Scent, Pheromones, and Attraction

Ever feel like you’re waking up as two different people depending on the week of the month? One week you’re taking on the world with total confidence, and the next, you’re second-guessing every decision you’ve ever made. It turns out, that isn’t just "you being emotional", it’s actually a sign of your brain responding to a very specific biological rhythm.

This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Sarah Hill. She’s an evolutionary psychologist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain. Sarah has this incredible way of explaining how our hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, aren’t just about reproduction; they are actually "wise advisors" that shape how we think, who we’re attracted to, and how we show up in our work and relationships.

Here’s what we explore together:

- Your Hormones as Information: How these biological signals act as internal guides for your behavior and motivation.

- The "Two Advisors" Theory: Why feeling different across your cycle actually makes you a better, more well-rounded decision-maker.

- The Power of Progesterone: Why this often-ignored hormone is actually a neuroprotective "superpower" that helps your brain slow down and recover.

- Cycle Variability: Why your "symptoms" can change every month based on everything from sleep to stress.

- The Male Perspective: A fascinating look at how men’s testosterone is actually more reactive to the environment (like sports or competition) compared to the predictable cycles of women.

- Bridging the Cultural Gap: How to stop overriding your body’s natural cues in a world that expects you to be the same person every single day.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today

15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.

Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.

15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell

***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay

https://youtu.be/aKnS1McNVm8?list=PLfXKbjBGaUhb7iE0BaE2PZINeLZ3Ybb0M

***

Highlights

Intro (00:00:00)

The Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle (00:01:55)

The Luteal Phase: The Dark Side of the Cycle (00:04:42)

Men's Hormones vs. Women's Hormones (00:11:46)

The Impact of Hormones on Behavior (00:17:37)

Tracking Your Cycle for Better Understanding (00:23:25)

PMS: Understanding and Reframing (00:29:49)

Evolutionary Perspectives on Attraction (00:36:38)

Research on Birth Control and Relationship Satisfaction (00:41:29)

Scent and Attraction (01:01:00)

Sexual Orientation and Hormonal Influence (01:07:51)

Menopause and Attraction (01:11:02)

Communication and Understanding in Relationships (01:19:03)

The Importance of Recognizing Biological Differences (01:28:35)