The ADVANCED Thyroid and Adrenal Masterclass Episode
The Thyroid (and Hormone) Fixer Podcast ~ March 2026
Podcast Recap
by Tracy K.
Dr. Amie Hornaman is known as the Thyroid Fixer and she is speaking on this podcast with Dr. Tricia Pingel, a naturopathic physician who specializes in stress & cortisol management. I will break down this amazing podcast for us! 🩶 Short on time? Scroll to the end for “Tracy’s Takeaways”.
The Hormone Wild West: Why “Normal” Isn’t Good Enough
Hormone clinics are everywhere right now, and it’s starting to feel like the Wild West of hormone therapy. Access is easy, but accuracy?
Too many women are being given hormones without a full picture. Prescribing estrogen while you’re still cycling, or without progesterone, can create more problems than it solves.
Start With Progesterone
Progesterone is the first hormone to decline.
So instead of jumping straight to estrogen, we should be asking: Do we need progesterone first?
I know many people in perimenopause that have sleep issues only. Starting with progesterone might be a good start. No need to add in estrogen if sleep issues are the only symptom.
And let’s be clear:
Progesterone is not progestin.
Progesterone = bioidentical, supportive
Progestin (in birth control) = synthetic, disruptive
Long-term use of synthetic hormones can suppress your body’s natural production and has been linked to increased risk of thyroid dysfunction.
Make sure you are taking bioidentical progesterone NOT progestin!
Stress Is Running the Show
Here’s the part most people miss:
Cortisol (your stress hormone) always wins over progesterone.
If you’re constantly stressed, your body shifts into survival mode:
Thyroid function slows
Active thyroid hormone (T3) drops
Hormone balance takes a back seat
This is why so many women feel exhausted—even when labs come back “normal.”
And here’s the irony:
Fatigue doesn’t always mean you need more stimulation.
It often means the opposite.
👉 The solution isn’t to rev the system up, it’s to calm it down.
Supporting the nervous system can actually increase energy:
Phosphatidylserine can help bring cortisol levels down
Magnesium and B vitamins support resilience and energy production
The more you calm the body, the less tired you feel.
Thyroid: The Missing Link
The thyroid is the master regulator of your metabolism and energy, but it’s often misunderstood.
Many women are told their thyroid is “normal” based on TSH and T4 alone. But a deeper look often shows:
Low T3 (the active hormone)
High reverse T3 (a stress marker)
Nutrient deficiencies like iodine or selenium
Possible autoimmune issues like Hashimoto’s
Proper thyroid support isn’t just about medication—it’s about nutrients:
Iodine
Selenium
Even T2 (a lesser-known but important thyroid hormone)
Stop Chasing “Normal”
Dr. Amie says, “Normal” is just a setting on your dryer, not a measure of health.
If your doctor says your labs are normal, ask:
👉 “Are they optimal?”
Because optimal means:
You feel good
You have energy
Your body is functioning well
You can be “normal” on paper and still feel terrible.
Become Your Own Advocate
The most important shift you can make is this:
Start listening to your body.
Ask better questions:
How do I actually feel?
Are my labs optimal for me?
What patterns are showing up over time?
Even things like rising cholesterol may be tied to hormone shifts like menopause—not just heart disease.
Dr. Amie says good healthcare should always come back to one simple question:
👉 “How do you feel?”
🩶 Tracy’s Takeaways
Start with progesterone for issues with sleep (and remember: progesterone ≠ progestin)
Chronic stress (cortisol) disrupts everything—it lowers thyroid function and steals from hormone balance
Feeling tired doesn’t mean you need more stimulation—it often means you need to calm your system
Supporting your body with magnesium,B vitamins, iodine, selenium, and tools like phosphatidylserine can help restore balance
“Normal” labs don’t equal optimal health
Your symptoms are signals, not inconveniences