The Empowered Thyroid Podcast Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:22:58 -0400 en-ca © 2026 The Empowered Thyroid Podcast yes f88c4908-7c8c-51fd-bb6f-cd107ad40bff drvongnd@gmail.com Dr. Rachel Vong, ND episodic false Have you been told your thyroid labs look "normal," but you still feel exhausted, struggle to lose weight, have brain fog, hair loss, bloating, anxiety, or just don't feel like yourself anymore?


You're not imagining it, and you're certainly not alone.

Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, where we go beyond TSH and thyroid medication to uncover what's really driving hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

I'm Dr. Rachel Vong, a naturopathic doctor who has spent more than a decade helping women with thyroid disease uncover the root causes behind their symptoms. Every week, I'll break down complex thyroid topics into simple, practical conversations that actually make sense, so you can better understand your body and finally feel empowered to take control of your health.

We'll cover topics like:

• Why you still feel terrible on thyroid medication

• Hashimoto's, thyroid antibodies, and the immune system connection

• The full thyroid panel your doctor probably isn't running (and what the numbers actually mean)

• How gut health, liver function, blood sugar, hormones, and stress all impact your thyroid

• Weight loss with hypothyroidism

• Fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum thyroid health

• Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, hair loss, and more

Most importantly, this podcast is here to remind you that there is always a reason why you feel the way you do.

Because when you understand your body, you can advocate for yourself with confidence and that's where healing begins.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Dr. Rachel Vong, ND drvongnd@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/e1qfmoiq1fuet58sk5xkh6uodgtr?.jpg The Empowered Thyroid Podcast Episode 04: TSH Is Not Enough: The Thyroid Blood Tests You Actually Need Episode 04: TSH Is Not Enough: The Thyroid Blood Tests You Actually Need If your doctor is only testing your TSH, you are not getting the full picture of your thyroid health.

TSH is important, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. And when we rely on that one number alone, we can miss important information that may help explain why you’re still exhausted, struggling with your weight, losing your hair, dealing with brain fog, or simply not feeling like yourself.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m taking you on a deep dive into the blood tests I believe every woman with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s should understand—what each marker actually tells us, why it matters, and how these results fit together.

We’ll break down TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, but we’re also going beyond the thyroid panel to talk about other important markers that can give us clues about your nutrient status, blood sugar and insulin, inflammation, liver function, stress response, and more.

I’ll also explain the difference between a lab result being “within range” and what I consider to be an optimal result, and why your symptoms should always be part of the conversation when interpreting your thyroid labs.

If you’ve ever looked at your blood work and wondered, “What do all these numbers actually mean?” or you’ve been told your thyroid labs are normal even though you still feel terrible, this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> If your doctor is only testing your TSH, you are not getting the full picture of your thyroid health.

TSH is important, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. And when we rely on that one number alone, we can miss important information that may help explain why you’re still exhausted, struggling with your weight, losing your hair, dealing with brain fog, or simply not feeling like yourself.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m taking you on a deep dive into the blood tests I believe every woman with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s should understand—what each marker actually tells us, why it matters, and how these results fit together.

We’ll break down TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, but we’re also going beyond the thyroid panel to talk about other important markers that can give us clues about your nutrient status, blood sugar and insulin, inflammation, liver function, stress response, and more.

I’ll also explain the difference between a lab result being “within range” and what I consider to be an optimal result, and why your symptoms should always be part of the conversation when interpreting your thyroid labs.

If you’ve ever looked at your blood work and wondered, “What do all these numbers actually mean?” or you’ve been told your thyroid labs are normal even though you still feel terrible, this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Dr. Rachel Vong, ND Buzzsprout-19632914 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1474 full false Episode 03: You Have Hypothyroidism… But Do You Have Hashimoto’s? Episode 03: You Have Hypothyroidism… But Do You Have Hashimoto’s? Contrary to what you might have been told, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s are NOT the same thing.

And understanding the difference matters because hypothyroidism tells us what is happening with your thyroid, while Hashimoto’s may help explain why it’s happening in the first place.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m breaking down the difference between hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, why so many women with hypothyroidism have never been properly tested for Hashimoto’s, and why knowing what you actually have can completely change the way you approach your thyroid health.

We’ll talk about thyroid antibody testing, anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid ultrasounds, and why some people with Hashimoto’s can still have negative antibodies on blood work. I’ll also explain some of the other reasons you can develop hypothyroidism without having Hashimoto’s.

Because finding out whether you have Hashimoto’s isn’t about adding another diagnosis to your medical chart. It’s about understanding what may be driving your thyroid issues so that you can start asking better questions about your health.

If you have hypothyroidism but have never had your thyroid antibodies tested or you’re still confused about whether you have hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, or both, this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Contrary to what you might have been told, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s are NOT the same thing.

And understanding the difference matters because hypothyroidism tells us what is happening with your thyroid, while Hashimoto’s may help explain why it’s happening in the first place.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, I’m breaking down the difference between hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, why so many women with hypothyroidism have never been properly tested for Hashimoto’s, and why knowing what you actually have can completely change the way you approach your thyroid health.

We’ll talk about thyroid antibody testing, anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid ultrasounds, and why some people with Hashimoto’s can still have negative antibodies on blood work. I’ll also explain some of the other reasons you can develop hypothyroidism without having Hashimoto’s.

Because finding out whether you have Hashimoto’s isn’t about adding another diagnosis to your medical chart. It’s about understanding what may be driving your thyroid issues so that you can start asking better questions about your health.

If you have hypothyroidism but have never had your thyroid antibodies tested or you’re still confused about whether you have hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, or both, this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Dr. Rachel Vong, ND Buzzsprout-19632882 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1207 full false Episode 02: Why You Still Feel Terrible on Thyroid Medication Episode 02: Why You Still Feel Terrible on Thyroid Medication If you’re taking levothyroxine or Synthroid, your TSH is “normal,” but you still feel exhausted, struggle to lose weight, deal with brain fog, hair loss, constipation, or simply don’t feel like yourself… there may be a reason.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, we’re talking about why thyroid medication doesn’t always resolve hypothyroid symptoms and why having a normal TSH doesn’t necessarily tell us the whole story.

I’ll break down what thyroid medication is actually designed to do, what may still be getting missed when you continue to experience symptoms, and why looking beyond your medication dose can give us important clues about what your body needs.

We’ll also explore the bigger picture of thyroid health, including thyroid hormone conversion, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, gut health, stress, and other factors that may influence how you feel and how well your body is using your meds.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel hypothyroid when I’m already taking medication?” this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> If you’re taking levothyroxine or Synthroid, your TSH is “normal,” but you still feel exhausted, struggle to lose weight, deal with brain fog, hair loss, constipation, or simply don’t feel like yourself… there may be a reason.

In this episode of The Empowered Thyroid Podcast, we’re talking about why thyroid medication doesn’t always resolve hypothyroid symptoms and why having a normal TSH doesn’t necessarily tell us the whole story.

I’ll break down what thyroid medication is actually designed to do, what may still be getting missed when you continue to experience symptoms, and why looking beyond your medication dose can give us important clues about what your body needs.

We’ll also explore the bigger picture of thyroid health, including thyroid hormone conversion, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, gut health, stress, and other factors that may influence how you feel and how well your body is using your meds.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel hypothyroid when I’m already taking medication?” this episode is for you.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Dr. Rachel Vong, ND Buzzsprout-19632845 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 641 2 full false Episode 01: Why I Started The Empowered Thyroid Podcast Episode 01: Why I Started The Empowered Thyroid Podcast If you've ever been told your thyroid labs look "normal" but you still feel exhausted, can't lose weight, struggle with brain fog, or feel like something is being missed... this podcast is for you.

In this very first episode, I share why I decided to create The Empowered Thyroid Podcast after more than a decade of working with women living with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

You'll learn why I felt this podcast needed to exist, why so many women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's feel dismissed by the conventional approach to thyroid care, and why understanding the root causes behind your symptoms can completely change the way you think about your health.

Each week, I'll help you better understand your thyroid through a root-cause lens so you can stop feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information and finally start making sense of what's happening inside your body.

My goal isn't just to educate you. It's to help you feel empowered, supported, and hopeful again.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> If you've ever been told your thyroid labs look "normal" but you still feel exhausted, can't lose weight, struggle with brain fog, or feel like something is being missed... this podcast is for you.

In this very first episode, I share why I decided to create The Empowered Thyroid Podcast after more than a decade of working with women living with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's.

You'll learn why I felt this podcast needed to exist, why so many women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's feel dismissed by the conventional approach to thyroid care, and why understanding the root causes behind your symptoms can completely change the way you think about your health.

Each week, I'll help you better understand your thyroid through a root-cause lens so you can stop feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information and finally start making sense of what's happening inside your body.

My goal isn't just to educate you. It's to help you feel empowered, supported, and hopeful again.

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Dr. Rachel Vong, ND Buzzsprout-19622512 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 810 1 full false Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast (Trailer) Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast (Trailer) Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast.

If you're living with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's and you've been told your thyroid labs are "normal" even though you still feel exhausted, struggle with weight gain, brain fog, or other persistent symptoms, you're in the right place.

In this short trailer, I'll share what this podcast is all about and what you can expect from future episodes.

Every Wednesday, I'll help you better understand your thyroid through a root-cause lens with practical, evidence-informed conversations about thyroid blood work, Hashimoto's, thyroid medication, nutrition, gut health, hormones, fatigue, and more.

Make sure you're following the podcast now so you're ready when the first episodes drop on Wednesday, August 12th. I can't wait to share them with you! 💗

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Welcome to The Empowered Thyroid Podcast.

If you're living with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's and you've been told your thyroid labs are "normal" even though you still feel exhausted, struggle with weight gain, brain fog, or other persistent symptoms, you're in the right place.

In this short trailer, I'll share what this podcast is all about and what you can expect from future episodes.

Every Wednesday, I'll help you better understand your thyroid through a root-cause lens with practical, evidence-informed conversations about thyroid blood work, Hashimoto's, thyroid medication, nutrition, gut health, hormones, fatigue, and more.

Make sure you're following the podcast now so you're ready when the first episodes drop on Wednesday, August 12th. I can't wait to share them with you! 💗

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL:

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave us a rating/review. Thanks so much for listening! 💗

]]> Dr. Rachel Vong, ND Buzzsprout-19622782 Sun, 09 Aug 2026 20:00:00 -0400 50 full false