Itchy and Bitchy Podcast
1) Grandmothers Rule: Menopausal Mammals Revisited
Karen Nickell revisits menopausal mammal, this time with brand new context: new research from Uganda’s Ngogo chimpanzees shows some chimps experience menopause too. She explains what makes humans evol...Show More
2) GLP-1: Not Just a Weight Loss Med
Karen takes a look at GLP-1 receptor agonists, best known for weight loss and diabetes. She explores the rapidly expanding list of conditions these medications may help treat. From emerging and someti...Show More
3) Countdown of Karen's Top Ten Episodes of 2025
Karen counts down her top 10 Itchy & Bitchy moments of 2025, from smarter New Year’s resolutions and promising UTI vaccines on the horizon to updated insights on HRT.Visit our website itchyandbitchy.c...Show More
4) Oh, Snap! Osteoporosis!
Karen shares her personal journey with osteoporosis. What distinguishes it from osteopenia? How are DEXA T-scores interpreted? Why does early screening matter? She covers lifestyle and nutrition, horm...Show More
5) Red Light Under My Christmas Tree?
Karen breaks down red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and where it actually helps: smoothing signs of aging, supporting hair regrowth, calming acne (especially paired with blue light), easing chron...Show More
6) Holiday Heart Doesn't Mean a Happy Heart (RERUN)
Family nurse practitioner Karen re-airs a timely episode on “holiday heart syndrome,” the spike in alcohol-triggered arrhythmias (often AFib) that can strike otherwise healthy people during festive ga...Show More
7) Surprising Update on Healthcare Self Advocacy!
After listening to an episode of Itchy and Bitchy, a woman pushed for further testing and caught grade 1A ovarian cancer early—requiring only surgery. Karen revisits why self-advocacy saves lives, tra...Show More
8) Estradiol and Skin: The Perfect Match!
Karen tackles a common menopause question: oral vs. topical estradiol. She explains first-pass metabolism and why transdermal options can lower clot, gallstone, and side-effect risks for many, then co...Show More
9) Redefining Lithium with Low Dosing
Karen tackles a listener question about low-dose lithium. She reviews micro- vs. low-dose ranges, discusses forms like lithium orotate/aspartate and third-party-tested supplement options, and flags sa...Show More
10) Blood Tests for Multiple Cancers + Whole Body Scan Info
In this update to the August 2024 episode, Karen explains the surge of direct-to-consumer “whole-body” MRI/CT screenings and how to decide with your provider whether they’re a good fit. In the re-aire...Show More