Unscripted with Alex

Heart meds are everywhere—so what else can we do to help manage blood pressure and cholesterol after 50?In this episode, naturopath Tracee Blythe joins Alex to unpack resistant hypertension, the rise of statins, and why so many over-50s end up on multiple medications.They explore:How aged garlic stacks up against statinsThe role of magnesium, fibre, fish oil, and curcuminWhen functional testing could be usedHow lifestyle changes can outperform another scriptWhether you're a health pro or navigating your own heart health, this episode is full of practical insight.📚 Learn more about Tracee’s Co-prescribing course:https://www.traceeblythe.com.au/co-prescriber📩 Connect with Tracee:Instagram: @safe.coprescribingEmail: tracee@traceeblythe.com.auSponsor: Bold HealthYou can now stock Bold Health Protein in your pharmacy:Bold Health is a high-protein formula designed for healthy aging—21g of protein per serve, added fibre, vitamins, and minerals. No added sugar. Easy to mix. Delicious.🛒 Visit boldhealth.com.au to learn more or become a stockist.

In this episode, pharmacist Alex Shepherd chats with naturopath Tracey Gartner about the often-overlooked role of protein in menopause, and why it’s essential for muscle strength, bone health, energy, and healthy ageing. They explore holistic strategies to support women through perimenopause and menopause — from plant-based protein and gut health to herbal support and hormone balancing.🔗 Connect with Tracey: ⁠traceygartner.com.au⁠📷 Instagram: ⁠@traceygartner.health⁠🔗 Learn more about Alex: ⁠medicinereview.com.au⁠📷 Instagram: ⁠@alexshepherdpharmacist

In this episode, we unpack the real story behind menopause—and the symptoms that are often misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. We talk through fluctuating hormone levels, the limitations of testing, misunderstood symptoms like anxiety and brain fog, and the pharmacist's role in supporting women through this transition.From MHT myths to lifestyle foundations, this episode is packed with insights for any pharmacist wanting to provide better care and clarity for their patients navigating menopause.Guest: Bo Youn Kim | Instagram @menopharmacist | Business: EmpowHer MenopauseSponsored by Bold HealthBold is a high-strength protein powder designed for healthy ageing—ideal for patients who may be skipping meals or struggling with low energy.Now available for pharmacy shelves.Visit boldhealth.com.au or email alex@boldhealth.au to stock Bold in your store.

Join Naturopath Tracey Gartner and Consultant Pharmacist Alex Shepherd as they dive into the world of PPIs for reflux. Discover alternative management strategies, the role of gut bugs, and explore the long-term effects and potential overuse of these medications. A must-listen for anyone seeking holistic insights into reflux care!

When Maddison gave birth to her son, she had no idea that he would be born with a congenital heart defect. This is their story of how they coped with the diagnosis and the treatment they received. This story is one of hope, resilience and faith. In this episode we hear Maddison’s birth story which involved an emergency C-section. Although it wasn’t how she envisioned she would give birth, she still describes the experience as a positive one. When her little one was born, she didn’t know that soon she would discover something wasn’t quite right.At just 2 weeks old, Maddison talks about finding out her son had a hole in his heart. The road to discovering this and getting the diagnosis was not a pleasant one. She talks about their experience in the hospital. Her precious little one received blood test after blood test, the nights were long, and they were exhausted! The journey from here was a long and stressful one but the outcome is one you will want to hear!What we talk aboutBirth storyC-section recoveryHow her son was diagnosed with a heart defectThe treatment her son receivedHer son’s health outcome and where they are at now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maternal assisted c-section births have been on the rise in recent years. It is a type of Cesarean section where the mother is actively involved to help to bring her baby into the world. As in, she literally helps pull her baby out! In this podcast episode we speak with Kelsie, a mum who has experienced it herself. We talked about what was involved and what she loved most about the process. We also get to hear about her first emergency C-section story and what she learnt from this experience to influence her second birth.Topics Covered:Her first Emergency C-section and why it occurred?Her C-section recovery and what helped the most?What a maternal assisted C-section is?How her and her husband came to this decision?What was involved in the maternal assisted C-section?How the day carried out?Her recovery after her second birth?Hosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.Produced By: Botika Co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This recording is part of our C-sections series where we listen to our guests positive birth stories.In this first episode we chat with Amanda. Amanada had planned to have a homebirth using a private midwife but in the end she needed to be transferred to hospital for a C-section. During our conversation she explains why and how this decision to transfer was made. She talks about the overall experience as a positive one and explains how she made it this way.For her second birth, she opted for a VBAC and talks us through this experience. She discusses how they came to the decision of having a VBAC, what her labour was like, and her recovery.Topics CoveredWhy she was transferred to hospital?Why she required a C-section?What her C-section recovery was like?Deciding to have a VBAC for her second birthVBAC experience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental health issues are on the rise in our teens and young people. But what is the reason for that? Seeing your child suffer, is heartbreaking for all parents but what if you aren’t even aware of their suffering? Mental health issues can be silent. But according to psychologist Crystal and Jo from Core of Wellbeing, if we really tune in and become curious of any behavioural changes, we may be able to support them through these troubling times.In this week’s podcast, I spoke with Crystal about some of the causes of depression and anxiety are in teens, how social media is impacting them, and how we as parents we can support their mental wellbeing.Topics CoveredWhy do you think depression and anxiety is on the rise in young people?How much is social media impacting the way our teens are able to interact with each otherand how do they see the world?What can parents do to help teach their children about the impacts of social media?What can parents do to help teach their children about living in a world that is so heavy on technology?How is social media linked with an increase in addictive behaviour?What are some self-care and mental wellbeing tips teens can try?What ways can parents help support their children during stressful times?How can a parent identify if their child is having difficulty with their mental health? What are some signs to lookout for?At Core of Wellbeing, Jo and Crystal offer a service where they work with families to help equip them and build their toolkit.Links MentionedCore of Wellbeing Website: https://coreofwellbeing.com.au/Instagram: @coreofwellbeingHosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.Produced By: Botika Co  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mental health is an important issue for all ages, including our little ones. Supporting the mental wellbeing of our children can help them thrive now and in the future.As a mum, it's important to me that I help build resilience in my children. It's something that I know is going to be valuable for them throughout their lives. But what exactly is resilience, and how can we go about building it in our kids? In this week’s episode I spoke with Psychologist Jo from Core of Wellbeing about how to help kids develop resilience so they can thrive when things get tough. But we also spoke about how to identify when their mental wellbeing may be suffering and what we can do to help support them.According to the World Health Organisation, around 450 million people suffer from mental health disorders worldwide. That's 15% of the global population! Considering that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, it's important that as parents we take steps to support our children's mental wellbeing. So in this conversation with Jo, I wanted to explore more on how as parents we can practical support and nurture our littles ones mental wellbeing and resilience.Topics Covered How prevalent is depression and anxiety in this age group?How can a parent identify if their primary school aged child is having difficulty with their mental health? What are some signs to lookout for?The use of technology starts early. How much does this affect their brain development and emotional stability?What is resilience and what are we trying to achieve with building it?What are some techniques or methods of helping our children build resilience?At Core of Wellbeing, Jo and Crystal offer a service where they work with families to help equip them and build their toolkit.Links MentionedCore of Wellbeing Website: https://coreofwellbeing.com.au/Instagram: @coreofwellbeingHosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.Produced By: Botika Co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As your child gears up for exams, you may be wondering if there's anything you can do to help boost their brain power. Well, it turns out that there are a few things you can feed them which will help them perform at their best. In this week’s episode, we talked with Nutrition Coach Kellie Ashdown, about how to best fuel the brain during exam time.We discuss some of the best foods to boost cognitive function and memory, as well as improve overall concentration and focus. So whether your teen is studying for exams or just trying to do better in school, tune in for Kellie’s top tips!Topics CoveredHow much nutrition really impacts our learningTop brain power foods to eat during study periodsFoods to avoid during exam timeBest ways parents can support their children and eating habits during the study periodInspiring lunchbox ideas to support brain powerKellie’s goal as a nutrition coach is to offer guidance around making sustainable changes that will help improve a family’s overall eating habits. By the end of this podcast, parents should feel inspired but also have a good idea of where they can start.Links MentionedInstagram:  Small Steps Family Nutritions @small.steps.family.nutritionWebsite: www.smallstepsnutrition.com/Hosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.Produced By: Botika Co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak with Amber, one of the co-creators of the charity Tiny Sparks. This charity was created after the birth of Amber's 4th child. At only 25 weeks gestation, Amber's waters broke. From here she was flown to Perth's King Edwards Hospital from her home town in Bunbury. Here she was put on bed rest for 4 days at which her footling breeched son decided to make his appearance. But he didn't make his appearance in the way Amber had expected. Instead his little foot decided to push through Amber's cervix and as she describes it "flap around" in there. From here she was whisked off into theatre where her son would be born via emergency C-section.Amber proceeds to explain to us just what it was like having her son in the NICU for 100 days. She talks about the how her recovery was, how her and her family managed the juggle amongst parenting and caring for all 4 of her children, and what peer support was available at the time.From this experience sparked the creation of the new charity Tiny Sparks. By the time her son was past the major hurdles and into toddlerhood, her and 2 other families, who she became close with in the NICU, decided to join forces and create Tiny Sparks.The charity works to help support other families going through their own experiences in the NICU or for women who are put on bedrest in the hospital.To hear more about Amber's story and the charity tune into the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second part of Billie's story we hear about her third birth which was a home birth. She talks about how she was reaching her 42 week mark and getting close to being told she had to birth in hospital.She talks about being 6cm with no contractions on the morning of her birth. At 6cm she was not yet in active labour with no consistent contractions happening. She talks about what her and her partner did to help move baby into a better position to bring on labour.We also hear about her home set up and what birthing at home was like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billie and her husband have three babies under the age of 4. But falling pregnant with their first baby didn’t happen straight away and wasn’t straight forward. In fact it didn’t come easily at all. After much thought back and forth, finding out she had a severe case of endometriosis, undergoing an ablation treatment, and having a back operation, Billie and her husband decided IVF was the way to go for them. For many couples, the IVF journey can be a long and tiring one, involving rounds on rounds of IVF. And although the process leading up to her first egg collection and fertilisation was a long one, they were over the moon that their first round was a success. She was pregnant! Baby’s number 2 and 3 however, well these two happened even quicker AND naturally. That’s right they happened without IVF!Topics CoveredIVF processTreating severe endometriosisBirth Story with an artificial membrane ruptureSecond baby and natural conceptionTandem feeding & Dry nursingSecond Birth StoryHaving a water birth with Gestational DiabetesDuring this conversation we hear 3 birth stories: 2 in hospital and 1 home birth (in part b). Billie talks us through needing to be induced with her first via an artificial rupture of the membranes but how she managed to stay off synthetic oxytocin. She also talks through how she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD) in her second pregnancy. Women with GD most often need to be induced early (often leading to a C-section) but not Billie. Billie wanted a water birth and this wasn't going to happen if she was induced early and put on the drip. Listen to her story to hear how she managed to get her water birth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting your little one at childcare for the first time can be an event that brings up all sorts of emotions. It can be a big process for lots of families. In this episode we speak with Shannon, the manager of Goodstart Early Learning Childcare Centre. Shannon answers all the common questions parents have about starting their baby or toddler at daycare. She gives tips on what to expect and how to prepare, both emotionally and logistically. Shannon also shares what parents can do to ease the transition for both themselves and their child. This is a must-listen for any parent who is starting the childcare journey.Topics CoveredHow to help your children adjust to daycare if they have separation anxietyWhat to pack in their little ones daycare backpack?What happens with nap time and how do the educators support the children to sleep?Meal time at daycare and questions around starting solids, drinking from bottle etc.How the childcare Centrelink subsidy works?What are the benefits of going to childcare in terms of the child’s development, learning and social skills?Links MentionedGoodstart Early Learning: www.goodstart.org.au/Busselton Goodstart Instagram: @goodstartbusseltonGoodstart Australia Instagram: @goodstartmoments_Hosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica had never heard of obstetric cholestasis until she was diagnosed with it at 37 weeks pregnant. Since there is no cure for OC, the only real option was to deliver the baby at 38 weeks. In this episode Jessica discusses her induction and the first signs of this rare pregnancy condition. She also discusses her experience stepping into motherhood and her son’s milk refusal.Topics CoveredPregnancy storyAbout Obstetric Cholestatis and the signsJessica’s induction processJessica’s Birth StoryPostpartum recovery and healing from a 3 degree tear during birthBreastfeeding experience and her son’s milk allergyAt 37 weeks, Jessica says she started to get really itchy hands and feet. Not just a little bit of an itch but a real intense itching that was waking her at night. She quickly realised this wasn’t normal so decided it was best to chat with her doctor.It was revealed at this appointment that she had a rare condition called Obstetric Cholestatis. It is a condition that affects how the woman’s liver works when she is pregnant. It usually happens towards the end of pregnancy and generally gets better after the woman gives birth.And this is exactly what happened with Jessica.In this story we also hear Jess’s induction process and birth story, about her 3c degree tear and what tools she utilised to recover after birth. We also hear about her breastfeeding experience and how she discovered her son had a true milk protein allergy. She talks about her son’s milk refusal and how he would just scream at the boob pushing her away. He also showed a disinterest to regular formula milk. Eventually she discovered it was an actual allergy to the milk protein.Links Mentioned:Instagram: @nurtureherboutiqueHosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This blog post tells Alicia's story of becoming a mum through IVF and the anxiety that came with it. It is an honest look at the ups and downs of this journey.When Alicia found out she was pregnant, she was overjoyed. After years of struggling with infertility and rounds of IVF, this news was a dream come true. But the journey itself came at a cost. Not just financially but also emotionally. As Alicia describes the constant waiting that came with trying to conceive caused her anxiety to grow. This anxiety continued to be present even after the birth of her little one which she goes into explain during the episode.Topics CoveredDifferent Types of assisted fertilityAlicia’s personal IVF journeySperm Health and How this ImpactedAlicia’s Birth StoryBecoming a mumWe hope Alicia's story will help provide some comfort and support to other women who are going through or have gone through fertility treatments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we heard in the first part of this 2-part series, when Kate and her husband decided to start a family, they found out that they were struggling with infertility. Kate talks about coming to the decision to try in vitro fertilisation (IVF). We hear how her first round of egg collections led to only 2 viable embryos, neither of them made it. But during her second round of egg collections she was blessed with 12 viable embryos! She talks about looking at these embryos and thinking, ”wow I can’t do this 12 times”. This is the moment when she started thinking about what would happen with any remaining embryos. We learn that through Kate’s IVF journey she had 4 pregnancies but only 2 babies were born at full term. This meant she had some viable live embryos remaining. Embryos she didn’t want to see go in the bin. She knew she wanted to give this opportunity of having children to another family.From here, Kate talks about how she and her husband came to the decision to donate her embryos to another single woman who was going through with her own fertility journey. So in this episode we also learn how Kate decides she wants to keep the conversation and open conversation with the family who received her embryos. That’s right! The two families are keeping the donation transparent and they even receive updated photos every now and then. Here’s Kate’s Story.Topics CoveredIVFProcess to donate embryosApplying for donationChoosing a candidateHaving an open connection with the candidateFreezing embryosIf you're considering IVF or embryo donation, Kate's story might help give you some hope. It's a long process, but it can be so worth it in the end.  If you are interested in learning more about embryo donation or want to donate your embryos, we cover a lot in this podcast episode.Thank YouWe would like to express our gratitude to Kate for being so open and brave in sharing her story. We hope that in sharing this story others going through a similar situation can find their way or roadmap by connecting with Kate’s story.Links Mentioned:Instagram: @_becoming_kateHosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations.Listed in the Top 20 Australian Parenting Podcast ListWe are proud to announce our podcast has been listed in the Top 20 Australian Parenting Podcast List!! To see who else is on the list visit https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_parenting_podcasts/Watch the full episode of Unscripted with Alex below…You can listen to or watch the full episode, of Unscripted with Alex right here or find it on all major podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcast and Google Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Triggering warning: This episode features a discussion about stillbirth and abortion.In today's video, we'll talk with Kate Munro, who will take us through her incredible journey with IVF and many years of trying to get pregnant. Her story is not smooth sailing as she talks about her experience with multiple pregnancies including heartbreaking stillbirth and late medical abortion/termination. First and foremost, we would like to thank her for being so honest and open in sharing her story.After having a successful first pregnancy using IVF, she endured the agony of stillbirth and having to terminate her 3rd pregnancy at 18 weeks due to genetic abnormalities. She did not give up hope, however, and continued down the IVF route to conceive her son in her fourth pregnancy. Kate will go on to describe her journey to IVF as a rollercoaster ride full of emotions. We'll learn about her first, second, third, and fourth pregnancies, as well as the experiences she had with each.This episode is part of a 2 part series. As you will hear, Kate and her husband choose to donate the remaining live embryos she has to another mum over East. We learn more about this process during the second episode.Links Mentioned:Instagram: @_becoming_kateHosted byUnscripted with Alex is hosted by our pharmacist & Founder of Botika Co, Alexandra Shepherd.You can follow Alex on Instagram @alexshepherdpharmacist for behind the scenes footage, health tips, motivation, & product reviews and recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this episode we chat with Megan Callegari and her pathway to being diagnosed with Adult ADHD. She discusses how she was possibly misdiagnosed after the birth of her second child as having post-natal anxiety. Upon reflection now, she suspects this was likely her ADHD and trying to parent 2 little ones under the age of 2!She describes ADHD as a very negative, noisy, and at times very overwhelming experience. She describes how her inability to focus or concentrate made her life a roller coaster ride which further clouded things. She also talks about her ADHD symptoms such as: difficulty focusing, shutting off and mentally restarting when overwhelmed, and becoming obsessed with certain tasks or activities that interest her while shutting out everything else that doesn't interest her.During our conversation she describes the signs she noticed that made her think maybe she had ADHD. She also talks about how having a better understanding of how her own mind works has helped her parent her little ones. How sometimes they too just need a little mind break.She describes ADHD as a very negative, noisy, and at times very overwhelming experience. She describes how her inability to focus or concentrate made her life a roller coaster ride which further clouded things. She also talks about her ADHD symptoms such as: difficulty focusing, shutting off and mentally restarting when overwhelmed, and becoming obsessed with certain tasks or activities that interest her while shutting out everything else that doesn't interest her.Megan outlines how difficult it was for her to focus on the most important things to her. Instead, she describes how she could hear the sound of a coffee machine and outdoor noise but couldn't concentrate on where she actually needed to. When discussing her ADHD diagnosis, she told how inquisitive she became at the time. She was concerned by the problem and wanted to know what was really going on. So she kept asking questions and doing her own research. Adult ADHD Topics CoveredHow ADHD feels to her and what she believes it is.The day Megan was diagnosed.Her all-encompassing approach to overcoming it.An explanation of her overall journey.Megan's message to ADHD patientsWhen asked what message she would like to convey to those suffering from ADHD, she simply stated, "Don't be afraid of it." ADHD is something that should be discussed openly because it is what it is. It's nothing if you take a comprehensive approach.She emphasised the importance of parents providing support to their children who suffer from conditions such as ADHD. She also advises parents to take care of their children's needs, assist them in staying focused, and allow them to do what they enjoy.More on this podcast's show notes can be found on www.botikaco.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this part of Tiffany's story she talks through using a private midwife to support her through her second birth in the comfort of her own home. She talks about her home set up, the fairy lights, affirmation cards and birth pool. She even talks about sending her husband out to make the burning of the cord (umbilical cord) box while she was in the early stages of labour.This episode is an additional part of episode 14 "Tiffany’s Birth Stories: Hospital Vs Home Birth". Unfortunately while uploading this episode the last part was cut off. So today we are sharing this second part as an episode on its own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.