podcass

Latest Episodes:

171. the secret to serotonin with nutrishan: how your gut controls your mood, energy & weight Nov 05, 2025

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Why does everyone feel like garbage when their labs are "normal"?

In this eye-opening episode, Cassidy sits down with Shannon Sokolow, functional nutritionist and gut health detective at LA's exclusive Monarch Club, to uncover why so many women are bloated, exhausted, and struggling—despite their doctors saying they're fine.

This episode digs into:

Why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut (and how this changes everything about mood & mental health)

The specific gut tests that reveal what standard labs miss
Why millennial women all seem to have high cholesterol & what it actually means
The gluten-free truth: When you actually need it vs. when you don't
Simple fiber strategies that won't destroy your stomach
How stress and your phone are wrecking your digestion
The protein-hair loss connection no one talks about
Why you can't "eat your way out" of bad bacteria

Shannon breaks down exactly what she looks for in gut testing that doctors miss, shares her sneaky fiber hacks (rice cauliflower in everything!), and explains why your bloating might have nothing to do with what you're eating.

Plus: Cassidy and Shannon dish about the LA farmer's market butter lady, why American gluten hits different, and how your gut health literally determines your capacity for impact—whether that's showing up as a present partner, an engaged parent, or building your business.

Perfect for you if: You're tired of feeling "off" with no answers, curious about functional medicine, or ready to understand what root cause health actually means.

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170. currently loving: matcha soda, buffalo tofu bowls & joy as resistance Oct 29, 2025

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In this episode of Currently Loving, Cassidy returns to the series to share her latest obsessions across entertainment, food, mindset, and lifestyle. She discusses attending street artist Shepard Fairey's talk on "joy as resistance," her nostalgic return to her favorite medical drama, and her new go-to meal of buffalo tofu crunch bowls using a game-changing shredded tofu technique.

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169. michelle obama's press secretary katie mccormick lelyveld reveals the real secret to sustainable success & wellness Oct 22, 2025

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In this illuminating episode of The Podcass, Cassidy sits down with Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a strategic positioning and communications advisor who served as First Lady Michelle Obama's first Press Secretary.

Katie opens up about her transformative journey from viewing wellness as separate "silos" to embracing what she calls "whole woman readiness." She shares how working on Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative fundamentally shifted her understanding of wellness from just hitting the gym to a comprehensive approach that includes managing burnout, family dynamics, and professional deliverables as one integrated picture.

The conversation brings you behind the scenes of Katie's path to the White House, from watching annotated news with her parents as a child to that pivotal moment meeting Michelle Obama at her Chicago home.

Cassidy and Katie dive deep into the entrepreneurial mindset required for modern career success, discussing why the skills needed to be an entrepreneur are actually essential for everyone navigating today's rapidly changing work landscape.

They explore the concept of "winning the week" instead of trying to win every day, offering a refreshing reframe on productivity and success that prioritizes satisfaction and wellness without sacrificing ambition.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom for women building careers, insights on sustainable wellness practices, and an inspiring look at what's possible when you refuse to leave pieces of yourself behind to excel professionally.

Connect with Katie: Find Meld at meldmore.com and claim your seat

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168. removing my IUD (and why I said no to glp-1s) Oct 15, 2025

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In this raw and deeply personal episode, Cassidy opens up about the eight-month wait to get her IUD removed, the emotional waves that followed the removal, and the relief of finally getting her period back after seven years.

But the story doesn't end there. When comprehensive blood work revealed insulin resistance, elevated thyroid antibodies, and PCOS markers, Cassidy's doctor prescribed GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic). In a conversation you won't hear anywhere else, she breaks down exactly why she said no—despite the clinical logic making sense.

Cassidy dives into the science behind GLP-1s, the reality of muscle loss that nobody talks about, and why appetite suppression felt like going backwards after years of healing her relationship with food. She shares the parallels between suppressing her cycle with the IUD, suppressing her hunger through restriction, and the pattern of "suppress, override, force, control" that her body kept score of for years.

This isn't about judging anyone's medical decisions—it's about asking questions, understanding the trade-offs, and choosing the path that aligns with your body, your history, and your long-term goals. Cassidy reveals her natural protocol for managing PCOS and insulin resistance, why she's committed to the slower path, and what it means to finally be in partnership with her body instead of at war with it.

episode 160. living is healing

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167. you're not crazy, you're just ready: the astrology of career alignment with alice hu Oct 08, 2025

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That restless feeling about your career? It's not just you—and astrology confirms you're right on time. Career astrologer Alice Hu joins Cassidy to explain why so many high-achievers are feeling the pull toward something different right now, and how your birth chart can guide you toward work that actually energizes you.

Alice reveals what's happening cosmically: September's eclipse season marked a major turning point, and the next six months will bring unprecedented change to the workplace.

Tune in to hear why "corporate safety" is an illusion, how to create bridge income while exploring what's next, and why soft skills like intuition and creativity are becoming your biggest career assets.

If you've been thinking "there has to be something more than this," this episode is your cosmic confirmation that you're not crazy—you're just ready for what's next.

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166. from burnout to balance: billie quinlan on sabbaticals, skateboarding, and sexual health Oct 01, 2025

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In this empowering conversation, Cassidy sits down with Billie Qualan, co-creator of Furley—a sexual wellness app that has helped nearly one million women reconnect with their bodies and desires. Fresh off a month-long sabbatical in Nicaragua, Billie opens up about her journey from investment banking to building a revolutionary sexual wellness company, and why she finally gave herself permission to step away from the hustle.

They dive deep into entrepreneurial burnout, the importance of designing a freedom-based business (and actually living that freedom), and why reclaiming your sexuality is about so much more than what happens between the sheets.

Cassidy and Billie explore Billie's forthcoming book Turn Yourself On (out January 2025), which offers the sex education every woman should have had but didn't. They discuss why 51% of women experience sexual dysfunction, how big tech discriminates against women's health businesses, and the power of following curiosity threads.

From learning to skateboard with full padding to breaking down the "cage" of success, Billie shares vulnerable stories about reconnecting with joy, silliness, and what truly makes you feel alive. This episode is a refreshing reminder that you have permission to do things differently—and that bravery is just a muscle you can build.

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165. live from the lighthouse Sep 24, 2025

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What happens when Cassidy tries to record in the middle of a bustling work space? Pure magic, apparently. In this unscripted episode recorded live at the Lighthouse in LA, host Cassidy Ceresa dives into her recent career astrology reading that's completely shifting how she sees her work and purpose.

Joined by fellow entrepreneurs Arielle Loupos (founder of flower girl), Sara Mengesha from the Lighthouse team, and Aneri Shah, they explore the messy, beautiful reality of building something from nothing.

This conversation covers spiritual awakenings, creative rejection (like when people hate your main character who's based on you), and why LA's creative community hits different.

Cassidy shares the astrology insights that are changing everything - including why her astrologer told her she needs to be "weirder" and how her Virgo-in-12th-house placement explains why she's been trying to solve her dual nature like a math problem instead of embracing it as her superpower.

If you've ever felt torn between different sides of yourself, struggled with creative criticism, or wondered if your dreams are too weird for this world - this episode captures the raw, unfiltered reality of creative transformation in real time.

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164. your creative capacity is only as strong as your self-care Sep 17, 2025

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Think creativity just happens? Think again. In this mindset-shifting solo episode, Cassidy reveals the hidden science behind creative capacity and why your best ideas aren't random—they're manufactured through the conditions you create.

What You'll Learn:

Why your brain needs carbs to think (and anyone who says otherwise doesn't understand biology)
The real reason behind your 3 PM crash—and it's not just tiredness
How just a few minutes of movement increases creative problem-solving by 60%
Why "shower thoughts" and driving epiphanies aren't random—and how to access them on demand
The difference between borrowing creative energy from future you vs. generating it sustainably
Simple systems to protect your creative capacity like the valuable asset it is

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, high-achievers, and anyone who wants to think more clearly and solve problems more effectively without burning out.

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163. why 'just put your phone down' advice won't work (and what actually does) Sep 10, 2025

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In this solo episode, Cassidy tackles the a requested topic from her Instagram community: creating phone boundaries that actually stick. Drawing from her work with hundreds of women and nervous system science, she explains why generic "digital detox" advice fails and shares a personalized approach to reclaiming your relationship with technology.

Cassidy opens with relatable stories about morning phone spirals and the exhausting blur between work and personal notifications. She then breaks down the science of how phones hijack our nervous systems, introducing the concept of "window of tolerance" and explaining why constant notifications trigger fight-or-flight responses while intermittent reinforcement keeps us hooked like slot machines.

Essential listening for anyone feeling controlled by their phone or wanting more presence and calm through science-backed digital wellness strategies.

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162. getting to know seb terry & his bucket list adventure Sep 03, 2025

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In this inspiring episode of Podcass, Cassidy gets to know Sebastian Terry, the renowned Australian keynote speaker and bestselling author who transformed his entire life after asking himself one simple question: "Am I happy?" When the answer was no, Seb created a list of 100 goals that would change everything.

Join Cassidy as she gets to know Seb's incredible journey from feeling like he was just surviving to absolutely thriving. After losing a close friend in his mid-twenties, Seb embarked on a 15-year bucket list adventure that has taken him around the world and helped him complete 77 of his 100 goals so far.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

Why goal setting is actually a wellness practice in disguise
How to turn overwhelm into intentional living
The ripple effect of personal transformation on everyone around you

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