Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

Kate sits down with her longtime colleague Susan Weis-Bohlen — author of three bestselling books on Ayurveda — for one of the most candid conversations on the show. At 63, Susan offers straight talk on menopause, hormone therapy, and why Ayurveda alone wasn’t enough for her, alongside the unlikely path that took her from journalism in Israel to a new-age bookstore to bestselling author. They also explore how your dosha shapes the way you write and create, and why evolving your work isn’t giving up — it’s growing up.

 

IN THIS EPISODE

Susan’s path: journalism in Israel, owning a bookstore, and finding Ayurveda at 42

The Panchakarma experience that led to a 60-pound transformation

How your dosha shapes your creative process and writing practice

Why personal story is the portal that makes Ayurveda land for Western readers

Candid menopause talk: “emotional hot flashes,” sleep, and marriage

Ayurvedic herbs, shatavari, and a beloved discontinued formula

The decision at 60 to begin menopause hormone therapy (MHT)

Seeking permission from an Ayurvedic teacher to combine MHT with practice

Reframing aging: spending half our lives post-menopause

Rapid-fire morning, food, and wind-down routines

CONNECT WITH SUSAN WEIS-BOHLEN

Website: susanweisbohlen.com 

Email: susan@susanweisbohlen.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542583953225370

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanweisbohlen/

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Banyan Botanicals
https://alnk.to/eOQb34q

Beauty Balm
https://alnk.to/7Bj7czQ

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

and
Dr. Tungs
Dr. Tungs Link: https://drtungs.com/collections/oral-care-kits

In this solo episode, Kate unpacks the summer sunscreen debate through an Ayurvedic lens. Her surprising first principle: use less sunscreen. She shares the daily skin-oiling practice that bolsters the body before sun exposure, why she now covers up with sun shirts and a big hat (and what Ayurveda says about keeping the head cool), and the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens — including why she swore off chemical formulas two years ago. You'll learn what to look for on a label: reef-safe, non-nano zinc, and recognizable, oil-based ingredients. Kate also shares her current favorite, a tallow-based mineral sunscreen from Sky & Sol, and why its richness solves the dryness most mineral sunscreens cause.

 

In this episode:

Why "use less sunscreen" is Kate's first principle

The Ayurvedic skin-oiling ritual to do before sun exposure

Covering up: sun shirts, big hats, and keeping the head cool

Chemical vs. mineral sunscreen — how each actually works

Reading a label: reef-safe, non-nano zinc, clean ingredients

Why Kate's top pick is a tallow-based mineral sunscreen

 

Sponsor / Resource:

Sky & Sol tallow-based mineral sunscreen — Kate's current favorite. Shop Sky & Sol  Use code KATEO at checkout.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Banyan Botanicals
https://alnk.to/eOQb34q

Beauty Balm
https://alnk.to/7Bj7czQ

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

and
Dr. Tungs
Dr. Tungs Link: https://drtungs.com/collections/oral-care-kits

We spend a lot of time thinking about wellness — what we eat, how we sleep, how we manage stress — but one part of the picture often gets left out: the mouth. In this conversation, Kate welcomes naturopathic doctor Dr. Michael Murray, who has spent more than four decades studying natural approaches to health and healing and authored over 30 books, including The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and The Magic of Food.

Dr. Murray opens with the heart of naturopathic medicine: the healing power of nature, removing obstacles to health, and treating the cause rather than only the symptom. He shares the story that drew him into this work — watching natural therapies restore his father's facial movement after Bell's palsy and bring strength back to his own injured knee — and explains why he believes the medicine of the future will lean heavily on food, herbs, and lifestyle.

From there, the conversation turns to oral health. Dr. Murray makes the case that, as Hippocrates suggested, health begins in the gut — and the gut begins in the mouth. He introduces the idea of "leaky gum": when gums are inflamed and form pockets, that highly absorptive tissue can let undesirable compounds into the bloodstream and seed harmful bacteria further down the digestive tract. He walks through the research connecting the oral microbiome to systemic inflammation, rising colon health concerns, and even the gingipain theory associated with Alzheimer's research.

Practically, the two cover what actually helps: tongue scraping, oil pulling (which Dr. Murray frames as both mechanical cleaning and a way to draw out fat-soluble toxins), and smart flossing. They also dig into what to avoid — flosses coated in PFAS "forever chemicals," abrasive microplastics once used in toothpaste, and harsh conventional mouthwashes that can wipe out the beneficial oral microbiome. Dr. Murray highlights the value of Ayurvedic herbs like neem, the role of xylitol, and the importance of a flavonoid-rich diet for healthy gums and collagen.

Kate shares her own experience: facing a periodontist referral for gum recession, she committed to oil pulling (gandusha) and tongue scraping, and six months later her dentist confirmed the recession had stopped — a result that has held for two years. Together, she and Dr. Murray reassure listeners that the exact order of a routine matters less than doing it consistently.

The episode closes with Dr. Murray's broader mission — training practitioners, writing, and his free Thrive program — and a warm rapid-fire round on his own daily rhythms, ending with a gratitude and intention practice he learned from his grandmother.

Topics covered:

Naturopathic medicine and root-cause healing

The oral microbiome and the mouth-body connection

"Leaky gum" and systemic inflammation

Oral health links to colon health and Alzheimer's research (gingipain theory)

PFAS in floss, microplastics in toothpaste, and harsh mouthwash

Oil pulling, tongue scraping, neem, and xylitol

Flavonoid-rich foods for gum and collagen health

Kate's oil pulling experience and stopping gum recession

Building a daily oral care routine that lasts

Resources & Links:

Dr. Michael Murray: drmurray.com  |  @dr.michaelmurray

Free Thrive program: drmurray.com

Health Disclaimer

The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Banyan Botanicals
https://alnk.to/eOQb34q

Beauty Balm
https://alnk.to/7Bj7czQ

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

and
Dr. Tungs
Dr. Tungs Link: https://drtungs.com/collections/oral-care-kits

Ever stare at the kitchen in the dog days of July and go completely blank? Kate O'Donnell has. And in this solo episode, she opens up her real summer kitchen — not the aspirational one, but the actual one — full of quick meals, prepped-ahead staples, and cooling drinks she's been making for decades.

 

Summer is Pitta season in Ayurveda, which means the digestive fire is strong but easily overwhelmed by heat, heaviness, and poor food choices. The solution isn't complicated. It's about working with the season: more fiber, more bitter and astringent foods, less oil and heat, and smarter hydration.

 

What Kate covers in this episode:

 

DIGESTION AND SUMMER FIBER

Summer warmth and humidity support the breakdown of high-fiber foods like beans and vegetables that might cause bloating in fall. Kate explains how to take advantage of this seasonal window.

 

LIQUID NOURISHMENT FOR HOT AFTERNOONS

Kate's afternoon strategy: cooling blender drinks between meals to manage blood sugar without overloading digestion. Highlights include black grape juice with cardamom, cantaloupe-cinnamon cooler, and watermelon with fresh basil.

 

CHANA DOSA: THE SUMMER FRIDGE STAPLE

Chickpea flour, water, yogurt, and salt. Kate whisks it together, keeps it in the fridge for five days, and fries up a couple at a moment's notice alongside summer soups. High protein, high fiber, endlessly adaptable.

 

WARM SUMMER SOUPS

Even in summer, Kate leans warm. Her rotation includes corn chowder with chipotle and coconut milk, the "only zucchini soup" (ghee, zucchini, salt, pepper, blended), and creamy green soups with coconut milk and fresh herbs.

 

QUINOA SALAD FOR THE BEACH BAG

Kate's most portable summer meal — quinoa with steamed vegetables, a simple olive oil and lemon dressing, and a tabbouleh version with parsley and Sun Gold tomatoes. Pairs perfectly with tahini sauce from a jar.

 

COOLING CREAMY DRINKS

When fruit drinks aren't enough, Kate turns to cardamom lassi (yogurt + water + cardamom + sweetener) and homemade cardamom almond milk — both cooling, nourishing, and easy on digestion.

 

THE CUCUMINT MOCKTAIL

Two cucumbers, two cups of coconut water, the juice of a lime, a few sprigs of mint. Blended, not strained. Served with a lime wedge, optionally salted or tajín-rimmed. Kate's go-to for hot summer evenings.

 

Resources mentioned:

healwithkate.org

Kate's book Everyday Ayurveda for Women's Health (seaweed gomasio recipe)

Banyan Botanicals Beauty Balm: banyanbotanicals.com/kate

Dr. Tung's oral care: drtungs.com (15% off for new customers)

 

Health Disclaimer: The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Banyan Botanicals
https://alnk.to/eOQb34q

Beauty Balm
https://alnk.to/7Bj7czQ

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

and
Dr. Tungs
Dr. Tungs Link: https://drtungs.com/collections/oral-care-kits

Summer isn't just a season — it's a whole shift in how your body functions, digests, and eliminates. In this solo episode of Everyday Ayurveda with Kate, host Kate O'Donnell offers a thorough and practical Ayurvedic guide to navigating the summer months with intention.

Drawing on the classical concept of Ritucharya (seasonal routines), Kate explains why summer is actually the time of year when the body is weaker and digestive fire (agni) is more diffuse — and what that means for how you eat, move, and care for your skin.

This episode also makes an important distinction that many wellness guides miss: not all summers are the same. Whether you're experiencing humid coastal heat or the dry fire of the desert Southwest, Kate's guidance is tailored to help you work with your unique climate.

 

Key Takeaways

Your digestive fire (agni) is actually weaker in summer — heat spreads throughout the body rather than concentrating in the gut

Humid vs. dry summer heat require different approaches to food, skincare, and body oiling

The six tastes to favor in summer: bitter and astringent (with sweet, cooling fruits as your ally)

Cooling superstars: melons, cucumbers, zucchini, fennel, pomegranate, black grapes, mint, cilantro, cardamom

Why onion and garlic are heating foods that can make you sweat more and feel less refreshed

Aloe vera as a summer hero — both internally (2 oz in coconut water or pomegranate juice) and topically as an alternative to heavy oils

Why coconut oil is the recommended massage oil in summer (lighter and actually cooling to the body)

Ayurveda's favored summer exercise: swimming. Timing also matters — exercise early before the heat peaks

How to adjust meal timing so your biggest meal happens before the hottest part of the day

How your personal activity level and climate affect what "summer eating" actually looks like for you

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Banyan Botanicals
https://alnk.to/eOQb34q

Beauty Balm
https://alnk.to/7Bj7czQ

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE

and
Dr. Tungs
Dr. Tungs Link: https://drtungs.com/collections/oral-care-kits