You don't have to just survive midlife. Her Genetic Edge is a podcast hosted by Lori Aikman, MSN, FNP-C, built on one belief: genetics reveal the root causes that everything else misses. If you've tried all the things and still don't feel like yourself, this is where you find out why — and what to do about it.
Become a Genetic Edge Insider at https://www.loriaikman.com/
www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast)
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Let's make sense of hormones, genetics, and midlife together.
If you’re doing everything the same as you always have -- same food, same workouts -- and you’re still gaining weight in your belly, this episode is for you.
Inside we break down six real physiological reasons midlife belly fat happens: how declining estrogen slows your metabolism at the cellular level, why your cholesterol changes even if your diet hasn’t, why fat storage shifts away from your hips and thighs and into your belly, and why your body starts building brand new fat cells in your belly -- plus how stress and progesterone loss compound all of it.
If you’ve felt shame or blame about the belly fat that showed up in midlife, this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening in your body -- and why it’s not a willpower problem.
Get your free copy of the Midlife Hormone Roadmap when you become a free subscriber at https://www.loriaikman.com/ (https://www.loriaikman.com/)
Ready to stop guessing and start understanding your hormones?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
9 Jul 2026
Why Your Filter Disappeared After 40
If your filter has disappeared somewhere after 40, this episode is for you.
Inside we break down the real hormonal shift behind perimenopause rage: why progesterone drops before estrogen, what that does to GABA (your brain’s calming neurotransmitter), and the reason why some women get hit so much harder than others…your genetics.
If you’ve felt shame or confusion about the anger, irritability, or “new normal” of midlife — this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do next.
Get your free copy of the Midlife Hormone Roadmap when you become a free subscriber at https://www.loriaikman.com/ (https://www.loriaikman.com/)
Ready to stop guessing and start understanding your hormones?
Join the Insider Community — $99/year gets you monthly masterclasses (starting with hormone detoxification on July 31st), a full video series on hormone balance in midlife, and direct access to ask your questions.
Founding members (first 40 only) also get a free 1-on-1, 20-minute strategic start session. Become an Insider here: https://l.bttr.to/N5cp4 (https://l.bttr.to/N5cp4)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
2 Jul 2026
What Every Midlife Woman Should Ask Before Seeing a Functional Practitioner
When you go to a steakhouse, you expect steak. When you go for sushi, you expect sushi. You know what you’re walking into before you ever sit down.
The same logic applies when you choose a provider, but how do you know if the provider you’re seeing can actually help you?
In this episode we cover:
* Why two functional providers can give you completely different experiences
* What to consider about yourself before you ever book an appointment
* The specific questions to ask a provider before you commit — about their licensure, specialty, testing, process, and how they support you along the way
* What good communication from a provider actually looks like (and what it looks like when it’s missing)
If you’ve gone to a functional practitioner and walked away without the answers you needed, this episode is for you. It might not be a you problem.
Free resource mentioned: The Midlife Hormone Roadmap — a free 17-page ebook that shows you what a comprehensive functional hormone panel actually looks like, including optimal ranges and how to ask your provider for the right labs. Grab it free when you become a free subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
1 Jul 2026
Can you go through perimenopause “naturally”?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
There's a viral trend going around — women taking Zyrtec, Claritin, and Pepcid before their periods and reporting that their PMS and PMDD symptoms are dramatically better. And honestly? It's working. But why?
In this episode, I break down the real reason antihistamines are helping — and what it's actually telling you about what's going on inside your body. Because the trend is onto something. It's just not the whole story.
We cover:
How estrogen and progesterone directly control histamine release — and what happens when they fall out of balance
Why histamine isn't just an allergy problem — and how it drives mood swings, anxiety, bloating, and migraines
The feedback loop that keeps symptoms stuck and makes them worse over time
Two key genetic variants that explain why you might struggle more than your sister, your friend, or the woman next to you
What a root cause approach actually looks like — and where antihistamines fit in
Whether you're in your 30s dealing with PMDD or in your 40s wondering why perimenopause is hitting differently than you expected — this episode will give you a framework for understanding what's really going on, and what's worth addressing first.
Subscribe at LoriAikman.com (http://LoriAikman.com) so you don't miss what's coming next.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
2 Jun 2026
5 Things You (& Your Doctor) Should Know Before Starting HRT
When you start HRT, or when you started, you probably had a goal in mind; feel more like yourself, less fatigue, more clarity, less mood swings, more sleep and more.
Just like a roadtrip, you’ve got to know where you’re starting from, where you’re going and what you’ll encounter along the way.
In this episode of Her Genetic Edge Podcast I break down 5 things to consider before you start your journey.
Subscribe on Substack: loriaikman.com (https://loriaikman.com/)
In this episode I share how both my patients and I have been using Mira for quick and easy hormone monitoring at home. Mira provides 20% off when you use our affiliate code 2AIKMANL20 at https://shop.miracare.com/ (https://shop.miracare.com/). I personally use the Ultra4 Kit for Perimenopause.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
26 May 2026
Why Genetics Matter More In Midlife
Why do some women feel amazing on HRT… while you’re still struggling with sleep, anxiety, inflammation, weight gain, or fatigue?
You’re not failing. And your body isn’t broken.
What works for one woman doesn’t always work for another, because hormones are only part of the picture. Your genetics influence how your body processes hormones, responds to stress, handles inflammation, and navigates the hormonal shifts of midlife.
In this episode, we’ll explore why midlife often exposes patterns the body could compensate for before, why HRT is not one-size-fits-all, and how understanding your genetics can help you make more informed, personalized decisions about your health.
Subscribe below to access the upcoming masterclass and additional resources on hormones, genetics, and midlife health.
https://www.loriaikman.com/ (https://www.loriaikman.com/)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 May 2026
Why What Works For Her...Isn’t Working For You
Does midlife feel more like a trainwreck than a transition?
The seemingly sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone can be quite destabilizing. Everywhere you turn, someone is giving you the strategy that will reverse all your symptoms. Just take the HRT, eat all the protein, do you’re weighted-vest workouts, and don’t forget your cupful of supplements.
So why isn’t it working for you? Especially when it seems to be working for everyone else? The answer may be in your genetics!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
17 Apr 2026
Stop Pushing Your Body. Start Leading It. Live with Lori Aikman | Her Genetic Edge
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.loriaikman.com (https://www.loriaikman.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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