Conversations with Dr Libby: Lara Briden and Dr Libby on hormones, mood & low iron
"This is not just a hormone issue, it’s an iron issue."
For too long, women’s fatigue, pain and mood changes have been brushed aside as “just hormones.” But what if your body’s been trying to tell you something all along?
Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.
In this powerful conversation, Dr Libby sits down with Lara Briden — naturopathic doctor and bestselling author of Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual — to explore the intricate connection between iron, hormones and women’s health.
Together they unravel how low iron can quietly ripple through every system of the body — from mood and metabolism to thyroid and menstrual cycles — and why so many women are misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or “just stress” when the real issue lies in their biology.
What this episode covers
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Why fatigue, low mood and brain fog are often signs of biochemical depletion, not character flaws.
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How oestrogen and progesterone shifts influence iron levels through puberty, perimenopause and menopause.
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The two-way link between heavy periods and iron deficiency — and what’s actually normal blood loss.
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Why gut health, inflammation and hormonal contraceptives affect how well your body absorbs and utilises iron.
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How thyroid and adrenal function intertwine with iron to shape your energy, mood and metabolism.
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What standard blood tests often miss — and how to better advocate for yourself when “everything looks normal.”
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Lara’s evolutionary take on women’s cycles and what modern life has done to them.
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Practical, compassionate ways to rebuild your energy and restore balance — without overcorrecting or ignoring your body’s cues.
About The Iron Conversation Mini-Series
After appearing on countless podcasts herself, Dr Libby (PhD) is switching seats.
Tired isn’t your personality. Foggy isn’t your forever. In this 6-part mini-series, Dr Libby unpacks why iron deficiency is so widespread, how it affects every life stage and what it really takes to restore it. With real talk, expert guests including Dr Oscar Serrallach and Lara Briden, and practical steps that work, this is iron explained like you’ve never heard it before.
Available to listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or to watch on YouTube.
→ Feel like this could be your story too? Learn more about the impact of iron deficiency in Libby’s latest book, Fix Iron First.