43: Body Brilliance: Connecting the Dots Between Emotional Eating, Hormones and Pelvic Health with Amber Romaniuk
Release Date: 07/10/2025
47: Rewiring Pain: From Velociraptors to Victory with Dr. Laura Katz
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Dr. Laura Katz, a health, rehabilitation, and clinical psychologist who's revolutionizing how we understand and treat chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis. From the evolutionary biology of pain signals to groundbreaking interdisciplinary treatment approaches, Dr. Katz shares her expertise on helping women reclaim their lives from chronic pain through the power of pain science and neuroplasticity. What You'll Learn Why our pain signals haven't evolved past the "velociraptor era" and how this impacts chronic conditions The critical...
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46: PAUZ Before You Perimenopause: The Reset Your Body Is Begging For with Natalie Perkins
The Hole Shebang
Special Listener Offer Follow on Instagram and DM "hole shebang" to receive: 3 months free of the PAUZ Health community Entry to win $50 off at the PAUZ Health marketplace Episode Overview Join Kristen Parise as she reconnects with her former McMaster University classmate, Dr. Natalie Perkins, who traded her VP role at a major telemedicine company to launch PAUZ Health, a revolutionary platform supporting women through perimenopause and menopause. From life-threatening health scares to marriage endings to career pivots, Natalie shares her raw, authentic journey of self-discovery and how...
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45: Exhausted to Energized: Real Nutrition Talk for Real Moms with Laura Lima
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Are you tired of feeling exhausted all the time as a mom? Wondering if you'll ever feel like yourself again? This episode is your wake-up call! Join Kristen Parise as she chats with Laura Lima, a holistic nutritionist and soon-to-be mom of four, who's cracking the code on how busy moms can ditch the fatigue and reclaim their energy—without complicated meal plans or impossible routines. Laura brings real-world wisdom from the trenches of motherhood, sharing practical strategies that actually work when you're sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and just trying to keep everyone fed...
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44: Rock Star to Pelvic Floor Revolutionary with Dr. Bruce Crawford
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Get ready for one of the most fascinating origin stories you'll ever hear! Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Dr. Bruce Crawford, the maverick urogynecologist who went from drumming in rock bands to revolutionizing pelvic floor health worldwide. This isn't your typical medical journey—it's the story of a surgeon who discovered that "It's a fitness problem, not a surgical problem" and completely transformed how we approach bladder control, prolapse, and pelvic health. From playing drums in successful rock bands to becoming the ONLY urogynecologist in the United...
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43: Body Brilliance: Connecting the Dots Between Emotional Eating, Hormones and Pelvic Health with Amber Romaniuk
The Hole Shebang
Connect with Amber Romaniuk Website: Podcast: The No Sugarcoating Podcast (available on all podcast platforms) Social Media: @AmberRomaniuk (Instagram) Free Resources: Emotional eating quiz and workshop replay available on her website Consultations: Free consultation bookings available through her website Join the Body Brilliance Workshop Date: Tuesday, July 29th Time: 2:00-3:30 pm EST Location: Online via Zoom Investment: $47 CAD Register: Can't attend live? No problem! All participants receive access to the recording. What You'll Discover in Body Brilliance: Emotional Eating & Hormonal...
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42: From Dry to Delighted - The Vaginal Moisturizer Revolution with Angelique Montano-Bresolin
The Hole Shebang
Episode Highlights 🌟 🧬 The Science Behind Midlife Changes: Discover why vaginal tissue goes from 20+ layers to just 2 post-menopause—and what you can do about it 💡 Lubes vs. Moisturizers Decoded: Finally understand the difference between "lubes for love" and "moisturizers for maintenance" 🌱 From Clinician to Entrepreneur: How a pelvic health physio created FemSense Balm after struggling to find effective products for her clients 🔬 pH Balance Matters: Learn the exact pH range (3.5-5.0) your vulvar area needs to stay healthy and infection-free 🩺 Beyond Menopause: Why...
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41: Exercise as Medicine: Stroke, Recovery, Strength Training, and Healthy Aging with Dr. Ada Tang
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Dr. Ada Tang, a physiotherapist, professor, and researcher at McMaster University who's transforming how we think about exercise for stroke survivors and older adults. From her unexpected journey from clinical practice to groundbreaking research, Ada shares evidence-based insights on how the right exercise can be life-changing medicine for recovery, independence, and healthy aging. What You'll Learn Why aerobic exercise should be a standard part of stroke rehabilitation (just like cardiac rehab) The surprising benefits of...
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40: Beyond the Numbers - How Retirement Planning Affects Your Mental Health & Soul with Gillian Stovel Rivers
The Hole Shebang
Episode Summary In this final installment of our three-part financial wellness series, Kristen and Gillian dive deep into retirement planning—but not in the way you'd expect. While we cover the essential numbers (spoiler: Canadians need $1.5-1.7 million for comfortable retirement), this conversation explores the profound connection between financial security and mental wellbeing in your golden years. From understanding why social isolation hits retirees as hard as smoking and obesity, to discovering how whole life insurance can become a tax-free investment vehicle, this episode challenges...
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39: Floored by the Truth: Demystifying Pelvic Health from Teens to Menopause with Dr. Sara Reardon
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Join Kristen Parise for a compelling conversation with Dr. Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist and author of the groundbreaking book "Floored." Dr. Reardon challenges the dangerous myths surrounding pelvic health, from the misconception that Kegels are a universal solution to the harmful narrative that pelvic floor dysfunction is just part of aging and motherhood. This episode is a rallying cry for women's health advocacy and a comprehensive guide to understanding your pelvic floor at every life stage. What You'll Learn Why balance, not strengthening or relaxing, is...
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38: The Scoop on Kids Poop: The Secret World of Pediatric Pelvic Health with Clare Bourne
The Hole Shebang
Episode Overview Join Kristen Parise as she dives into the often-overlooked world of pediatric pelvic health with Clare Bourne, a London-based pelvic health physiotherapist and author. From bedwetting misconceptions to constipation crises, Clare shares her expertise on helping children and families navigate pelvic floor challenges while breaking down the shame and taboos that often surround these essential bodily functions. What You'll Learn Why potty training should be viewed as a developmental process, not a quick fix The surprising connection between constipation and...
info_outlineConnect with Amber Romaniuk
Website: amberapproved.ca
Podcast: The No Sugarcoating Podcast (available on all podcast platforms)
Social Media: @AmberRomaniuk (Instagram)
Free Resources: Emotional eating quiz and workshop replay available on her website
Consultations: Free consultation bookings available through her website
Join the Body Brilliance Workshop
Date: Tuesday, July 29th
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm EST
Location: Online via Zoom
Investment: $47 CAD
Register: Body Brilliance Workshop
Can't attend live? No problem! All participants receive access to the recording.
What You'll Discover in Body Brilliance:
Emotional Eating & Hormonal Health (with Amber):
- How hormonal fluctuations disrupt hunger cues and trigger emotional eating
- Strategies for managing perimenopause mood swings and emotional challenges
- Why conventional diet methods fail during hormonal transitions
- Tools for addressing body image struggles and building self-worth
Pelvic Health & Physical Wellness (with Kristen):
- Solutions for bladder issues including leaks and urgency
- Relief strategies for pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain
- Techniques to enhance sexual comfort and return to exercise with confidence
- How to properly support your pelvic floor during life's changes
Episode Overview
Join Kristen Parise as she reunites with emotional eating expert Amber Romaniuk for an inspiring conversation about their groundbreaking collaboration: the Body Brilliance Workshop. This dynamic duo explores the powerful connections between emotional eating, hormonal health, and pelvic floor dysfunction—areas that profoundly impact women's lives yet are often overlooked or dismissed. From the shame surrounding both food struggles and pelvic health issues to the interconnected roots of these challenges, this episode reveals why addressing both physical and emotional health together is the key to true healing.
What You'll Learn
- How emotional eating and pelvic health issues share surprising common roots in shame and unworthiness
- Why hormonal changes during perimenopause require completely new approaches to health and healing
- The connection between people-pleasing, boundary-setting, and both food and pelvic health struggles
- How physical pain can drive emotional eating patterns and vice versa
- Why creating safe spaces for women to discuss these "taboo" topics is essential for healing
- What the Body Brilliance Workshop offers for women struggling with these interconnected issues
Episode Highlights
Breaking the Shame Cycle Around Women's Health
Amber and Kristen explore how shame surrounding both emotional eating and pelvic health issues keeps women isolated and prevents them from seeking help. They emphasize that these struggles are far more common than women realize and that breaking the silence is the first step toward healing.
The Mind-Body Connection: When Physical and Emotional Health Collide
The hosts reveal fascinating connections between mental and physical health. When women experience pelvic pain, they often reduce activity and seek comfort in food. Similarly, hormonal fluctuations can trigger both emotional eating and pelvic floor dysfunction, showing why comprehensive approaches work better than treating symptoms in isolation.
Why Perimenopause Changes Everything
Amber explains how perimenopause represents a fundamental shift requiring completely new strategies. The restrictive diets and exercise routines that worked before suddenly become ineffective, demanding a more holistic approach that addresses hormonal changes, emotional patterns, and physical symptoms together.
Introducing Body Brilliance: Where Pelvic Health Meets Emotional Wellness
Kristen and Amber unveil their collaborative workshop that fills gaps in traditional healthcare. Body Brilliance connects the dots between cravings, hormones, emotional health, and pelvic function, providing women with comprehensive support in a safe, judgment-free environment.
Episode Chapters
00:00-01:03: Welcome Back Amber - Reintroduction and collaboration excitement
01:03-03:55: Amber's Expertise - Emotional eating, hormones, and the No Sugarcoating Podcast
03:55-07:59: Creating Safe Spaces - Why shame keeps women from seeking help
07:59-09:22: The Roots of Emotional Eating - Addressing unworthiness and self-sabotage
09:22-12:57: Perimenopause Game-Changer - Why old strategies stop working
12:57-16:29: Mind-Body Connection - How physical and emotional health intertwine
16:29-20:39: Body Brilliance Workshop - Connecting cravings, hormones, and pelvic health
20:39-23:19: Pelvic Health and Emotional Well-being - The pain-comfort food cycle
23:19-26:25: Resources and Theme Songs - Where to find Amber and her perfect life soundtrack
Key Takeaways
Your triggers are teachers - Instead of fighting against emotional eating triggers, learn to see them as valuable information about what your body and mind need.
"None of your old tricks are going to work" - Perimenopause requires a complete shift in approach, moving away from restrictive methods toward supportive, holistic strategies.
"It's so easy to get in your head" - The stress-eating cycle perpetuates itself, but understanding this pattern is the first step to breaking free.
Safe spaces save lives - Creating environments where women can openly discuss their struggles without shame is essential for healing and empowerment.
Connect with The Hole Shebang
Website: Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health and Pediatrics
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference
Amber's Theme Song for Her Career
"Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane – "I'm gonna ride it (during the day, not the night, because I'm sleeping!)" – perfectly capturing her journey of helping women navigate their health challenges while prioritizing rest and self-care.
This episode is brought to you by the shared mission of breaking taboos and changing lives through open, honest conversations about women's health. Knowledge is power, and talking openly about women's bodies is revolutionary.