In this deep-dive episode, Ashley and Sarah sits down with Mike Fave — fertility and metabolic health coach — to unpack the overlooked foundations of male fertility and testosterone.

Mike shares how he and his wife are preparing to start a family, the key labs they ran before trying to conceive, and what really drags testosterone down today — plus how to fix it naturally.

They discuss why excess body fat disrupts hormone balance, how gut health secretly affects sperm quality, and why modern dairy isn’t always your friend. They also cover the crucial connection between stress, thyroid health, and male hormones, the hidden dangers of PUFAs and micronutrient gaps, and Mike’s practical approach to losing fat, improving labs, and dialing in nutrition that actually works.

If you or your partner want to raise testosterone naturally, plan for a healthy pregnancy, or just get smarter about men’s health, you’ll love this one.

______________________________________________________________________

Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:

⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g

⭐ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NTIxm2iqgIdnqI2j2FICr?si=477cfb0440fe40ce

⭐ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-in-resilience/id1663060063

______________________________________________________________________

Keep Up With Us!

🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/

🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup

👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative.com/

{The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}

🥚Waitlist for our eggs: https://angel-acresfarm.com/pages/waitlist-for-eggs

{Low PUFA, corn & soy free, pasture-raised eggs, delivered directly to your door}

______________________________________________________________________

Follow Us On Social Media

➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/

➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas

➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1

➡️ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strong-sisters-103331317/

➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077

➡️ THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@strong.sistas?invite=2

____________________________________________________

0:00 — Coming Up

0:51 — Welcome Mike Pavone: Male Fertility & Preparing for Pregnancy

2:30 — The Labs Mike & His Wife Ran Before Trying for a Baby

6:14 — Copper Deficiency: Mike’s Surprising Personal Fix

7:39 — High Prolactin: Hidden Roadblock for Female Fertility

10:00 — Early Testing: Why Waiting 6–12 Months Can Waste Time

11:55 — What to Look for in Male Hormone Labs

14:00 — How LH, FSH, and Testicular Function Work

15:30 — Estradiol & DHT: Finding the Hormone Balance Sweet Spot

16:50 — Fixing Low Testosterone: It’s Not Just About TRT

19:14 — Too Much Body Fat: The #1 Testosterone Killer

20:24 — Body Fat: It’s Active Tissue, Not Just Storage

25:10 — How Mike Coaches Clients to Lose Fat & Keep Hormones Healthy

30:30 — Why Body Recomposition Works Better Than Extreme Dieting

32:21 — Carbs, Fats & Protein: How They Impact Hormones

37:05 — Gut Health: Another Silent Testosterone Saboteur

39:20 — Common Foods That Secretly Wreck Your Gut

42:26 — Dairy & Casein: Surprising Hormone Impacts

47:58 — Why Modern Dairy Isn’t Like Ancestral Dairy

53:20 — Low Thyroid: Another Big Testosterone Killer

57:30 — High Cholesterol, Low Carbs & Hormone Confusion

1:03:30 — PUFAs & Bad Fats: Damage Testes & Reduce Sperm Quality

1:08:00 — Micronutrients: Small Deficiencies, Big Hormone Problems

1:10:45 — The Value of Food Tracking & Real Testing

1:16:05 — Why a Coach Can Save You Years of Trial & Error

1:17:30 — Micronutrients & Stress

1:21:50 — Final Takeaway

1:22:30 — Where to Find Mike & How to Work with Him

Is Infertility Actually the Man’s Fault? Did you know male fertility plays an equally important role in conception and pregnancy success? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we dive into the hidden half of the fertility equation: male sperm health.

Learn how modern lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors are silently impacting testosterone, sperm quality, and even miscarriage rates.

From estrogen-like compounds in your food to the real effect of PUFAs and EMFs, we're breaking down 6 overlooked causes of male infertility—and exactly what you can do about them. Whether you're planning for pregnancy or simply want to optimize your health, this episode is packed with insights, studies, and actionable steps.

______________________________________________________________________

Chapters:

0:00 – Coming up

0:42 – Male Hormonal Decline: A Century of Change

3:07 - Preparing for Pregnancy: Sarah’s Journey Begins

4:14 – Why Male Fertility Deserves More Attention

5:45 – Sperm's Role in Placenta Formation and Miscarriages

7:20 – Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Recurrent Miscarriages

9:04 – Spiritual Perspectives on Pregnancy

9:42 – Modern Diets & Lifestyle: Root Causes of Fertility Decline

10:55 – #1: Estrogen-Like Compounds & Environmental Toxins

12:50 – Soy, Flax & the Phytoestrogen Problem

14:18 – Estrogen in Tap Water & Heated Plastics

16:19 – Estrogen Dominance & 'Man Boobs'

17:28 – Easy Fixes to Lower Estrogen Exposure

19:36 – #2: Low Muscle Mass & Lack of Strength Training

22:15 – Train to Change: Efficient Training for Men

23:05 – #3: PUFAs & The War on Healthy Fats

24:35 – Oxidative Stress & Sperm Damage

26:25 – Progesterone, 2-AG & Fertilization Mechanisms

29:20 – Saturated Fats & Lipid Peroxidation: The Real Fertility Villain

32:20 – Real-Life Diet Tips to Cut PUFA

34:55 – #4: Infertility as a Metabolic Problem

36:05 – ATP, Mitochondria & the Sperm Energy Crisis

38:05 – Subclinical Hibernation & Low Metabolism

39:05 – The Body is Always Listening: Metabolic Signals

40:00 – #5: Carbs Are Crucial for Testosterone

41:11 – Why Low-Carb + High Protein Can Backfire

42:47 – PUFA Past & Present: Fat Stores & Testosterone

43:33 – Carbs, Cortisol & Hormonal Balance

44:40 – Energy Availability & Testosterone Production

45:20 – Oxidizing Carbs Properly for Hormonal Health

46:30 – #6: EMFs & Phones in Pockets

47:15 – Create Distance: How to Reduce EMF Exposure

49:45 – Laptops & Wi-Fi: The Sperm Mobility Killer

50:06 – Lifestyle Fixes: Body Fat, Sleep, and Stress

51:10 – Summary: Your Three-Month Tune-Up Plan

52:16 – Hidden PUFA in Seeds & Practical Swaps

53:18 – Shared Responsibility in Preconception Health

55:28 – Evaluate Daily Habits, Not Rare Behaviors

56:50 – Navigating Health Journeys as a Couple

01:01:10 – Sign-Off: Keep Learning & Empowering

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Frank von Hippel to uncover the dark history of pesticides—from the Irish Potato Famine to modern-day endocrine disruptors. We explore how chemicals like DDT, glyphosate, and neonicotinoids are wreaking havoc on fertility, metabolism, and child development. Plus, practical tips to detox your home, avoid obesogenic chemicals, and protect your family. If you care about food, health, or the future of our planet, don’t miss this deep dive!

______________________________________________________________________

Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:

⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g

⭐ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NTIxm2iqgIdnqI2j2FICr?si=477cfb0440fe40ce

⭐ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-in-resilience/id1663060063

______________________________________________________________________

Keep Up With Us!

🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/

🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup

👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative.com/

{The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}

🥚Waitlist for our eggs: https://angel-acresfarm.com/pages/waitlist-for-eggs

{Low PUFA, corn & soy free, pasture-raised eggs, delivered directly to your door}

______________________________________________________________________

Follow Us On Social Media

➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/

➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas

➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1

➡️ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strong-sisters-103331317/

➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077

➡️ THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@strong.sistas?invite=2

____________________________________________________

0:00 – Coming Up

1:05 - The Potato Famine & Origins of Pesticides

4:58 - The Deadly Nightshade Family & Early Pesticide Resistance

7:29 - Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring & Environmental Warnings

12:45 - Endocrine Disruption: How Pesticides Mess With Hormones

14:56 - Fertility Crisis: Pesticides & Reproductive Health

17:38 - The Science Behind Hormone Disruption

20:10 - Male Fertility Decline & Sperm Count Collapse

22:13 - Estrogen Dominance & Women’s Health Risks

24:21 - Phytoestrogens in Food: Soy, Flax & Hidden Dangers

27:55 - How to Reduce Chemical Exposure at Home

30:16 - Toxic Homes: VOCs, Paint, & Building Materials

35:05 - The Chemical Age: From Warfare to Agriculture

40:29 - DDT: From Miracle Chemical to Banned Toxin

48:10 - Neonicotinoids: The New Pesticide Threat

49:55 - Glyphosate (Roundup) & Gut Microbiome Destruction

52:46 - Regulatory Failure: Who’s Really in Control?

57:26 - How to Fight Back: Clean Water, Food & Home Tips

1:11:40 - Integrated Pest Management: A Solution for the Future

1:19:40 - Obesity, Autism & Chemical Connections

1:25:08 - Italy vs. America: Why Traditional Diets Win

1:36:02 - Final Thoughts