If you've wondered about any of these — what they actually do, whether they're worth it, and what two menopause-focused OB-GYNs and a Zen teacher actually do themselves — this is that conversation.

In part three of their conversation on the visible changes of midlife, Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get personal about what they actually do, what they recommend, and where they disagree.

They discuss:

• Botox: The medical uses most people don't know about, the case for and against, and what happens when you freeze too much of your face
• Lasers: How they actually work, the difference between superficial and deeper treatments, and what to look for in a provider
• Red light therapy masks: What the data actually says and what to look for before you buy
• Fillers: Why one doctor completely changed her position on them
• The natural alternatives, geranium oil, gua sha, retinol vs. estrogen, and dermaplaning
• Each woman's personal philosophy on aging (which turns out to be the most clarifying part of the conversation)
• A lightning round: Face yoga, staying out of the sun, ring lights, shorter haircuts, tweezers in the car, and more

This episode is for any woman who wants real opinions, not just options.

For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit ⁠www.luminescence.health⁠. 

Presented by our sponsors:

Stripes:

Visit ⁠stripesbeauty.com⁠ and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line.

Genova Connect:

Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit ⁠connect.gdx.net⁠.

LivOn Labs:

Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at ⁠LivOnLabs.com⁠.

BiOptimizers:

Go to ⁠bioptimizers.com/luminescence⁠ and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

This is part two of the conversation on the visible changes of midlife. Schuyler Grant, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and Elena Brower get into the biology behind what's actually happening to skin and hair as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline. 

They discuss:

• What declining hormones actually do to collagen, elastin, and blood flow and why your skin is your largest organ, not just a vanity concern
• Topical estrogen for the face. What it is, how it differs from vaginal estrogen, and why even the doctors in this conversation hadn't heard of it
• The Women's Health Initiative, the black box warning that just came off vaginal estrogen, and what two decades of misinformation actually cost women
• Whether starting HRT earlier makes a visible difference and what the data does and doesn't support
• How to tell the difference between a choice that's genuinely yours and one that's been shaped by outside pressure

Most women are handed moisturizer and told to drink more water. This episode goes considerably further than that. 

For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit ⁠www.luminescence.health⁠. 

Presented by our sponsors:

Stripes:

Visit ⁠stripesbeauty.com⁠ and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line.

Genova Connect:

Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit ⁠connect.gdx.net⁠.

LivOn Labs:

Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at ⁠LivOnLabs.com⁠.

BiOptimizers:

Go to ⁠bioptimizers.com/luminescence⁠ and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

Right as you're starting to see yourself more clearly, the world starts looking at you differently.

In the Season 2 premiere of the Luminescence Podcast, Schuyler Grant sits down with OB-GYNs Dr. Somi Javaid and Dr. Sarah de la Torre, and writer and teacher Elena Brower, to open a conversation that's been a long time coming: what actually happens to women's looks as we age.

This is about a lot more than skin and hair.

They discuss:

• The impossible standard around how women age: Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and why aging has become the new debate that pits women against each other
• The archetypes of maiden, mother, and crone: The gifts and shadow sides of each, and why midlife isn't about leaving one behind but learning to hold all of them at once
• The appreciation gap: Why we can't see ourselves clearly when we're in it, and the practice of learning to appreciate what's actually there before hindsight forces it

For any woman navigating the noise around aging and looking for a conversation that actually goes somewhere.

For information on our upcoming events, retreats, and to connect with specialists and other women in our online community, visit www.luminescence.health. 

Presented by our sponsors:

Stripes:

Visit stripesbeauty.com and use the code COMMUNE20 for 20% off the entire product line.

Genova Connect:

Save 20% on testing with code COMMUNE20 so you can stop guessing and make adjustments to support what matters. Visit connect.gdx.net.

LivOn Labs:

Get 15% off your first order of elite-absorption, foundational supplements that fit into your routine with code COMMUNE15 (valid through 6.30.26) at LivOnLabs.com.

BiOptimizers:

Go to bioptimizers.com/luminescence and use code LUMINESCENCE for 15% off.

You’ll learn how estrogen, testosterone, insulin, and cortisol impact desire, why prioritizing your pleasure is essential for total health, and practical, science-backed strategies to reclaim your vitality.

Whether you’re cycling, postpartum, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, this conversation will help you understand your body and your power on a whole new level.

This talk was recorded live at Luminescence Los Angeles - February 1, 2025. Learn more about future events at onecommune.com/luminescence.

It’s time to dismantle the outdated script that defines intimacy as penetration with orgasm as the goal. From queer sex to neurodivergent pleasure to the realities of long-term relationships, this conversation invites you to rethink what connection and satisfaction truly mean.

We talk intimacy beyond heteronormative norms, why connection — not orgasm — is what people actually say makes sex satisfying, how kink communities model clear consent and communication, why novelty and curiosity matter (especially for neurodivergent brains), and how chronic pain, fatigue, and health conditions change intimacy without ending it.

This is about redefining pleasure on your terms, not the movie version.

You'll Learn:

• Why connection, not orgasm, predicts sexual satisfaction
• How heteronormative scripts limit pleasure for many women
• What kink communities teach us about consent + communication
• Why novelty, sensory input, and curiosity keep desire alive
• How to explore pleasure if you don’t even know what you like yet
• Why self-pleasure improves partnered sex and communication
• Intimacy without penetration: expanding what “sex” means
• How chronic pain, endometriosis, fatigue, or disability affect intimacy
• Tools, positioning aids, and adaptations that make sex more accessible
• Why orgasms are a nervous system event — not just genital

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing sex wrong,” this episode is your reminder: there is no one right way — only what creates safety, connection, and pleasure for you.

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill
• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution
• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Testosterone is not just a “guy thing;” it’s the most abundant biologically active hormone in a woman’s body, and it powers far more than libido.

This conversation gets real about how modern life depletes testosterone and why women are often shut out of treatment options.

We unpack what happens when testosterone declines from your 20s through perimenopause and menopause, why it affects motivation, confidence, muscle, brain function, and libido, and why so many women are told it “doesn’t matter.”

We break down testing, HRT options (creams, gels, injections, pellets), risks vs benefits, and why stress, belly fat, and modern life can tank testosterone long before menopause.

You’ll learn:

• Why testosterone impacts energy, confidence, muscle, bone, and sex drive
• Signs of low T in women: brain fog, low motivation, poor recovery, low libido
• Why it’s not FDA-approved for women (and what that means for access)
• Total vs free testosterone, SHBG, and what to actually test
• HRT delivery methods: cream, gel, injections, pellets pros and cons
• Possible side effects: acne, hair changes, mood shifts, cholesterol changes
• Why stress, insulin resistance, and endocrine disruptors lower testosterone
• Natural boosters: strength training, protein, vitamin D, reducing plastics, better sleep
• Why hormones are a full-body system, not just “sex hormones”

If you’ve ever felt less driven, less strong, less clear-headed and wondered if it’s “just aging” this conversation might change how you see your hormones.

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill
• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution
• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Learn what’s really happening in your brain when you feel anxious, numb, or disconnected, and how you can reset your stress hormones and get your mojo back.

We talk about how chronic stress can disrupt sleep, metabolism, mood, and connection, and why desire is not “broken,” it is often responding to a nervous system that does not feel safe. Plus, practical tools to regulate stress, send safety signals, and get your vitality back.

You'll learn:

• What the HPA axis is and how cortisol can suppress sex hormones
• Why chronic stress drives cravings, inflammation, and insulin resistance
• The difference between spontaneous desire and responsive desire
• How the mental load and relationship strain can put the brakes on libido
• Simple nervous system resets like breathwork, walking, and co regulation
• Sleep basics that support healthier cortisol rhythms
• How to spot early stress cues so you can intervene sooner

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill
• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution
• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

Vaginal lubrication doesn't always match desire, and in this episode, Schuyler Grant and her expert panel (Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Marisa Snyder, and Rosie Acosta) explain what our culture – and our doctors – fail to teach us.

We break down vaginal health, pH balance, and what is really going on in your body during arousal.

You'll Learn:

• Arousal non-concordance (your wetness doesn't have to match your desire)

• Vaginal pH and why estrogen is basically a farmer for your vagina

• What really happens during arousal (spoiler: it takes longer than porn suggests)

• Why every vagina needs estrogen (postpartum, perimenopause, menopause)

• Vaginal health myths busted (Can tampons get lost? Are tight vaginas better?)

• How to know when dryness, itching, or pain needs medical attention

• Why vaginal health is connected to your overall wellbeing

Can you get pregnant during your period? (Depends.)

Are all vaginas pink? (Absolutely not.)

Should you be doing 50 Kegels a day? (Please stop.)

You'll learn why the “tight vagina” myth is harmful, how semen affects vaginal pH, and why vaginal health changes throughout your life. It’s the vagina education you never got—science-backed, shame-free, and actually useful.

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill

• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution

• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

What you'll learn:

• Estrogen and progesterone are brain hormones (not just “lady parts” hormones)

• The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis explained in plain language

• Why perimenopause brings brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, and vanishing libido

• The menstrual cycle phases and how hormones shift throughout

• What's happening to your serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels

• Why 80% of perimenopause symptoms happen in your brain

• A simple breathing technique to calm your nervous system

Here's the thing: for decades, doctors thought women's hormones only affected reproduction. Turns out, estrogen and progesterone control your brain, bones, heart, metabolism, gut health, and basically everything. When they start declining in your mid-to-late thirties, your brain goes through a massive remodeling. No wonder you feel like you're losing your mind. This episode helps you understand what's actually happening and how to take back control.

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jolene Brighten – Naturopathic endocrinologist, author of Is This Normal? and Beyond the Pill

• Dr. Mariza Snyder – Functional wellness expert, author of The Perimenopause Revolution

• Rosie Acosta – Host of Radically Loved, yoga and meditation teacher

From the orgasm gap to hormonal birth control, from stress and cortisol to testosterone therapy, Season 1 tackles the questions women have been asking in whispers—with science, honesty, and zero judgment.

This season, host Schuyler Grant joins forces with Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Marisa Snyder, and Rosie Acosta to close the knowledge gap on the three pillars of female vitality: 

Sex, Hormones, and Intimacy.