The Luminescence Podcast with Schuyler Grant

Nobody warned you that midlife would feel like this.

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 they age and why that conversation 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:

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Genova Connect:

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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.

Sex therapist and legendary podcast host Dr. Emily Morse joins Schuyler Grant at Luminescence Los Angeles for an open, honest conversation about why so many women feel disconnected from their pleasure — and what to do about it.

Together, they explore how shame, stress, trauma, and cultural messaging impact sexual health; why communication is the ultimate lubrication; and practical strategies to reignite intimacy in long-term relationships.

From nervous system regulation to mindful masturbation, you'll discover empowering tools to reconnect with your body, your desires, and your partner — at any stage of life.

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

In this empowering and refreshingly honest talk from Luminescence Los Angeles, Dr. Jolene Brighten reveals why low libido isn’t "just part of being a woman" — and how hormones, stress, metabolism, relationships, and even body image all intersect to influence sexual health.

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.

Pleasure Beyond Penetration, Kink, Communication & Chronic Pain

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 for Women: Libido, Muscle, Mood, Brain Fog & HRT Truths

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