our own inner wild.We explore:Why women fear their edges and how to meet them with compassionWhat happens when you reconnect with your intuitionThe cost of staying “fine” versus choosing alivenessThe power of sacred thresholds, rites of passage, and feminine community✨ Connect with Emily:Website: wholeandwild.com🎧 Listen to her podcast: Moon + Fire---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

In this deep, soul-stirring conversation, I sit down with the incredible Sahara Valastro — naturopath, herbalist, and womb wisdom practitioner — to explore the sacred link between our bodies, our cycles, and our intuition.We talk about:🌙 How ancient women lived in rhythm with the moon💫 Why disconnection from the womb leads to burnout, pain, and imbalance🌿 The forgotten feminine practices of yoni steaming, herbal medicine, and food as medicine🔥 How trauma and emotional suppression show up as cycle symptoms💗 Simple ways to begin reconnecting with your womb todayIf you’ve ever felt disconnected from your feminine power or frustrated by “modern fixes” that don’t address the root cause — this episode will feel like a homecoming.Connect with Sahara:Website: saharavalastro.comInstagram: @saharavalastro---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

Tracy Minnoch (fitness industry veteran and founder of Sexy Aging) takes us through the whirlwind from late-pregnancy at 42 to years of undiagnosed perimenopause—complete with 35 symptoms, crippling anxiety, and dysregulated cycles.We get real about Mirena vs. the pill, why MHT/HRT isn’t a “weight-loss hack,” and the lifestyle levers that actually move the needle: sleep as medicine, stress down-shifting, protein-forward nutrition, and lifting heavy for longevity.Tracy shares how she rebuilt confidence, career, and health—plus what she’s teaching her daughter (and son!) so the next generation is menopause-literate.You’ll learn:The postpartum → perimenopause overlap (and red flags to watch)What MHT can/can’t do—and how to decide with your doctorWhy strength training beats “more cardio” in midlifePractical sleep + stress protocols that calm the nervous systemConnect with Tracy:Instagram: @tracyminnochWebsite: sexyageing.com---The Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

What if the way we talk (or don’t talk) about first periods could shape a girl’s confidence, health, and sense of self for decades to come?In this episode, I’m joined by Jane Bennett, a leading voice in menstrual education and co-creator of Celebration Day for Girls. We explore:Why early menstrual education is life-changingHow puberty starts years before bleedingMoving past parental awkwardness to real connectionWhat’s actually normal for pain, flow, and cycle lengthThe ripple effect—from stronger mother-daughter bonds to period-positive schools and workplacesA must-listen for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone who wants periods met with knowledge, dignity, and pride.To connect with Jane:Website: chalicefoundation.org.auInstagram: @chalicefoundationCourse: Foundations of Menstrual Health Education---21 Day Cycle Challenge - Starts October 1stSign up here: https://subscribepage.io/g40KGmThe Cycle Codes: Instagram: @thecyclecodesDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.

Author and coach Jen Butler joins me to talk about the wild Venn diagram of midlife: perimenopause, PMDD, motherhood, and the courage to break up with both alcohol and diet culture. Jen shares how cycle tracking helped her spot a clear mid-cycle mood crash, the conversation that led to her PMDD diagnosis, and why taking fluoxetine (Prozac) in her luteal phase lets her feel like herself all month.We get into night sweats, brain fog, strength training by your cycle, communicating with partners and kids, and how seven years alcohol-free opened the door to deeper healing—plus her forthcoming memoir, Mom Rediscovered: My Midlife Breakup with Drinking and Diet Culture. If you’ve ever wondered whether thriving in this season is possible… this one’s for you.We cover:Perimenopause signs & PMDD (and what finally helped)Luteal-phase SSRIs: what it’s like on Prozac only half the monthFitness + strength: adjusting weights across your cycleQuitting wine-mom culture & becoming alcohol-freeDitching diet culture for body appreciationParenting through hormones: honesty, safety, and therapyTo connect with Jen:Website: jenbutlerwrites.comInstagram: @jenbutlerwrites---21 Day Cycle Challenge - Starts October 1stSign up here: https://subscribepage.io/g40KGmThe Cycle Codes:Instagram: @thecyclecodes🧰 Grab Your Cycle, Decoded — my free guide to finally understanding your body’s rhythm: Download hereDisclaimer:The content shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your cycle, hormones, or health. I speak from lived experience and training in menstrual cycle awareness—not as a licensed medical practitioner.