Why do so many women feel anxious, tired, or off balance at certain times of the month? In this episode, Angela and Dr. Sarah Hill explore how changes in estrogen and progesterone affect mood, focus, and energy, and what happens when stress, inflammation, or birth control disrupt that rhythm. You’ll learn how hormones influence sleep, stress response, and emotional well-being, how to identify if you’re not ovulating regularly, and how to support your hormones naturally. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I feel different at different times in my cycle?” - this episode gives you the answers. What You’ll Learn: • What progesterone really does • Why anxiety increases before your period or in perimenopause • How stress and inflammation affect your hormones • Why many women don’t ovulate every month • The link between birth control, alcohol cravings, and mood • Progesterone vs. synthetic progestins • Why teens and women in perimenopause experience similar symptoms • Why women’s health research needs to change • How to track your cycle and hormones TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro & Why Hormones Drive How Women Feel 03:00 – The Menstrual Cycle Explained 08:00 – How Progesterone Calms the Brain 12:00 – PMS, PMDD & Hormonal Sensitivity 17:00 – Inflammation, Stress & Hormonal Resilience 23:00 – Lifestyle Shifts that Restore Balance 33:00 – Long Cycles, Bleeding & Birth Control 36:00 – PCOS, Mental Health & Progesterone 43:00 – Progestins vs. Progesterone 47:00 – Alcohol, GABA & Stress Relief 49:00 – Supporting Hormones in Perimenopause 50:00 – Teenage Hormonal Turbulence 57:00 – Investigating Cycle Issues 1:00:00 – Why Science Still Gets Women Wrong 1:08:00 – Hormones, Training & Recovery WATCH my previous interview with Dr. Sarah Hill through this link: https://youtu.be/z9sfph-9_MA VALUABLE RESOURCES A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: - Defender Shield - http://defendershield.com/ANGELA⁠ | Use the code ANGELA at checkout for an exclusive 10% off - Supercharge your energy and upgrade your mitochondria with Mitopure - http://timeline.com/angela | Enter code ANGELA to save 10% - Quantum Upgrade - http://quantumupgrade.io/ | Use code ANGELA15 to get your 15 day free trial. No credit card required ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Sarah E. Hill is an award-winning researcher, professor, and author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control. Her new book, The Period Brain, is due out in September. - Website: http://www.sarahehill.com/ - This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: https://a.co/d/4UkgnQg - The Period Brain: https://www.sarahehill.com/books/the-period-brain/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahehillphd2 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahehillphd/ - Twitter: https://x.com/sarahehillphd ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is a Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, and host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former corporate lawyer turned biohacker, Angela helps women optimize energy, hormones, and longevity through her BioSyncing® framework. DISCLAIMER The High Performance Health Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or coaching advice. Always seek guidance from your healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media - https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/