In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, clinical nutritionist Corinne Furnari and pharmacist Carol Petersen explore the vital connection between sleep, hormonal regulation, and overall metabolic health. They explain that sleep is not a passive state, but an active biological process essential for restoring the brain and maintaining hormonal balance.

The hosts describe how chronic sleep deprivation disrupts appetite-regulating hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, increasing hunger, impairing insulin sensitivity, and contributing to weight gain. They also discuss the role of stress hormones and nervous system overstimulation in preventing deep, restorative sleep cycles.

A key focus of the episode is the role of progesterone in supporting sleep quality for both women and men. Furnari and Petersen explain how progesterone helps calm the nervous system, supports fertility and brain protection, and promotes deeper stages of sleep necessary for physical repair. Listener call-ins raise real-world challenges—including night-shift work, difficulty winding down, and late-night cravings—prompting practical strategies such as minimizing light exposure with blackout shades and supporting sleep biochemistry with nutrients like magnesium and melatonin.

The episode concludes by reinforcing that quality sleep is foundational to long-term vitality, influencing metabolism, hormonal health, emotional stability, and cognitive performance. Rather than being optional or secondary, sleep is presented as a core pillar of health and longevity.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen explore effective strategies for setting and sustaining New Year’s resolutions by encouraging a shift away from rigid restrictions and toward positive intention and visualization. Rather than focusing on what must be eliminated, they emphasize the power of aligning goals with personal values and envisioning meaningful change.

A central theme of the broadcast is the importance of community and social connection, which the hosts identify as some of the strongest predictors of longevity and overall well-being. They highlight the role of WBAI as a shared space where listeners can connect, learn, and support one another. Throughout the program, callers contribute personal reflections on the impact of inner dialogue, the necessity of self-forgiveness after setbacks, and experiences with natural healing approaches.

Carol Petersen shares a personal example involving myofascial therapy, using it to illustrate how conscious movement, posture awareness, and physical retraining can help resolve chronic pain. The episode concludes with an encouraging message that lasting health is built through a balanced combination of practical movement, emotional insight, supportive relationships, and the willingness to embrace change as an ongoing process.

https://corinnehealth.com/⁠

⁠https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/

In this Christmas Special episode of the Take Charge of Your Health podcast, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen step away from their usual clinical focus to engage in a more personal, conversational holiday discussion. The video format allows for a warmer, more intimate exchange as the hosts share stories, reactions, and visual cues that enhance the sense of connection and authenticity.

Through reflection and dialogue, they explore how holiday traditions are shaped by sensory experiences, including nostalgic music, the glow of seasonal lights, and the historical significance of the winter solstice as a symbol of renewal. A central focus of the episode is cultural culinary heritage, as they compare the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes with the Polish Wigilia dinner. Drawing from family traditions, they describe beloved dishes such as calamari salad, beet soup, and a variety of fried foods, emphasizing how recipes are passed down through generations.

Throughout the conversation, the hosts highlight the importance of community, shared meals, and togetherness, noting how the holidays appeal to all five senses to create joy and inclusion. The episode ultimately underscores how these traditions—shared visually and conversationally through video—bring people together across different cultures, faiths, and backgrounds.

https://corinnehealth.com/

https://thewellnessbydesignproject.com/